Chemical Theory of Electricity and Magnetism. 73 



them ; and the latter passes through transparent bodies, and combines 

 with opake ones. 



But where ethers only are concerned in an explosion, as the two 

 electric ones, which are previously difficult to confine in vessels ; the 

 repulsive ethers of heat and light are given out; and what remains is 

 a combination of the two electric ethers; which in this state are at- 

 tracted by all bodies, and form atmospheres round them. 



These combined electric atmospheres must possess less heat and 

 light after their explosion ; which they seem afterwards to acquire at 

 the time they are again separated from each other, probably from the 

 combined heat and combined light of the cushion and glass, or of 

 the cushion and resin ; by the contact of which they are separated ; 

 and not from the diffused heat of them; but no experiments have 

 yet been made to ascertain this fact, this combination of the 

 vitreous and resinous ethers may be esteemed the residuum after 

 their explosion, 



2. Hence the essence of explosion consists in two bodies, which 

 are previously united with heat and light, so strongly attracting each 

 other, as to set at liberty those two repulsive ethers; but it happens, 

 that these explosive materials cannot generally be brought into each 

 other's vicinity in a state of sufficient density; unless they are also 

 previously combined with some other material beside the light and heat 

 above spoken of: as in the nitrous acid, the oxygen is previously com- 

 bined with azote; and is thus in a condensed state, before it is 

 brought into the contact or vicinity of the carbone ; there are how- 

 ever bodies which will slowly explode; or give out heat and light, 

 without being previously combined with other bodies; as phosphorus 

 in the common atmosphere, some dead fish in a certain degree of pu- 

 tridity, and some living insects probably by their respiration in trans- 

 parent lungs, which is a kind of combustion. 



But the two electric ethers are condensed by being brought into 

 vicinity with each other with a nonconductor between them ; and 

 thus explode violently, as soon as they communicate, either by rup- 

 turing the interposed nonconductor, or by a metallic communication. 

 This curious method of a previous condensation of the two exploding 



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