322 MR. J. C. DYER ON THE 



XXVII. Brief Notes on the Laws of Physical Force. 

 By J. C. Dyer, Esq., V.P. 



Read March 3rd, 1868. 



The wide acceptance of the new doctrine of the conserva- 

 tion of physical energy, or force, has led me to submit a 

 few remarks thereon. 



In the first place, let us keep in mind that there are five 

 kinds of natural forces continually exerted by material 

 bodies. Three of these are mechanical forces, and, as such, 

 are measurable by the known laws of physics (viz. the 

 force of gravity, of inertia, and of elasticity) , each being co- 

 extensive with and inherent properties of all tangible 

 bodies. The actual exertion of these, by their equal action 

 and reaction, serves to sustain the positions and forms 

 (whether in motion or at rest) of the entire material uni- 

 verse ; and it is only by the observed action of such balanced 

 forces that we are assured of the existence of material 

 bodies. 



Many theories have been propounded to account for the 

 presence of these several forces in matter ; yet no real light 

 has been shed upon the questions involved in such inquiries, 

 beyond the fact that all these forces are found to be essen- 

 tial forces of the bodies exerting them. The first two 

 are directly as the quantity of matter, and the third, or 

 elastic force, varying in degrees of action according to the 

 condition of bodies as solids, liquids, gases, or vapours. I 

 have elsewhere aimed to show that a pervading ^' calorific 

 element " constitutes the essence, or is the source, of the 

 elastic forces in all ponderable bodies — a question here 

 passed by. 



Besides the above mechanical forces, we have to consider 

 the two other forces — namely, the chemical and vital forces. 



