W. A. Norton on Molecular Physics, 61 
Art. VIUL—On Molecular Physics; by Prof. W. A. Norton, 
{Continued from vol. xxxix, p. 254.] 
Thermo-Electricity.—The key to thermo-electric phenomena 
should be found in the effect produced by heat on the electric 
condition of molecules. Now when heat is applied to a surface, 
the molecules at the surface first receive the ethereal pulses of 
which the force of heat consists, These pulses passing on to the 
central atom of each molecule, or the condensed universal ether 
at the center of the molecule, are there partially expended in 
expanding its electric atmosphere on the outer side, and are par- 
tially propagated on. Upon reaching the inner side of the atom 
they will again be partially consumed in expanding the atmos- 
phere on that side, while a certain portion will be transmitted to 
the next atom. It is easy to see that this second expansion should 
be less than the first. Under these circumstances two important 
electrical effects will be produced. (1.) By reason of the greater 
expansion of the atmosphere on the outer than on the inner side, 
its density will be diminished on the outer side, and hence elec- 
tric ether will flow around tothatside. The molecular atmosphere 
will therefore become polarized positively on the outer side. (2.) As 
a consequence of this polarization the molecular atmosphere will 
urge away from it a portion of the electric ether posited near ats surface, 
and tend to develop a negative polarization in the particles of contigu- 
ous surfaces. The surface receiving the heat will then become 
positively polarized, and there will be at the same time an elec- 
tric movement outward from the surface. Cold, or the abstrac- 
tion of heat, will have precisely the opposite tendency ; that is, 
a surface in the act of cooling will become negatively polarized, 
and this change will be attended with a flow of electricity toward 
the surface. Such movements of the electric ether will be in 
Waves of translation, or in currents of free electricity, or both 
combined, according to the conducting power of the medium 
exterior to the surface (p. 252). Substances may differ in the 
effects thus roduced, under similar circumstances, from two 
Causes; a difference in their conducting power for heat, anda 
difference in the degree of expansion, or in the effect of the ex- 
pansion produced by the same amount of i heat. oe 
Now let a plate of bismuth be placed in contact with a plate 
of antimony, and let the junction be heated and the other ends 
be brought into good conducting communication. If the above 
mentioned effects of heat be different for these two metals, a 
current should set, at the junction, from the one which experi- 
ences the greatest effect to that which experiences the least, and 
pass through the circuit. Bismuth is a poorer conductor of heat 
