96 Prof. Norton on Molecular Physics. 



The conclusions arrived at were all deduced from two funda- 

 mental principles, viz. : — 



1. That matter exists in the three different forms of ordinary 

 or gross matter, an electric aether, and a more subtile universal 

 (Ether, and that each of these is made up of spherical atoms. 



2. That there are two primary forces, attraction and repulsion. 

 The primary force of attraction is exerted between the atoms 



of ordinary matter and the two aethers, and between the atoms 

 of the electric aether and those of the universal aether ; while a 

 mutual repulsion subsists between the constituent atoms of the 

 two aethers. 



From these two postulates the conclusion was derived that 

 each atom of ordinary matter must be surrounded by two atmo- 

 spheres, one consisting of electric aether, and another of the uni- 

 versal aether, pervading the former, and that the atoms of the 

 electric aether must also be surrounded by atmospheres of the 

 more subtile universal aether which pervades the space between 

 them. Such being the condition of things, it was assumed that 

 the attraction of the central atom of matter for the atoms of 

 electric aether exterior to it was propagated by the intervening 

 universal aether, and that the same was true of the mutual repul- 

 sion exerted between the individual atoms of the electric aether. 



The primary force of heat, as one of the molecular forces, was 

 deduced from these principles, and found to have its origin in 

 the force of molecular attraction. 



We propose now to show that the characteristic phenomena 

 of electricity, comprised under the several heads of frictional 

 electricity, voltaic electricity, thermo-electricity, magnetism, electro- 



the Philosophical Magazine, May 1864, it is maintained that the heat- 

 vibration does not consist in a motion of an aggregate mass of molecules, 

 but in a motion of the individual molecules; also that it does not consist 

 in excursions of the molecule or atom across centres of equilibrium, but in 

 alternate expansions and contractions of the atom itself. It will be seen 

 that these ideas are in accordance with the conception of the constitution 

 of a molecule adopted at the beginning of the present memoir (p. 193), and 

 with the theory of heat-vibrations or heat-pulses deduced therefrom (p. 196). 

 The author remarks that his conclusion that "the ultimate atom itself is 

 essentially elastic, is opposed to the ordinary idea that the atom is essen- 

 tially solid and impenetrable, and favours the modern idea that matter con- 

 sists of a force of resistance acting from a centre." But in the present 

 communication, the ground is taken that it is the elastic sethereal atmo- 

 sphere condensed upon the atom that invests it with its panoply of power. 

 Thus armed it becomes an efficient molecule when associated with a kin- 

 dred molecule — an epitome, in fact, of the universe. In the contractions 

 and expansions that result from the action of the central atom upon its 

 atmosphere is to be discerned the origin, not only of heat- vibrations, but 

 of all the molecular forces; and in the varied possible movements and 

 changes of molecular atmospheres dependent upon their elasticity and 

 mutual action, are to be found the essential causes of physical phenomena. 



