194 Prof. Norton on Molecular Physics. 



attraction and repulsion upon other molecules. In seeking for 

 this, the most philosophical course that can be pursued is to 

 follow out to their legitimate conclusions the general principles 

 already laid down. We have admitted the existence of a subtile 

 aether, attracted by all bodies, and pervading their interstices ; 

 now if bodies attract this aether, the atoms of which they are 

 composed must exert an attractive action upon it. Every atom 

 must therefore be surrounded with an (Ethereal atmosphere, con- 

 densed upon its surface, and extending indefinitely outward. 

 Again, it is conceded that the electric aether or fluid, if it exists, 

 must be attracted by ordinary matter; but if this attraction 

 subsists it must be exerted by the individual atoms, and there- 

 fore every atom must also be surrounded, with an atmosphere of 

 electric aether — an electric atmosphere, as it may be termed. We 

 must suppose that the interstices between the atoms of this elec- 

 tric atmosphere will be pervaded by the more subtile aethereal 

 atmosphere. We are thus led to conceive of a molecule as con- 

 sisting of an atom surrounded with two atmospheres, aethereal 

 and electric — the former being the more attenuated, and perva- 

 ding the other. We may suppose either that these two aethers 

 exercise no direct action upon each other, or, what is more pro- 

 bable, that the electric atoms attract the aethereal, and are there- 

 fore surrounded, like the central atoms of the molecules, with 

 aethereal atmospheres. To this supposed fact we may attribute 

 the mutual repulsion subsisting between the electric atoms, and 

 thus restrict the fundamental property of repulsion to the atoms 

 of the universal aether. 



The conception here formed of a molecule involves the idea 

 of the operation of the two forces of attraction and repulsion : a 

 force of attraction is exerted by the atom upon each of the two 

 atmospheres surrounding it, and a force of mutual repulsion 

 between the atoms of each atmosphere. These we regard as the 

 primary forces of nature, from which all known forces are derived. 

 They determine primarily the physical relations of the atom to 

 its atmospheres. In seeking for the molecular actions that may 

 result from their operation, there are two different routes that 

 may be taken. We may conceive that the atmospheres sur- 

 rounding each atom are naturally in a condition of statical equi- 

 librium, and that the primary forces with which the molecule is 

 invested take effect at all distances, without the intervention of 

 any medium, and unobstructedly through all intervening matter ; 

 or we may conceive the natural equilibrium of the molecular 

 atmospheres to be a dynamical one, and that, as a necessary 

 consequence, recurring impulses, both attractive and repulsive, 

 are propagated outward by the surrounding aether from each 

 molecule, and take effect upon other molecules. Here, as before, 



