L »> J 
mufcular * Motion, fmce it can meet nothing to 
oppole its PaiTagej and, confequently, can make no 
Refinance. 
XLVIII. 
* Whatever Neceffity there is for the Exigence of the /Ether 
in the Oeconomy of the World, we can hardly fuppofe it eicher 
the Caufe or Ivftrument of mufcular Motion ; for the Soul> or I\iind> 
feems to be the very Caufe of voluntary Motion : And as to its being 
inftrumental, it will be extremely difficult to reconcile the Qualities 
of the /Ether to thofe of the Parts we fhall, in our next Ledture, en- 
deavour to prove are the Inflruments of that Motion. 
The exceffive Diftance between the Subtility of this Elesnent> and 
the GrofTnefs of the nervous and mufcular Syftem , upon which they 
are, by this Author, fuppofed to adt, will admic of no Proportion : 
Wherefore, to fuppofe the Nerves can be impreffed by the / Ether , 
vve muft pre-fuppofe Millions of Gradations ofgrofler Particles from 
the extreme Finenefs and Subtility of this, down to the vifible Groflf- 
nefs and Solidity of the Organs to be moved, in order, as it were, 
to hand down the Impulfe from the extreme fubtiie to thofe extreme 
grofs Particles : All which raifes in me fo complex an Idea of that 
Impulfe, that I cannot find it compatible with the great Quicknefs 
of both the Refolution and Impulle we daily fee in the Performance 
of animal Motions. 
There is another Argument, which feems very powerful againft the 
/Ether's being inftrumental in mufcular Motion, drawn from fome 
Confiderations on the Eire produced in the electrical Experiments , 
now verify’d by Mr. IVatfon , a worthy Member of the Royal Society , 
provided this eleClrical Fire be analogous to the /Ether • which is. 
That it is certain, this Fire pervades animal or other Bodies, from 
my own Experience; as I was one of feveral PeiCns thro’ whom 
it paffed, without having any fenfible Effedt on me, in its Pafifage to 
the Point where it was colledted into a Body: And alfo, becaufe 
lilver Laminoe were moved by the excited Tube, even thro’ the Sides 
of a ftrong Flint-glafs VefTel well flopp’d. 
It feems, indeed, a very great Care in the All-wife Author of Na- 
ture, that this eleCtrical Fire fhould not find Refiftance in animal 
Bodies ; becaufe, we fee, when all that paffed from the excited 
Tube, through feveral Perfons, was colledted in one Column at the 
End of a Gentleman’s Finger, it fired redtify’d Spirits of Wine, and 
Oil of Orange-Peels; and, confequently, might produce as direful 
EfFedfs as the Fire of Lightning, when colledted and excited to vio- 
lent Motion, and is refilled, 
