The Source of Electric Energy. 
465 
t 88i.] 
adjacent molecule of the electrolyte. A like neutralisation 
proceeds throughout the electrolyte. The pole of the last 
molecule in contaCt with the solid conductor yields its free 
energy to this conductor, and that element of the molecule 
which constitutes this pole is set free. Thus at the poles of 
the electrolyte the chemical disintegration becomes effective. 
In this process the passage of energy is but from molecule 
to molecule. The energy emitted at the battery plate is 
only a counterpart of that yielded to the conducting wire. 
The eleCtric influence has made its way across the electro- 
lyte without any passage of a distinct volume of energy 
through the liquid. 
In the passage of eleCtric energy through a dielectric 
there is reason to conclude that a like decomposition occurs, 
though it is not succeeded by a recomposition in the above 
sense. For the appearance of ozone, when this dieleCtric is 
the atmosphere, indicates a separation of the oxygen mole- 
cule into its constituent atoms, and a subsequent combination 
of these atoms with other oxygen molecules. Perhaps the 
resistance to chemical disintegration and direCt reintegration 
may be an essential cause of the resistance to eleCtric con- 
duction. A similar aCtion is indicated by the supposed 
production of nitric acid in the air through the agency of 
the lightning-flash. 
If, then, in all cases in which we have an opportunity to 
trace the mode of eleCtric conduction, it presents this cha- 
racter, we certainly have great reason to conclude that this 
is its essential mode, and that the passage of electricity 
through a solid conductor is performed in the same manner. 
It is certainly highly improbable that electricity has two 
distinct and widely different modes of movement, and far 
more probable that it is conducted in the same manner 
where we cannot, as where we can, trace its movement. 
It may be, then, that in all cases the eleCtric conduction 
of energy proceeds as follows : — An induCtive disturbance of 
molecular motion precedes the current. The molecules be- 
come positively electrified at one pole, and negatively at the 
other. The influence which produces this polarisation aCts 
to prevent a re-combination of the molecular energies in- 
wardly, and tends to produce such a re-combination 
outwardly. The adjacent poles of every two contiguous 
molecules being respectively positive and negative, the con- 
stituents of the molecules separate, and the opposite poles 
of each two adjacent molecules combine, their diverse mo- 
tions also combining into normal heat-vibration. In non - 
conductors this disintegration is vigorously resisted, and 
