468 The Source of Electric Energy. [August, 
portions of the circuit we perceive that this process of neu- 
tralisation takes place between every two adjacent molecules, 
the positive and negative polar energies of each being neu- 
tralised by a process of reintegration, and only the energy of 
the terminal poles of the molecular circuit being yielded to 
the solid conductor. Are we not, then, justified in con- 
cluding that the current passes through the solid conductor 
in the same met hod that successive molecular neutralisation 
takes place with possible reintegration, and that the energy 
which appears is the energy set free by the poles of the ter- 
minal molecules ? This is certainly far more probable than 
that there are two distindt and unrelated methods of eledtric 
conduction. 
The next point of importance in this connection is the 
production of heat in the circuit. This heat is precisely 
equal to that which would have been set free at the point of 
chemical aCtion had there been no eleCtric circuit. The 
energy yielded by the chemical aCtion is simply transferred 
by the eleCtric movement, to appear as heat throughout the 
circuit. And the quantity of heat which appears at every 
point in the circuit is in exaCt accordance with the resistance 
to polarisation at that point. If the total resistance of the 
circuit exceeds the total polarising energy no current can 
pass ; but the instant the polarisation exceeds the resistance 
the current passes, and the heat produced at every point is 
in accordance with the resistance at that point. Thus the 
sum of heat yielded is in exaCt proportion to the sum of 
resistances, and these, in their turn, to the sum of polarising 
force, or of energy yielded by the chemical adtion. This 
energy, therefore, produces the same heating effedh whether 
set free in the cell or in the circuit. And necessarily the 
greatest produdhion of heat is at the point of greatest 
resistance to polarisation, this being found, when the poles 
are not in contadt, in the dieledtric medium separating 
them. 
(To be continued.) 
