THE ELECTRO-TONIC STATE. 
143 
But whether great or small, it is hardly conceivable that it should exist with- 
out exerting a reaction upon the original inducing current, and producing 
equilibrium of some kind. It might be anticipated that this would give rise 
to a retardation of the original current ; but I have not been able to ascertain 
that this is the case. Neither have I in any other way as yet been able to 
distinguish effects attributable to such a reaction. 
73. All the results favour the notion that the electro-tonic state relates to the 
particles, and not to the mass, of the wire or substance under induction, being 
in that respect different to the induction exerted by electricity of tension. If 
so, the state may be assumed in liquids when no electrical current is sensible, 
and even in non-conductors ; the current itself, when it occurs, being as it 
were a contingency due to the existence of conducting power, and the mo- 
mentary propulsive force exerted by the particles during their arrangement. 
Even when conducting power is equal, the currents of electricity, which as yet 
are the only indicators of this state, may be unequal, because of differences as 
to number, size, electrical condition, &c. &c. in the particles themselves. It 
will only be after the laws which govern this new state are ascertained, that 
we shall be able to predict what is the true condition of, and what are the 
electrical results obtainable from, any particular substance. 
74. The current of electricity which induces the electro-tonic state in a 
neighbouring wire, probably induces that state also in its own wire; for when 
by a current in one wire a collateral wire is made electro-tonic, the latter 
state is not rendered any way incompatible or interfering with a current of 
electricity passing through it (62.). If, therefore, the current were sent 
through the second wire instead of the first, it does not seem probable that its 
inducing action upon the second would be less, but on the contrary more, be- 
cause the distance between the agent and the matter acted upon would be 
very greatly diminished. A copper bolt had its extremities connected with a 
galvanometer, and then the poles of a battery of one hundred pairs of plates 
connected with the bolt, so as to send the current through it ; the voltaic 
circuit was then suddenly broken, and the galvanometer observed for any in- 
dications of a return current through the copper bolt due to the discharge of 
its supposed electro-tonic state. No effect of the kind was obtained, nor 
indeed, for two reasons, ought it to be expected ; for first, as the cessation of 
