developement of magnetic al properties in steel and iron , &c. 217 
its capacity to near 21 ounces; By thus continuing the pro- 
cess, and using means to retain the magnetism developed, 
the quiescent point may perhaps be raised as high as the 
original state of saturation ; that is, to a lifting power of 20 
ounces, when its saturated lifting power will approach to 40 
ounces. But to effect this, it will be necessary to continue 
the poles always the same ; for on every inversion of the 
poles, the point of quiescence will returii somewhat towards 
the point of neutrality, and the magnetic energy will be pro- 
portionably diminished. On the first change of the poles, 
the magnetic energy, in a state of saturation, will be dimi- 
nished by about the difference of the points of quiescence and 
neutrality, or nearly as much as in experiments with the same 
poles always preserved, the magnetic energy is augmented. 
Thus, when in the above example, the point of quiescence 
has a lifting power of 5 ounces, capable, when magnetised to 
saturation, of being raised to 25 ounces, on inversion of the 
poles it will only have a capacity for 15 ounces. These, most 
probably, are not the exact powers, for it is likely that the 
augmentation of force, which takes place on repeatedly mag- 
netising at certain intervals beyond the point of quiescence, 
may diminish in a geometrical ratio, as the point of quiescence 
recedes from the point of neutrality ; otherwise there would 
be no limit whatever to the power of a magnet. The law, 
however, not having been determined, I have used in the 
above examples an arithmetical ratio, merely for the sake of 
illustration. 
This doctrine is the same when applied to the develope- 
ment of magnetism by percussion, as by any other process, 
and easily explains why, on the first trial, especially with a 
MDCCCXXIV. F F 
