PLATES OF ANTIMONY — PECULIAR EFFECTS. 
15 
powdered substance. Even the revulsive action of copper may be entirely destroyed 
by reducing the single lump to filings. It is easy to perceive, therefore, that of two 
groups of antimony crystals, each symmetrically disposed within itself, the one may 
have larger crystals well connected together, as regards the induction of currents 
through the whole mass, and the other smaller crystals less favourably united. 
These would present very different appearances, as regards the arrest of motion and 
succeeding revulsive action ; and further, on that very account, would differ in their 
readiness to present the magnecrystallic phenomena, though they might possess pre- 
cisely equal degrees of that force. 
251/. On proceeding to experiment with plates of antimony, further illustrations 
of the effects resulting from the causes just described were obtained, with abundant 
accompanying evidence of the existence of the magnecrystallic condition in the metal. 
The plates were selected from broken masses, as with bismuth (2480.). Some were 
soon found which acted simply, instantly, and well; their large surfaces were bright 
cleavage planes. When suspended by any part of the edge, these planes faced towards 
the magnetic poles ; and the plate oscillated on each side of its final position, gradually- 
acquiring its state of rest. 
2518. When these plates were suspended with their planes horizontal, they had no 
pov/er of pointing in the magnetic field. When they were inclined, the points which 
were most depressed below and raised above the horizontal plane, were those which 
took up their plaees nearest the magnetic poles (2482.). 
2519. When several plates were arranged together into a consistent bundle (2483.), 
the diamagnetic effect was removed, and the magnecrystallic oscillation and pointing 
became very ready and characteristic. 
2520. Thus it is evident that, in all these cases, there was a line of magnecrystallic 
force perpendicular to the planes of the plates, and perfectly consistent in its position 
and action with the force before found in the solid crystals of antimony. 
2521. But another plate of antimony was now selected, which had every appear- 
ance of being able to present all the phenomena of the former plates ; and yet, when 
hung up by its edge, it showed no signs of magnecrystallic results ; for it first ad- 
vanced a little (23 1 0.), then was arrested and kept in its place, and if standing between 
the axial and equatorial positions, was revulsed when the battery current was inter- 
rupted, exhibiting effects equal to those of copper (2315.). Many other plates were 
tried with precisely the same result. 
2522. When this plate (2521.) was placed in the field of intense power between 
two conical magnetic poles, it exhibited the same phenomena ; but notwithstanding 
the arresting action, it moved slowly until it stood in the equatorial position ; a 
result which was probably due to the exertion of both magnecrystallic and diamag- 
netic force. When the plate was suspended with its planes horizontal, the arresting 
and revulsive actions were gone ; for the induced currents which before caused them 
could not now exist in the necessary vertical plane ; further, it had no setting power. 
