t>olbear.J 
196 
Jan. 21, 
the effect is cumulative and the body is set in audible sonorous 
vibrations and we call that sympathetic vibration. A heated body 
radiates its energy also, and every body upon which such radiant 
energy falls is heated by it, that is it is made to assume the same 
kind of a condition the first body had, the action is mechanical 
and compulsory. An electrified body produces a field of such a 
nature that other bodies in it become electrified and a magnet 
produces a field such that certain kinds of molecules in it become 
magnetic, or what is doubtless more correctly described by saying 
that the molecules of magnetic bodies are differently arranged in 
space by the reaction of the field. If sound, heat, light, electric- 
ity and magnetism stand thus related to what nre called fields, and 
if cliemism is known to be related to the others as they are to 
themselves, one would certainly expect to find a chemical field to 
have a similar chemical effect. In reality the chemist has abun- 
dance of testimony on that point. In order to bring about chemical 
changes it is only necessary to initiate it. A mixture of hydrogen 
and oxygen might stand a long time without a reaction but if one 
contrives to initiate it so that but a single molecule is formed in 
the mixture the whole of the rest takes place with explosive vio- 
lence. Crystallization is best initiated by dropping into the sat- 
urated solution a bit of crystal of the substance itself. In cases 
of supersaturation of liquids, the process thus begun takes place 
at such a rapid rate that but a second or two is needed to reduce 
a liquid to a crystalline mass. 
There are numerous chemical changes in the way of exchange 
of position among atoms in a molecular structure which are well 
known. The following is an example : Among hydroxyl com- 
pounds there is one which may be graphically represented thus, 
fX — C=OH 
I where the hydroxyl OH combines with one of 
(X'— C — H 
the unsaturated carbon atoms, as with X. In the presence of 
some controlling factors at X', the hydrogen atom changes its 
[ X— C — O 
place to -i | 
{ X'— C — HH 
This is easily explained by supposing the field of X 7 , C, H to 
be a little stronger than the field of the opposite end or side 
X. C. O. The H. goes where the field is the strongest, that is 
where there is the greatest pressure towards. 
