diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/50170-8.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/50170-8.txt | 3431 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 3431 deletions
diff --git a/old/50170-8.txt b/old/50170-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index bc23bd5..0000000 --- a/old/50170-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3431 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philosophy Which Shows the Physiology -of Mesmerism and Explains the Phenomenon of Clairvoyance, by T. H. Pasley - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Philosophy Which Shows the Physiology of Mesmerism and Explains the Phenomenon of Clairvoyance - -Author: T. H. Pasley - -Release Date: October 10, 2015 [EBook #50170] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PHYSIOLOGY OF MESMERISM *** - - - - -Produced by Emmanuel Ackerman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - -THE PHILOSOPHY - -WHICH SHOWS THE - -PHYSIOLOGY OF MESMERISM, - -AND EXPLAINS THE - -PHENOMENON OF CLAIRVOYANCE. - -BY - -T. H. PASLEY. - -To form a just opinion of a novel mode of philosophising, we should -study the subject, and not condemn without being able to prove it -erroneous. - -He is not an Esculapian who is unacquainted with the Philosophy of the -Animal Economy. - -LONDON: -LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS. - -1848. - -TYLER & REED, -PRINTERS, -BOLT-COURT, FLEET STREET. - - - - -DEDICATION. - - -The following trite sketch of the Philosophy of Nature, dedicates -itself to the most noble Champions of Mesmerism, Doctor ELLIOTSON -and Doctor ASHBURNER of London, and Doctor ESDAILE of Calcutta, in -compliment and grateful acknowledgment for having rescued from the -fangs of ignorance, envy, and self-conceit, the science of health and -knowledge--the science of Mesmerism, which unfolds the hitherto unknown -wonders of the Animal system; and will unfold the wonders of the entire -universe, when the telescope and microscope are familiarly used by the -Clairvoyant. - - - - -ADVERTISEMENT. - - -It is not the intention of the present work, that what is herein -described should be received as the philosophy of Nature according to -the precision of Nature; but, through exemplification, on principles -deduced from the Natural Inertia of Matter, to point out the mode by -which the philosophy, which should govern all illustration of physical -phenomena, is discoverable,--the Philosophy of Mechanical Nature. - - JERSEY, _July 1, 1848_. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - PAGE - DEDICATION iii - ADVERTISEMENT v - TABLE OF CONTENTS vii - MESMERISM AND ESTABLISHED PHILOSOPHY 1 - ATTRACTION 10 - PHILOSOPHY, EXPERIMENTAL 13 - PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTION OF THE SENSES 15 - MATTER 23 - MOTION 24 - MEDIUM OF SPACE 28 - MINUS-PRESSURE MATTER 31 - FIRE 34 - MEDIUM OF FIRE 37 - EXPANSION 39 - OXYGEN AIR 41 - THE USE OF OXYGEN IN PROMOTING COMBUSTION 42 - COMBUSTION 43 - WATER 47 - SOLVENCY 53 - GASTRIC SOLVENCY 54 - USE OF THE INSPIRED OXYGEN WITHIN THE SYSTEM 56 - SPLEEN, ITS USE 59 - DIAPHRAGM, HOW RAISED 60 - CORRELATIVE ELEMENTS 61 - MAGNETISM 62 - NATURAL SLEEP 65 - COMATOSE FLOW 66 - MESMERIC SLEEP 68 - VISION 70 - TRANSPARENCY 77 - OPACITY 77 - THE NERVOUS FLUID 78 - CLAIRVOYANCE 81 - LONG VISION 82 - OPAQUE VISION 83 - RIGIDITY 86 - PAIN 86 - MESMERISM, CURATIVE 87 - ETHERS 87 - REPORT 88 - VOLUNTARY DE-ELECTRISATION 91 - WILL, THE NATURE AND POWER OF 92 - APPLICATION OF MESMERISM 95 - CONTINUOUS MOTION 97 - ASCENDING AND DESCENDING MOTION 99 - CENTRIPETAL FLOW 99 - FORMATION OF A PLANET 100 - ---- AND USE OF A COMET 103 - TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE - - - - -PHILOSOPHY, - -ETC., ETC. - - - - -MESMERISM AND ESTABLISHED PHILOSOPHY. - - -Long as clairvoyance has remained the riddle, jest and wonder of the -world, it is questioned by none why the established philosophy of -this superiorly enlightened age is incompetent to account for this -or any other mesmerically produced phenomenon, or afford the least -glimmer of light by which it were possible to arrive at the physiology. -Why the philosophy of Aristotle, Bacon, Newton, Des Cartes, Davy, -Liebig--honoured names, and most justly, as the ancient and modern -fathers in science--can afford no scintillation whereby to lessen the -obscurity in which this most interesting subject is involved, should -appear strange and unaccountable to all lovers of philosophy. By -Professors the question should be answered. To consider it unworthy -of being looked into, would be a tacit confession that Professors are -indifferent to the natural truth; which proves all such to be but half -reasoners, and not philosophers, notwithstanding all their mathematical -learning and experimental experience. - -It should have been questioned long since, whether the philosophy be -not untrue which leaves all mankind in the dark, in a mere physical -case, however mysterious the psychological result, the effect of manual -application, and in the power of almost every person to produce. The -mesmerising operation and effect includes nothing of necromancy or -trick; is openly performed, and produced mechanically; and although the -passes make a living being appear as if in a novel state of existence, -the immediate effect, polarisation of the extremities of the body, is -the same precisely as is effected on the iron bar when passed along -the poles of a loadstone. This, and numerous other physical phenomena, -which to the present day remain unexplained, and as if inexplicable, -afford much reason for at least the conjecture, that modern philosophy -is not the philosophy of physical nature; which, if not, it must be -false and misleading, inasmuch as there can be but one philosophy, -by reason of there being but one species of matter throughout all -nature, and but one cause of action,--_the general pressure_. From -which it follows, that as the philosophy of nature is that of matter -universally, there can be no physical phenomenon which it does not -explain. Therefore, the phenomena which modern philosophy has neither -laws nor rules competent to explain, are so many proofs that the -established philosophy of the age is false philosophy; which is -provable throughout all its particulars, however rash and adventurous -may appear the announcement. Besides, at the present day, there are -several different philosophies maintained; every profession has its -own; which is proof of the strongest nature that not one is true, -dissent from the truly natural being impossible, so universally is it -applicable. Eventually it will be admitted that the philosophy of the -nineteenth century is founded on the crude ideas of the imperfectly -learned in the earliest days of science, ever since adopted, and -never investigated, instead of being deduced solely from the INERT -NATURE OF MATTER, the only true basis. On modern philosophy, Davy -makes the shrewd remark, that "it is no better than a mere compilation -of isolated facts and circumstances, differently accounted for, and -leading to no general theory:" such is not the philosophy of nature. - -That matter is _inert_, is made manifest in there being nothing -whatever throughout the whole of inanimate nature which can act or -move of itself. Matter does nothing, cannot act; it is the passive -patient of the general pressure, which alone can act; and pressure is -universal, because of matter being _inert_. Matter is not only _inert_, -but _unalterable_; on which principles the constancy of the order -and laws of nature depend. Inert, unalterable matter can suffer no -change but of a local nature--change of place, which implies motion, -for which there is no analogous cause but impulsive pressure. These -unquestionable physical truisms are stated in advance, from being -intimately connected with every physical change, in order to serve as a -standard of comparison from which to form an opinion while canvassing -the principles and laws by which the scientific world has been for -centuries not only governed, but misled. - -Newton admits the _principle_ of _inertia_, but considers it an innate -_passive_ power, which _enables_ a body to resist against being moved; -and when in motion, enables it _to resist_ that which would put it -out of motion. _Inertia_, a passive power, is as death, being passive -animation; and _inertia enabling_ a body to _act_ against force, is -nothing short of _active inertia_, or _vis inertiæ_, which means the -force of inability. This monstrous perversion of a natural fundamental -principle, and by such high authority, pervades the whole of the -established philosophy. It makes the planets, which are but clumps of -deadly inert matter, gravitate themselves through space; and makes -_inert_ atoms competent to perform attraction on each other wherever -they exist. A more absurd article of _belief_ has no place in the -Athanasian code of mind-perverting dogmas; yet admitted as true by -the most eminently talented and highly learned of the present age. -While such inconsistent principles of common-place use are gravely -defended, the _known facts_ of mesmerism are obstinately and ignorantly -denied; and only because of not being understood; that, were it not -for the good sense and philanthropic perseverance of the enlightened, -noble-minded Elliotsons, Ashburners, and Esdailes, of the British -empire--honourable, heroic champions and victors in the cause of truth, -humanity and science, in despite of the self-conceit which affects -the knowledge of the limits of possibility; that, were it not for the -magnanimity of those superiors belonging to the learned profession, -this heaven-bestowed boon, carrying healing on the wing to suffering -humanity, would have been contemptuously received, ungratefully -acknowledged, and long since consigned to the rubbish of oblivion. Yet -all have claim to the common apology, _false scientific education_, -excepting those who have assented to what they have seen with wonder, -and afterwards denied their admission. - -The established philosophy cannot account for the boy's marble going -farther through the air than the fullest extent of the impelling -thumb. The proposition may appear trifling and insignificant, yet is -it worthy the consideration of the Chair of Knowledge, from which it -has never been explained nor there understood, as involving the cause -of planetary motion; for, _in all nature there are not two causes of -motion_. That the marble "_partakes_" of the _force_, and "partakes" of -the _motion_ of that by which it is impelled, is an absurd idea; the -force and motion of a body were not, and cannot become, the force and -motion of any other body. - -The established philosophy cannot account for the splinters of a stone -having motion out of the direction of impulse, nor for having motion -in every direction but that of the stone-breaker's impelling hammer, -which appears at variance with the natural, immutable dynamic law, -which says, that _as a body cannot move itself_, so must it have motion -in the direction only of that by which it is being moved. Neither is -there any philosophy extant, which explains why the stone at Texteth of -one hundred tons should rise, as if of itself, six inches in the air, -under which the quarrymen could have shoved a hand and withdrawn it -safely, before the immense mass fell crushingly on the former bed. - -On the other hand, what the established philosophy undertakes to -explain, it explains erroneously. Beside maintaining the transfer of a -local casualty, in accounting for continuous motion, it teaches that -the power of steam consists in heat, and that cold congeals water: -whereas heat and cold have no physical existence; each is a sensation, -anything similar to which it is impossible for either fire or water to -possess. So that to the present day the power of steam, the cause of -combustion and of congelation has in each instance remained unknown. - -So simple is nature, so few her laws, that were any one of her -phenomena known throughout all its bearings, it would be found that -the knowledge includes the philosophy of the whole of matter. Of this -Aristotle was aware when announcing, that he who is unacquainted with -motion, is ignorant of all things in true philosophy. Motion being the -_only effect_ producible on _inert, unalterable matter_, the knowledge -of the phenomenon includes that of all effect. The substance of all -things being of the same species, and the power of Nature consisting -in universal pressure, the formations in general nature and in the -laboratory of art can have but the same principles, laws, theory, and -philosophy. Paul may plant and Apollos water; nature germinates, the -weather or climate grows and fructifies. The chymist's fire does -not burn itself; in the absence of air and its pressure there is no -combustion; neither is there growth, respiration, nor life. - -According to the philosophy of the astronomer, the earth has projectile -motion, from "impulse once impressed, at the beginning, and not since -renewed;" which is effect six thousand times, at least, greater -than the cause. Then, again, as motion must be in the direction of -impulse and cease out of that direction, the earth, from "impulse -once impressed," goes round the sun without being impelled; or of -its own accord, and should be centripetally attracted to the sun, if -solar attraction were possible. It needs no mathematical calculation -to prove, that, from such philosophy being wholly independent of all -consideration of natural cause, it is untrue, and at variance with -common sense. - -The philosophy of the chymist is of every-day make. It assumes -different species of matter; chymical matter and matter not chymical; -attractions innumerable, such as chymical, electric, galvanic, -capillary, and attraction of cohesion; likewise magnetic forces, -chymical affinities, and affections of matter--"while as yet there -is none of them"--matter being _inert_ naturally. To mechanical -nature the entire is useless and foreign, and their value lies solely -in being terms of professional application in the highly important -chymical art; but to the discovery of true philosophy they are an -insurmountable obstacle. How chymical matter differs from the common -matter of the world, no chymist can say or conceive; nor is there any -difference in the substance and nature of inert matter: as well might -it be maintained that motion is not always mechanical, but sometimes -chymical. The true philosophy of chymistry is dynamic, the basis -inertia, the laws those of quantity and relative position. - -The philosophy of the anatomist and physiologist is semi-natural, -semi-spiritual, mechanical and vital. Life, throughout all belonging -to the frame, does not suffice; the heart and blood have each an -imputed, distinct, living principle; the nerves are sensitive, the -muscles irritable; the flesh has its susceptibility, according to -the modern physiology. The sainted health-preserver shudders at the -irreligious notion of the economy being philosophised on at all; more -especially according to the laws of hydrostatics; it being "impious -beyond measure" to reason on the work of God's own hand, formed after -his own image and likeness, (malformations excepted,) as on human -mechanism. Yet, where are any of these vitalities and living principles -when respiration is suddenly stopped? Verily, these professionals -endow, most gratuitously, the animal frame with as many vitalities -and living principles as the lives bestowed on the tailor's--so much -the more unfortunate--cat. As every organ of the body is inert; no -organ, of itself, performs the function; every function is mechanically -performed, and every effect analogous to impulsive pressure, whether -consisting in formation, intermixture, or dissolution, all depend -on elementary local change. The contrary is not in the power of the -anatomist and physiologist to prove of inert, unalterable, atomic -substance; nor should more causes be assumed than what are natural, -common, sufficient, and analogous to effects. Spiritual principles for -mechanical purposes are as little requisite for animal organism as for -the steam-engine, or the performances of a watch. - - -The last on the list of professional philosophies is that of the -Therapeutist; the least misleading, from being the most concise. The -word ACTION includes the whole. There is no inquiry to which the word -_action_ is not the deeply-learned significant reply; being indefinite, -it stands for a dead-stop silencer. The doctor knows best--with much -room for knowing better. The doctor knows, and assures from his own -certain knowledge, that the _action_ of the dose on the stomach -upheaves the sac; but rather than be thought positive, allows that the -effect may be from the _action_ of the stomach on the dose. The good -easy man of M.D. celebrity, or mediocrity, has to learn, that the dose -is as _inert_ as when in the tea-cup, and the stomach as _inert_ as -when it has arrived at the predicted destiny, the dissecting table. -Again, the _action_ of the pain prevents the _action_ of the physic, -otherwise the cure would have been immediate. Such philosophy is -harmless, if so to the patient; from its insignificance it corrupts -neither pathology, osteology, nor dynamics. Not so the learning, -published on high surgical authority, to enlighten ward-walking -noviciates--that "pain may exist in the _flesh_ and bones without -being felt, owing to the _insensible_ sensibility of the part," -which amounts to an excruciating, painless toothache, and, the being -unconscious of excited consciousness. Pain is not in the diseased or -wounded part, being the consequence of cerebral excitement; pain is one -of the objects of perception belonging to the scenery of the sensorium, -from which it cannot migrate. The disorganised part is but the apparent -place of pain; and wisely such, or else all remedial applications -would be to the brain. As to the dose and stomach _action_, it stands -corrected by the diagnosis; the stomach is lifted in consequence of -the equilibrium of pressure being destroyed by means of the dose, -notwithstanding its additional weight, within the stomach. Chymical -action of the dose and self-lifting muscles are all of Esculapian -surmise. The faculty should cease to identify feeling, pain, sensation, -with organic ailments and disorganization of the flesh. - - - - -ATTRACTION. - - -Attraction is the all-pervading, all-perverting sin of the established -philosophy, the scape-goat, on which the blunders of illustration -are heaped. Newtonians endow every atom of matter with not only an -attracting property, but another, as if to neutralise it--repulsion, -which renders both useless; as if to make matter both active and inert, -naturally, and as if Nature were planned on principles of complexity, -from having double the number of powers the universe is possessed of -atoms. One steam power would suffice for the whole of England, all -appendages being feasible. How is solidity either maintainable or -attainable, while attracting atoms are repelling atoms? The free, -uncombined condition of the atoms of the atmosphere, as well as their -_inertia_, proclaim their inability to attract each other; and the mere -crack in a pane of glass, that between bodies there is no attraction. -While it is left to be conceived by the so-taught rising generation, -that the atoms of a bar of iron are busily employed in attracting -one another, and as busily in repelling each other at the same time; -and that the same atoms are inert, the long-denounced aspersion -stands good, that there is no absurdity, however great, into which -philosophers have not fallen; which is removable only by Philosophers, -Professors and Teachers coalescing to reform the erroneous doctrines -universally promulgated, which cannot stand the test of rational -investigation, and for which, as National Instructors, they are morally -responsible. - -Terrestrial attraction, attenuated on arriving at the moon, -and there sufficiently strong to prevent the satellite having -tangential flight, should be at the surface of the globe at least -two-hundred-and-forty-thousand times stronger; yet here a puff of the -breath drives the dust into the air, and the smallest winged insect -is not restrained by the attraction of the enormous magnet the earth -is considered, from escaping off the surface of the globe. There is -philosophy in mists, as well as "sermons in stones." Rain should come -down from above the clouds, if terrestrial attraction hold fast the -moon: mists and exhalations, by quitting the earth, solve the problem; -but we are ignorant of the philosophy, ways, and expressions of simple -nature; hence, ours is foreign philosophy. - -In attributing the fall of bodies to the ground to attraction, it is -overlooked that the earth's greater attraction has to be exceeded by -the minor muscular, or explosive force, which caused the ascent. The -foregoing plain facts, although demonstrations to the contrary are on -record in the royalized TRANSACTIONS, but without reference to the -inability of inert matter to attract, are certain proof that attraction -is founded on a guess-work basis. Hence, that all learning is not -knowledge is a moral certainty; and that the nature of cause is not to -be arrived at by demonstrating the properties of lines and angles, time -has sufficiently proved. - -Had the fall of Newton's apple been an effect of terrestrial -attraction, there should have been some stronger attraction from -somewhere above the tree, to make the juices of which the apple was -formed ascend from the ground, and capillary cannot be said to be -stronger than terrestrial attraction. There is nothing but puzzle, -contradiction, and inconsistency, in human opinion, where the natural -truth is unknown. Oh! apples, apples, why for discord sent? the first -cut short eternal life on earth; another turned "heaven-born reason" to -inventing dreams;--that heaven-born reason which tells us every day of -its yesterday's mistakes. - - - - -EXPERIMENTAL PHILOSOPHY. - - -The Baconian precept, to "torture Nature out of her secrets," has been, -and ever must be, abortive of the good intended. Nature is performing -freely and openly every hour, without making us wiser, and as little -while she is operating in our own experiments. Her language, of which -_inertia_ and _pressure_ are the alpha and omega, is not studied; -nor does it mislead or flatter like our own. Experiments innumerable -have been performed; the _experimentum crucis_ resorted to; the screw -applied to the utmost pinch, without either confession or concealment -on Nature's part. Hence, the experimenter is left to make his own -philosophy of the case, of which the next operator makes a different; -and all are falsely interpreted that violate the principle of inertia, -which all do. Aristotle, Bacon, Newton, Black, Reid, Davy, Des Cartes, -experimented indefatigably under the most favourable auspices,--exalted -talent, and the institutions of the world at command; but all on -false principles; yet Nature, tortured or not, left them to their own -mis-interpretations. Aristotle, true in his opinion of motion, was -himself ignorant of the cause of continuous motion, or all would not -be so at present. Bacon recommended experiment, without teaching the -natural mode of interpretation. Newton spent his valuable time, to the -world's great loss, in experimenting on light, in ascertaining and -describing its properties, as if there were material light; instead of -which, light is a mere sensible effect; hence, a physical nonentity. -Black and Reid called to their assistance all the powers of numbers, -to ascertain and prove the quantity of heat in the animal system, and -of cold in ice; but could not torture Nature out of the information, -that heat and cold do not belong to matter or bodies, as a knowledge of -the function of the senses could have informed them. Davy travelled to -Skehallean to find from the size of the hill, a ratio of attraction, -whence to calculate the quantity of attraction in the entire globe of -the earth: at home, correctly sought, he would have found, without -numerical assistance and the pendulum, that the amount is zero. The -deflection of the pendulum was caused by the pressure on one side of -the bulb being greater than on the side facing the hill; which, from -varying hourly with the sun's altitude, should have told him that the -deflection is a mere weather-deviating circumstance. - -On the other hand, who perceives the natural truths elicited by even -his own experiments! That truly great philosopher, Priestly, remained -ignorant that his own experiments on blood and air brought to light -the principle on which the blood is arterialized, without coming in -contact with the air in the lungs; of which experiments the faculty are -reprehensibly ignorant at present; also the principle of congelation -without cold. It is a general error that men must be philosophers -because they are mathematicians and first-rate experimenters, yet do -not know what keeps the blood in motion, nor how water becomes ice. - -What experiment was ever so absurdly illustrated as that of ice formed -in the midst of fire; which is explained by, "evaporation generating -cold in a red-hot crucible," and while maintaining that cold is only -the absence of heat. The _rationale_ is: the oxygen of water is the -hindrance to congelation, which the evaporation carries off, and the -remaining elements of the water are compressed into ice. What are the -elementary constituents of water, has yet to be learned. Misled by -false-directing philosophy, the analysis of a rotten potato, in quest -of the cause of the vegetable epidemic, is as wise as were the same -scientific procedure taken on the contents of a pustule to discover the -cause of the small pox: the result in both cases must be a complete -new formation; and in the former, the result could be no preventive -information whatever to the planter. To convince planters and remove -all timidity, every garden owner should plant an experimental patch -with potato _peelings_, each having an eye; the crop is certain and -good, and supplies the cottager with the next year's seed at no -expense. The _cutting_ for seed may be of exhausted vegetating power, -while the peeling of even the same potato may be as sound as ever. The -badly grown potatoes of the previous crop caused those of the following -to be of imperfect growth and perishable: hence the general potato-rot. - - - - -PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTION OF THE SENSES. - - -By the popular expression, "Evidence of the Senses," is universally -understood, the perception, or seeing external bodies by the organs of -sense: yet externals are invisible and the senses insentient. This -mistake, common among the fathers of every age, has corrupted the -prevalent false philosophy tenfold. - -The eye is not possessed of sight; neither is colour a property -of matter, or it must be indestructible by fire and every other -means. The senses should be considered as but mechanical agents for -exciting the brain; by which means it is we have our knowledge, the -particulars of the whole of which are mental, confined to the brain, -and consist, solely, in the cerebral excited scenery of the sensorium. -We have no other kind or means of acquiring knowledge, that is, -mental information. By the mere organs of sense we know nothing. The -knowledge we have by means of the senses exciting the brain, consists -in sensations or sensible effects, and, _we know nothing but our -knowledge_, whatever may be thought of externals being objects and -immediate objects of our knowledge. - -In describing what we know, it is imagined the description is of -external bodies, their appearance, qualities, and properties; which, -however harmless the mistake throughout busy-life affairs,--as all -abide, judge, and are directed by the same kind of evidence,--not so -is it in philosophy, which is a description of nature's own mode of -procedure; and although it is impossible to describe invisible things, -as they are really, they should not be philosophised and reasoned -on, _as they are not_; they are not according to what we know, and -can have no resemblance in any manner to sensations, which are all -we know by means of them. Instead of knowing by the senses what -bodies are, we know only what they _are not_; modern philosophy is -regardless, totally heedless of this most instructive most pointedly -directing information, instead of making the just allowance for mental -appearances, it materializes every sensation, and imputes the whole -to the bodies outside of our own, of which all we can possibly know -is but inferential knowledge: it considers our sensations as being -qualities of bodies or properties of matter, and maintains that some -are physical causes by which certain physical effects are produced. -Such may be considered some of the principal reasons why _clairvoyance_ -is unintelligible to all the most learned; and so must it ever remain, -or until a truer philosophy arises and rescues the great subject from -the darkness and errors of a perverting philosophy, the whole of -which has to be abandoned before the mind is fitted for the reception -of natural truths. We must cease to identify sensations with their -unseen, unknown, and but _promoting_, material causes. In proof of the -foregoing, a short review of the senses, their physiology, function, -result of the function and use of the result, must prove satisfactory -and convincing. - -The _physiology_ of a sense, consists in an external organ,--as the -eye or ear, its nerves of sensation which spread through the brain, -and, the nervous fluid. To each of the senses there belongs a distinct -cerebral organ, which, if deducted, leaves nothing to constitute the -physiology, but the external organ, the nerves, and nervous fluid; -such may be considered the physiology of all the senses, so far as the -exciting mental perception is concerned. - -The _function of a sense_ is, to act on and excite the cerebral organ, -when the nervous fluid is put into an acting state through external -circumstances. - -The _result of the function_, is a sensation, of which we have -immediate cognizance, by reason of a sensation being _a recent change -in consciousness_. The nervous fluid, not the tubular nervous _striæ_, -is that by which the brain is excited. - -The _use of the sensation_ is manifold. Emanating from the wonderful -Economy, is the law, that, _the sensation which an external body -promotes, shall, to ourself, seem to belong to that body_. - -The law is imperative. The sensation being apparently at, and belonging -to, the external object or body, it is imagined the body is visible, -seen by the eyes, and of the colour, flavour, or odour known by the -sensation. The apparent place of the sensation directs to where the -body is situated. - -No person thinks, when a rose promotes the sensation of colour, that -the object perceived is within himself: without the sensation there -is no perception of red, and with it, nothing is perceived or seen of -colour or of the flower; so that, were the object coloured or not, it -is to the spectator invisible; and as the sensation would be useless -were the object coloured and seen, it is obvious that the flower is -uncoloured, therefore is not seen: the seeing an uncoloured object is a -physical absurdity. So is it with all sensations; they constitute the -only objects of perception with which we are acquainted; and, such as -they are in any respect, the outward objects are in no respect. Sound -is a sensation; a sense has been provided that we should have knowledge -of sound; there is nothing of sound or noise in the air; the function -of the sense is not to hear, but excite the auditory cerebral organ, -and the sensation, in which alone sound consists, _seems_ to be outside -of us, and _seems_ to come from a bell, but which has nothing of the -kind to part with; yet it is imagined that sound enters the ear. Thus -is it supposed that the sensation externally exists, and is sound heard -by the ear. The philosopher so instructed, calculates the velocity of -the physical nonentity sound. - -Luminousness, light, colour, sound, heat, cold, flavour, odour, are -sensations,--each of the entire is traceable from the function of the -senses to the sensorium: deduct these, there is nothing perceived or to -perceive; by means of the senses, respectively, we have knowledge of -each,--and by the senses exciting the brain are the whole produced, as -sensible effects. Outward bodies can have nothing the same or similar -to sensible effects; and therefore nothing of the whole belongs to -matter or bodies, or to physical philosophy. To mechanical nature the -whole would be useless; to sensitive beings only are they useful; to us -they are substitutes for Nature's deficiency in these respects; and the -whole present a convincing proof of the wise, the strict economy of the -Great Architect in his works. - -The objection is unfounded, that the external object should be like -the sensation, in order to produce such sensation. But where is -there sound in musical string or in the metal of a bell to promote -the sensation; or yellow in the snowdrop to promote the sensation -of yellow, when the eyes are jaundiced or a stained lens is before -them: the sensation of pain is not the effect of pain; it and pain -are one. That which in health promotes the sensation known as sweet, -promotes that of bitter in sickness; the object is the same, the -sensation changeable. In reason it cannot be said that fire is like -the sensation, or the latter should be burning hot in the brain, where -it is excited; neither is any material thing outside of us like a -sensation of the brain; nor does the sensation inform us of anything -but itself, excepting that it has a remote external cause. The common -show-box exhibits the same landscape picture under the different -aspects of summer, autumn, winter, and spring, according to the stained -lens before the eyes; the picture has not all these colours, nor any, -it is a mere black and white print, in which the stained lenses make no -alteration. Nothing can be like a sensation but a sensation. - -That the objects we perceive and their remote cause are distinct -things, is proved by the perception being that of a coin of the -half-crown size, when the eyes are directed to a shilling and a convex -lens before the face; if the lens be red, yellow, or blue, so is the -perceived object, which is not the white shilling. We are invisible to -each other; what is imagined to be a man's appearance, may be described -as, various sensations of different colours symmetrically arranged, -and constituting a single optically-excited mental effect. Neither -is it the likeness of the sitter that the canvass exhibits, but the -excited perception within the sensorium of the limner; for the renewal -of which it is that he directs his eyes so frequently to the sitter's -face, which is invisible to the limner, although he feels certain that -he sees every feature. - -Those who imagine the eye-balls look and see, and that externals and -the perceptions they promote are the same, should, upon reflection, -attribute sight to their spectacles; for, as sight is nothing bettered -when the glasses are removed, so should the temporary improvement be -referred to the spectacles having sight as well as the eyes. - -In consequence of all mankind being similarly organised, that which -seems coloured, sonorous, hot, acid, or aromatic to one person, is so -to every one else with sane eyes and senses; by which unanimity of -opinion, in these respects, prevails throughout the great family of -man, in the worldly concerns of active life, and the social compact is -maintained indissoluble. - -The all-wise, benevolent dispensation of the senses, by which man's -existence is supplied with enjoyments not in all nature otherwise -to bestow; and his intellectual faculties provided with means of -contemplating the attributes of his Maker through his knowledge, such -as it is, of the creation, which makes known to us not only God's -regard for his creatures, but his supreme omniscience in the economy -made manifest throughout all his works. Were bodies coloured as we -imagine, there should be an element of each red, yellow, and blue -atoms; elements of sound, heat, and cold; elements of flavour and -odour innumerable: whereas, by the substitution of sensations, matter -without any such qualities, or any whatever, excepting that of being -everlasting, is made subservient to the formation of a universe of -worlds, teeming with beauty, harmony, and wonders; all contributing to -the comfort, enjoyment, happiness, edification, and future hope of its -sojourning inhabitants. - -Now, when from the established philosophy we deduct gravitation, -attraction and repulsion, which are as foreign to inert matter as -vitality to the dead,--the host of chymicals, so repugnant to the -principle of _inertia_,--the imaginary living principles, erroneously -imputed to the mechanical organs of the animal system,--the sensations -of luminousness, light, colour, sound, heat, cold, acidity, and of -flavours and odours,--when the entire of these unphysical, mere -nominals, are deducted from modern philosophy, there remains nothing -whatever to produce action, physical change, or motion, excepting -_pressure_, which has been always looked upon as a mere adjunct to the -imagined numerous powers of nature. When common sense has rejected the -whole, then will the philosophy of the Fathers be valued by the world, -as would be a garment with more holes than threads. - - - - -MATTER - - -As a general term, _matter_, means substance; with scientific -precision, the term is confined to the elementary state, in -contradistinction to the term _body_, applied to matter consolidated -into solids and fluids. - -Matter consists of atoms, which are hard, opaque, _unalterable_, of -homogeneous substance, of the spheric shape, and naturally _inert_, -therefore of inactive essence; being _inert_, various species of -substance would be useless. The spherical shape admits immediate atomic -contact, and leaves interstices uniformly throughout all bodies. -There cannot be either communication or alteration of the essence of -inert matter; and what the essence of unalterable matter may be, is -impossible, and would be useless, to know. - -An element is any volume of atoms of the same size. There is no -difference between elements but in the size of their atoms. - -Every element is a rarer medium to every other element of larger atoms; -the minor is as a partial vacuum to the major, which involves the -principle of _inequality_, on which motion depends. - -Correlative elements are any two, the atoms of one of which are fitted -for the interstices of the other, and for no other interstices. Such -elements will naturally be together. On the correlative principle -magnetism depends. - -All bodies consist of several elements; there is nothing simple, but -an element. Bodies are divisible, matter is not. - -All bodies include a portion of _elementary_ or _electric_ matter, -which is removed without injury to their general texture. - -Matter can suffer no change but change of place. - -Weight is an accident of matter, the effect of motion: all _effect_ -consists in motion; there is no result until effect has ended in rest. - -Rest being natural to inert matter, is no effect, has no cause. - -_There is no power but impulsive pressure_; nor is there any effect -whatever attributable to _inertia_. - -The fundamental principle of _inertia_ is that only from which the -philosophy of nature is deducible: all philosophy is false which is not -consistent throughout with this universal, all-directing principle. - - * * * * * - -_Note._--The terms _electric_ and _elementary_ are of the same -signification, which is, _highly rare_: quality and power to act are -wholly out of the question with the inert atoms of the elements of -bodies and matter. - - - - -MOTION. - - -Motion admits of no definition, from being but a local casuality of -transitory endurance; motion is the same in all things, from an atom to -a planet, against which all difference in velocity and direction makes -no exception. - -Impulsive pressure is the only cause analogous to the mechanical -effect motion; pressure is universal because matter is inert. - -Motion is not natural to _inert_ matter: the term is expressive of the -local condition of a body, while the body is prevented remaining where -it is, and while the body is being passed through contiguous portions -of space. - -THERE IS NO CAUSE OF MOTION BUT PHYSICAL IMPULSE. - -As effect and cause are necessarily equal, so is motion the measure of -impulse, in time. Therefore as long as a body is in motion it is being -impelled, however insensible the impelling cause. Motion must be in the -direction of impulse; for, as a body cannot move itself, and is the -passive patient of impulse, so must its direction be the same as that -of impulse; therefore when the direction of motion is changed, it must -be by a novel impulse in the novel direction. - -From all matter being in motion, and all effect consisting in motion, -and because like effects everywhere are attributable to the like -or same cause, so must there be a cause of motion as universal as -matter; rather than that there should be a distinct impelling cause -for every individual motion following after the body, to put and keep -it in motion. In all philosophic research the golden rule of nature -should be held in mind, which prescribes "the shortest mode and fewest -materials:" _to mistake on the side of simplicity is more wise than -censurable in the search after natural physical truths_. - -A universal cause of motion, it would seem, can be no other than a -universal medium, a medium of pressure, one occupying the regions of -planetary space, competent to keep the planets in interminable motion -and effect all terrestrial minor motion: only by such means is it -conceivable how the earth can be under endless, ever-varying impulse, -productive of ever-changing direction. When impulsively pressed into -motion by such a medium, the direction of a planet must be orbicular, -on account of the pressure on the solar side being always less than -on the opposite, by which the projectile direction is diverted from -rectilinear to curvilinear. - -Newton imagined that a medium, and however rare, occupying the regions -of space, must retard, in time destroy, and eventually require the hand -of Deity to restore the primeval order of planetary motion: no very -bright idea of the great mathematician, considering the Omniscience of -the Projector of a _self-going_, _self-regulating_ Universe. Whereas -a medium as dense as molten gold, could produce no such disorder as -long as impulse is greater than resistance; which the long-continuance -and order of planetary motion strongly seem to indicate is the case. -Were there no medium in space, the planets must be at rest; one could -not possibly affect another but by its shadow: Uranus being agitated -by the greatly remote presence of Neptune, is proof of there being a -connecting medium between. Gravitation is supposed to move the body -possessed of the property, forwards,--why not every way?--to the sun or -towards some neighbouring planet, but not to send that body or planet -an agitating warning of its presence. How is gravitation within one -planet to keep another in a state of agitation; which agitation being -motion--a mechanical effect--is proof of there being a medium by which -mediate connection is maintained between the two, Uranus and Neptune. -Without a planetary medium there could be no _system_ of planets. -Suppose the existence of such a medium, then its sudden removal,--must -not every subordinate system, which makes part of the universal system, -become disjointed the same instant? Besides, from the laws of vision, -rather of optics, there is equal proof that space contains a medium. -There is no light to come from a star to the eye; there is nothing of -sight belonging to the eye-balls; and there must be something between -a star and the sense to connect the star with the sense; or how is the -sense or brain to be so affected by the star, as that the perception -or sensation shall be always the same when the eye-ball lenses are -directed to the same star; and only by a universal medium can all the -stars of the hemisphere be in connection with the eye at the same -time, or the time of a few winks of the eye. Therefore until it is -proved that constant planetary motion can be without constant and equal -corresponding impulse, as to direction; and that a star can affect -the sense of itself, immediately or with nothing between, all denial -of planetary space being occupied by a medium of pressure, is utterly -untenable. - - - - -THE MEDIUM OF SPACE. - - -Pressure being obviously the cause of planetary motion, so is it of all -terrestrial motion. To produce atomic motion and transfer generally, it -is necessary, only, that the atoms of the medium of space should be of -less size than the minutest interstices in bodies. - -A universal medium must be of universal service, (as would be -conceived, were the universe involved in a medium of water,) to be -in accordance with nature's economy: to keep the planets and matter -in motion, to retain atoms together, and effect their separation -occasionally, include the whole of action required by its service; more -in this respect it cannot effect; nor is the common general procedure -otherwise effected. Therefore in pressure, by the medium of space, -consists the PRIMUM MOBILE: the beginning and end of all physical cause -of action and of all physical effect. - -Pressure is nothing assumed, hypothetic, or unproven, like attraction -and gravitation,--the justly dethroned imbecile usurpers of the -imperial chair of philosophy for ages past. - -On barometric evidence alone, that pressure exists all round the globe -is fully proved; and that it is indispensable to the maintenance of -the existing general order, all must readily grant who reflect for an -instant on the fatal consequences which the cessation of the general -pressure, for only a few minutes, must cause. Hence it is no immediate -question how the general pressure originated, how maintained, what -the confining boundaries or _point d'appui_. Most likely it is the -consequence of the motion of the planets themselves, surging through -the ocean of space. As every performance of nature has some ulterior -object in view, it is probable that the effect of the motion of a -planet on the medium of space is tributary to the motion of another -planet, and that the motion of the whole is a means of preventing -the cessation of motion of any of the parts. Most likely the medium -of space was not in a state of pressure at first; that planetary -motion, however commenced, effected the state of pressure necessary -for its continuance, and which would be useless beyond the precincts -of planetary evolution: where pressure is not needed, of a certainty -there is none. Hence the conclusion is warrantable, that the general -pressure, however commenced, is maintained by not only the motion of -the planets individually but in systems, through the ocean of space. - -The earth may be said to swim through the medium of space, and to be -soaked with it as a submerged sponge is with water, and the portion -within the globe of the earth, is continuous with the like medium in -space generally. By which all parts of the interior of the globe are -under the general pressure equally as the surface, and all terrestrial -bodies subject to its vicissitudes. - -By such means, only, is the great earthquake to be accounted for on -dynamic principles. Far as the subterraneous grumbling extends, the -physical cause must be present, and in a state of force equal to the -awful result. No pent-up air suddenly set free, or suddenly exploded -gas,--both naturally forceless,--subject to attenuation and obstruction -in the passage from the source--is competent to burst the globe and -hurl whole cities into the engulfing chasm: nor is fire any assistant, -judging from the absence of flame, smoke, cinders, and ashes. Dreadful -as is the catastrophe, it is but a natural casuality and in perfect -accordance with the laws of matter. An extraordinary rushing into the -body of the earth of medium of space, preceded by an equal efflux of -elementary matter atmospherically induced, are the cause and promoting -means of the extraordinary, terrific phenomenon. - -All things being under the general pressure, and elementary atoms -of all sizes everywhere present, the interstices of bodies cannot -remain empty. From all interstices being formed by spherical atoms, -and the atoms of the medium of space the smallest, there are always -interstitial spaces for medium of space to enter, pass through or -remain within, and which _is not insulated_, but continuous with the -outward source. Thus, has the medium of space access to every atom, and -by the pressure from without, is enabled to act _centrifugally_ within -the body, as a kind of back-spring against each and the whole of its -constituent atoms, to produce expansion, dissolution, and elementary -dispersion according to the medium or circumstances in which the body -may be placed. These general principles admit of repetition, in order, -that, by repeated showing, to prove their validity, against others -more generally known and adopted, although unfounded in nature, sense, -or reason. - - - - -MINUS-PRESSURE MATTER. - - -Taking the maximum of pressure as a fixed quantity, or, as not being -subject to increase, and assuming the degree to be not less than -equal to the tenacity of steel, there must of necessity be means of -mitigating the maximum, so that in the scale of descent every degree -of force should be attainable; and more, to keep the equilibrium in -a state of disturbance, without which all things must be, and remain -in the rest of death. Were there no minus-pressure means, the solid, -or perhaps aëriform state of matter would exist everywhere, and of -motion there could be none. Such means for promoting motion are amply -supplied, and without any addition of matter to the measured quantity -sufficient for the formation of bodies and service of nature generally, -in the elements themselves, of matter. - -As the body which is involved in a medium of air is under less pressure -than in a medium of water, and still less within a medium of elementary -matter, so is elementary matter, and the elements generally, the -natural means of mitigating the maximum of pressure on and within -bodies. All bodies within and on the surface of the earth, possess -removable elementary matter, which prevents superficial contact, and -excludes medium of space proportionally from their interior; and -because the medium of space is the cause of pressure, in being thus -rendered discontinuous, so is its force, as it were, intercepted -or lessened. For instance, a polished needle floats on water, but -when wetted or smoked is precipitated, from having its electric or -minus-pressure atmosphere removed; from which it is obvious that with -the minus-pressure atmosphere, the needle is under less pressure than -when without it; and the same atmosphere it is which makes the bed in -the water so much larger every way than the needle. - -The minus-pressure principle is well exemplified in the rise of water -within a tube over which fire is situated. When the fire is removed, -the water falls. The fire must be in the state of combustion--mere -ignition does not answer. The elements forced out of the combustible, -as combustion proceeds, cover the orifice of the tube, and intercept -the general pressure, notwithstanding they are under the general -pressure. By such minus-pressure means is the equilibrium destroyed, -and by the unaltered pressure on the water outside the lower orifice -of the tube, the water is forced upwards. So is it that the water of -the sea is raised to the minus-pressure, elementary matter descending -from a cloud in the shape of an inverted cone, and known as the -water-spout. Astronomers can best say whether the sun and moon be not -minus-pressure means in promoting the rise of the ocean, productive of -the tides; a miniature representation of which is effected by holding -a charged jar over a surface of water, to which the water rises in a -small cone,--which cone follows every motion of the jar, and falls when -the jar is discharged. Capillary ascent is promoted by the interposed -minus-pressure electric matter which fills the caliber of the tube: the -same matter prevents the horizontal flow of water through such tubes; -but when the tubes are de-electrised, the flow is free and constant: -boiling water, or fire de-electrises all such tubes. The electric -matter on a bar of iron is a hinderance to water running down, but -when removed by means of fire, the water runs down the bar freely. The -atmosphere is a minus-pressure medium to the earth, and on the general -principle that _interposed elementary matter renders discontinuous_ the -medium of pressure, which is the medium of space. - -Minus-pressure means exist in other than the elementary form, -as in blotting-paper, candle-wick, pledgets of lint. Within the -cupping-glass, which is empty of air only, it is the minus-pressure -matter obtained from flame which promotes the rise of blister. -Within the vessels of the vascular system, as mucilaginous lining, -minus-pressure matter assists the circulation of fluids, on the -foregoing capillary principle. The slime on deep-water fish, seems -provided to lessen the pressure of the water on the inhabitants of -those seas. Minus-pressure matter on one side only of a body, destroys -the equilibrium, and promotes the motion of the body; and generally, -the partial action, implied by motion, of the medium of space on bodies -or their parts, is promoted by interposed minus-pressure matter in -every instance of physical change. Only in minus-pressure means, which -serve as a partial vacuum in some cases, to disturb the equilibrium -of pressure, is motion, or change of place of the elements of bodies, -or of bodies themselves promoted: without such means there is nothing -to promote the blowing of a wind, or to put the medium of space into -action. Cause being given, the _General Pressure_ in the production -of every physical effect, the sole province of philosophy consists in -tracing out the minus-pressure means which promote the occasional and -partial action of the medium of pressure. - - - - -FIRE. - - -Fire is not hot, although it burns the flesh and promotes pain. -Matter, which is unalterable, cannot be made hot or cold, neither -is there anything to make it so. If a limb be made rigid, or the -nerves of sensation be removed, or the function of the nervous fluid -be obstructed, the limb may be burned off unconsciously. Heat is a -sensation effected through excitement of the brain; out of the brain -there is neither excitement nor heat. The fire does not excite the -brain, but the nervous fluid; and although the sensation is not hot, it -is imagined that the cause must be hot, which is false reasoning. The -chymist finds heat creviced in all things, even those which he admits -are destroyed by heat--gunpowder and ice. How can flame be hot, when -just obtained from the gases of decomposed ice water? or, if hot, _sui -generis_, it must have been hot frozen flame in the original ice. - -Modern philosophy adopts different kinds of heat,--_animal, culinary, -and latent heat_. The first is our own feeling excited by means of -fire in the sensitive centre, the brain; also by exercise and disease, -in the absence of fire. How is the spark from the flint or from the -steel to saturate a bushel of coal with heat? How, again, does "heat -come to an equilibrium in all surrounding bodies," when some portion -of the coal may be black cold, and others red hot--using the popular -terms--in the fire-place, at the same time, and while the air in the -chamber is indexing zero? _Latent heat_ is of the philosopher's own -peculiar making; and on the "_great discovery_" the most unbounded -praise is still bestowed. Latent heat, "which all bodies possess -without being heated," which, "heats nothing," and is not hot, is -cold heat, and should be nomenclatured such, or, absurd heat. Are not -Instructors less than half-reasoners and unnatural philosophers, who -abide by and teach such consummate nonsense: on a par with which is -the discovery of "latent dark light"--"of black being formed by the -intermixture of two luminous rays at the point of intersection in -the spectrum," which is the same as feelable darkness; after which, -there only remains for "_new discovery_," latent sound, for inking -on, thence vibrating from, a sheet of music-paper; and latent motion, -to keep a stone at rest, the quantity of motion in the world having -been already ascertained arithmetically to a fraction; the last-day -discovery, the quantity of right reason, is the small remaining trifle -to be discovered. Radiation of heat and cold by fire and ice, being -inconsistent with the _inertia_ of _matter_, is an erroneous and -greatly-misleading assumption, although proved through the nicest -experiments, according to the experimenter's ideas. - -Instead of fire communicating anything to bodies, _fire promotes loss -to everything_ in its neighbourhood. The bars of stoves, iron pokers, -steam-boilers; all culinary vessels; coal, wood, candles, paper, linen, -all suffer loss by means of fire; cinders, charcoal, tinder, are but -remains: to which it is no exception that some bodies acquire substance -and weight in becoming oxydes; because, previous to acquiring oxygen -from the air, they must have lost elementary matter to the fire to make -spaces for the oxygen to enter, otherwise the open air should oxydize -equally, in the absence of fire. - -The loss, or matter of loss which fire promotes to fluids, appears as -air-beads on the sides and bottom within the vessel on the fire, before -the water comes to ebullition: these beads cannot be made to rise in -the water by any manner of agitation, which is proof they have not -come from the fire, and through the rigid bottom, or ascent and escape -are inevitable. When the bottom has been sufficiently de-electrised by -the fire, they are pressed through it to the fire; or if the vessel be -removed and placed on the ground, they become dispersed through the -water insensibly. The like spherules collect on an egg while boiling, -which cannot be anything issued from the fire to the surface of the -water, then precipitated on the egg. On the bottom of a glass-retort -suspended over a lamp, the like spherules collect, from which it is -supposed that water never touches the bottom of any containing vessel; -it must touch that which it wets. - -That air suffers loss to fire, is made evident by the air being -deprived of, or losing its oxygen during combustion; and from both fire -and flame becoming extinguished in a limited quantity of respirable -air, in consequence of having lost its oxygen to the combustible, while -in the state of fire. - -Solids, as polished metals and glass, when they experience no change -of weight, lose to the fire imponderable elementary matter only. So is -it when the hand is presented to the fire, it loses electric matter, -and the loss it suffers promotes the sensation of heat: when the hand -afterwards touches a body, supposed to be cold, it acquires elementary -matter from that which is touched. In every instance the body, solid or -fluid, supposed to be _heating_, is losing elementary matter; and that -which is said to be _cooling_, is acquiring the like matter; the hand -_loses_ to the former and _receives_ from the latter electric matter. - - - - -THE MEDIUM OF FIRE. - - -A peculiar medium is formed within a fire, towards the composition of -which the fuel contributes more or less of its elements; which is made -manifest in a piece of wood or paper when held within the fire, being -brought to the state of combustion, and without touching the fuel, -(heat, be it remembered, is no more physical than shadow.) The like -medium is formed from the elements contributed by flame, and whatever -of elementary matter the atmosphere may contribute beside. High above -the flame of a lamp combustion and fusion are effected the same as -within, or in contact with the flame. Between the cupped hands this -medium is receivable, and may be carried from the flame of a candle to -the wick of a different candle just blown out, which it re-illumines. -There being little or none of the medium of fire attendant on a -detached ignited body, favours the conjecture that the fuel during -combustion contributes somewhat of its elements towards the formation -of the medium of fire. Hence, although not included in the nomenclature -of chymistry or any other, the medium of fire should have place on the -list of realities. - -As all bodies include more or less of free elementary matter, which -excludes its equal in volume of the medium of space, so to admit medium -of space in order to cause change in the constitution of a body, the -body must undergo previous de-electrisation: the law is general. - -The medium of space being the expanding and decomposing cause, by -means of its centrifugal pressure within bodies, to prevent its being -in excess and effecting such changes spontaneously, productive of the -decomposition of all things, all bodies are protected or retained in -their present condition by the electric matter within them, which -excludes the decomposing cause. - -Within the medium of fire all kinds of bodies become de-electrised; -all suffer loss of electric matter, which is succeeded by influent -medium of space, the centrifugal pressure of which affects the several -changes to which bodies are liable previous to ultimate dissolution -into the elementary state. In promoting the de-electrisation of every -kind of body, and to the extreme, which no other individual medium or -menstruum can effect, consists the universal utility of the medium of -fire. - - - - -EXPANSION. - - -The theory of expansion is of easy comprehension; it consists in -previous de-electrisation, succeeded by influent medium of space, -which, by acting with centrifugal pressure, produces the phenomenon of -expansion. The general pressure is the expanding cause, by reason of -the portion of medium of space within all bodies being continuous with -the medium of pressure in general space. - -A bar of iron placed within the medium of fire suffers -de-electrisation; then acquires medium of space, by which the bar is -expanded. When taken from the fire, it acquires electric matter similar -to that of which it had suffered loss, which displaces the expanding -medium, and now becomes contracted by external pressure. The olden -philosophy has no contracting cause, the imputed attraction having -been destroyed by the imputed heat of the fire, as the same philosophy -states of the imputed attraction of magnets being destroyed by the heat -of fire, which leaves the bar to contract itself. - -A piece of lead on the fire becomes de-electrised and expanded. The -portion of medium of space it has acquired separates the atoms of -the lead by which the state of solidity is subverted; it remains as -one of the constituents of the lead, and is as a menstruum to the -metal, and the atoms of the metal may be said to swim in it as the -globules of blood in the serum. Further de-electrisation and additional -increments of medium of space are productive of complete dispersion of -the atoms of the metal, and of a kind of efflorescent result, which -is a subsequent formation. The air in a corked bottle before the -fire loses electric matter to the medium of fire; and by the medium -of space which enters the vacated interstices, the cork is exploded. -In the partially exhausted air-pump receiver, that decrease in the -quantity of air should increase the expansive power of the remainder, -and that the atoms should fly asunder with exploding force, is most -unreasonable and impossible. The physical fact is, the more the air -is reduced, the greater is the quantity of influent medium of space, -consequently of expanding and exploding force. In the condensing of -air, as is the expression, by the piston of the syringe, the quantity -is reduced from being forced out through the pores of the syringe; and -pressure on the bottom of the piston springs it up when the depressing -power is removed. Under the general pressure the atoms of air must -be in contact; and the volume being reduced, implies reduction of -quantity: hard unalterable atoms are incompressible beyond contact; -and as to their being elastic, it is physically impossible; medium -of space being forced out and re-entering, is what makes the air be -considered elastic. Let the syringe be worked under water, and the -matter displaced appears escaping as air-bubbles, and as air-beads on -the outside of the syringe. - - - - -OXYGEN AIR. - - -All airs are compounds. Medium of space is the most voluminous -constituent of every aëriform body, which accounts for an air or gas -and steam being of so much greater volume than that from which it had -been obtained; steam has fifteen hundred times the volume of the water -it was produced from. - -Oxygen air is decomposed in converting it with hydrogen to water: -there is no oxygen or hydrogen air in water; their _elements_ are -the constituents of water. Oxygen is decomposed by respiration; when -inspired, it is not expired, but nitrogen, which must have been one -of its constituents, and from there being nothing to constitute the -expiration but the previous inspiration the proposition is proved. - -The constituents of oxygen are--nitrogen, _a highly rare imponderable -element_ and medium of space. The first is the most ponderable element -of nitrogen air; its atoms are the largest of all others of the -elements of matter, and, it may be said, they constitute the substance -of the framework of all ponderable or gross formations. Davy says, -"the properties of nitrogen are altogether negative;" the same applies -to every other kind of air, all being constituted of _inert_ atomic -substance, consequently of inactive essence; and all being alike in -every respect but in the size of their atoms. The imponderable element -being highly evanescent, is never found alone, and is always connected -with nitrogen; hence simple nitrogen is obtainable only from bodies, or -by deoxygenating atmospheric air. Atmospheric air is nitrogen, plus the -imponderable element; and when the nitrogen is saturated with the same -element, the air is oxygen: hence, whichever is inspired, nitrogen is -expired. - -From nitrogen being evolved copiously from water in vacuo, and from -ice being convertible to nitrogen, according to Priestley, so is -nitrogen a constituent of water, also of the gases into which water is -decomposable; but as it cannot belong to the hydrogen, owing to its -superior levity, it must to the oxygen; which is confirmation of the -above, that nitrogen is a constituent of oxygen air or gas. - - - - -THE USE OF OXYGEN IN PROMOTING COMBUSTION. - - -How oxygen supports combustion no Elementary Treatise explains; but -leaves it to be imagined, that oxygen is somewhat of a burnable nature, -or that it generates heat when blown into a fire. The fact is, it -supports combustion only mechanically. The centrifugal pressure, by -the medium of space, decomposes the fuel; electric matter, entering -the ignited fuel, displaces medium of space, and the fire goes out; -oxygen prevents the entrance of electric matter, and permits the medium -of space to enter the fuel freely, the pressure from without gives -centrifugal force. In this twofold manner of service oxygen promotes -the continuance of the kind of decomposition known as combustion. A -live coal is greatly _deficient_ of electric matter; when just fallen -from the fire it is said to be red and hot, after a few minutes black -and cold; all of which are but mental effects. On the hearth the coal -acquires electric matter from the air, which displaces medium of space, -and becomes extinguished; so would the fire were there no oxygen in the -surrounding air. Hence it would seem, that the interstices of oxygen -are too diminutive for electric matter to enter, but are sufficiently -large for those of the medium of space to pass through, thence into -the fuel. Should the utility of the nitrogen of oxygen in combustion -be questioned, because nitrogen alone puts an end to the combustion -of a candle; it may be answered, that, as the imponderable element of -oxygen air, from being highly evanescent, is not obtainable without -the nitrogen, and as by the service of both together combustion is -increased, so may both be considered supporters of combustion; the -grosser element serving as a carrier to the minor, and, as it were, -giving it momentum sufficient to penetrate beyond the surface of the -half-decomposed, or previously ignited fuel. - - - - -COMBUSTION. - - -A piece of wood, like everything else when placed within the medium -of fire, suffers de-electrisation and acquires medium of space: this -twofold procedure continuing, the wood becomes split or burst asunder, -and its elements gradually forced out by the centrifugal pressure; -some of which are precipitated, some contribute to the medium of fire, -others are recombined differently and exist for a short space of time -as flame, and others, with matter from the air, form soot. Such is the -most rational theory of combustion, consistent with the _inertia_ of -matter and the absence of heat. - -Friction rubs away electric matter, percussion forces it out, -combustion and ignition follow, and without being promoted by either -heat or fire. The kindling matter of a coal-laid fire requires -the de-electrising spark at first, and the de-electrised kindling -de-electrises the coal; the wood fire, effected by means of friction, -is independent of even the spark of fire for its commencement, from -having been otherwise de-electrised at first. Within the fire, one part -de-electrises another, and the centrifugal pressure decomposes the -whole. - -Animal combustion is consequent on the internal organs and flesh being -de-electrised, the stomach first, by means of spirituous liquors, -which, like fire in so doing, promote the sensation of heat. The -stomach and adjacent organs, from being thus de-electrised, are -prepared to receive the decomposing medium; and from oxygen, to exclude -electric matter, being absent, the flesh is brought to the state of -smothered combustion and charred: it may now be considered in the light -of a _mortuum caput_. - -The spontaneous combustion of greasy clothes, damp hay and other -things, is promoted by the limited quantity of air in which such -articles are confined. To the hand the air seems warm before -combustion has commenced, which indicates deficiency of electric -matter, but which, in time, the air acquires from greasy clothes, and -from damp hay, the removal of which is succeeded by the destroying -medium, by which the elements of the combustible become separated, set -free, and dispersed. - -In summer, when the atmosphere is greatly deficient of what may -be termed winter electric matter, all woodwork is in a desiccated -condition; and the slight friction of limb against limb is sufficient -to make space for medium of space to enter in excess, and convert to -fire, tree after tree, the whole of a forest. - -The combustion of a candle is well worthy the philosopher's attention. -The candle while burning, comprises a series of the simplest -operations, and far beyond the powers of art to effect or otherwise -imitate; yet from indifference to the familiar, and the paucity of -skill required in the construction, there is nothing less noticed -with philosophic acumen. The mechanism and materials to be wrought -are the same; which consist in a slender, compact, portable cylinder -of tallow, within which is included an equal length of wick. The -various operations of de-electrising, fluidifying, and gas-making, -are performed in silent, regular succession, unretarded by friction -and unincumbered with containing vessels, Nature furnishes the power. -The wick answers the purpose of service-pipes, through which the -half-wrought materials are conveyed in a gaseous form to the refining -fire, within which they remain as in a gasometer of supply, to be -gradually diffused through the surrounding flame, and there receive -the finishing lustrous polish. The new formation is now a refinery to -the work in progress, and is curiously situated over the materials -where only it could serve the numerous requisite purposes. Nor does the -gradual consumption of the machinery derange the order of operation, -work and wear being carried on simultaneously to the end. The -many-coloured tissue wrought, of starlight shine and of expanded base, -is tastefully tapered as if to please in appearance, as well as lighten -our darkness. Thus by natural means, operating on almost uncostly -materials, mankind are supplied with that by which darkness is turned -to day--the candle flame. - -All combustion is on the same principle, previous de-electrisation -the commencement, and, by the same cause continued, the centrifugal -pressure, which is on the increase from being derived from the general -pressure. Flame, or the electric spark, de-electrises the gases, oxygen -and hydrogen, before their conversion to water takes place; compression -effects the same. The inflammable air in mines becomes exploded from -the de-electrising consequence of flame, when inadvertently exposed; -and at times the de-electrisation is effected by the atmosphere, as in -spontaneous combustion. The mine explosion, promoted by the atmosphere, -is a case of spontaneous detonation, if not combustion, which, from sad -experience taught, should be anticipated by the application of a rocket -fired by a train. The foul air should be got rid of timely, not left -to accumulate, and the weather dictates when. "The Davy" may be said -to insulate the flame of the lamp from the electric matter of the air -within the mine. The flame, when exposed, de-electrises the foul air, -and in fluent medium of space causes the explosion. - - - - -WATER. - - -Water is the most compound of fluids, although when pure it promotes -little or no sensation, which is owing to the certain proportion of its -elements to each other. It seems to have, as constituents, a portion -of each of the general elements; of which, when any are in excess or -deficiency, the fluid differs from common pure water, but still is -an aqueous fluid. All aqueous fluids which differ from pure water, -do so from elementary disproportion in their constitution. Ancient -philosophers considered water the parent of all things, because it -contributes matter of substance and increase, they said, to all kinds -of bodies, and because there is nothing elementary belonging to bodies -which is not obtainable, by one means or other, from water or its -productions. It contributes increase to the whole of the vegetable -kingdom, and through vegetable matter to the increase of animal flesh. -From the vegetable world are obtainable, by means of art, earths, -metals, salts, acids, alkalies, even flame; the primitives of which -are of the same kind as the initials of water; also of the atmosphere, -which is convertible to water, but is not water, by reason of not only -elementary disproportion, but the enormous excess of medium of space -in which its elements are involved. - -The constitution of water being unknown, and supposed to consist of -only the gases, hydropathy is condemned, like mesmerism, through the -ignorance and intolerance of professionals, themselves falsely educated -at best. As alimentary, water is the most wholesome drink under -heaven; as medicinal, far beyond comparison with extracts from metals -and minerals, from which deduct the water, the remainder kills. The -hydropathic perspiration cleanses the flesh from head to foot; physic, -the intestines and stomach only. Water is the elixir of both body and -mind; witness the persons who are teetotallers. A patient declared to -the present writer, he would rather have run naked into the street, -were he not bound up by the wet sheets, than endure the fog and stench -from his body by the cold water perspiration. Yet doctors insist that -hydropathy is not medicinal or curative, or why not adopt the practice? - -Water is formed by detonating the gases, oxygen and hydrogen, by which -their _elements_ become combined in the form of water; which is the -only formative mode pursued in the laboratory of art; whereas, in that -of nature, it is variously formed: the number of elements determines -the number of modes. Suppose six the number of the natural elements, -then any five and the remaining one, any four and the remaining two, -or any three and the other three, met and compressed within the -atmosphere, the product is water. On the meeting of certain clouds, -where _the gases_ could not have equal elevation, water is formed; -and on walls and wainscots, under cover, in humid weather, it is -formed from the electric matter on their surface and the complement of -elements contributed by the atmosphere: the same walls, in the same -weather, would have no water, if kept de-electrised by stoves. It is -formed similarly on furs, woollens, and the spider's web, all of which -are retainers of electric matter; and on the leaves of plants as _dew_, -but on the side only which is covered with the like electric matter. -Dew-water is neither a precipitation nor exhalation, but a formation on -that where it is found. - -Water is formed on glass and metallic vessels, however closely covered, -as long and no longer than the included water gives out electric matter -through the pores of the vessel. In the air of the tropics, the dew or -water running down the outside of covered and uncovered vessels, cannot -be considered humidity of the air condensed by cold. In proof of the -foregoing, the hitherto unexplained experiment is opportune. - -A plate of glass, covered on one side with tin foil, has much dew on -the naked side when uppermost, and none, when the covered side is -uppermost, of equal dewy nights. The foil acquires electric matter from -the ground, which the glass or naked upper side receives and retains; -but when the naked side is next the ground, the portion of electric -matter it acquires is conducted off by the foil at top; and as where -there is no electric matter there is no dew, the upper coated side -is dry, and under circumstances which would have left much dew on the -glass side if uppermost. - -Within the animal system various aqueous fluids and humidities are -formed, and, as in the former instances, without oxygen and hydrogen -being present; namely, hydrocephalus, the stomach juices, liquor -pericardium, water of blister, milk, tears: to these add the juices -of fruit, the chymists' aqueous fluids, together with the variety -of formative modes, and the complex constitution of water remains -unquestionable. Lavoisier's experiments proved the same, by the endless -variety in the residue and product, from decomposing and recomposing -the same water several times. Davy states, that, when experimenting on -different substances, water frequently appeared, when there was nothing -sensibly present to which it could be attributed, if not to nitrogen, -which disappeared simultaneously with the water appearing: electric -matter is everywhere present, although not sensibly discoverable. - -From which it is obvious that the alchymists of old mistook the road -to _El Dorado_. Instead of aiming at turning the grosser metals into -gold, they should have alchymised on water, taking its elements as the -money-changer does those of the numeration table, and by the rules of -transposition made the valueless stand in the place of most value. - -Water in the boiler loses electric matter to the fire beneath, and is -expanded by influent medium of space; the excess of the latter throws -out the elements of the superior stratum, which, with an enormous -influx of medium of space, are the constituents of steam and the power -of steam. The so-acquired medium of space, by the pressure from without -which it is under, is the cause of the elasticity and force of steam. -Steam is not water, nor is it ever condensed by "cold." It consists -in the elements of water, less that which the water lost to the fire: -both, with a reduced or proportional quantity of medium of space, make -the original stratum of water. What but electric matter can steam -receive from the pipes it may be passed through, and is discharged from -as water? Insulated, "centrifugally repellant heat," without fulcrum, -is a most inconsiderable substitute for _the pressure of nature_ by -the all-pervading medium of space, and but a shadowy substitute in -accounting for the powerful effects of steam. There is no repellant -force in the flame of a candle; and what but influent medium of space -can make a pint of water fill and overflow a quart vessel. - -Water loses its fluidity and is made solid or congealed, upon losing -the imponderable oxygenating element. Priestley through his experiments -made the discovery, that, "air, purer than atmospheric, is given out -by water at the instant of congelation,"--which must be oxygen air. -From which we learn, that oxygen is the natural hinderance against the -waters of the globe being solid; with which experimental practice and -experience agree, it being well known that oxygen added to a freezing -solution, retards congelation; and that, to facilitate the freezing -of water, a smart tap is given to the side of the vessel, hitherto -unknown why, but seems as if to shake out the oxygen. The following -observed circumstances exhibit the congelation of water throughout all -its stages. The air in a chamber being favourable for the reception of -oxygen from water, the water in a cylindrical earthen pitcher became -frozen; a plate of ice was formed, which equalled the area of the -vessel, and firmly fixed to the sides one full inch higher than the -water had been at first. The bottom of the vessel was blown out, the -sides remained whole, and the ice not broken or moved. - -The circumstances of the case admits of the following illustration. -Medium of space, by its pressure, forced out the oxygen; additional -increments of the same medium entered, collapsed the elements of the -deoxydated stratum of water, and so forcibly expanded the rest of the -water as to make it explode the bottom of the vessel, all at the same -instant. As all excess of medium of space retired from the water, the -latter sunk to the original height; and had not the water escaped, it -would have been an inch separate from the plate of ice. A river thus -frozen, flows freely beneath the ice from the same circumstances. The -bomb-shell at Hudson Bay was exploded by the expanded water, not by -the newly-formed ice; or else the sides, not the bottom of the earthen -vessel, would have been exploded. - -Ice is deoxygenated water, and abounds with electric matter, hence it -floats; and ice-water is at the minimum of density from being deficient -of oxygen. Ice, in a Florence flask, hung over a lamp, yields -abundance of electric matter, towards the formation of lamp-black -on the outside of the bottom of the flask, which, to the miniature -painter may be preferable, from being the freest of grit. In all cases -of combustion, the elements of lamp-black are present; so that, in -combustion of the diamond, the same kind of soot being formed, affords -no information of the constituents of this highly-prized crystal. -With more reason than that of pure carbon, (which is but another name -for the electric matter which is the principal constituent of ice, -and lamp-black) being the base of diamond, it may be assumed, that, -diamond is a crystalized oxyde of water. The electrician's opposite -characteristics of the two, diamond and ice, accord with the suggestion. - - - - -SOLVENCY. - - -The menstruum is supposed to _act_ by "chymical attraction," from -having "chymical affinity" on the involved "chymical solid," which -enables it to draw out the elementary atoms of the solid: whereas the -_inert_ menstruum does nothing; it is but an interstitial recipient for -the atoms to be forced into, as they become centrifugally forced out -of the solid. And because the atoms of a body are of different sizes, -some make novel interstices, and thus expedite the dissolution. Only by -increasing the number and kind of interstices, can diluting a menstruum -with water increase what is imagined to be its solvency. Neither -chymical properties, nor chymical strength of a fluid, if it had any -such, could be increased by dilution, and the stronger should dissolve -that which the weaker is said to dissolve. The contrary supposes that -the force which breaks a stone is too strong to break a nutshell. -Mechanical dissolution by the centrifugal pressure is independent of -_chymicalities_. - - -_Gastric solution_ is effected similarly: the juice has none of the -chymical properties of Liebig, nor does ingestion stand in need of the -living principle of Coombe; the former are imaginary, the latter is -denied from gastric solution taking place in a tea-cup. The gastric -juice is an interstitial receiver of the elements of the pulp, when -forced out by the centrifugal pressure into the gastric menstruum, -as those of soap into water. The pulp and its _striæ_ are disunited, -mechanically decomposed, not abraded: some of its elements escape -into the air within the stomach, which, by disturbing the equilibrium -within, promote irregularity of pressure on the outside of the sac, -which causes the _pliæ_ to be in the peristaltic motion, supposed to be -caused by the stomach stimulating itself. The same circumstances take -place within and without the intestines. The whole process of digestion -is dynamic, in which the only stimulant is pressure. - -Of the various conjectures on the origin of the gastric juice, there -cannot be any more unreasonable than that which considers it a fluid -_sui generis_, and as having origin out of the stomach. All fluids are -compounds; and those belonging to the body may be said to be formed -out of, or by commixture with others. To suppose for an instant, that -a fluid, which is _destructive of all flesh_, should have existence -out of the stomach, and remain harmless in some _fleshy_ vessel as -long as the stomach is empty of food, or until food is required to -"stimulate" its flow from without through the _papillæ_ of the villous -lining into the stomach, is a most strange physiologic oversight. Why -not rather conclude at once, that the flesh-destroying juice exists -only where it is required and for immediate service, and where only -there are preventive means, the peristaltic motion, against it proving -injurious to the flesh of the stomach; and to the vessels of secretion -it would be injurious, hence, not as the juice but chyme it is passed -out of the stomach into the system. Under such circumstances, the -suggestion is nothing unreasonable, that, _there is no gastric juice -out of the stomach, nor within, but while there is food present to -contribute one or more of its elements to the other juices, including -the saliva, towards effecting its completion as a fit interstitial -gastric menstruum, for receiving the elementary constituents of the -pulp under mechanical decomposition by the centripetally disuniting -pressure of the medium of space_. Like the all de-electrising medium -of fire, which exists only where and while it is being formed, the -gastric juice should be looked upon as if _designed to be of difficult -formation_; made more so by depending on the food for its completion, -which is not a matter of "observation" within the stomach, or in the -tea-cup: neither is the perfect juice, which may be sponged or syringed -from the bottom of the stomach, any proof that as such precisely it -came from the _papillæ_, as some suppose. As to the papillary flow -being _stimulated_ by the food, with as bad philosophy it might be -said, charmed; or that clockwork is _stimulated_ by the weights. The -flow is promoted by the pulp, as were the latter a piece of sponge. And -that the papillary flow is but a constituent, not the flesh-destroying -juice, in promoting ingestion, is evident from the hunger pain it -promotes while harmlessly accumulating out of the stomach, indicating -the stomach being empty; and the relief experienced at its source when -discharged into the stomach, it is, which has given rise to the idea, -that certain organs _sympathise_ with the stomach. - -Such metaphorical expressions may pass for the poetry of pathology, but -hitherto have stood in the way of deep research. Ingestion is expedited -by sleep, in consequence of the accumulation of minus-pressure matter -in the gastric region and stomach at the time; and sleep is promoted -by imperfect mastication causing a deficiency of saliva in the stomach -which is compensated by minus-pressure matter of the thus provoked -comatose flow. The pollparrot masticates but little, if at all, and -sleeps regularly after breakfast. - - - - -USE OF THE INSPIRED OXYGEN WITHIN THE SYSTEM. - - -There is none of the inspired oxygen returned to the lungs by the -circulation. What becomes of it, or what its use within the system, has -not been written for our learning. It is not retained in the blood, -nor is it animalised; nothing yields less oxygen than animal matter. -To convey "carbon" out of the system, and somehow purify the blood, is -the supposed service; but if so, should it not be included in every -expiration and of the inspiration quantity? but which is not the case. - -Harvey proved that the blood circulates, but left undiscovered what -keeps in motion the _inert_ fluid, except the systole, which the -_inert_ heart cannot effect on itself. No organ can do anything of -itself, the whole being composed of inert substance, and nothing else; -even the life of the body, whatever it may be, leaves the function of -every organ, not excepting that of the brain, dependent on the general -pressure. - -By the general pressure the air is forced into, but not through or -beyond the lungs which it inflates, and inflates nothing else. Within -the blood-vessels it would prove fatal; and although from it the blood -derives that by which it becomes arterialised, yet the blood and air do -not come in contact, extravasation and pulmonary rupture must happen, -did the lungs permit the blood and air coming together, or in immediate -contact. Of the air of an inspiration, the oxygenating imponderable -element only can permeate the pulmonary tissue. This element it -is which imponderably arterialises the blood; the nitrogen of the -inspiration constitutes the immediate succeeding exspiration. - -The oxygenating element promotes the circulation on the same principle -that it promotes combustion; its diminutive interstices exclude -electric matter, which coagulates, and admits the propelling force, -medium of space, which is the only cause of motion, to enter the blood. -The oxygenated blood being propelled, or pressed, by the medium of -space it includes, from the lungs into the ventricle, the collapse, or -systole, takes place, and the blood is forced out of the ventricle, -through the auricle, into the aorta, thence through the several -branches of the arterial system, to and through the capillaries, into -the veins. Thus, from the medium of space within the blood being -continuous with the medium of space generally, it is manifest that the -blood is circulated not by the systole, but by the general pressure. To -produce the systole, there is nothing but the normal pressure on the -outside surface of the heart; nor, to lessen the normal pressure on the -parietes of the ventricle, is there anything but the arterialising, -minus-pressure, imponderable element of the blood just received into -the ventricle. - -Throughout the entire of the arterial flow, the blood is losing the -arterialising minus-pressure matter to the different organs, as the -means by which the functional action of each is promoted. Without -such means, there is nothing to disturb the equilibrium of pressure -on an organ to produce organic motion, action, or function. Hence, it -appears, that the use of the inspired oxygen consists in promoting the -circulation of the blood and the functional motion or action of the -different organs within the frame. - -Before entering the veins the blood is fully deoxygenated; within -them it acquires gradually electric matter, productive of the livid -or coagulating appearance; at the same time the blood-propelling -medium is lessening in quantity; but which is compensated in the -mucilaginous lining of the veins, which assists the venous flow on the -minus-pressure capillary principle; capillary attraction would collapse -the vessels. The electric matter collected by the venous blood is got -rid of in the lungs, and expired with the nitrogen and a remnant of the -oxygenating element of the last inspiration; hence the small portion of -carbonic acid gas obtained from the expiration. - -After all organic service, the arterialising minus-pressure matter -is insensibly transpired, which is inferable from the supply being -continued through respiration; which, although constant, yet, from -being intermitting, might, perhaps, cause corresponding stoppings in -the round of organic action; hence it would seem that, against such -intervals or interruptions taking place, the liver has been designed to -collect for casual distribution a portion of the same minus-pressure -matter. The great surface of the liver may stand comparison with the -plate, or cylinder, of the electrifying machine, and the organs as jars -which receive electric matter from it, as each stands in need. - - -_Use of the Spleen._--The SPLEEN, from being an organ common to -the human frame, must have an allotted service to supply; although -considered useless by some, to all of unknown utility, it may be _a -lateral channel of arterial blood direct from the heart, to supply the -vessels lying in a portion of the body not traversed by the arteries -belonging to the great arterial system_; those of the diaphragm -first; thence through the umbilical cord to the fetus, in which the -circulation is indispensable, from being the only means of conveying -and dispersing throughout the body, in the absence of respiration, -the minus-pressure matter which the organism of the fetus requires -to promote the several functions, without which life would become -extinct if commenced. In this supply of motion promoting elementary -matter, consists all that can be considered _aeration_ of the blood, -and all that the blood of both the fetus and the _adult_ requires, -or can possibly receive. In the chirping chick, while within the yet -unbroken shell, aeration is _prevented_ by incubation of the mother -bird; but the arterialising elementary matter is amply provided within -the larger, apparently empty, end of the shell. To keep out electric -matter, which would exclude the blood-moving medium, is the object of -the hen sitting on the eggs, and oven-hatching is effected on the same -principle. - - -_How the Diaphragm Is Raised._--The _diaphragm_ cannot rise of itself, -and has no self-acting, self-lifting nerves or muscles, all flesh being -composed of _inert_ atoms. The rise is proof positive that pressure is -greater on the posterior than anterior surface of the membrane, and the -unchanged normal pressure beneath indicates reduced pressure above; the -latter is promoted by minus-pressure matter imparted by the splenic -blood to the diaphragm, while passing through the vessels of the -diaphragm. This arterialising matter being highly evanescent, escapes -from the diaphragm and upwards, and during the escape mitigates the -pressure, intercepts it in some degree from the superior surface; then, -by the normal pressure beneath, the rise of the diaphragm is effected. -As the escape, or separation, is becoming complete, the equilibrium is -being restored, and the diaphragm depressed to the normal level. If -this be not the rationale of diaphragmatic motion, it will be little -improved by the substitution of muscular energy, leverage, or muscular -vitality, while leaving out _muscular inertia_, which should not be -omitted, but included, in accounting for every muscular action and -motion. - - - - -CORRELATIVE ELEMENTS. - - -Any pair of the general elements, the interstices of one of which are -the only interstices for receiving and retaining the atoms of the -other, or that can be occupied by the atoms of any other of the general -elements, such elements are correlatives. - -Elementary co-relation is conspicuous in the opposite polarities -of the loadstone, magnet, and crystals, and all bodies subject to -polarization, which includes the animal frame. Similar co-relation is -evinced between the galvanic fluids, those of the pile, and those named -electricity; likewise between oxygen and hydrogen, the oxygenating -element and nitrogen, acids and alkalies and all mutually neutralizing -substances. Still it is not meant that all the general elements are so -paired; doubtless, there are several ratios of size between the atoms -of the different elements, for the purpose of multiplying variety among -formations, the substance of which is of the same species throughout. -Possibly the correlative principle gave rise to the ideal scale of -_chymical affinities_, subsequently refined to _affections of matter_. -Naturally, correlative elements will be found together, as are nitrogen -and the imponderable element; also the magnetic fluids common to iron. - - - - -MAGNETISM. - - -Were attraction a property of the atomic substance of the loadstone, it -could be neither transferable, receivable, nor liable to be destroyed -by fire. A magnet is a work of art, the substance is inert, it can -no more attract than think. Magnetism is an accident of matter; it -consists in the correlatives of an iron bar having become separated, -and drawn one to each end of the bar: separation and transition to -the extremities of the bar, are what the rubbing on the poles of the -loadstone effects. - -Two paving-stones hanging a short distance asunder and touched by -nothing but the tranquil air, remain at rest; but should attract -each other had "every atom in creation" the property. Were a vacuum, -partial vacuum or air much rarer than atmospheric, now placed between -the suspended stones, each would be in motion towards the other the -same instant. Here both _causes_, the general pressure, and the -minus-pressure, or motion _promoting_ means, are given; the latter are -sensibly present, and the absence of attraction is as evident as the -inutility of anything of the kind to effect the mutual approach of the -two bodies. Not so is the approach of two magnets understood, because -the intermediate minus-pressure means _present_ are not sensible. That -iron magnets do not move together by attraction, or that attraction is -not the cause of the phenomena imputed to it, is proved in the case of -iron-filings dropping from a bar, when the connection of the bar with -the galvanic battery is broken; and it will not be contended that the -galvanic current is attraction. - -In order to arrive at a knowledge of wherein consists the means which -subvert the equilibrium between two suspended magnets, reference -has to be made to the artizan's mode of operating in converting the -unmagnetised bar to a magnet. He holds the bar in the middle, and -draws one half along the pole of a loadstone; then draws the other -half along the other pole, and after a few such alternate _rubbings_ -against the poles, the bar is a polarized magnet. From which it was -formerly supposed, that iron contains a magnetic fluid which the -loadstone rubbings divide, and draw half to each end of the bar. But -were such the fact, the ends or poles should be _equals_, whereas they -are magnetic opposites. Now, with more reason, it is considered that -iron includes two different, removable elements, (correlatives,) which, -by the manipulation on the loadstone, are drawn one to each end of the -bar, and there remain as polar atmospheres, and constitute what are -termed the polarities, or opposite polarities of the bar; the latter -opinion is somewhat confirmed by the corresponding manner in which iron -filings, while being scattered on a sheet of paper, become arranged -round the poles of a magnet lying under the paper. - -The magnetic relation, which the polar atmospheres of any iron magnet -bear to those of every iron magnet, being the same as exists between -the polar atmospheres of every individual magnet, makes manifest, that -a certain pair of correlative elements is common to all magnetisable -iron; but without concluding that, by the same kind of correlatives, -the polarities are produced in bodies not ferruginous, which, if the -physical fact, so may the animal correlatives be different in some -instances. From which it follows, that no one mesmeriser can affect -mesmerically every person, nor any one person be so affected by all -mesmerisers. Neither are all persons "nervous" alike, which should -moderate the war cry against mesmerism generally because of failure in -some cases; and should awaken the philosophic mesmeriser, willing to -make perfect the science, to investigate the cause of exceptions and -difficulties. - -Now, as respects the interposed minus-pressure means or matter, which, -by destroying the equilibrium, promote the approaching motion of two -suspended magnets; there is nothing whatever to refer to, but the -magnets themselves, that is, their polar atmospheres, which, together -or facing one another, make a rare or minus-pressure medium between -the proximate ends, into which both magnets are moved by the greater -pressure on their remotest ends. It lies with the previously-instructed -patient, while clairvoyant, through questioning by the mesmeriser, -to make close observation, and report all circumstances respecting -the magnetic lights; also, those attached to and proceeding from -the mesmeriser, towards elucidating this most of all recondite -subjects--magnetism, in the philosophy of physics. The mesmeriser -should hold in mind, that, probably the air between the facing ends of -two magnets is magnetically affected, that is, made a magnet in the -series by the other two; which seems to be the case when the patient is -magnetised at a distance from the mesmeriser by means of the pointed -finger, and by the _effect_ of will at a much greater distance. - - - - -NATURAL SLEEP. - - -That sleep is not at the command of will is certain, or why undergo -the tedium of a restless night? Before the state of sleep can obtain, -the body has to experience an _electro-physico_ change, by which -the extremities are left polarised and the body an animal or living -magnet. That the extremities are polarised during sleep, is admitted -by all physiologists; for the effecting of which there must be a pair -of correlative elements concerned. While the elementary transfer, -productive of the polarities, is taking place, so is drowsiness; when -sleep has obtained, the natural magnetising procedure has terminated; -hence from the degree of polarity, the mesmeriser can determine the -stage to which the patient has been brought between the comatose and -clairvoyant states, and know the capability of his patient for being -made clairvoyant or not; this polar index should be well noticed. - - -_Comatose Flow._--It must have been observed by many persons while -dozing and the body in a sitting or leaning posture, that an agreeable -warm glow arises in the chest, which increases while passing sensibly -through the pectoral towards the gastric region, and which terminates, -insensibly, in the consummation of sleep; from the feet upwards a -similar, but less perceptible, flow takes place. Of this twofold -_comatose flow_, the immediate consequence is polarisation of the -extremities; sleep is a remote, but not the remotest consequence, -when effects similar to those by the flow are mesmerically effected. -Thus it appears that the theory of sleep and magnetism is the same. -The magnetising procedure, however, has this difference; the magnetic -correlatives are drawn from the middle to and out of the extremities of -the bar; those of the body of the patient recede from the extremities -to the central region, leaving one, the correlative of the other, at -each extremity, in both cases. - -The foregoing theory of sleep is described from immediate personal -observation. While leaning over a table, the doze heavy, the comatose -flow distinctly felt in its agreeable downward progress through -the chest, when, just at the instant of forgetfulness, the violent -slam of a door drove away all chance of sleep under the following -circumstances: a sensible and sudden revulsion upwards, a few seconds -of giddiness, and a smart painful stroke on the stomach took place, -all in quick succession; which may be accounted for thus: the slam -prevented the correlative fluids from the opposite extremities meeting -centrally; each gushed irregularly back, and depolarized its extremity, -the suddenness of which caused the giddiness. The stroke is the true -electric shock, inflicted by the medium of space suddenly rushing -or falling on the stomach, from which the matter of the comatose -flow had been as suddenly displaced. Taking all circumstances into -consideration, it is manifest that the state of sleep is the result of -a natural magnetizing operation. - -Before the fire, while reading, the superior extremity loses electric -matter to the fire, which leaves it polarized and promotes the -comatose flow. The lower extremity becomes polarized simultaneously -with the upper as a correlative consequence. Sleep is supposed to be -expedited by heat; hence the afternoon's nap is seconded by a silk -handkerchief thrown over the head, but which is only a hindrance to -electric matter, similar to that of the comatose flow entering from -the air and depolarizing the extremity. The handkerchief, from being a -non-conductor, only prevents the coming sleep being retarded; it could -neither generate nor multiply heat. - -Naturally it might be questioned, why the body should become somnolent -daily; and, by what means the comatose flow is naturally effected;--of -itself it could not take place. The languor removed, and renovation -of muscular strength through sleep, may satisfy in the first instance. -Next, it would seem, that, as the functions of the several organs -depend on the presence of minus-pressure matter for unequalising -the pressure on each organ, so must there be waste, loss, and daily -deficit of minus-pressure matter; which, from being made good by means -of sleep, leaves it inferable, that the daily quantity derived from -respiration may be little more than sufficient for the continuance -of animation under the minimum of bodily exercise; but as man is -necessitated to follow laborious avocations, so is it designed, -that the loss by service and waste shall be the means whereby the -necessary re-supply is to be furnished. The loss leaves the extremities -polarized; and as greater waste towards total exhaustion approaches, -the matter of the comatose flow becomes needed and is employed in -prolonging the functions of the different organs, and before exhaustion -is complete the body is in the state of sleep; during which, from -every inspiration being far more lengthy than ordinary, the body is -resupplied to repletion with the respirable minus-pressure matter, -by which the extremities are depolarized, and the sleeper is awake, -refreshed and invigorated. From which it may be said, that a man toils -himself to sleep, and sleeps himself awake; and that, not "balmy -sleep," but respiration, is "tired Nature's sweet restorer." - - -_Mesmeric sleep_ may be considered forced sleep. It is effected -with little or no comatose flow, which renders replenishing by -long breathing unnecessary; and the patient, on being awakened by -demagnetising the extremities, is rather debilitated than refreshed. - -Every finger of the mesmeriser is a magnet to the magnetic correlatives -within the extremities of the patient; and the passes polarize after -the manner of the comatose flow in the case of natural sleep. From -there being no mesmerically-effected comatose flow, there is reason to -infer, that _the contents of the nerves of sensation only are what the -passes polarize_ and what only are polarized in natural sleep, although -expressed by the word, _extremities_. - -Repetition of the passes separates, or de-electrises more completely -the nerves of the extremities, than for the production of natural sleep -is requisite. Hence it may be said, that the body of the _mesmerised_ -patient is in magnetic advance, and hence the series of surprising -consequences which bring to light more and more the wonders of the -economy. - -The passes should be conducted on magnetising principles; that is, from -the extremities to the gastric region to bring on somnolency, and from -the same region to the head and feet or extremes to awaken; from head -to foot is unscientific, and might be prejudicial; the central region -of the body should be considered _the mesmeric insuperable line_. Cross -passes having been found efficient are not anomalous, by reason of the -nerves and branches lying in all directions. - - - - -VISION. - - -According to the popular opinion, which governs the philosopher, -and with which the established philosophy agrees, vision is an act -performed by the eye, which is said to be endowed with the faculty of -sight, by which it is enabled to look into, through space, and see -external bodies made visible when covered with solar or day light; -nothing of which is true. The eyeball is not possessed of sight; to -see is not the function of the sense; externals are not visible; there -is no material light; light is a sensible or mental effect consequent -on the chromatic organ of the brain being excited by the fluid of the -optic nerve. All we know by means of the optic sense, consists in the -sensation of light or coloured light, accompanied with the idea of -form. The object which promotes the sensation being, seemingly, the -place of the sensation, all imagine the sensation is the colour of the -object to which the eye is directed, and hence, that the object or -body is seen by the eyes. These general mistakes are made evident and -stand corrected by reference to the sense itself, its physiology and -function, as previously stated and advised. - -The medium of space is the visual medium; not, however, for looking -through, as is supposed, but by reason of it forming the link or -intermediate means by which the object is connected with the sense. -Now, as the medium of space is present everywhere, and as it promotes -visual or optic perception, the question naturally arises, why do we -not see in the night as well as day, in all places and at all times; in -a word, why do we not see in the dark? The clairvoyant does "see" in -the dark. - -The nervous fluid excites the sensation of colour; the medium of space -connects mediately the object with the nervous fluid, which fluid -acts on the optic cerebral organ by pressure and degrees of pressure. -The nervous fluid, nor anything else, acts essentially, that is, by -means of properties and qualities; and its acting on the brain is -caused by external agency, the fluid itself being _inert_. It may -well be supposed that the exquisite construction of the brain, from -being competent to produce psychologic effects, although excited by -material agency, requires but the most simple means, such as a simple -impulse or impression, to be actuated into excitement; and as the -portion or line of the medium of space which is continuous from the -external object, through the pupil, to the nervous fluid within the -retina, is that which puts the nervous fluid into functional action on -the brain, it is fairly assumable that only by pressure, degrees, and -changes of pressure, the nervous fluid can by possibility act on and -excite the brain; which equally applies to the nervous fluid of all -the senses. Taking, then, the maximum of optic pressure as productive -of no sensation; so, from there being no object to perceive, it is -imagined we are surrounded with darkness; and taking the minimum as -exciting the sensation recognised as luminous, light, or white, to -intermediate degrees of cerebral pressure are to be attributed the -sensations of red, yellow, blue and of colours generally. According to -these terms of the colorific scale, all optically-excited perceptions -are consequent on the cerebral pressure being in degrees on the scale -of descent from the maximum. - -For the reduction of optic pressure, there are different minus-pressure -means, namely, the sun, flame, electricity, phosphoric substances; -and the daily electric matter, which is constant in the atmosphere at -the eastern hemisphere of the globe, and which keeps pace with the -sun; because the rarest elements of the atmosphere will be in greater -quantity on the side facing the sun. As this daily electric matter -emerges before the sun is above the horizon, the general optic pressure -excites the sensation supposed to be the light of day-break; and while -following, after sunset, the sensation is known as twilight. Any such -minus-pressure matter lying in the visual direction, shortens the -visual line, and intercepts the continuity of that line of the medium -of space which makes one with the axis of the eye, and thus effects the -reduction of optic pressure. - - * * * * * - -_Note._--The terms here made use of, from being unknown in the olden -philosophy, need explanation.--_Axis line_: that line of the medium -of space which is as the axis of the eye produced to, and terminated -by the external object. _Visual line_, the same. _Visual continuity_; -the line which is continuous _angularly_ with the termination of the -axis line. From the termination of this _continuous_ line, there may -be another angular continuity or _line_, as from mirror to mirror. -All lines continuous from the axis line and terminated by _the -object_ supposed to be seen, and however irregular, are _lines_ of -_vision_: the angular point, _the point of_ (first, second, or third) -_continuity_. The reader should make a diagram for each case as he -proceeds. - - * * * * * - -Within the window-closed room, a lighted candle is supposed to fill -the entire space with light radiated from the flame: the perception is -named light, and is thus wise excited. When the axis line is terminated -by the flame, the pressure on the nervous fluid is lessened to the -degree which promotes the sensation of luminousness, which seems to be -the physical appearance of the flame itself. Again; when, in the same -room, the eye is directed to a mirror the like perception is excited, -because the visual line is continuous from the point of continuity, or -termination of the axis line, to the flame as before. When the axis -line is terminated by a piece of furniture, the point of continuity -being imperfect and the visual continuity thence to the flame irregular -or indirect, the optic pressure on the brain by the axis line excites -the sensation of colour, which is imputed to the object, chair, or -table. - -In the celebrated OPTICS, the visual lines are mistaken for rays of -light radiated from the flame, and reflected from the other objects; -which rays are supposed to enter the eye, and (as if possessed of -intelligence) arrange themselves on the back of the eye or on the -retina, in the precise form, but of a different size, of the object -to which the eyes are directed, as the means by which externals are -seen before the face. In cases wherein the visual line is indirect, -as when lying through media of unequal density, the supposed rays are -said to be refracted: and, because the curtained iris excludes the -visual medium, except through the pinhole pupil, thence along the axis -through the lenses of the eyeball, the _optics_ inculcate, that the -eye has been formed to see only in straight lines. Finally, by Dr. -Reed it is taught, that the use of the sensation and of the image on -the _back_ of the eye, is to make the external object _opposite the -face_ be seen; all which has to be rejected and forgotten in being -guided by the natural, real function of the sense, against which there -is no appeal. There are no rays concerned; the medium of vision is -quiescent; there can be neither radiation, reflection, nor refraction -effected by passive inert bodies; there is no image on any part of the -eye or retina; and externals could not be made visible, or seen by -their images. Such absurdities, all of which are maintained in modern -philosophy, have prevented, more than any thing else, the science and -phenomena of Mesmerism being understood. - -According to the interstitial composition of the surface of a body, -so is the point of visual continuity at or beneath the surface; which -determines the degree of pressure on the axis line; which determines -what shall be the resulting sensation, or apparent colour of the -surface of the object to which the pupil of the eyeball is directed. -Through a pane of glass, or through the clear atmosphere, the axis line -may be said to be uninterruptedly continuous, and the perception is as -if the glass were away. Through an ignited sheet of iron the visual -continuity is imperfect, and may be said to be continuous only halfway -through the sheet. An ignited bar, at first, is said to be brown, then -ignited to redness: colours are sensations. Within the bar the axis -line is continuous in zig-zag order, which causes the optic pressure -to excite the sensation of red: it is a prismatic case. The _spectra_, -by means of the prism, are only in the sensorium; the skreen itself is -unseen. When the direct axis line terminates at the apparent red on the -skreen, the continuity thence is maintained through some particular -part of the prism; when terminated by the yellow, through a different -part; when by the blue, through another different part; and through -each part the continuity is somewhat curvilinear, hence the pressures -and perceptions are different. Through the air, when the perception is -of the many-coloured rainbow, the visual continuity is as through the -prism: there is no coloured bow out of the sensorium. - -Where there are no minus-pressure means for lessening the optic -pressure, as in mines, caves, and window-closed rooms, there can be no -perceptions of light and colour. From the sensation ceasing the same -instant the last window-shutter is closed, it would seem, that, the -_daily_ minus-pressure matter is in constant flow eastward through the -globe. The rheumatic sufferer fears sun-down, as if the daily matter -enters and protects the nerves from the nightly. The meteorologist has -to resolve the problem for the philosopher in tracing the magnetic -meridian. - -The objection is unfounded against pressure being the cerebral exciting -cause. It is objected, that, from two stars equally distant, one -considered red, the other blue, the pressure cannot be changed along -the visual lines in the small space of time the eye takes to direct -itself from one to the other star. There is no changing of pressure on -either line. The existing pressure on the sense by each is different, -and what it is, depends on the constitution of the external object, as -in every other instance, and just as on that of the ignited bar already -stated. The imputed colours of the stars being different, so is the -continuity of axis line beneath the surface of the atmosphere of each -star, also the degree of pressure and the sensitive result. - -Neither is it maintainable that the medium of space cannot be the -medium of vision, because "from being all-pervading, it should excite -vision through all kinds of bodies, as through a block of rock crystal, -but does not through so thin a substance as a leaf of blotting-paper." -By clairvoyance it is proved that the visual continuity is maintained -through stone walls; and by reason of the _visual and auditory_ medium -being the same, that is, medium of space, the "hearing" through -stone walls, makes the "seeing" possible. The bell must be connected -mediately with the auditory sense, as is the object with the visual -sense; and through stone walls there is nothing continuous but the -medium of space. Sound is no more a transmissible object than colour; -neither belongs to the external object. In all such cases of sensations -which are different, although the promoting means are the same for all -the senses, that the organs of sense may not be equally susceptible, -or capable of being put into functional service by the same degree of -cerebral pressure, should be held in mind, or else it might be asked -why all the senses are not excited at the same time. - - - - -TRANSPARENCY. - - -A transparent body, is one through which the visual line is -uninterruptedly continuous from an object to the sense. The materials -for glass-making are opaque, and the natural opacity of their -elementary atoms is unalterable. Hence in some novel arrangement of -the atoms towards promoting the direct continuity of the medium of -space through them, consists the object of vitrifying and principle of -transparency. - - - - -OPACITY. - - -The principal obstacle to transparency is interposed electric matter. -In the earliest stages of glass-making an immense volume of electric -matter is got rid of by means of the furnace fire, which becomes sooty -smoke while ascending and passing through the furnace funnel; and to -prevent all return of the like, it is, that solid oxygen is added to -the materials when fused, the interstices of which, in the vitrified -mass, secure the direct continuity of the visual medium. Priestley -made black wax and brass filings transparent, by only removing all -interposed electric matter. The body of a living man, by being -de-electrised, has been made transparent. In these instances the -transparency is of short continuance, and the opacity is restored by -returning electric matter. Fire, in de-electrising gems and crystals, -destroys all partial opacity. The clearest water is made cloudy on -receiving the charge from the electrifying jar; by uncustomary electric -matter, the atmosphere is made foggy, and is transparent again when the -electric matter becomes a constituent of rain-water. These instances -show, that, electric matter lying in the way of the medium of space -and vision, interrupts its regular continuity, consequently, its -direct pressure; yet not wholly,--clairvoyance and sound make manifest -that the continuity is maintained through the most opaque bodies. The -principle bears strongly on the physiology of clairvoyance. - - - - -THE NERVOUS FLUID. - - -Were there a distinct fluid belonging to the nerves of sensation, and -insulated, it could not be affected by external circumstances, nor -its cerebral excitement be productive in the least of any knowledge, -relative or inferential of external bodies. Were the fluid not -insulated, it should be subject to waste like the lachrymal fluid, and -must excite the brain differently at different times, even under equal -circumstances; which must make it impossible to identify the same body -after its removal out of the axis-of-vision direction. - -A distinct fluid, not insulated, has to be in contact with the line of -medium of space which the external object terminates, which adds to the -difficulty of waste, in the possibility of the nerves becoming flooded -with an abnormal fluid, medium of space. Much more likely is it, -that, _the cerebral exciting fluid, of the nerves generally, consists -in medium of space_, received from without through the cuticular -insertions and orifices of the nerves as streamlets from the great -ocean of space, subject to neither ebb nor flow, and liable to change -of pressure occasioned by external agency. According to this idea, the -object and brain are the terms of the visual line; and medium of space, -continuous from the object through the nerves to the brain, is the -connecting link. - -Further; although medium of space is the nervous fluid and immediate -cerebral exciting cause, (which entitles it to be named the TRUE -_nervous fluid_,) there are strong grounds for concluding that, with -the true fluid, the nerves include a pair of correlative elements. -Because of the mesmeric effected polarities being without the comatose -flow, which leaves nothing to look to for the polarizing means but the -contents of the nerves. Next, as clairvoyance is a cerebral effect, -something connected with the nervous fluid must be concerned in its -production, or why not clairvoyance take place without the magnetic -passes. Finally, the true fluid, or any single fluid, is incapable -of being polarized; and the true fluid might be rendered immovable -at times, were there no electric or minus-pressure matter within -the nerves, also to prevent its increase, and to retain the normal -quantity of the true fluid. All extremes being prevented, and the -polarities of the extremities productive of increased lucidity, are -consistent with idea of the nerves including magnetising correlatives, -which, beside, serve as an elastic break against the fluid exciting the -brain indistinctly, irregularly, or exquisitely; and only, as it were, -muffled, to prevent the sensibility of the cerebral organs being worn -out prematurely. - -Another object may be attained by the included electric correlatives, -namely, restricting the exciting pressure to certain degrees, so that -the sensation shall be defined and directing, but otherwise useless -and misleading. Another may be, that of regulating the degrees of -pressure on such a scale, as that, by the same senses, sensations shall -be excited as different from each other as those of red, yellow, and -blue by the optic sense, heat and cold by the feeling sense, sweet and -bitter by the gustory sense. To which the conjecture may be added, for -the purpose of anatomic and physiologic inquiry, that, as not even an -elementary interstice is without design, so may the orifices of the -retina be of regulated diameters, to ensure such definite degrees of -pressure on the brain as shall excite the sensations recognised as -primitive colours. - -On the principle that the nervous fluid is derived from without, the -question is decided as to the cuticular termination of the nerves, -which is objected to by some, in consequence of a few of the nerves -being observed to have "inward bending." And is it not a matter of -common observation, that "feeling is most sensible at the tips of the -fingers" or apparent place of the sensation. - - - - -CLAIRVOYANCE. - - -All mesmerically-produced phenomena are the consequence of the passes. -The immediate effect of the passes is de-electrisation of the nerves, -that is, of their contents, which leaves them polarised (as is the -case in natural sleep), but more intensely than is effected by the -comatose flow. In the ordinary condition, the contents of the nerves -may be likened to milky water in a barometer tube; in natural sleep, to -the same, with a less degree of milkiness--the latter subsiding from -the ends to the middle portion of the water; and in the clairvoyant -condition of the nerves, to the milkiness having so completely -subsided as to leave the water above and below the middle of the tube -transparent. In the ordinary condition, the nervous fluid is clogged, -as it were, with intermixed electric matter, which, by marring the -regular continuity of the fluid from without to the brain, reduces in -some degree the exciting pressure on the brain, which prevents the -function of the fluid being employed to its utmost. In this encumbered -state, the fluid may be said to act on the brain, as the clapper when -muffled on a bell. Still the excited pressure is sufficiently strong, -and the mental result sufficiently distinct for all human purposes. -When to the clairvoyant degree the nerves have been denuded of impeding -electric matter, the nervous fluid is enabled to act on the brain as -if unmuffled; and as its continuity from the orifices of the retina -through space is not in any manner altered, so, to the altered electric -condition, mesmerically effected, on the contents of the nerves between -their orifices and the brain, we must attribute all mesmerically -produced phenomena; and without supposing that the brain is quickened -into a higher degree of sensibility, or that any one of its various -organs has acquired some exalted degree of psychologic ability. - -That _long vision_ and _opaque vision_ should be consequences of -cleansing, as it were, the nerves of intercepting minus-pressure -matter, is nothing surprising, it is as removing dust from the window -to better our vision: the physiology is traceable, and the psychology -not more incomprehensible than its hourly occurrence in a minor degree, -to which, as sensible effects, we are indebted for all we know, and by -which we abide, without inquiry into their nature or origin; so perfect -is the design of Nature in our make for supplying all that is requisite -to the comfort and enjoyment of man in his present state of existence. - - -_Long vision_, during the clairvoyant state, or the recognition of -objects greatly remote by the sensation each promotes, has its wonder -much more in the _nature of the medium of space_ than in the familiar -mental effect. The optically promoted sensation is proof that the -external object, were it at the antipodes, is in mediate connection -with not only the nervous fluid of the retina, but the brain. Long -and ordinary vision have the same theory: in both states the same -chromatic cerebral organ is excited by the nervous fluid; in both the -nervous fluid is continuous from the brain to the external body; and in -both the object perceived is the sensation of colour. That the eye-ball -lenses are concerned in long and opaque, as in short vision, however -in the two former, the eyes may be bandaged (to satisfy the desire of -spectators, otherwise useless, if not worse,) is obvious, from the -knowledge of form being connected with the sensation, as in every -instance of optically-excited perception. - -By the passes, the nervous fluid is freed from the visual intercepting -electric matter; which matter, like the colouring matter in stained -glass, renders the continuity of the visual medium or fluid within the -optic nerve impaired. - -To account for the phenomenon of much longer than ordinary vision, -there is nothing in the mesmeric case to effect the difference, or -refer to, but the de-electrised condition of the nervous fluid. From -which it would seem that the visual line from the most remote object, -is always as continuous to the brain as from one within arm's length -before the face; and that the degree of cerebral exciting pressure -on the longer line is rendered equally efficacious, _now_, that the -electric impediment has been removed from the nervous fluid; hence, -that the normal intermixed quantity of electric matter with the nervous -fluid prevents us being clairvoyant at all times, is reasonable to -conclude. - - -_Opaque vision_, or the "seeing through opaque bodies," is not the -absurdity so generally imagined when judged and reasoned on according -to the true principles of visual perception: the facts of clairvoyance -place the absurdity on the denier. - -As the medium of space furnishes all the nerves with the true and only -cerebral exciting fluid, which is necessarily all-pervading, and proved -to be so by the auditory sense, or "hearing through stone walls," -the possibility of seeing through such bodies is made manifest, and -_clairvoyantly_, has been proved. Misled by the idea that the eye-balls -look through solid glass, yet cannot look through a stone, to doubt and -deny is pardonable; yet nothing else is requisite, than that the visual -medium shall be continuous from the object to the brain, no matter how -many opaque objects lie between, for the perception being excited, and -promoted by the remote object: the object perceived is the sensation -of this or that colour, as in transparent vision. It is no ordinary -circumstance, that of "seeing through opaque bodies;" neither is it -an ordinary circumstance, the extreme de-electrised condition of the -nervous fluid, _on which the extra-ordinary of the phenomenon depends_. -In removing the partial opacity of a crystal by means of fire, the -hindrance to the visual continuity, electric matter, is displaced; -but as no such electric displacement from a stone wall is effected or -practicable, while to the clairvoyant the continuity is as were there -no electric impediment in the wall, is proof additional that the medium -of space, the common cerebral exciting cause, pervades all things, the -human body included, and hence the being in _Report_. - -Now that mesmeric practice and proof have stifled all open opposition, -by the influential ignorant, to the surprising truths of the science, -that all persons cannot be mesmerised to the clairvoyant stage, is in -nowise prejudicial to mesmerism, or to the SCIENCE OF THE ECONOMY being -intimately connected with medical practice; neither are occasional -failures by the clairvoyant, especially in trial tests, some of which -exhibit samples of complicated confusion, as if for the purpose of -suppression, instead of laudably exalting the all-important science of -mesmerism. Had the very liberal offer of a hundred pounds been under -less complicated conditions, the bank-note most certainly would have -been deciphered and changed hands. Had the note been spread open, -while enclosed between two plates of sheet-iron, and then read by the -clairvoyant, the test would have been sufficient to convince the most -steady, sturdy, staunch unbeliever, and the _dénouement_ affirmative -to every dispassionate observer. But from being folded line upon line, -letter on letter, at least three deep, the misarrangement destroyed -most effectually all reading order. A Newtonian would say, that, -"the commixed rays proceeding from the several overlaid typographic -characters, and from the lines placed tier over tier, could never -form the image of even a single letter on the retina, with anything -resembling legible clearness;" therefore the trial must fail most -inevitably. - - - - -RIGIDITY. - - -None deny that rigidity of the limbs can be effected mesmerically; -but all mistake who impute the phenomenon to muscular ability, -irritability, or energy. All flesh is _inert_; all muscular fibrine is -flexible, bends from its own weight when held horizontally, and over -it the will has neither power nor influence. Then, how is a muscle or -nerve to stiffen itself, and where is the mechanical arrangement within -for such purpose? The power is derived from without, and consists in -medium of space. The de-electrising passes make entrance-room for -influent medium of space, which is the cause of the limbs becoming -rigid. As in Bramah's pump, water serves the purpose of an iron piston, -so, within the nerves and muscles, medium of space in excess and under -the general pressure, is an equally rigid piston, and the cause of all -muscular strength and of rigidity. The depolarizing passes bring back -electric matter, which displaces all excess of medium of space, and -with it the physical cause of rigidity. - - - - -PAIN. - - -Pain is not removed but prevented by means of the passes. It is not -excited in the mesmerised patient during severe surgical operations, -because the movements of the brain, as is said of a watch with the -finger on a wheel, are stopped. - -General insensibility being effected by pressure of the surgeon's -finger on the brain of a fractured skull, so is it mesmerically -effected by the nervous fluid, which has suffered increase as the -nerves have been de-electrised by the passes. - - -_Curative Mesmerism._--The curative principle of mesmerism seems to -consist in correcting occasional irregularities in the _electric -circulation_. By the passes, electric matter in excess is removed, -which, from being noxious to the part, might contribute to the -formation of mucus to become concrete, or otherwise injurious to the -flesh: or, the passes may transfer the excess to supply deficiency -elsewhere,--as in the case of gout, a disease of the sufferer's own -making, from excess of de-electrising food and drink, which uncoats -and unlines the nerves, and thus leaves the nervous fluid, from casual -circumstances, to almost lacerate the brain. Stomach coating aliment, -not denuding physic, is the cure: as electric matter may become a -constituent of the humidities of the different organs, so may it of the -serous fluid, which is indispensable to wholesome flesh. In all such -cases mesmerism is curative. - - -_Ethers._--From inhaled _ethers_, producing insensibility without -rigidity, it would seem that they contribute a kind of electric matter -to the interior of the nerves, but which, from being uncongenial, -is happily soon displaced. All excess being the more prejudicial, -the quicker the displacement the better. Any ether imparted to the -fluids of the nerves, may effect reduction in the quantity of the true -fluid through the cuticle orifices; or make breaks in what is left, -so as to leave the nervous fluid incompetent to produce excitement -of the brain; hence the insensibility of the patient, if that can be -considered insensibility, when there is nothing of pain of which to be -insensible. - -Etherising by external application, but which may not amount to -mesmerizing, is nothing new. A Dublin apothecary, sixty years since, -cured the poor daily of nervous complaints, headaches especially, by -pressing a folded handkerchief on the forehead, taken from a wide-mouth -jar, concealed with professional delicacy, behind the counter, but -long since discontinued; the learned in the laws of life and living, -considering that short-hand work is a forbidden practice,--that -something newest in the last _Pharmacopoeia_ is better than the best, -for all parties. Tobacco-smoking brings on a degree of insensibility, -and mesmerically conduces to sleep, which exertion frustrates. The -smoke of the fire in London stayed the plague in the year 1666. The -subject is worthy of consideration by the mesmerizing physician, in -case of epidemics especially. - - - - -REPORT. - - -The being in report one with another, the mesmerised with the -mesmeriser, is proved possible, and from being effected by the passes -is proved also to be natural,--not satanic or supernatural, the weakest -of all ideas. Within Nature there can be nothing supernatural; nor out -of Nature, or of the other worlds, anything in the power of living man -or poor human nature to command or imitate. However, as believers -are not reasoners, except in the arithmetic of funds, to the reformer -_Time_, must be left the conversion to Reason. - -Throughout the whole of Nature there is nothing insulated, not even -an atom. Involved in a universal medium of pressure, all things must -be in contact, mediate or immediate. The atmosphere is a universal -connecting link. As by the sea the most distantly-situated islands are -in mediate connection, so are all mankind by means of the atmosphere. -Still this atmospheric connection is limited to margin with margin, -surface with surface. By the all-pervading medium of space, the -interior of all living beings is in mediate connection, equally as the -interior of submerged sponges by the water. As "light" would pervade -and connect our bodies were they glass, so does the medium of space. -But were mankind so left, it is difficult to conceive how the organic -functions could possibly take place, and impossible to say how personal -individuality could be, as at present, an independent animal privilege. - -Although the medium of space is continuous through all bodies, the -regular continuity is impaired by the elements of the atmosphere -between each. The atmosphere not only protects all living bodies -against the maximum and all excess of pressure, but in some -considerable degree insulates the bodies of persons from each other, -just as fog and small snow intercept the visual continuity and would -render "rays of light" interruptedly continuous; so do the intermixed -atoms of the atmosphere the regular continuity of the medium of space -between person and person, as respects surfaces. Within the body, -insulation is still more complete: here, electric matter and air -abound to the exclusion of all excess of medium of space; by which the -different organs remain, in a manner disconnected, or so far, as that -the functional action of each organ has its distinct period, instead of -the action of the whole being simultaneously performed. Beside these -means and degrees of insulation, the non-conducting coating and lining -of the nerves insulate more completely their elementary contents, by -which the nerves are not only tubes of separation but insulation, and -are direct conducting channels of the nervous fluid through the body -from its external source to the brain. - -Although man is thus isolated from man, the isolating means do not -prevent the medium of space being continuous through all, and from one -to another; which is manifested by the clairvoyant, who has the like -of the sensation excited in the brain of the mesmeriser repeated or -excited in his own brain; as when the mesmeriser masticates and the -sensation of the same flavour is known by the mesmerised. The sensation -is nothing transferable; taste is not by the tongue; hence, by the -sensation being excited in succession in the brain of each person, -is the only conceivable mode, in reason, why the second should know -what the first is masticating. The nervous fluid of the two may be -supposed to be derived from the medium of space between them; then, -by the medium of space lying between, the nervous fluids of the two -are rendered continuous one with the other, and is so at all times, -but only when the nervous fluid is mesmerically de-electrised is it -productive of clairvoyant perceptions. Community of sensation, or -the _same_ sensation being perceived by different persons, is an -impossibility. The first sensation is only where it has been excited, -in the brain of the mesmeriser; and supposing the matter of the nervous -fluid continuous direct from his brain to that of the patient, in -it, what has the latter to perceive?--nothing; neither is perception -separable in idea from the result of cerebral excitement. It is to -be hoped that the desultory ideas here advanced may tend to a better -knowledge on this singular mesmeric discovery. Even the foregoing may -be objected to with apparent reason, on consideration of what is termed -"community of thought," wherein there is no previous sensation to be -repeated. To account for which requires more cerebral information than -has as yet been brought to light; when satisfactorily known it may -show, whether or not community in dreaming may be effected. Report -would be impossible were there not intimate connection of brain with -brain. - - - - -VOLUNTARY DE-ELECTRISATION. - - -Every motion of the limbs being effected by pressure, to promote the -local change minus-pressure matter has to be displaced. That the assent -of will is indispensable is evident, inasmuch as there is no _ordinary_ -limb motion, if not previously assented to by the will. Yet will is no -mechanical power, nor anything having a distinct existence. Will seems -to be, the mutual accordance of the cerebral organs to act together -so as to effect, or rather assist, the accomplishing of a present -intention. The act may be likened to that of suction, voluntarily -performed by the brain to de-electrise itself, in order to make room -for and receive that which lies in the way of the desired object being -effected. The voluntary act by the brain cannot be on anything far -away, or not in contact with the brain, and that which is acted on -must be continuous to the place of the removable impediment. If, then, -the brain does de-electrise itself, and that by so doing it receives -electric matter from the nerves which are continuous from the limb -to the brain, such removal of electric matter is effected within the -nerves of the limb, as makes space for medium of space to enter in the -requisite quantity to move the limb according to the required velocity. -It is not to be overlooked, that, previous to the self de-electrisation -of the brain, thought may be concerned in promoting the cerebral -de-electrising act. So far as the foregoing may be true, the like -circumstances take place when the mesmeriser wills into report with -himself the far-off patient, the electric matter in the space between -being affected with as much facility, as the transfer of similar matter -from the trough to the utmost extent of the galvanic wire, which may be -considered instantaneous, considering the hundreds of miles distance -between. - - -_The Nature and Power of Will._--The power of effecting, voluntarily, -the transfer of electric matter from one part of the interior of the -body to a different, seems to belong, in some necessary degree, to -all bodies possessed of life. The object is to make space for medium -of space to enter, and by its pressure to put the animal in a state -of locomotion. The snake, worm, and snail do so to be pressed onward -along the ground; the oyster, to have the shells firmly collapsed; the -limpit, to be pressed against the rock; and each, cerebrally wills -the replacement of electric matter to displace the cause of pressure, -medium of space, for the grovelling reptile to be at rest--the oyster, -that the shells may be opened; the limpit, when willing to fall into -the water. The fly, lizard, and walrus, so de-electrise the body, as to -reverse the direction of what is supposed to be their natural weight, -by which means each becomes pressed upwards, and walks with the back -downwards--which, to be consistent with the established philosophy, -should be considered _repellent gravitation_. The goat voluntarily -de-electrises his body to have it pressed with double force against -the slippery rock; the lynx, to have mesmeric long vision; the cat, to -have opaque vision, or "see through the dark;" the fire-fly, to effect -reduction of the optic pressure productive of sensations of colour. The -carrier-pigeon effects self de-electrisation to the clairvoyant degree, -by which the external object, the turret at Constantinople, promotes -the sensation which indicates at once the shortest direction of flight -from London to the birth-place of the bird. The eagle de-electrises -itself inwardly, the same as if by the mesmeric passes, to promote -olfactory lucidity, by which to ascertain the presence of carrion on -the ground. Fishes effect internal de-electrisation, somehow by means -of the contents of the swim, for influent medium of space to propel -the body with a velocity superior to the power of the short, flexible -fins. The flight of birds is not effected by wing motion, or wing -powers. The crow, eagle, and kite sail in all directions on extended -motionless wing, and the odd wing-flap now and then given, is only -to assist in keeping the body in the necessary electric condition. -The swallow is darted most rapidly through the air with closed -wing, and changes acutely, without way, the direction of flight, by -changing instantaneously the direction of impulse. With the greatest -wing-agitation the hawk remains at times stationary in the air. The -fish, bird, and bullet are impelled by the same cause, pressure, by the -medium of space on the de-electrised rear. - -The cow and goat voluntarily de-electrise the cud, for medium of space -to enter and press it upwards through the food-passage which the cud -presses against, instead of being raised by nerves or muscles of the -esophagus. In parturition also, and the discharge of the feces, the -same principles are maintained. The "throes of Nature" are consequent -on the natural pressure being made intermitting, by electric matter -returning to and escaping from the birth at intervals. The physiologist -may refer to muscular action; but where are the delivery muscles? The -stage-dancer makes de-electrising efforts to receive medium of space, -by which to be lifted above the boards and supported a few seconds -in the air. Muscles at full stretch in opposite directions, and the -fulcrum, if any, being carried by them, is out of all dynamic rule. All -persons make a de-electrising effort previous to the leap-spring, and -while continuing to stand or run and tiptoe, without being aware of -the reason; and the fatigue is not muscular, but in keeping the body -fittingly de-electrised. - -The _gymnotus electricus_ kills the distant prey instantaneously, which -receives nothing whatever of missile from the enemy; nor could the -latter be accessary to the death-stroke, were there nothing between to -connect one with the other: nothing passing and no connecting means, -no outstretched arm or instrument touching that which is to be acted -on, is a mechanical absurdity, and is attributing an effect to that -which, it may be said, is an absent cause. The eel voluntarily performs -the cerebral operation on the electric matter which is continuous from -itself through the air to the marked prey, which effects instantaneous -removal of the same matter from the prey; which permits medium of space -at the same instant to give the de-electrised part the death-blow. - - - - -APPLICATION OF MESMERISM. - - -First. A National Asylum, to be named, THE BRITISH MESMERIC -INSTITUTION, should be founded and endowed. England should take the -lead. A Professorship of Magnetism should be founded. All Sanatory -Asylums to be obliged to furnish their experience periodically, and -be under control of the Institution, which should be possessed of -power to undiploma the medical practitioner who refuses to mesmerise. -Self-mesmerising to Clairvoyance, to be taught, which is as teachable -as ventriloquism; the principle is the same of both,--the theory is -that of sound. - -Through self-mesmerising, the blind and eyeless would be extricated -occasionally from the shadow leading to the valley of death and -be enabled to follow some useful calling. Some blind, illiterate -clairvoyant, may have superior _connoisseurship_, entitling him to fill -the academic chair. Through mesmerism the resuscitating process can be -brought under rules of science. Through clairvoyance the geography of -the globe may yet be improved; the northern passage discovered; the -astronomer assisted in his stellar speculations beyond the possibility -of mere telescopic discovery. On ship-board, the voluntary clairvoyant -may make discovery of the haze-hidden lighthouse and wave-hidden shoal. -In the hands of the clairvoyant the telescope and microscope, will, in -time, make us acquainted with other worlds, other beings, and other of -the wonderful works of the GREAT GOD OF NATURE! - -The Seeker after God from the book of God's own composing, the holy -volume of his own works, through voluntary clairvoyance, will feel -himself in the enjoyment of a second nature, the fit inhabitant of -an intellectual world, in which the powers of thought are without -limits. And who can say what discovery of abstract truths may not be -elicited from the conversation of two or more clairvoyants in mutual -report, all of exalted talent and superior education? Other worlds, -ere this be past, may open to our view, and their inhabitants become -clairvoyantly familiar to human observation. The idea is pregnant -with hope; it presumes that we are not inhabitants of only the earth, -but the universe; which may be considered a natural, _never_-dying -hope. Why, then, should the science be opposed which has already been -so beneficial to our species, and promises to make known the never -yet discovered wonders of the animal economy? Surely they will be -yet ashamed of having done those things, the fruit of which is the -bitterness of remorse. - - - - -CONTINUOUS MOTION. - - -The motion which continues after the body has ceased to be in contact -with the _sensible_ impelling cause, is named continuous motion. The -body impelled receives neither force nor motion from the impelling -cause: neither force nor motion is anything transferrable or anything -communicable; forcible velocity and change of place are but accidents -of matter, and but local, casual circumstances of bodies. Being -_inert_, the body cannot move itself. Motion, therefore, is but a -physical effect, and must have a cause equal to the duration of the -effect: motion after impulse has ceased, would be effect without -cause--which is an absurdity and impossibility; therefore impulse -is constant as motion, however insensible the impelling cause. -These dynamic principles cannot be too frequently brought to mind, -considering the general erroneous opinion on the subject which -maintains, that "a body continues in motion because it cannot stop -itself;" which is effect without its equal of cause. - -A body in motion is under unequal pressure on opposite sides, greater -on the rear than front. The air in front resists, that in the rear -may be said to recede from the body; therefore neither impels the -projectile. Under such circumstances there remains but the alternative, -that of the electric constitution of the body being changed by the -previous impulse, by which medium of space accumulates on one side, -or decreases on the opposite. The phenomenon admits of being thus -illustrated: - -The first, previous or sensible impulse, effects de-electrisation of -the body on the rear or side of impulse; influent medium of space -immediately occupies the vacated rear, and by its pressure impels the -body through the air. The velocity of the previous impulse, gives -momentum to the body greater than the included freely-removable -elementary matter can obtain; of consequence the latter is left behind -in the air, and the pressure of the acquired medium of space in the -rear, is the continuous impelling cause. Thus is the mistake of Dugald -Stuart made evident, that "motion is the immediate and only effect of -impulse." - -It is not the air's resistance which makes the motion of a projectile -decline and end. Taking impulse as ten, resistance four, there remains -six degrees of unresisted impulse, which should impel the body for -ever through the atmosphere. The decline and cessation of impulse is -that which brings the projectile to rest. - -From the instant the body has ceased to be in contact with the sensible -impelling cause, electric matter is re-entering the rear, which -displaces gradually the impelling medium; and as are the increments of -the former, so are the decrements of the latter, and so is the decline -of motion. - - -_Ascending and Descending Motion._--The rear of the vertically-impelled -body becomes vacated of minus-pressure matter, and replaced with medium -of space; by the latter, and general pressure, the body is forced -upwards as a cork by water. While ascending, the rear is acquiring -electric matter and losing the impelling medium,--the velocity of -course declines; and when at the highest, the body is at rest in the -air for an instant, then is precipitated to the ground. During the -entire of the descent, electric matter is vacating the rear and medium -of space entering, consequently the fall is accelerated. Now as the -body cannot fall of itself; as descending motion is of increasing -velocity, while motion in every other direction is retarded; and, -because all descent has the same _centripetal_ direction, so should -there be some distinct cause to produce these conspicuous effects, -which, to trace, suggest the following hypothesis: - - -_Centripetal Flow._--The different motions of the globe affect all -bodies on its surface, so as to appear to the inhabitants as if the -whole were at rest; supposing thence, that the centre of the earth -is the centre of motion, the following may be considered probable -consequences:--The general pressure being less at the centre and axis -than on the surface of the earth, obliges the medium of space to -flow through the atmosphere and entire surface, _centripetally_, to -the centre, thence along the axis, carrying with it electric matter, -and has exit at the poles, which polarizes the globe and produces -the boreales. The centripetal flow retains the atmosphere to the -earth; precipitates bodies from the air in a centripetal direction; -accelerates the descent; and retards all motion not in its own -direction: it prevents vertical ascent being equal to impulse, the -difference being employed in bearing against the flow. The flow makes -bodies ponderate or have weight, causes the dip and direction of the -compass-needle. - - - - -FORMATION OF A PLANET. - - -That cannot be considered a chaotic state from which the eternal order -sprung; nor that a created body, the substance of which previously -existed, which was and is common to all bodies. Hence it may be -concluded that a planet is a natural production, equally as the -instantly-formed ponderous atmospheric aërolite, supposed to have come -from the moon. - -From the elementary to the aëriform, thence the aqueous state, seems -the simplest and primeval order of atomic combination. Hence it is -conceivable, that, were an immense volume of the general elements -collected together in the regions of space, and subjected to extreme -pressure, the result would be an aqueous sphere, with an attached -residue of the same elements to serve as a primeval atmosphere to -receive increase from future mists and exhalations. While aqueous -and with one side only of the sphere facing the sun, the elements of -the water cannot avoid being in a state of constant disturbance and -transfer, productive of combinations, formations, and precipitations -until the equilibrium has obtained, leaving ultimately the solid masses -so formed, as they would now appear were the ocean away: the original -water, from having contributed the elements of the newly-formed solids, -being reduced in quantity and changed in quality, is left as the ocean -is at present, saline. During the intermediate plastic state, and as -induration increased, the endowed fertility may have produced _kinds_, -many of which have become extinct. - -It may be further assumed, that deep within the planet the elements -abound in neither kind nor quantity as at the surface and in the -atmosphere; and if the imponderable oxygen element be absent, an -immense mass of ice would form the nucleus of the earth, the occasional -melting at the surface of which, in the neighbourhood of sulphurous and -ferruginous masses, may cause those volcanic eruptions from which no -region of the earth is free. Thus it would seem that a planet may be -the natural formation of an instant, requiring time for completion, and -may be an everyday circumstance in space. - -The strict inquirer into terrestrial magnetism has to ascertain, -whether the non-conducting central ice be not the means, some how, -of separating the correlative fluids which the centripetal flow -carries with it along the axis through the Poles, and which make the -Poles magnetic opposites; or, whether, of these fluids, one only is -transmissible through ice. - -A planet may be subject to wear and the fertility to decrease, thence -to be uninhabitable, as Herschel describes the very probable condition -of the moon, owing to the rapid motion through space, solar effects -and cultivation. The idea is neither gloomy nor a threatened dread. -Man was born to leave this world, and live where GOD has pleased. Some -anticipate the night, when we shall see "our God in terror, and our -world on fire!"--"undoing all, as all had never been," or made in vain. -But He who blessed and never cursed his works, whose mercy and goodness -endureth for ever, and who will "save both man and beast," is not a God -of terror! - -Why the planets are moved round the sun, all in the same direction, -excites speculation in the absence of demonstration. Let it be supposed -that the inequalities in a newly-formed planet prevent the body being -at rest under the general pressure; in which case the planet is put -into its primeval motion, and in the direction of the strongest -impulsive pressure. But as the like inequalities precisely, cannot -present in every new planet, neither could the motion of all be in -the same direction, which gives room for conceiving the probability -that the portion of the medium, however extensive, in which the -solar system is involved, revolves round the sun, or round the orbit -of the sun, and that its motion is promoted by the sun in the solar -orbit,--which orbit may probably be promoted by the rarity of the -elements in the solar regions. The medium of space so revolving, -determines the direction of all the planets, which by the hypothesis -must be the same as that of the revolving medium. - -By some such means only is it conceivable how solar matter can arrive -at Neptune, the Earth, or even Mercury,--the _inert_ sun being -incapable of radiating anything from itself, and solar atoms requiring -a physical impelling cause, in motion, and acting on the rear of each -from the sun to the extreme of planetary space. A circulating medium of -constantly-increasing radius, appears indispensably necessary for the -purpose of conveying solar matter through the regions of space, and for -the maintaining all planetary motion in the same uniform direction. The -subject is open to all, and worthy of notice: what is now advanced will -be passed over, from having no mathematical appendage, but which, makes -even false causes pass for the demonstrated truth. The mathematical -science has not to this day demonstrated the cause of planetary -motion,--a subject wholly indifferent to modern astronomy, in which the -false, self-gravitation, in connection with _inertia_, satisfies all as -long as the astronomer remains self-satisfied. - - -_Formation and Use of a Comet._--A _Comet_ may have been a planet by -formation, and impelled, before completion, immeasurably far beyond -the sun. The tail is probably the primitive atmosphere, left behind and -pressed after the body as towards a sheltering wall; the _coma_ may be -electric matter collected on the front, and subject to increase, which, -by lessening pressure on the side facing the direction of motion, -and without increased pressure on the opposite side, may cause the -velocity of the planet to be subject to acceleration, or prevent the -motion being equitable: the reticulated tail may serve to collect all -redundant solar matter in space, after planetary use, for deposit in -the solar regions, or the sun as the heart of the system, for future -circulation. Were the tail to approach the earth sufficiently near, -the waters of the sea would be pressed upwards as towards an immense -water-spout; in which case the rivers must become drained; and as the -Comet recedes from the earth, the fall of the immense column would -produce _another general deluge_ over one hemisphere, at least, of the -globe! The deposits from a comet's tail may occasion those nebulocities -named solar spots. - - * * * * * - -THE END. - - * * * * * - -Tyler and Reed, Printers, Bolt-court, London. - - - - -TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE. - - -Archaic, dialectical and unusual spellings and usage have been -maintained. Obvious typos have been fixed as detailed below. - -Table of Contents entries with no corresponding centered title in the -original book have been indented and the titles have been inserted -inline. - - - Page vii: - DEDICATION iii - ADVERTISEMENT v - TABLE OF CONTENTS vii - MESMERISM AND ESTABLISHED PHILOSOPHY 1 - In the original book: - PHILOSOPHY, THE ESTABLISHED 9 - - Page vii: THE USE OF OXYGEN IN PROMOTING COMBUSTION 42 - In the original book: ----, ITS USE IN COMBUSTION 42 - - Page vii: USE OF THE INSPIRED OXYGEN WITHIN THE SYSTEM 56 - In the original book: USE OF OXYGEN IN RESPIRATION 56 - - Page vii: - NATURAL SLEEP 65 - COMATOSE FLOW 66 - MESMERIC SLEEP 68 - In the original book: - SLEEP, NATURAL 65 - ----, MESMERIC 68 - COMATOSE FLOW 66 - - Page viii: - TRANSPARENCY 77 - OPACITY 77 - In the original book: - TRANSPARENCY AND OPACITY 77 - - Page viii: - MESMERISM, CURATIVE 87 - ETHERS 87 - In the original book: - ETHERS 87 - MESMERISM, CURATIVE 87 - - Page viii: TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE - In the original book: (inserted) - - Page 10: an excruciating, painless toothache, and, - In the original book: an excruciating, painless toothach, and, - - Page 24: velocity and direction makes no exception. - In the original book: velocity and direction makes no exeption. - - Page 41: constituent of every aëriform body - In the original book: constituent of every acriform body - - Page 42: In this twofold manner of service - In the original book: In this two-fold manner of service - - Page 43: suffers de-electrisation and acquires medium - In the original book: suffers de-electrisation and acquiries medium - - Page 55: within the stomach, or in the tea-cup - In the original book: within the stomach, or in the teacup - - Page 56: the accumulation of minus-pressure matter in - In the original book: the accumulation of minus pressure-matter in - - Page 56: which is compensated by minus-pressure matter - In the original book: which is compensated by minus pressure-matter - - Page 58: the arterialising, minus-pressure, imponderable - In the original book: the arterialising, minus pressure, imponderable - - Page 58: losing the arterialising minus-pressure matter - In the original book: losing the arterialising minus pressure matter - - Page 59: the venous flow on the minus-pressure capillary - In the original book: the venous flow on the minus pressure capillary - - Page 59: _Use of the Spleen._--The SPLEEN, from being an - In the original book: The SPLEEN, from being an - - Page 60: _How the Diaphragm Is Raised._--The _diaphragm_ - In the original book: The _diaphragm_ - - Page 66: _Comatose Flow._--It must have been observed by - In the original book: It must have been observed by - - Page 72: above the horizon, the general optic - In the original book: above the horiozn, the general optic - - Page 87: _Curative Mesmerism._--The curative principle of - In the original book: The curative principle of - - Page 87: _Ethers._--From inhaled _ethers_, producing - In the original book: From inhaled _ethers_, producing - - Page 88: Pharmacopoeia - In the original book the oe ligature was used. - - Page 92: _The Nature and Power of Will._--The power of - In the original book: The power of - - Page 103: _Formation and Use of a Comet._--A _Comet_ may - In the original book: A _Comet_ may - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philosophy Which Shows the -Physiology of Mesmerism and Explains the Phenomenon of Clairvoyance, by T. H. Pasley - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PHYSIOLOGY OF MESMERISM *** - -***** This file should be named 50170-8.txt or 50170-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/1/7/50170/ - -Produced by Emmanuel Ackerman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - |