Observations on a series of electrical experiments / By Dr. Hoadly, and Mr. Wilson.

  • Benjamin Hoadly
Date:
1759
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on a series of electrical experiments / By Dr. Hoadly, and Mr. Wilson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    62/96 page 58
    [ 5» ] This atmofphere therefore, thus furrounding the fur- faces of bodies, when artificial force electrifies them, is w hat refills their being electrified more \ and when it abfolutely prevents it, muft be equally denfe and power¬ ful with that eleftrical fluid that flows from the excited tube, or machine, which endeavours to force its way through thefe atmofpheres into the bodies, in order to eleCtrify them more. In the ordinary and quiet manner, in which the im¬ perceptible works of the Author of nature are carried on among the component particles of the grofs bodies on or near the furface of the earth ; this fubtile, aCtive, electri¬ cal fluid, which not only furrounds each grofs body, but pervading its pores, furrounds every component par¬ ticle of it, where it is not in abfolute contaft with its neighbouring component particle , this aCtive fluid, I fay, cannot be idle, but mull be in aCtion, though-that aClion be imperceptible to our fenfes: and it muft in an imperceptible degree be varying its condition in all the parts of bodies whatever, i. e. in our prefent way of ex- preffing of ourfelves, be electrifying them plus or minus% though not fo forcibly, as to give fenfible figns of it We may therefore not unreafonably conclude, that all bodies whatever in their natural fituation,. and all their component particles, have furrounding their furfaces, not in abfolute contaCl with other furfaces, an imper¬ ceptible atmofphere, ofelaftic particles, fufficient to ball ance the fmaller force with which they are attacked; every way iimiiar to the perceptible atmofpheres at the furfaces of bodies
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3