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The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes ou les planches trop grandes pour §tre reproduites en un seul clich6 sont film^es d partir do Tangle sup^rieure gauche, de gauche d droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nicessaire. Le diagramme suivant illustre la m^thode : 1 2 3 4 5 6 M / ^ A I ^-. / ., 7 i- <^. *ir, ^ , ,. OKM]^ Of CREATION. k > J i I •. I' 4 the: ORIGIN OF CREATION ; OR |h« |ci(!itcq of J^altcii and |orc(, A NEW SYSTEM OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, F-yr^ By TRF^D. "^^^rv^ Q,^. c^^^c^ ^^1^ /2£ '^2<^-z«y2_ 7 7 11 falsehood: Sf%eldtrr;i^L"tncoi"veH '. ^'^^1^'''' ''""'*'''' '' ">« «"°" '"d from nature." 1'^*=*^"'"" """da concoived to be the correct answers they received KiNELM Chillingly— Lord Bulwer Lytton. " It Is only by the questioning of receired opinion, that truth is advanced " Short Studies on Gkkat Subjects- James Anthony Frovdb. tha^fl^ZTpwTl^ot^t?.?^^ '''' ^^« P- '-e of truth, rather Dr. John Tyndall. HALIFAX, X. S. : PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORS, 1874. If ^^"C: i,^ MMMiM^^itflH Entered according to Act of Parliament of Canada, in the year Eighteen Hundred and Seventy-four, by Thomas R. Eraser, in the Office of the Minister of Agriculture, Printed by the Nova Scotia Printing CoUtAU)t. PREFACE. Unknown to tlie world of Science wo present ourselves as advo- cates of the vast undertaking which is, we expect, to revolutionize the whole theory of Natural Science taught and believed in at the present day, and to inaugurate a new system, ba^ed upon a natural law, the evidences of which we have discovered, and which we hereby show to be of necessity universal, and therefore canahle of explaining all natural phenomena. This system is not the development of a day, but has been in progress, in various ways, for many years, more particularly since the hidden meaning of Magnetism was discovered and applied by us. The nucleus of the present work appeared some time ago in a weekly periodical, in the form of Essays on Natural Science ; and the reception given them, along with the importance and admitted necessity for such a work, has induced us to issue the present volume. The data upon which our theories have been built, have, in all the subjects touched upon, been based on personal observations in chemistry, telegraphy and marine diving ; in an extensive experience in coal and gold mines ; and also while voyaging and travelling along the Gulf Stream, the Calms of the Equator, the coasts of Brazil, California and Mexico, the Mediterranean, the Bay o*" > '/, the Hot Sulphur Baths of Salt Lake, the Great Geysers of California, and the mangroves of the Isthmus of Panama. 'jpo our readers generally, let us say, that we desire lo be judged Tl. riiEFACE. only by the li^ht of tliclr faculty of common «cnsc, and their own personal observations in nature Avithout reference to any book whatever, except it may bo the Scriptures. To our possilile critics we desire to say that it is useless, for the purpose of convincing us, to 'Attempt to refute our theories by refer- ring to the statements of any man of Science, however eminent, as we recognise no positive authority under God and Nature. To the many distinguished men now living wiioso opinions wc have ignored, wo are personally unknown, and whatever force of language may have been used in refuting their theories, must be attributed to the strength of our convictions on the subject and its commanding importance, and not of course to any unkind feeling to the gentlemen themselves. We are aware of the imperfect nature of our work, that many unavoidable inaccuracies will present themselves to the careful reader, and that much is comprised in the main part of the work which should appear only as notes ; yet we would have these drawbacks excused for the sake of the great truths meant to be conveyed. The scope of the work also is such — covering as it does facts and svstems of Science about which whole libraries have been written — that, owing to our limited space and the necessary condensation, the intent and meaning may sometimes be diflicult to apprehend; but wc have preferred to publish the Book even in its imperfect condition, in order that we might the sooner obtain the critical suggestions of the scientific world, as a means of rendering it more perfect: for, far from being a work for one man only, there is n>aterial to occupy the liTes of many scientific men. We have therefore hastened the pub- lication, in order, as intimated, to obtain the assistance of such PREFACE. viL ilistmgulslicd men of Science aa arc still Icfl ux, for the rining or progressive men of Natural Science are few, and owing to their cramped ideas, comparatively stationary. Agassi/ knew and lamented diis fact when he said that wc have more than enough of manufac- turers of hooks, men who arc mere compilers, who know nothing — of their own knowledge — of the subjects about which they write ; while we have few men of patient investigation and research coupled with daring and original thought. Here then have we lighted our taper to guide the shipwrecked observer who is drowning amidst the swelling seas of opposing theories and systems. Here have we planted our acorn in the already well sown field of science, but whether it will rot in the soil, or the bird* of the air will eat it, or the biting frosts will kill it, or whether it will pass unharmed through ail these dangers and grow year by year into a mighty oak that shall overtop the forest^ time alone will «how. The present systems of science, and theories of accounting for natural phenomena arc like to the starry hosts of heaven. Now one startling announcement, with the first flush of youth, passes like the full moon athwart the zenith, dimming all the others ; but in half a day it is gone, and it appears next evening only as another speck studded to the starried crown of earth, adding its faint twinkle to the others ; yet, after all, there are none capable of illumining the midnight darkness. Many more are like to the evanescent flight of a meteor that does not even leave a stone behind it to tell of its pas- sage. Amidst this host we would also claim a space in which to set our feeble flame, and contribute our quota towards dispelling the gloom of mystery and ignorance ; but even this may be denied us. TIU. ACR. No greater mi>rortuno can bcfull n man than to be much in aJvanco of his (lay and generation. How many hinulroda aro there probably of such men alive at the present time, who, for want of encourage- ment, aro vainly striving against iK)verty and misery ? While willing enough to raise statues and monuntcnts to them fifty years after they are dead, the world, foolish still and foolish ever, almost invariably refuses to know them while living. ^Vhen wo say, among other things, that maonbtism will, long l)cf(H*e the present century cloeetr entirely replace steatn as a motive power — for the latter, at the best is only a clunwy, uncertain and dangerous agent to work with — then the tenets which we have advanced are perhaps (without drawing censure on us for egotism) sufficiently ahead of the world's know- ledge to wound the vanity of somo dozens of professors ; to touch the pockets of some thousands whose prosperity would be affected by them; and to render valueless the "loads of learned lumber" in the heads of some millions of bookworms. There is thus sufBcient in* fluence — does any one doubt it ? — in this interested army to allay the curiosity of the world, and to soothe it back to the even tenor of its- way. But, fortunately for us our daily bread does not depend on the- acceptance of our theoriuH, und as we watch and wait, and see a few more thousands killed by boiler explosions; a few more thousand* drowned by the variation of ships' compasses ; a few more millions- pMsoned by improper medical treatment ; a few more fields of coal exhausted, and all our interested professors dead; then perhaps a more intelligent generation will be content to accept the dictation and lessons of Nature. In the meantime we retain those pleasurable emotions which cannot be taken away from us, the gratification which every writet- rftrrACi. fir. espcricnces in unfolding a new Idea, the glow of feeling on witncm- iiig for the first time the dawn of a new light on the horizon of knowledge, and tho delight in tahing homo to ones-self a seed of thonght garnered from the unfathoniable granary of Imjnensity. We beg to return thanks to several gentlemen for their kindness la eorrecting proof, and rendorinj; other viUuable aaeistau'jo. CONTENTS. CIIAPTEli I. MATTER. Prof. Grove on Maftcr. — Locke. — Bishop Berkeley. — Two classes of atoms. — Male and Female Atoms. — Matter on Earth. — Prof. Tyndall on Matter. — Prof. W. A Norton on one kind of Force — Luwofrej)ulHion. — Vfslii/rs of (Jrpiition on Matter. — Fraser's Ma},'azinc on Matter. — Analogy between language and two classes of Atoms 1 — 5 CHAPTER II. MATTER AND iT9 FORCE. Atomngnctism. — What Prof. Iluxlcy wonld like to know. — Matter and motion. — Every Atom a Magnet. — Law of Atoms. — Like attracts Like. — Unlike poles attract. — Atomagnetism the law of attraction and repulsion. — Examples. — Experiments with filings. — IIow Atoms conihino their Polarity. — Herbert Spencer's Philosojihy. — ilia Foun- dation loosened 6 — 9 CHAPTER III. MINERAL LIFE. Minerals not dead. — Mineral life alow form of vegetable and animal Life. — Iron filings have life. — Compass needle lias life. — Philosopher's tree. — Coral. — Candy. — Mineral life. — Atomagnetism. — Atoms of lead, sugar, and coral, Magnets. — Greater always influences the less. — Explanations of Pliilosopher's Tree. — Cause of beautiful forms in snow flakes 10 — 11, CHAPTER IV. VEGETABLE LIFE. Origin of Life. — Spontaneous generation. — Sir William Thomson on seed bearing Meteors. — Cornhill Ma<_'azine. — Atomagnetism. — No seed required. — Railway Cuttings. — Clover. — IIow a i)lant grows without a seed. — Scripture proof for it. — Seeds rot — Hardwood and soft- wood Forests. — Darwin's " Origin of Species " overthrown. — Thousands of plants in the first creation — New })lants with every change of soil and climate. — Present theory of plant life. — How a cell develops — Absurdity of plants breathing. — Why roots and branches spread. — Experiments to prove the reason. — Why a tree does not grow in winter 12- -18. zii. CONTENTSr. CIIArXKR V. ORIGIN or ANIMAf^ LIFE. Man nfrniM to inquire into the origin of life. — Millc and cl)coso. — Dumas und Agnisiz on seeds and offf^s. — A cow the motiicr of ninggots. — Insects spontiuieously produced. — How aiiinmls are produced with- out an cgjj. — Excess ot vejjetahic matter forms aniniais. — Process of creation. — Darwin. — All animals produced not from one but from many. — Afjassiz on JVIcn and Monkey*. — One animal may produce a different animal. — Animals, parasites. — Ar^jumciit ajrainst spon- taneous ):;enerution. — Germ theory. — I'astcur. — Child. — Lamarck. — Canned meats. — Why ice and salt preserve meats. — Tlie formation of germs. — Tyndall on respirators. — Spontaneous fish. — Agassiz on Special Creation. — Origin of lowest organisms. — Mr. Charlton Basiian 19— 2» CHAPTER VI. APPETITB, OR INCIPIENT MIND, Darwin thinks development of Mind a hopeless inquiry. — We explain it. — Appetite the lowest form of Mind in Animals. — Spontaneous In.sects eating immediately. — What is Appetite ? — The Atomic Law of Like to Like. — Mind and Life, Properties of Matter. — Vegetable Appetite. — A Seal's Appetite. — A Calf's Appetite.— Why it does not eat bricks and stones. — A Baby's Appetite. — Appetite for Tomatoes. — Superiority of a Brute's Appetite over Man's. .30 — 32. CHAPTER Vn. INSTINCT, OR ANIMAL MIND. Instinct a higher phase of Mind. — Frank Buckland. — Why a Chicken knew a Gentleman was not its Mother. — Sparrows require no Teaching. — Foreknowledge of Bees and Beavers. — Important Fact. — Animal's Mind I'erfect. — Never Progresses. — Man always Pro- gressing. — Difference between man and Beast. — Man two minds. — Animals one. — Animals no Soul. — Mind returns to Earth. — Their Mind all Nature. — Animals Perfect on separation from the Parent. — Answer to Frank Biicklaud's questioner 33 — 36. CHAPTER VIIL man's ANIMAL AND SPIRITUAL MIND. Schelling and Hegel on Nature as " petrified intelligence." — Hope on " Origin and Prospects of Man." — Matter without properties. — Mind a property of matter. — No limit to the properties of matter. — Brutes have one mind, man two minds. — Animal and Divine. — Agassizon two minds. — Why Man's animal mind degenerated. — Man should distrust man. — Manner in which man's mind is formed. — From food. — Difference between animal mind and Divine. — Situation of the mind. — Of Memory. — Brain a picture gallery. — Difference between man's mind and the brutes 37 — 42. CONtiNtS. CHAPTER IX. CHEMICAL ACTION. — 8TRAH BOILER DXPLOIIONS. A. kaowlcdgo of chemical action requisite. — Notliing known about it by scientific writers.— Prof. Grove. — Chemical action only one form of atomnjjnetism. — Great separator.— Attraction the great ijuiider.— ^ llepuision the great designer.—Chemical action tlie great destroyer. ^— How .sugar dissolves in water. -^How a nail dissoives.-^Con- ceniraled acid not so good a dissolver as diluted acid. — Soda powdet, Sulphuric acid. — 'Amusement for speculative philo.sopliers.-^IIow •water evaporates. — No latent moisture in the atmospliere. — No Indent dryness in the sea. — Stkam BoiLun explosions. — Facts connected with explosions. — Tiie materials dealt with. — The manu- facture of hydrogen gas. — What tlio United States Commissioners on explosions have discovered, — How explosion takes place. — Not by pressure.^— Mingling of gases. — L'revcntioa 43 — 61. CHAPTER X. n B AT. ileat the result of chemical action between certain classes of atoms.— Dynamical theory of heat. — Motion.— Tyndall on heat.-^Christo- pher Columbus and his followers. — No ambition among scientific men. — Heat produced in three ways. — Natural heat.— ^Combustion. ^^Frictlon.-^Ice melting.— Hot springs and Geysers of California. — Volcanoes caused by chemical action. — Why coal burns. — Poker experimcnt.-^Cond active power Of heat.— Tyndall's experiments.—^ Laboratory experiments incorrect.— Atomic action likened to a gossamer thread.-'— How the Crusade against the present system of science will bo conducted. — Rttskin's Crusade against Renaissance Painting, and Architecture.— 'Grove and Lardner 82 — 61. CHAPTER XI. llOIIT. Light caused similarly to heat.-^Propagated different]y.^---Thrcc flivigions. — Light withotit heat.-^Light With heat. — Propagated light.-^ Auroras explained. — Phosphorescence.^^Tvndall refuted on mole cnlar motion.-^Frre-flies.-^Lighting gas by the finger. — Auroral from trees. — Candle a guide to light.- Four things required to b« looked at.— ^The flame. — The heat.-^The light.-^And light as art object.— All light, reflection. -=-The undulating theory disputed.—^ Light instantaneous. — Light cannot travel half a mile.— Sight travels 286,000 miles a second. — Flame not seen in daylight.—^ Astronomical fallacy of star-light. — Undulation follows Emission into oblivion. — Tyndall's security for the continued acceptance oT the Undulatory theory, overthrown 62*-6*i XlV. CONTENTS. CIIAl'TEll XII. THE SUN AND 8UNLI0IIT. IVofessors Tliomson, nnd Tuit, on tlie Sun.- Tho Sim a huj;c furnace.— Herschcll on tho waste licnc of tho Sun. — Ternpcraturo of space. — Onr view of fhc universe. — The solar system nn inliuhitunt of it. — Tho Sun a stomacli. — Tho atmospheres, the flesh nntl lioncs of the solar system, — Movements ro|j;iilated by Mafjnetism. — Tho Sun an inhabited world. — How Sunlight is caused by muj^neiism. — The Sun, Earth, and Planets, Magnetic batteries. — Sun tho main bat- tery and head ofiice. — Planets telegraph station.s. — Sunlight caused in a similar way to the spark at tho poles of a battery.—The "Journey to tho Sun." 69 — 76. CHAPTER XIII. COLOUR. Undulation theory of colour. — What is tho forco which governs colour- Primary causes overlooked as usual. — Great display of Arithmetic. — Looseness in Science. — When wo will freeze to death. — Portland Scientific Convention. — Tyndall on the vibratory theory. — 474,- 439,680,000,000 red waves a second. — This theory questioned. — N"^ colour on the Earth. — Herschell. — Helmholtz. — Science like . voyage of discovery. — Wo introduce tho atoinagnetic theory of colour. — Colour a property of matter. — Colours of mineral flames. — Why is tho sky blue ? — Tyndall's " Scientific use of tho Imagina- tion." — The setting sun red. — The hills purple 77 — 83. CHAPTER XIV. ELECTHICITT. All light is Electricity. — Greatest Scientific delusion of tho day. — Magne- tism and Electricity essentially different. — Quotations to show how little is known about cither. — Dr. Thomson. — Parker's School Book of Philosophy. — Sir Wm. Thomson on Electricity flowing. — Prof. Tyndall also confesses ignorance. — Prof. Grove — Prcscott's History. — Electric spark, what composed of. — No combustion with- out a mixture of tho two classes of matter. — The cause of lightning 84 — 89. CHAPTER XV. MA.0XETI3BI. Explanation chapter. — To show difference between Magnetism and Elec- tricity.— Profs. Grove and Faraday, — Electricity not a force at all. — Arrangement of a galvanic battery. — How telegraphing is accom- plished. — Telegraph worked l)y grass. — A few facts al)out magne- tism. — Well known and not generally known. — Faraday's misfor- tune. — Boi;i too soon. — The " Magnetic curves " explained. — Tyndall astray again. — Polarity of iron railings. — How the polarity of magnctism'changcs with position. — Sir Isaac Newton's apple. — Ttie law of gravitation upset. — How magnetism is a weight, and how it affects weight. — What Newton wished to discover. — The cause of deviation in iron ships 90 — 101. CONTENTS. XV. CHAPTER XVI. SOUND. Difficult problem in Science. — Prof. Tyndall's explanation not satisfactory. — Sound vibrntijns and ligiit vibrations. — Sound (^encriitcs heat. — ■ How lonp fifty organs would take to heat St. Paul's Cathedral. — • Sound in summer and winter. — How we hear fifty sounds at the same time. — Echoes. — New theory of Sonnd. — A sympathy between the mineral atoms of matter. — Iron a better conductor than wood. — If a man has sympathy why should not an atom ? — Dancing flames. — Tyndall's new theory of Sound. — Experiments at the South Foreland, England. — Vapour in layers i02 — 106 CHAPTER XVII. WATER AXD RAIN. Fire not so powerful as water. — Water in granite — Hcrschell on Rain. — Rain caused by chemical action in the atmosphere.— The Rain guage. — Rain forms in the lower atmosphere. — Proctor and Kamtz oti the reason why. — Rain shot out from clouds. — Herschell on Rain storms. — Climate of North America changing. — Egypt cultivating the Palm for Rain. — Forests and vegetation cause Rain. — Herchell's reason why, a failure. — Drainage said to be bad. — Chicago, St. Louis, once unhealthy. — Why. — No large city unhealthy. — No air in water. — Fishes gills used for filtering food, not for breathing. — The air they need produced from digestion. — Can we produce or bring down Rain? — Great battles in America were followed by Rain.— The cause.— 107— 1 12. CHAPTER XVIII. DEW. Chambers Journal. — Baptista Porta nearly discovered the true theory of dew. — Thought dew was condensed from air. — Aristotle thought it was condensed from vapour. — Muscheubrook kept back Meteorology one hundred years. — Great discoveries often foiled by the stupidity of the world.— Dr. Wells said to be the discoverer of .the true dew theory. — The radiation of heat, the basis. — Tiie cause of moonblind- ness. — Dew forms most readily on vegetation. — Arguments against radiation. — Observations with wool packs. — Position everything. — Calm and clear evenings essential. — Dew is water. — Produced in a similar way. — The cause of fog and hoar frost. — Hoar frost spears of ice 119—123. CHAPTER XIX. THE ATMOSPHERE AND STORMS. Atmosphere sr-id to be composed of oxygen and nitrogen. — An impossibility. — Air in no two places the same. — Balloon explorations. — Guy Lussac. — Everything with life has an atmosphere. — The atmosphere of the African. — Impossible to get rid of it — The earth a living body. — Has an Atmosphere composed of its own materials. — The It ';. h { >tvl CONTENtB. Atmosphere composed of hundreds of different compounds of tti(l» tcrials. — SioiiMS : Sir John Ilerschcll and Prof. Rofjcrs on Storm*. —Magnetic curves frcn the poles of the eftrth, the cause of winA Rnd storms. — Cuuse of Equatorial Calms. — Maury on cyclones.— Description of a so-callou Circular Storm. — Hints for Wcathclr Prophets .124—132 CHAPTER XX. AMIllAL, VEaETADLB, AND MINERAL FOOD. Kothlng Bo much to do witli our discomforts as food. — 'the body a machine. — Professor Lyon Playfair on Food. — Lieliig's classes 6i food. — Flesh formers. — Heat fivers, and mineral ingredients. — Knows notliinp of the action of the last class. — Contradictions. — Experiments by scientiflc men alv^ars conducted too loosely.— Animal food only concentrated vegetable matter.— English Navvies and A.robs. — Sepoys and Ghoorkas. — How much an Esquimaux eats, according to Sir John Ross. — Canadian Indians and salt. — CriniinaliS in Holland. — The Scotch and Indigestion,— The action of minerals in the body 133—138. CHAPTER XXI. COAL. )F'ound to be of vegetable origin.— Prof. Rogers on Coal.— Statements faulty. — Unacquainted with natural law. — Rogers' theory. — Grevr in a swamp. — Soaked with mineral oils. — Baked by the earth's internal fire. — A forest makes half an inch of coal.^— A tree said to absorb carbon. — Incorrect. — Sir Henry De la Bcche and his calcu- lations.-^Fallacics about carbon. — How carbon and hydrogen camc into the coal.— Our theory of coal. — Prairies.— Charcoal in the seams. — Kova Scotia mines.^— Inundations. — No internal fire. — No Bakitig. — The whole process one of petrifaction.— Coal inexhaus- tible. 139^^144. CHAPTER XXft. BDW CORAL GROWS. •^trafige Chapter.-^Coral insects unworthy of notice.-^Misplacei eulogy.— Theories of Coral growth. — The insect monument and tomb. — Not found below thirty fathoms. — Coral found a mile and a half deep. — • Coral on the Isthmus ot tanama, not made ^v insects. — The Coral insect a parasite merely.-^The cochineal. — How Coral grows.-^ Millions feeding Irom one mouth.— Coral grows by budding.— Agassiz on Florida reefs, and arguments against l)al"win. — Darwin*8 curious theories on Coral reefs. — Sir John Herschell. — How Cora! Commences to grow. — The true theory of reefs. — How a gap in A Yeef was -fliHed^.— Coral merely the hotne of tl(e insect. . . 145-^1 5&k CONTENTS. xvu. CHAPTER XXIIt. TOL0AXOK8 AND EARTIIQnAKES. Another popular fallacy .—The earth's internal Are.— Dr. Mayer'a theory. — Dr. Tyndall opposed to it. — Dr. Mayer's dogged assertion. — Selfish- ness of men of science. — Ilcrschel on Volcanoes. — The earth and an egg. — Objection to Ilerf.hcli'b theory. — Kxplanntion of Volca- noes. — Why Volcanoes become extinct. — Coal gas. — Mount St. •Helena rbcI Sulphur Springs. — l*rof. Mallet on Water and Volca- noes. — Cause of Earthquakts. — Prevention of Earthqunkcs.— Oil boring in Pennsylvania. — llcrscbcll's extraordinary theory of Enrth- quakes. — What ho knew of chemical action in the interior. — The necessity for scientific men not taking anything tor granted. 153 — 160. CHAPTER XXIV. THE TIDES. Tb« regularity of the Tides. — The influence of the new and full moon ea the Tides. — There must be one grand cause of the Tides. — This is pressure, not attraction.^ — Cause flf variation in the Tides by the position of the moon. — Fornaation of the Land. — Winds. — I^ardner'a theory of the Tides. — Its fallacy shewn. — The eartli oaght to be ai)proaching the moon. — Facts to be remembered. — The Plane of the Ecliptic. — The effect of pressure on the atmosphere. — The Tide* -caused by pressure in passing the Plane of tne Ecliptic. — The moon's atmosphere. — The Tide in the Mediterranean. — "The Bay of Fundy Tides seventy feet high. — Ram Pasture. — Rise of two feet in three miles. — The repelling forces control the Tides. . . . 161 — 166. CHAPTER XXV. THE GULF STREAM AND DEEP SEA CCBRENTB. The cause of the Gulf Stream. — Dr. Carpenter's theory. — Oceanic Circulation. — Experiment with glass trough. — No comparison. — Strength of Polar Currents. — "Channel between Faroe Islands and Shetland. — Dr. Wyville Thompson differs from Dr. Carpenter.— Reciprocal circulation of Water and Air. — Beautiful theory of Atmospheric Circulation overlooked by Dr. Carpenter. — What causes the cold deep waters 167 — 172 CHAPTER XXVI. COMETS. Yexj little known about Comets. — Facts about them. — Jupiter's influence on tliem. — Comet of 1680. — Herschell's description of it. — The movements of a Comet different from a Planet. — All the heavenly bodies, Magnets. — The motions of Comets explained on this theory. — How Comets are made periodic. — Encke's and Biela's Comets. —The atmospheres of Comets. — Their tails. — Their purpose. — Are ■thoy inhabited 1. ..„...,., , . . , , , 1 73— 1 7? B XVlll. CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXVII. METBORS. Str«ngo theories rcffnruinR thcin. — Sir Win. Thomson'!. — Seed hnnriag Meteori. — Prof. Newton on November Moteori. — No orbit of Meteors. — Meteors cauxed bjr pressure and reciprocation.--r)r. Sorby the micro.si nist on Meteors. — Prof CSraham on the Lconarto Meteor. — Thft groat No vcml)cr showers caused by a Comet.— The yearly and ordinary Meteors caused by pressure ITS'— 181. CHAPTER XXVIII. AURORA nOREALIS. Yiiible at both poles. — Mairan on tlio extent of the Sun's atmosphere.— Lardner on Auroras. — M. Biot on Polar Volcanoes. — Distance of Auroras. — Seen by Aeronauts below them. — Pacts. — Caused by mineral emanations from the Polar Latitudes. — How they affi-ct th« eom^jasses. — Why seen on Calm eveninj^s— Dew. — Cause of colours. — Similarity between Auroras and Meteors 182 — 185 CHAPTER XXIX. MBDICINB ; OR, THE tIFE ACTION OF THE BODT, AND THE CAUSE AN» CURE OF DISEASE. A . wfolution in medicine. — The cause of disease unknown. — Incurable diseases. — Not creditable to the profession. — What are our bodies composed of? — What Iceeps up life in us ? — What is bloc ' ^ — How is blood formed? — How is the material we eat transformed into blood? — What causes and keeps up the circulation of the blood? — What is life ? — The magnetic action of the body. — The function of the blood. — How the waste from the body is thrown off. — Hot water. — Purging — Emetics. — The body compared to a fire. — Indi- gestion. — Consumption, its cause and cure. — Fevers. . . .186 — 195. CHAPTER XXX. ATOMAONETISM AND RELIGION. Religion not affected by Atomagnetism. — The inherent life iu atoms and the spontaneous development of the mind, seem grand ar- guments for the Materialist. — The movements of Planets and Comets. — The great machinery of the universe. — What need of a God ? — Man fancies himself a Monarch.— No animal intelligence his superior. — Only a parasite. — Chained to the earth. — On a level with his dog. — Matter existed without properties. — Who endowed it with them? — Divine mind of man. — Magnetism not God. — How simple, miracles must be to Him who formed and holds the key of natural law. — Insignificance of man 196 — 199. MEiV OF SCIENCE QUOTED OR REFERRED TO. Arlstotlo. Aguasiz, Lonia Bacon, Lord Bastiiin, II. Charlton ncclic, Sir Ilcnrj de la Berkeley, Biahop Biot, M. Brewer, Dr. Bucklund, Frank Carpenter, Dr. W. B. Child, Dr. Coulomb, M. A. C. Do Crosse, Mr. Davy, Sir Ilumphrej Darwin, Dr. Descartes. Dumas, Prof. Faraday, Michael Grove, Prof. W. R. Graham, Prof. Hegel. Helmholtz, Prof. H. L. M. Herschell, Sir J. F. W. Higgins, W. M. Huxley, Prof. Hope. Kamtc. Lamarck. Laplace. Lardner, Dr. D. Liebig, J. Von Luasac, Guy LycU, Sir Charles Mairan. , Mallet, Prof. Maury, Dr. M. P. Maury, Prof. Thompson B. Maxwell, Prof. Mayer, Dr. Muschenbrook. Newton, Sir Isaac Newton, Prof. Nichols, Prof. Norton, Prof. W. A. Pasteur, M. Playfair, Prof. Lyoa Porta, Baptista Proctor, Prof. R. \. Rive, Prof. A. De la Rogers, Prof. Ross, Sir John Schelling SchiaparcUi Sorby, Dr. Tait, Prof. P. G. Thomson, Sir William Thompson, Dr. WyvilU Thomson, Dr. Thos. Tyndall, Prof. John Wells, Dr. Young, Dr. Thos. LIST OF NEW DISCOVERIES IN SCIENCE. The duality of atoms. The properties and force of matter. The causo of life. l The source of mind. The cause of chemical action. The cause of sunlight. The cause of variation in ships' compasses. The cause of boiler explosions. The cause of winds and storm'. The process of digestion. The cause of the tides. That magnetism is weight, and supersedes gravitatloD. That coral is a semi-mineral growth and not the work of insects. The cause of meteors. The causo of auroras. The causo of the circulation of the blood. ♦That hydrogen gas hat the properties, not only of metals, but of minerals. That oxygen gas has the properties of vegetable matter. •We are fvwaro that Prof. Graham hat tht credit of the ditcovery, that hjdrogan w«i metallic ; but as we publiihed the announuement of the same fact In the Phren(r- logical Journal, in 1863, Prof. Graham's alleged diflcovery \*a« thua anticipated by ioiii« yean. INTRODUCTION. To PROPOUND a now system of Natural Pliilosophy in this age of enlightenment and great men which shall overthrow the cherished theories of centuries, as well as those of later date, is a difhcult, and, we suspect, a thankless task ; hut it is one whicli, in the interest of truth, the progress of knowlcdgo, and the eradication of sensationalism in Science, we feel com- pelled to undertake. If it is acknowledged that no one knows the composition of matter ; that the force of matter is unknown ; that chemical action is a mystery ; tluit life and mind are iuexplicahlo ; that electricity and magnetism are forces but partially understood, and that over all natural jihcnomena there hangs a veil of mystery : then, if our most voluminous writers on science mean what they say in their reverence for the truth and their endeavours after its acceptance, we, who offer an explanation of all these mysteries, should receive encouragement and as- •istance on every hand. It must bo morever the desire of every intelligent man, out- side of scientific circles, that some more definite system of science should be adopted than that in which belief is generally placed. People are beginning to tire of the extraordinary theories re- garding the sun, moon, and stars, which arc successively being advanced, and which intelligent men are compelled to read if not to accept — if they would keep pace with what is called ZXIU INTUODUCTir N. t}io progrtiHs of knowlfdgu— Uespito, tuo, thuir own duubti anrl convictions of error. Of courH* it is tho luHt n^MuIt that thu lower grades of icientific nan generally would try to bring about. It wouM lower them from the proud position of heroie poets — gifted with an illimitable imagination, and furnished with an unbounded license to terrify mankind — to the level of common mortals like ourselves. No more would their nnnics bo heralded by the journals of tho world accompanied by some brain whirling paragraph, and unless they were really possessed of more intellectual power than their brethren generally, their names would never bo heard of. For in.stauoo, see what hap[)ened at a late meeting of tho American Scientific Association at Tortland, U.S. ; and although JLmericiius, they only imitate tho theories advanced by Euro- pean Bavanta. Five papers were read apparenily to horrify the audience ; each having as its grand conclusion, the extinction of life on tho earth. We beg to bo excused for giving their names such prominence. Prof. Young said, in substance, that the sun was being gradually muftleil by a peculiar rain falling on it, which formed a crust that would eventually exclude all light and heat, so that a return to original chaos • -would be the inevitable consequence. He forbore giving the exact date of the catastropl \ Gen. J. (1. Barnard came more to the point. lie said our earth is only a fire-bubble with a very thin crust, so that we are liable to explode at any moment. As soon, therefore, as we hear of any telegraphic report of a volcano in eruption, or see any lieavy meteor or comet dashing towards the earth, then, too, wo may listen for the sound of the last trumpet. INTRODUCTION. ZZlll. our we I, as , or lion. Mr. H. F. WuUing road an otsay on the " Dissipation of Energy " ill which hu Htatcd that the muk waa losing its hoat so rapidly th:it thon; will ho a ulowiti^ of ihu machinery of the uiiiviirso, until stii^uutiun cuhuiniitcit in a tot^il extinction of life. No cluto given. Prof. Krunklin H. lli)ug)» .orctoKl a pcrpctuul droiij^'ht in con8C(|uenco of chiiiriiif^ the lorosts. The result will bo a univorsul fiinine, and tliu world will bu depopulated by star- vation. No date given. Tho last paper was by Dr. Lo Conte, the new Tresidont of the Association, and ho foretold thcro would bo such an alarm- ing increase of insects, that all vcgetatiou would bo destroyed, and finally starving nnd helpless man himself would be eaten. No date. "All of which," says an American paper, "argues an early dropping of the curtiiin upon tho fleeting show of life." la it at all possible that a system of science can bo true which porniits such an outcrop of startling absurdities, no speculation being too ridiculous to be issued, while the inventor of tho most territyiiiganu{»uucenieut becomes the most celebrated man of tho time 1 Tho wonder, too, is that such illustrious men as Ilerschell should bo led away by tho prevailing weak- ness. It is to be hoped that it was only as a joke when he said that some of tho spots on the sun, GOO miles long by 300 miles wide, might be living creatures; but Prof. Proctor in his New York Lectures seemed to quote it as a state- ment made in earnest. Prof. Proctor himself indulges in eome visionary dreams regarding the exhaustion of the solar heat and the aspect of the inhabitants of Saturn, which Are but a shade removed from the absurd. There is nothing XXIV. INTRODUCTION. 80 correct and invariable as nature in all her laws, and thus no study should bo so iroc from sensationalism as Natural Science. The very semblance of it ought to be an abomination to the true student. While, therefore, it is admitted that the established system, of science — if it may be called a system — is incorrect r for it is not only we who say so, but every great physicist from Newton downwards has acknowledged that there was something lacking : yet Science has collected a vast array of valuable facts which oidy want an assorter. They are like the multitude of objects »ent to an XJniversid Exhibition, but the building in which they are to be displayed has still to be erected. Or they are like the hieroglyphics on an Egyptian tomb waiting for a Kawlinson to interpret them ; we hope that they will not be like the Aztec charaotcrs on tlie Central American ruins which have waited, and are, as far as appearances go, likely to wait in. vain for an interpreter. Every river has a source ; every tree has a root ; every build- ing has a foundation ; but it is confessed by all men that Natural Science at present has no source, no root, no foundation upon which to stand. The different theories are like Arabian streams which are lost in the sands of the desert ;. or northern lights which are never scan twice in the same place. A pole or guiding star has continually been sought,, but, like the North West Passage, it has eluded all search, and many brave men have died in the pursuit. Still, we do not blame explorers for not finding it. Man is not omniscient, and even a Franklin may fail to reach the North Pole, or a Buckle may die when his work is half done. But every man should be honoured for the work he has accomplished, if performed INTftODUCTION. IXV.. conscientiously and with originality, according to hia light*.. We do not consign the heathen to hell because they do not happen to know there is a true God ; but wo certaiidy condemn those men who, knowing evil, continue to preach and practice that evil. So while we use all fmljearanco to those who have been educated in a false system of science, we would unmerci- fully scathe those bigoted pedants who would spurn the truth when it is offered them ; who would rather continue to teach false doctrine, knowing it to be false, than condescend to leara a science which m true. We feel that wo have been censorious and that wo have perhaps condemned the innocent with the guilty. We know that we liave spoken irreverently of names that do honour to our race. But it is a necessity almost forced on us by tho nature of the work. Our object is not so much to show where Newton, Herschell, Agassiz, Tyudall, Thomson and others aro right, but where they are wrong ; not to praise them but to con- demn them where tlicy deserve it ; for it must bo adnuttcd that there are few who do not deserve censure. If our object was to praise alone, nothing would afford us greater pleasure, and we aro conscious that we could find nmch in the life and work of these men overlooked by the superficial flatterer whereby to exalt and do them honor ; but praising a man who i? suc- cessful, is a work which is already too well done by an army of parasites and sycophants all the world over ; an army which is. also ready at tho same time to tear to shreds the reputation of a genius who stumbles in his life struggle. There is a praise which degenerates into fulsomeness, and a worahip which degenerates into toadyism ; and while the refusal to give merit to whom it is due, is bad, the over-praise of a n).an loading tr> XXVI. INTRODUCTION. the general Lelief that he is an infallible authority, — a preroga- tive conceded only to nature herself — is infinitely worso. The great banc of cultured progress in the present, if not in all centuries, has been the worship of authority. If the Pope says the sun goes round the earth, then Galileo must believe him. If Sir Isaac Newton says gravitation is the universal law of eartli, then Herschell will not question the fact ; and strange to say — although many knew the discrepancies of that law, and the many exhibitions of force which it was unable to explain, — no man up to the present time has had the manliness to speak against gravitation. Scientific men seem to have gone on the principle that a law, although defective, is better than no law at all ; just as many nations to their cost have said that a bad government is better than no government. But as a bloody revolution is the inevitable destiny of such a people, and good government, easily to have been obtained if sought for in time, is at length only attained by a sacrifice of life which blackens the page of history ; so it will be in science, for the tree of knowledge has been so overgrown and entwined with creepers, that its growth has been choked and stunted, its fair proportions destroyed, and its vitality threatened. In order, therefore, that it may again branch out in all its beauty, it will have to be severed at the roots. This worship of authority has poisoned the streams of other branches of knowledge, for Architecture slept at the Eeformation, and until lately a blind copyism of Grecian, Eoman, and in due sequence all the types of the Gothic styles prevailed, so that artistic feeling was almost quenched in the architect who would be popular. So also was it in Painting, where Cupids, Venuses, 3Iadonnas, and artificial landscapes were tliB main staple of art. I iiii 1 fii! INTRODUCTION. ZXVll. Our Theologians also are still continually trammelled and led into trouhlo by quoting authority two or three hundred years old; while Doctors allow their thousands of patients to die annually through the like blind worship. It will bo said that some authority must bo acknowledged, else there would be neither science or government. Unques- tionably. But because authority is in power, it does not follow that it should remain unquestioned. All law except nature's is fallible, and can only bo kept right by a continual exami- nation. It is the cashier in whom implicit confidence is placed that usuolly embezzles the funds of the Eank. So if we would have authority — and it is a necessity — it must be one that undergoes a continual scrutiny, and answers every interrogation promptly. As long as it does so, then reverence it; but once it fails, look out for another more sure. Do not try to prop up a fallacy. The ruin is only the greater when it does fall. T" may be said that we should have accepted at least some men as authorities. In many things we certainly do, but where their theories conflict with obvious truth, then wo throw them at once to the winds. Galileo, Sir Isaac Newton, Bacon, and Sir Humphrey Davy were all celebrated men in their day. They were all students of nature, and each, as was said by Newton, picked up but a pebble of truth from an inexhaus- tible shore, knowing that there were many more yet to be discovered. Far be it from us, therefore, to detract any- thing from the honour they deserved, and the glory they earned. But knowledge is no law of the Medes and Persians which changeth not. The dullest school boy may now know what these men would have given worlds to understand. Is it then worthy of such intelligence as we are possessed of, or xzvin. INTRODUCTION. . worthy of this grind century of thought and discovery, to have 80 little confidence in ourselves as to place implicit belief in theories which these men, — great tliough they wore, — in their imperfect knowledge laid down, whih3 facts are every day being brought to our notice antagonistic to tlicm 1 We be- lieve that such men were above a jjaltry adulation. "While some pliilosophcrs blind themselves to consequences which the recognition of facts entail, and would rather believe that the phenomena never occurred than that Newton should "be wrong; we believe that Newton's, or any other sensible man's last wisli would be, that anything he had said should stay the progress of truth. Besides, in such false humility we do injustice to ourselves and are ungrateful to the ago we live in. The sun of knowledge is ever brightening as the years roll on, making the hidden places clearer and the difficult paths easy of travel. lUit this light has been unrecognised, and this sun overlooked in preference to those twinkling stars, which in their own day and in their own system shone as suns with brightest efl'ulgence, but which to us as the years glide by, are now no more than brilliant and beautiful gems in the spark- ling galaxy of the past. The present work we believe to be the first attempt that has yet beeii made to arrange the sciences under one common head, and to show how they are all governed by one and the same law. How far we have been successful, our readers will decide. We suspect that there may be something observed in every chapter to startle the ordinary scientific student, but we offer no opinion which cannot be proved cori-ect by a reference to the operations of nature, since we have been guided entirely by her teachings. i INTnODUCTION. XXIX. To detail fully the manner in which we arrived at the prin- ciples of our theory and the experiments performed, would occiipy too much space, we therefore give the following brief statement : — Finding all theories of Natural Science to bo conflicting and Unsatisfactory even to Scientific men, we laid them aside and referred to Nature for explanations of her working. By tracing every phenomenon to its origin wo found all phenomena to Spring from one and the same source. That is, the variety of Natural phenomena arc not — as is generally supposed — caused by a variety of forces and a variety of laws, but result from the varied compounds, conditions and positions into which matter may be placed, operated on by its own inherent force tinder one law that controls the whole. The theory is then as follows : — Matter is composed of txno classes of atoms, mineral and vegetable; or, as they are often called throngliout the work, Hydrogen and Oxygen. Every atom is a magnet having polarity. Like atoms attract. Like poles repel, and unlike poles attract. To this universal law of the attraction of like atoms and the repulsion of like poles by their inherent magnetic force, we have applied the term Atomaqnetism. That the law is correct and complete we have no doubt ; but we do not assert that we are right in the interpretation of every detail of the law, as exhibited in all the variations of natural phenomena, for infinite wisdom is not attained by man. Thus while all other systems fail to give a reliable explana- tioA of the simplest natural phenomenoii, we &e confident tliat utt. tNtttODtCTtO}^< the Atoinagnetio will never fail. That it will always give the tight answer will depend upon the mind of the man who asks the question, for it is not always the law which answers a question, but, unfortunately for science, the fallible mind of man himself assumes the responsibility. Thus while ice have discovered the law u)e do not claim to he the in/all ible inteiyre* ters of it. Peo})le generally judge of a scientific theory by its practical Value and usefulness. Looking at it even in this light (which ia disclaimed by modern scientific writers for very obvious reasons) Atomagnetism is bound to bo of immense permanent value. W"e expect to save the lives of thousands by showing the cause of boiler explosions, by explaining the variation of ship's com- passes, and by showing the cause of life ; also how our bodies are kept in life, and how sick people should be treated. But we suspect that the most valuable practical discovery we have made will be that of the nature and action of magnetism, which shows that it may be brought under control, and made to subserve man's will and work in every department of labour. It is strange, that if magnetism is the only force which nature employs to accomplish her mighty work in all her actions and movements, tliat man cannot make it propel his tiny engines and machinery. "Without going into particulars we may say that we have made a machine and propelled it by magnetism. "We proceeded with our experiments far enough to satisfy ua that there was no limit to the power that might be obtained ; and this power could be gained without smoke, without fire, without danger of explosion, and at a cost of only a thousandth part of that of steam. It seems like a dream but it is a dream that will yet be realised. tNtItODUCfT10>f. xtxl In conclusion, the realm of science, wo have often t lought, resembles the vast expanse of ocean that lies glistening in the morning sun ; not a breath of air disturbs the glassy surface ; the vessels lie lazily without movement or sign of life, and the spars are all clearly reflected in the water. Anon as we cast our eyes out to sea, we perceive a shade darkening the horizon^ On it comes gradually widening and expanding till it spreads like the shadow of an eclipse over the sea, throwing the water into foam, spreading a mantle of blue where all was white, and converting the lazy boats into birds of flight, so that each ihip coiUd now enter on its voyage and go where it willed, while previously it had to drift With tide and cun'ent. The ocean is the sea of all knowledge ; the wind is the guiding law which leads to the sources and ends of all truth ; and the vessels are acientific theories which drift about with the tide. Sometimea the name of a man may urge a theory along and give it pro- minence, just as we sometimes see a tug boat towing a vessel out of a harbor. But the steamer cannot always be with it, and after the vessel is alone it is still at the mercy of the tide. The ships may also make a great display and noise, they may hoist flags and fire olf cannon, they may challenge respect and attract considerable attention, but they are only becalmed after alL "Which, then, of all the theories before the world, is that favour-" able wind 1 ("IT I T'HE ORIGIN OF CREATION. CHAPTER L MATTER. Prof. Grove on Matter.— Locke. —Bishop Berkeley. — Two clasges of Atoms. — Male and Female Atoms. — Matter on Earth. — rrof. Tyndall on Matter.-^Prof. A. Norton on one kind of Force. — Law of repulsion.— Vestiges of Creation on Matter.— Fraser's Magazine on Matter. — Analogy between langnage and two classes of Atoms. Prop. Grove says : — " Probably man will never know the ultin ,te structure of Matter, or the minutioe of molecular action ; indeed it is scarcely conceivable that the mind of man can ever attain to this knowledge." Locke also affirms that wc know nothing of substance of any kind. Bishop Berkeley also said to the Materialists : — " You tell me that aU the phenomena of nature are resolvable into matter and its aflfections. I assent to your statement, and now I put you the further question, "What is Matter 1" This was a puzzler for them ; but, with all due deference to such high authorities, we profess to have discovered not only what matter is composed of, but its properties and law as well The consequence of this has been the discovery of other natural laws, or variations of the one law, which lead to a new system of Science altogether, that can Ml ^ ■\ ORIGIN or CREATION, be shukcn ])y no diniciilty, and ia cnpiiblo of explaining every idioiioniunoit in nature. In tlio first place : — All matter la eternal, and reaolvablo into atoniH. Atoms are invisible, iudiviuiblc, intiingiblo, and inde- structible. They are separated into two great classes ; viz.: mineral and vegetable atoms, or as they are at present ciilled ; oxygon and liydrogen. Tlxere are many difl'erent kinds of mineral and vegetable atoms, the former producing ditrerent minoralH, and the latter uniting with tl\o mineral producing dift'erunt kinds of vegetation ; still there are mili/ two classes of them. All atoms are Male and Female. Wo find that all animals and vegetables are male and female, and as all animate matter is kei)t alive by eating or absorbing so-called inanimate matter — for the theory which divides atoms or matter into animate and inanimate, is untenable as wo shew farther on — is it unreasonable to suppose that each inert atom is also either male or female ? These atoms also have in our world peciUiar inherent pro- perties belonging to each individually. For instance, the mineral atom is the Male, and its properties are, that it is naturally cold ; that it has the blue and white cold colours ; and that it is acid and combustible. The vegetable atom is the Female ; and its properties are, that it is naturally warm ; that its colours arc yellow, red, and the warm colours ; and that it is incombustible. Many Scientific men have endeavored to reduce matter to a simple form, but without success — Professor Tyndall in his lecture on "Matter and Force "at Dundee in 1867, said :^ — I MATTER. " Tho matt«^r of tho world may ho classified undor two distinct licadH, that of tload and livinj; atouifl. All atoms wore once alivo, but having cxhaustod thoir foriM! in attrncting othiT atoms in forming granite, limestone and nuitals, thoy are dead and cannot live again." This is manifestly incorrect, for by a simple experiment we can suow that if these gnmites or metals were pulverized, mixoil with vjigetablo atoms, and seeds wero planted in them, and well watered, tho atoms would show themselves alivo by dissolving ond aiding in producing a plant and probably a (lower. Or thoy could be so mixed with other substances, that they would assist in blasting tho hardest iron stone. There is no mch thing aa a dead atom. All atoms are alivo or have inherent life properties, but they must occupy certain itosltiom and conditions in order to show their vitality. Prof. W. A. Norton in the American Journal of Science for 1872 endeavors to show that there may bo only one kind of matter, and ono form of force governing it. Matter is of thrco varieties, he says : — " Ordinary or gross matter, directly recognized by our senses ; universal or luminiferous ether, filling all space ; and electric ether, associated with all bodies of ordinary matter." Ho thinks however that they are all formed from luminiferous other. Tho force which governs this matter is a law of repulsion. As the fact of an attractive power cannot however bo denied, ho seems to imply it is caused by the repulsive power of the atoms being so feeble that they attract each other ! Rather a Quixotic mode of reasoning. It would baffle him to explain how any phenomenon of nature is caused, and how any product of the earth grows, by tho operation of the law of repulsion alone. In the " Vestiges of Creation " we are told that matter was ^•a I III 4 TRR ORtGIK or ORRATIOJf. originally a iinivoraal ** Firo Mirtt," which gra.lually cooled off into HuriH and plunots. How (int iniat could cool when thonr was nottiiiig to cool it, and how ono suhHtanco t*otdd cliungH without coining in contact with another, in inconceivable to usi In the same hook wo find that there are fifty-live sinipli' olemontfl composing the earth. But in an article on the ** Materials of the UniverHe " in Fraser's Magazinu 1861), we find there are sixty-two elnnientH, of which forty-nino are metals, eight are substances with au individual character of their own, and five ore gaace. They can however bo resolvable into the two classes of mineral and vegetable. The author of the abovo raentioncid article says : — " "We cannot affirm it to be matter of demonstration that none of these may be some day found reducible to a more siMiplc • form. We cannot pronounce with matheniaticnl confidence, that no unexpected and startling discovery may yet eflect at least a partial change iu some of these positions. But we may safely afTirm, that the probability of any general revolution is infinitesimally small." It remains for our readers to judge whether it has not now become a certainty. We find the nearest approach to our views on the composition of matter, in Park's Chemical Catechism ; where, after showing 1 that plants may be grown in sand, litharge, and even in common lead shot, merely by moistening tliem with water, it concludes : — ■" Oxygen and Hydrogen, with tlxe assistance of solar light, appear to be the only elementary substances employed in the cons' -utioa of the whole universe, and nature in her simple process, worka the most infinitely diversified '.■<."rr.*»'i"n>":'> rn .j(r;wr»T>n!:»crwt«*wwj""wrr"5-«in^'i'n MATTKIl. •flbets l)y tho nlightoHt mudificationi in the moant ilie employs. " In coiu'liiHiou there i« a roiuarkiiMt' analogy l»(t\v««cn the compoiiont parts of matter, and tho component purta of lrtnRiia}^'«». Our alphabet is composed of a number of letters, bnt they arc all diviwiblo into the two great classes of consonants and vowels. Hy them we express ourselves in simple language that ehildrcin might understand, while the inspired poet by the same means can give utterance to tho grand«'Ht thoughts our literature contains. Although also tho vowels ond consonants remain tho same, yet there is no lacV to the miJtiplicity of now names that may bo coined, nor a dearth of grnnd ideas, or of sororoua eloquence. So in our language of nature, although it is composed of an infinite variety of simple elements, yet they are all divisible into two great classes. ]iy a simple union they form water and weeds, and worms and insects ; while by a more intricate process they produce the beautiful bird, the pretty flower, and the lovely woman. Moreover, as we have said by means of the same letteis, new words are being coined, and new ideas expressed every day ; so by the commingling of tho same elementid atoms in nature, now plants are growing, now flowers are blooming, new colours are imparted, and now animals are created every day tho world exists. « M' CHAPTER II. MATTER AND ITS FORCE. Atomagnetism. — What Prof. Huxley would like to know.— Matter and Motion. — Every Atom a Magnet. — I aw of Atoms. — Like attracts Like. — Unlike poles Attract. — Atomagnetism the law of attraction and repulsion. — Examples. — Experiments with Filings. — How Atoms combine their Polarity. — Herbert Spencer's Philosophy. — His Foundaiioa Loosened. Having in the preceding chapter shown what the two great classes of matter are, we now proceed to explain the lorce which governs them in all their movements and products, and to which we have given the name of Atomagnetism. It is this law which Prof. Huxley, as shewn in the following quotation, has been striving after without success. In an article on Bishop Berkeley's works in Macmillan's Magazine 1871, he says : — " There is a passage ia the preface? to the first edition of the Principia, which shews that Newton was penetrated as completely as Descartes, with the belief that all the phenomena of nature are expressible in terms of matter and motion." It is this " Many circumstances lead me to suspect, that all those phenomena may depend upon certain f( ices, in virtue of which, the particles of bodies, by causes not yet known, are either mutually impelled against one another and cohere into regular figures, or repel or recede from one another ; "■ S I MATTER AND ITS FORCE. which forces being unknown, philosophers have as yet explored nature in vain." That they may bo unknown no longer, we will at once proceed to explain them, A great deal has been said lately about matter and motion, but the latter is as yet only known to the moat daring speculators as a senseless dance of the atoms; a dance so omnipresent and never ending, that they imagine it never had a beginning, and is as unlikely ever to have an end. On shifting sands like this the accepted theory of physics is based, forgetting that it is quite contrary to the working of any law of nature with v/hich we are acquainted. We have said all matter is formed of atoms. But every atom is also we say a magnet having polarity. That is, each atom has two poles similar to a compass needle, which may be designated north and south. The law of atoms is observed to be, that like attracts like ; but by the law of magnets, it is seen that like poles repel, while unlike polrs attract. Atomagnetism then is the combination OF THESE natural LAWS, RESULTINQ IN A UNIVERSAL LAV7 OF ATTRACTION OF LIKE ATOMS AND REPULSION OF LIKE POLES. In order to make this principle clear, we will give a few examples. A tree, for instance, in growing does not attract sand and clay and metal, and form a branch of clay or another of metal, but it attracts only material similar to itself. If a smith in easting a bar of iron tried to combine clay or coal ashes with it, he could not succeed, or else there would be no strength in the bar. Again we cannot attract the poles of a magnetic compass with a wooden stick, or a piece of coal, or indeed anything not in the nature of iron or steeL 8 THE ORIGIN OF CREATION. This is the attraction of like atoms. Now suppose we have two bars of magnetized iron, and some iron filings. If we take the ends pointing north, or the ends which attract the north point of a compass needle, and dip them into the filings, these particles will stick to the bars,, and bristle out on both ends like hairs. Suppose we then bring the same ends together, the filings seem possessed of life and fall back from each other, thus showing the repulsive power of similar polea But if we place filings on the north end of one, and on the south end of the other, the particles stretch out from each bar and cling to one another. This is a simple experiment, but very important and suggestive, and it may be performed by any one. While thus all atoms are magnets having polarity, when a number of them coalesce or join together, each individual atom merges its polarity into the force or polarity of the whole. For instance, a small piece of iron has a north and south polarity, because it attracts the points of a compass needle ; but suppose we take some hundreds of these small pieces, and form them into a lai^e bar of iron, we do not find some hundreds of north and south poles in it, but on'y one north and one south pole. The force which was in each small piece is concentrated in the whole, so that the attractive and repulsive power of the bar is stronger by every piece that is added to it. While then it may be believed, by our readers generally, that some atoms are magnets, as iron for instance, it will be hard to convince many that all atoms are magnets — for instance, the atoms of the paper we write on, or the bread we eat ; but it shall be our endeavour to prove them to be so in succeeding chapters. It will be hard also to convince the wodd that lt\TTER AND ITS FORCE. besides belnj magnets, all atoms are governed by the universal law which we have advanced, but not till the last chapter ia finished, will wo consider that we have proved our assert'ons, for should one effect or phenomenon of nature arise which cannot be explained by it, then we throw the whole theory aside as utterly wortlilcss. We conclude this one by stating, that as Herbert Spencer's Philosophy is based on the fact, that all matter obeys a simple and universal* law of attraction, and as wo have now shown there is also a law of repulsion, his foundation is defective, and the greater part of Uia theories must consecjuently be wortliless. ^ ^P l MW^W j W t B^ Wg^ CHAPTER III. MINERAL LIFE. Minerals not dead. — Mineral life a low form of vegetable and animal Life. — Iron filings have life. — Compass needle has life. — Philosopher's tree. — CJoral. — Candy. — Mineral life. — Atomagnetism. — Atoms of lead, ( sugar, and coral, Magnets — Greater always inflaences the less. — Explanations of Philosopher's Tree. — Cause of beautiful forms in enow flakes. The title of this chapter may seem curious and incompre- hensible to many, but we do not think it difficult of explanation or incapable of being understood. Minerals have been looked upon as dead matter, but as we have said before, every atom in this universe has life, but it must be in a certain position and condition to show it. Mineral life is indeed the lowest form of life. It is not so complicated as either vegetable or animal life, yet it is caused by the same law. The experiment of the iron filings shows that they are possessed of life. A low form of life it is indeed, yet one that infallibly directs them when to attract, and when to repel. The compass needle has similar life, and man although possessed of the highest form of life on this earth, has to depend upon its guidance, and to stake his life upon its warninga But there are other forms of mineral life. We all know or have seen the philosopher's tree. A piece of zinc is suspended MINERAL LIFE. 11 in a solution of sugar of lead, and in a short time the atoms of lead will bo seen deposited on the '/inc ; which will then appear to shoot out branches and leaves in the form of a tree. If these particles of metal are not possessed of a certain principle of life activity, what leads them to arrange themselves in such a beautiful manner ] "Wo have another fine example of growth in a similar manner in the coral — erroneously supposed to be formed by insects, but shown by us in another chapter to be the result of natural growth from water, saturated with suitable material. All confectioners too in making crystalized candy, see the operation of the same life in the formation of it, although they do not understand it otherwise than as the process of crystalization. Mineral life is also exhibited in every snow flake that falls. The beautiful forms which they exhibit, all springing from a centre — being caused by the same law. Mineral life is only one form of atomagnetism ; and it shows that all these various substances, the particles of lead, the coral, the sugar, and the snow, are all magnets. For instance, in the philosopher's tree, the piece of zinc first obeys the atomic law, and draws all the small atoms of lead in the solution to itself — as the greater body always influences the less. But being a magnet also, it has polarity, and as particle after particle is added to it, its force is continually becoming stronger, so that it shoots out branches and leaves as though possessed of vegetable life. Thus, in conclusion, while minerals have life, it is not a form of it fitted to produce seed, but in other respects it is like the vegetable and animal life, inasmuch as it reproduces its kind from suitable material '^t' CHAPTER IV. VEGETABLE LIFE. Origin of Life. — Spontaneous generation. — Sir William Thomson on seed bearing Meteors. — Cornhill Magazine. — Atoraagnctism. — No seed required. — Railway Cuttings. — Clover. — How a plant grows without a seed. — Scripture proof for it. — Seeds rot. — Hardwood and soft wood Forests. — Darwin's " Origin of Species " overthrown. — Thousands of plants in the first creation. — New plants with every- change of soil and climate. — Present theory of plant life. — How a cell develops. — Absurdity of plants breathing. — Why roots and branches spread. — Experiments to prove the reason. — Why a tree docs not grow in winter. For a number of years of late, there has been considerable discussion on the origin of life upon the earth. Vegetable life has been accepted as its lowest form, and numberless theories have been advanced, some in favor of spontaneous generation, but most against it. The latest and most extraordinary theory is that advanced by Sir Wm. Thomson. In a lecture before the British Association, he suggested that Meteors were seed hearing. For instance, two worlds or more collided in space and burst ; and the fragments bearing moss seeds found tlieir way to our earth ; and thus generated life on it. But supposing this correct, his theory would not account for the origin of life in the universe ] there must have been a higher power to originate the seed bearing meteors. IL-. Vloetablk life. 13 A writer on this subject in the Cornliill Magazine for 1872 Very aptly says : — " Bv this theory, nature must destroy two worlds in order to plant a few moss seeds in a new one." Following up the law of Atomagnetism, wo say, that the growth of any plant is governed by the same law wliich governs the philosopher's tree; and that, practically, a seed — in the first instance — is no more required in the one case than in the other. "We are told that no vegetation can be produced without a seed ; but how is it that when a railway cutting is made in new earth, which has never before been disturbed, a crop of clover should immediately grow up ; and that it, in its turn, gives way to other vegetation, as the soil changes year by year. Besides, every seed does not become a plant ; for they often rot by being placed in unfavorable positions, for growing ; and thus they return to the dust from which they sprung. If, then, seed can return to dust, is it not possible for dust to perform the functions of seed] Moreover, a plant, while growing, forms a seed in itself from the soil in which it is placed. What, then, should prevent seeds or plants forming in the soil itself, under favorable circumstances and suitable conditions? Let us detail the process by which this could be accomplished. In the soil we have mineral and vegetable atoms. All atoms are magnets. Several like vegetable atoms are attracted together, along with a sufficiency of mineral atoms to generate a combined action. Eain, composed also of both classes — oxygen and hydrogen — descends, and increases the force. More atoms are attracted ; and with the addition of every atom, more action or life is given to the whole. In due time, enough I ii I!: n M u THE OIUOIN OF CREATION. Hi! I atoms have como together to enable the force to show itBclf. Accordingly, a root is thrown out below, and a leaf is pushed out above. The further progress of the plant then is simple. The root attracts atoms in every direction from its battery — the decomposing soil — and sends them as sap to the axis of the plant, which is the life centre. From there they are sent through the whole plant by t)'o nature that governs them ; either to the branches to dovelope leaves, blossoms, fruit, or seed in succession, or to multiply and extend the roots. It may b(! asked. Why sliould a seed be formed in the plant at all, seeing there is no absolute need for iti This question would lead us still further, and we would ask why there should be any fruit, or blossoms, or any law ordering plants yielding seed to be formed from the soil, and who orderctd the same 1 Scientific men in general are not noted in their theories for paying much regard to the statements of Scripture, nor are they willing to look there for authority in discussing them. But in proof of the correctness of our views, we can point in many instances to Scripture for our proof. There are in the Bible many mysteries which man does not understand, but when he shall thereby be fully informed, little else will be left for him to learn. In confirmation of, or agreement with, the correctness of our theory of vegetable life, we quote the following verse from Genesis : — " And God said. Let the Earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit trees yielding fruit after his kind whose seed is in itself, upon the earth ; and it was so." The thoughtful reader will observe that it is not written : — " As God said, let the seed of the grass be planted, that grass may be brought forth by the earth ;" — but he ordained : " Let Vrobtable mfe. 15 grass ''Let the earth bring forth grass." In other words, Clod in creating the earth, had placed within tlio atoms of which it is composed, tluit principle of life giving force, which is part of Ilia universal law ; and by which the earth, spontaneoiusly, brings forth tho •• grass, tho herb yielding seed, and the fruit trees yielding fruit after his kind." Surely lie who gave the atoms their atomagnetic power and properties, is able to give them any other. Again, plants die out, and seeds do not always grow to plants. For instance, a forest of hardwood is burned down; and, although tho roots may be uninjured, the hardwood trees do not renew themselves, but a forest of softwoml grows up in their place. What is the cause of thisl The nature of tho soil has been changed by the fire, and the new soil, as a natural consequence, not being adapted for the hardwood, dcvelopes a plant bearing seed suitable to itself. Thus is Darwin's theory of tho "Origin of Species" over- thrown in a moment. He asserts all plants are descended from four or five progenitors, " or probably only one." But if a plant will grow only in a soil, and in a climate suitable to it, there must have been some thousands of species at first. For Darwin surely does not mean us to believe, there was only one kind of soil, and one climatic condition in the beginning. We do not, however, believe with his opponents that no new species have sprung up, for with every change of soil there must necessarily be a change of plant growth. Every day, therefore, old plants are dying out and. new ones are being created. Experienced gardeners, while they can produce a new variety of almost any plant or fruit grown, might, doubtless, if ,/v:'l K! n"'J u TUB OniatN OP CREATION. I '. ill they tried, produce ontiroly now plants also, by chemically changing tho soil, i Having thus given our view of vegetable life, it may not be uninteresting, to aoe how it tallies with that given by botanists. Although botanical students know tho structure of every well known species of plant, and examine tho niinutost parts of them with a microscope, besides giving them names, sucih as ■cells, granules, raphides, &c., yet) strangely enough, they have not attempted to discover the principle of force which makes them grow. They say a cell contains tho first germ of life, that it grows by dividing itself into four other cells, and these four into sixteen, and so on. But what impels the cell to xlivide itself? there is the mystery ! They say plants have two principal parts, an ascending and a descending axis. (See how agreeably this comes in with our theory of the poles.) The one axis produces leaves and branches, whereas the other only forms roots. In the loaves they find flattened cells with mouths, and consequently they say plants inhale carbon and ammonia. In the roots they find spongools, and these they say draw up water and potash only. If we ask, Why the roots spread out in all directions, it is to search for food ; and why the leaves and branches spread X)ut in the atraospbere, it is to give them room to breathe. If we ask what the power is that Causes them to do so, they ■cannot explain ; unless that it is a wonderful law of providence for preserving the life of the plant. We will now refer to the fallacy of those botanical statements. That plants breathe through their leaves, is just as absurd as lo say a man breathes through the pores of his skin. They aay this is proved by coating a tree with paint and it dies. But VEGKTABLB LIFB. »7 if wc coated ft man with paint, he too would dio. Tho reason of tliis M, the exhalations from the body throu-^i tlio pores aro stopped, and sent back, contrary to the healthy course of nature, and tlio man dies. So it is with the tree. It is giving out exhalations continually by its flattened colls, and should they bo checked, the tree is choked, and its life action ceases. Moreover, if wo placed o man under a gloss case with plenty of food and water, and closed every aperture, he would speedily dio for want of fresh air. But, enclose a plant under the same, and it thrives and grows well ; thus showing that plants neither breathe, nor inhale carbon, or anything else, from tho atmosphere. Tho flattened cells answer a similar purpose to our pores, and are merely tho channel of exit, for the exhalations from the plant. We will now explain the force which naturally spreads the roots and branches. Suppose we again take tho magnetized bar of steel, and the filings. If wo dip both ends into the filings, we have a perfect representation of a tree in winter, with the roots at the one end, and tho bare branches at the other. No two roots in a tree are observed to go together, nor any two brandies. Even the smallest twigs aro observed to shoot out in places where no others are growing. So it is with the filings. Each hair of steel dust is as distinct from another as needles would be. The reason of this is — as already explained, — that similar poles repel each other. Roots and branches of the same tree, therefore, repel each other, because they are of the same poles. A plant or tree consequently must have polarity, and this would show us, if we did not know from other sources, that a tree is^hy nature a magnet. 18 THE ORiaiN or CRKATIOM. It may be aakml why a troo in our lutitudo docs not grow in winter 1 This is a question that cannot Iw annworcd by a botanist. For, if planto feed on carbon, — which thoy say is given out by animals — they ought to grow in winter as well as in summer, for animals are breathing at all times of the year. IIow is it also that they obtain their carbon in a hot house in winter, from whence all exhalations except the gardener's own breath are excluded 1 Just for the same reason that wo find trees in tropical climates, growing and bearing flowers and fruit all the year round. They need warmth, and similar exhalations to their own to grow in. A cold, mineral, frosty air, checks the exhalations, and kills the plant. While a warm, vegetable, moist, (or mixed) atmosphere, draws it out and increases its growth. I W i CttATlTKn V. ORlOm OF ANIMAL LTFB. Man afVaid to inquire into the origin of life.— Milk and cheeio.— Dnmss ani! AgaMiaon scciU and egpp. — A cow the mother of inaggoti.~InNct8 spontaneoasly produced.— 'How animals are produced without an egg. •^Excess of vegetable matter forma animali.-^Proceia of creatioD.— t)Arwin.-^All animals produced not fV*m one but fVom many.'— Agassiz on men and monkeys.— -One animal maj produce a different ftnimal.-^Anlmals parasite*.-— Argument against spontaneous gcncra- tloD. — Gorm theory.-— Pasteur. — Child.— Lamarck. — Canned meati. ^Why ice and salt preserve meata.— The formation of germs.— Tyndall on respirators.— Spontaneous fish.— Agassiz on special creation.- Origin of lowest organisms.— Mr. Charlton Bastian. Havinq shown that minoral and vegetable life are caused by Iho simple law of atomagnetism, it will be said wts are surely not giving animal life so humble an origin^ Human life hav ever been considered such an awfully mysterious thing, that men come to look at it as something forbidden to bo talked «bout. " God breathed into man's nostrils the breath of life " has been sounded faintly through all the ages, into intelligent men's ears, and the meaning convoyed thereby was so inscrutable, 80 sublime, and so far above mundane thoughts, that few ever dared to inquire into it. Nc wonder that men should have such a dread of it, when everything connected with life is so unfathomable. / I' t I ¥^ 20 THB ORiam OP CREAfrON:- !! I ! » ijf i A great poot full of lofty ideas, whoso works arc known by educated men all over the world, by an accident fulls and breaks a cord in his body, and at once ho is as innnimato, as !wnselo38, and as incapable of anything for good, as the stones ho lies on. That head onco brim full of knowledge and overflow- ing with song, is now vacant and silent as the tomb, and ther key to those chambers of learning the wo'" wondered at, is lost forever. But the mode in which life comfes into the world, astonishes us as much, i- not more, than the way it disappears. Wo buy a piece of cheese, and in a fow days it is teeming with living creatures ; or we lay aside milk for the same term, and the microscope shows us thousands of living organisms. Who were the fathers and mothers of these creatures 1 M. Dumas in his first iaraday lecture, denied that the chemist with all his endeavours had ever imitated life itself, or would ever bo able to produce a living being. " There must be a living seed for a living plant, and a living egg to produce a living animal. These were far above human poWer, and within the power of God alone." Agassiz also says : — " All living beings are born of eggs, and developed from eggs," Did tho cow then furnish the eggs from which these organisms grew in the cheese, and the milk % In tho " Vestiges of Creation " we find that a Mr. Crosse, unexpectedly, produced insects while conducting some chemical experiments with silicate of potash, and since that time, numberless experiments have been tried with different materials, ending in similar results. What inference therefore must we draw, but that life is regulated according to some law which God gave to the component materials of this earth, and that when the full conditions required for producing life are fulfilled^ iij ■ORIOIN OP ANIMAL LIFE. 21 the so callod 01*6811011 of minuto animals, is as n-^tural as tho growth of weeds from tho ground in spring. Let us thou explain how animal life may ho produced from matter without an egg. In all life and gro«rth water is necessary. Water is a <;omhination of the two great classes of matter, vegetable and mineral, or as it is commonly called oxygen and hydrogen. In mineral life and growth, an excess of nincral atoms in watery solution is retjuisite. In vegetable life and growth, both mineral and vegetable atoms in watery solution are required. And ia animal life, an excess of vegetable atoms in watery solution is essential. It may be asked why an excess of vegetable atoms should form animals, and not vegetables 1 Because in vegetable life, a certain quantity of mineral atoms, and a certain position and condition are required ; and should thow not be olitained, an animal results. For instance, if we moisten some hay seeds and expose them on a warm floor for a few days, animal life will teem all over them. Why is this 1 Because the requisite amount of mineral matter could not be obtained. If they had heen placed in the ground, grass would have grown. Thus the difference in the production of animal and vegetable life, is chiefly one of condition and position of matt>jr. Let us explain hoAV these minute animals are formed. Every atom is a magnet. The water and heat in tho atoms of hay, initia;tes an action, w'hlch loads them to form an attraction of like to like. A number of these atoms being brought together, an action commences in the centre as a stomach, a mouth opens to take in other atoms ; and thus an animal is the i V i; ?2 THB ORIGIN OF CREATION'. roault. Low animal lifo is tlius only a higher form and develop- ment of vegetable lifo, the animal as a general rule, being migratory, and the vegetable stationary. "Wherein, then, consists the life of this animal^ Merely in the process of the stomach, receiving the food and dissolving it, and the innate force of the animal as a magnet, sending the necessary material from the food as b' od, to it^ extremities to repair and increase its body. All animal life including that of man, consists therefore, firsts in the dissolving of food into atoms, and assimilating them to the material of the body ; and secondly, in the magnetism of all the atoms of the body acting as one magnet, forcing these atoms from the centre to the extremities of the body. The law which governs life then is Atomaonetism. In cor- roboration of our statements we have that of Plrof. Leo. H. Grindon ,who in his valuable work on " Life " says : — " All lift^ whether physical, physiological, or spiritual, is a state of marriage or the union of two complementary forces acting and reacting." Such being our theory it may be asked, do we then say with Darwin, that all animals have been produced from one minute primordial form, and have so progressed up to man? By no means. Just as matter itself is composed of a variety of elements — just as all minerals are not, and cannot be produced from one sort of mineral matter ; and all vegetables from one species of vegetable matter; so animals are governed by the same law, and have not been produced from one animal, but from many. Agassiz is of the same opinion, and even carries it further when he says, in his lecture on "Men and Monkeys," 1867 : — " If ORJQIN OP ANIMAL LIF2. 23 it is an error " (as he proves it is) " to consider man as derived from monkeys, we must admit that men are not derived from a common stock, because the differences which exist among men, are of the same kind, and quite as striking, as the differences which exist between monkeys and the lower animals." Also : — " The doctrine which I support, is that it is not only the few which were started in the beginning by a creation act, but the many." Wo do not say however that one animal may not produce some other, just as some plants produce others. Wheat, for instance, if sown one year and cropt during the summer and autumn, will produce a crop of rye the following season. All plants and animals may be classed as parasites. Not only has each variety of mineral its peculiar soil, and each soil a plant peculiar to itself which may be considered its parasite ; but in almost every instance, the plani itself has other smaller plants or animals parasitical to it. Each animal also, while a parasite to certain soils, has other animals parasitical to itself, and so on indefinitely. Easpberrios produce an insect peculiarly their own, so do straw- berries, apples, figs, and in fax i every kind of fruit. Yet these same fruits, when preserved, will produce a different kind of insect from that which it produces in its natural state. Thus showing that the nature of the animal, is dependent on the matter it springs from, and feeds on. All animals including man are parasites of the earth, and each is peculiarly fitted for the climate in which it is a native. The camel, the elephant, the lion, the moose, the polar bear, the seal ; in fact each particular animal, enjoys its life to the utmost in the place where it is found ; and speaking generally. I', 4 i- t' i TP I ii iiii'ii 24 TOE ORIGIN OP CI EATION. l.| 1 I when animals are transported to other countries, thoy live a precarious existence, and require to be carcifuUy tended — a study being necessarily made of their natural appetites and habits, in order to preserve life. "Wo find also that many animals die, or are exterminated from a country. The wolf has gone out of Britain, and geologists tell us that the elephant, the woolly rhinoceros, and the cave bear, had once a home there in ages gone by. What inference then must wo draw from these facts? Nothing less than that these animals were produced on those soils, and in those countries in which their remains are found, and that the condition on which their lives depended being changed, they had to die, and became extinct. While thus showing the truth of spontaneous generation, let us review the arguments which have been adduced for and against it. A number of years ago, the French Academy offered a prize for the best essay on the subject, and it was awarded to M. Pasteur, a celebrated chemist, an opponent of spon- taneous generation. Dr. Child, an eminent English physician, however, tried the same experiments from which Pasteur derived his arguments, and with a more powerful microscope, found life where Pasteur could not see it. In order to explain how fungus mould on cheese, and on boots, mildew on cotton, the hop blight, and the vine disease are caused, Pasteur says, " the air is filled with living invisible germs, which alight in suitable pkces, and commence to grow immediately." As this germ theory is the main argument adduced by the opponents of spontaneous generation, let us see what it really means. ORIGIN OP ANIMAL llPE. 20 Life we are told is originated by living invisible germs. What is the difFcrenco between a germ and an atom 1 We do not see that there is any difference, but many scientific men seem to say there is. We explain what atoms are, where they come from, and how they cause life ; but where do these germs come fromi They must have been born in some tcay. Pasteur does not know, and the only man of science who advances an opinion regarding their origin, is Lamarck. He says that the germs or rudiments of life, which he calls monads, are continually coming into the world, and that there are ditterent kinds of monads, for each primary division of the animal and vegetable yorld. " This hypothesis," as Sir Charles Lyell correctly says, " is wholly unsupported by any modern experiments or observa- tions, and affords us no aid whatever, in speculating on the commencement of vital phenomena on the earth." Lamarck's theory, to be of any service, ought to have ex- plained where the monads came from. If invisible atoms, and invisible germs are not the same, then the germs must be formed from atoms, by the law of atomagnetism ; that law or cause of life, which men have been seeking for so long, and could not find. We can prove that germs are not exclusively in the air, and that atomagnetism causes germs — if such things do exist — for Pasteur says, in speaking of the length of time during which preserved meats and vegetables may be kept in cans : — " this result is solely obtained by the exclusion of the germs of corruption and decay, which prey upon all perishable substances, with more or less rapidity." But if we expose one of these cans to the heat of the sun, m hi n SI m «i 26 TUB ORIGIN OP CREATION. i I ; I il in a window, for several days, wo find that fjcrms have gained admisnioii to it, and animals innumcra})lo, liavo been hatcliod from " nothing." Although the can was air-proof, the lu^at of tho sun, acting on tho moat and tho water, or tho vegotablo and mineral matter insido, formod a power which imiiiodiatoly set tho atoms moving. Like began to draw to like, gcirms — as they say — were formed, magnetism set in, and in a few days, tho so-called can of dead animal or vegetable matter, was a mass ot moving and living animals. Moreover, this preserved meat, if taken out of tho can and placed on ice, will keep for months, although exposed to the atii jsphore, thus showing conclusively, that germs are not floating about in the air alone, hut are formed from matter under certain conditions of temperature ^c. It may bo asked, why ice and salt i)roservo meat so well. Merely because they are mineral substances ; and as we said before, animals are only formod and supported, from an excess of vegetable matter, kept at a certain high temperature. Professor Tyndall believes in the floating germ theory, and in an article on " Dust and Disease " in Fraser's Magazine, ho shows the air of London to be so bad, that he recommends every one to wear a woolen respirator over the mouth. This is unnecessary, for the nose is so constructed that a germ would have groat difficiUty in reaching tho lungs by it. The only precaution required is to keep tho mouth shut. Another difficulty with the germ theory is, that while its upholders believe it to develop into fungus, worms, and insects ; they cannot understand how it develops into fishes. For instance, tho writer of an article on " Spontaneous Generation " in Blackwood's Magazine (1861) says : — There are numberless illl i oniam or animal Lim 27 cases in which we are baffled, in the attempt to explain how animals could possibly find thoir way to the places where they are discovered, but spontaneous generation is not an acceptable solution of the difficidty. No one supposed that the fish which Macartney found in a pond, in the middle of an island far away from any continent, and which seemed to have been thrust up from the bod of the ocean by a volcano, were produced apontiineously ; yet how they got there i$ inexplicable." Why should they not bo produced spontaneously] Small animals would dovelope out of the vegetable matter which grew in the water. These would enlarge and alter, as the water gradually changed from the different substances draining into it ; and at last, a full grown fish would be developed, suitable for living in the pond, and capable of proixigating its species too. In this view there is nothing inexplicable about it. Spontaneous generation, is merely the result, and continuation, of the law and order of Creation at the beginning.. In opposition to the theory of spontaneous generation, or Evolution, its sister theory, Agassiz maintains the doctrine of special creation. But we perceive no material dif- ference between special creation and Evolution, as wo have explained it. For instance, would it be more difficult for the Creator to order at the beginning tor all time, that just as certain materials were mixed together under certain conditions — such as warmth, moisture, and air — an animal would result, of a character and kind suitable to the material it was born in ; than to interpose in a special manner, whenever any chemist should bo chancing to mingle creative substances, or wherever a new kind of preserve was storing, or some fruit was decomposing % 28 THE ORIGIN OP CREATION. !!l ■"1 i 1 1 [ It would be litiiiting tho power of the Creator to say so. It is evident, however, that while matter hiis been endowed with an inherent creative force, both in plant and animal life, a certain limit has been affixed to that power. No being higher than man may be formed ; no monstrosity may bo perpetuated ; nor any animal created, but what may bo controlled or governod by man. If a simple evolution of nature originated all things, we would have expected that in tho course of six thousand years, all these above results would have happened. We should, for instance, have found some men able to fly. If, as Darwin says, animals develope into something higher by merely wishing to advance ; then certainly it is not for want of wishing, that man is not gifted with the power of flight ; for, from the days of the mythological Icarus, — who soared so high that the sun melted the wax on his wings, and ho fell into the sea — there have not been wanting men to experiment with wings on their shoulders, but the appendages refused to be- come incorporated with their bodies, and all their endeavours have only ended in failure, if not disaster. The nearest approach to our explanation on the origin of life, is in a pamphlet by Mr. H. Charlton Bastian on " The mode of origin of lowest organisms ;" which is a reply to Pasteur, Tyndall and Huxley. After detailing his experiments, he sums up by saying : — *' It would thus appear, that specks of living matter may be born in suitable fluids, just as specks of crys- talline matter may arise in other fluids. Both processes are really alike inexplicable. Both products are similarly the result of inscrutable natural laws; and what seems, inherent molecular affinities. Living matter developes in organisms of OHiaiN OS' ANIMAL Ltt% 29 aiffe kinJa, whilo rstiilliuo matter grows into crystals of divers shapes." The only thing ho appears to lack, is a knowlodgo of the inherent molecular aJlnUies, and that, it will be eviJont, issup^ plied by nothing else tha;n Atoraagnotism. It will be soon therefore, that Atomagnctisni explains all difficulties eonnocted with tho subject of life, and that a know- lodge of it, is all that is necessary for every one to see the mode of, and to bolieVe in tho process of, spontaneous generation. It accounts for Lamarck's monads, explains to Mr. Bastian how animals aro born in suitable fluids, and finally annihilates the germ theory. Life, awful, mysterious life, is then merely that atomic attraction, and repulsion, of matter, -which we see everywhere combined with, or similar to, that magnetism which is exhibited so abundantly in steeL This simple law (for the one cannot work without the other) is so universal, that in future chapters we will show, there is nothing so minute that it does not affect, and nothing so powerful that it does not control. The tiniest shell fish that creeps on tho shore, and the noblest animal that walks, aro governed by the samo law. All movements whatever are but parts of the one great machine the globe, our earth itself being, so to speak, but a wheel in the grand clockwork of the uni .erse. ?ri!l I 1: , ;■ i n CHA1>TE11 VI. APPETITE, OR IJJCIPIENT MIND. Darwin thinks deyelopment of Mind A hopelesn inquiry. — We expUtil it. — Appetite the lowest form of Mind in Animal*. — Spontane* ons Insects eating immediately.— ^ What is Appetite 1— The Atomic Law of Like to Like.-*Mind and Life, Properties of Matter.— Vegetable Appctite.--A Seal's Appetite.— -A Calf*s Appetite. — Why it does not eat bricks and stones.— A Baby's Appetite.— Appetite for Tomatoes.-^Superiorlty df a Brute's Appetite over Man's. ♦ Darwin in his " Descent of Man " says : — In what nlannei* the mental powers were fifst developed in the lower organisra.9 is as hopeless an inquiry as how life flrst oiliginated. These arc problems for the distant fututc, if they are eVer to be solved by man." But if We have shown hoW, by an atomic law, the greater mystery of life originates, surely an explanation of the lesser mystery of mind ought to be comparatively easy. All animals, the instant they are endowed with life and freedom, are given also a mind suitable to their condition, in the form of an appetite ; which is the lowest phase of mind in animals. For instance, the minute insects which Mr. Crosse brought out of silicate of potash, immediately began to feed on the matter they were produced Ifom. What led them to do sol What told them that silicate of potash was good for them to i t , II ▲PPBTtTB) OR INCIPIBMT UtSH. SI eati Their instinctive appetite, of course. What then is the natuml app(nng guided by nature, all species of animals have their own instincts. They have appetites, but no desires. Their only object in life is to satisfy their wants, to preserve and defend themselves from danger, and to increase their kind. Thus it is they know what to eat, and what to avoid, while they are also provided with a suitable defence in danger. The fox has cunning, the flying fish wings, the porcupine bristles, and so on indefinitely. But how is it they can know beforehand of the near approach of storms 1 If their appetites, or the material composing their bodies, infallibly regulate them ^^ their choice of natural food, and of the unfailing remedy to be taken when they are sick ; what is more probable than that the gaseous adjuncts of their minds, being of similar material to the atmosphere, should inform them of every change about to take place in it. If so-called inanimate substances like mercury, salt, etc., shoidd be so sensitive to atmospheric changes, how much more would an animate body feel them, whose mind ice miglii say /" all nature itself? It may be asked, how is it that the mind of the young animal is so perfect? ] because it is transmitted by the parent. If a hen gives to her brood, wings, beak legs, toes, feathers, &c., similar to herself, and not similar to a duck ; she must give them appetites, and a mind, also, similar to *^ ! 36 THE ORIGIN OF CREATION. \l': > her own. If a chicken did not derive its mind from its mother, it would not necessarily act like a hen, hut might follow a duck into the water, or try to quack, or do many other stupid things which would be considered unnatural. We can now answer Frank liuckland'a questioner hy saying, that the chicken knew he was not its mother, firstly ; because its appetite told it, there was a deficiency of proper food for it in the person of tho inquisitive gentleman ; and secondly, because its mother had a natural dread of such persons, and communicated that f(!eling, as a matter of course, to her offspring. It may be asked, why are foxes cunning, geese stupid, and ants industrious 1 This can only be answered by asking, why is sugar sweet tiud salt acid 1 Each mineral has a quality of its own, gold, silver, iron, and granite, for instance. Each plant has a property of its own. So also each animal has a character of its own. Why they are so and should not bo something different, is beyond our inquiry ; as even why certain letters should represent a particular sound. They are only known to us as properties of the material forming each, and every one of them is developed in many, if not in all cases, by the circum- stances which surround them. CHAPTEK VIII. MAN'S ANIMAL AND SPIRITUAL MIND. SchelHriR and Ilegel on Nature as " petrified intelligence." — Hope on " Origin and Prospects of Man " — Matter without properties. — Mind a pro- perty of matter. — No limit to the properties of Matter. — Brutes hare one mind, man two minds. — Animal and Divine. — Agassir on two minds. — Why his animal mind degenerated. — Man should distrust man. — Manner in which mind is formed. — From food, — Difference between animal mind and Divine. — Situation of the mind. — Of Memory. — Brain a picture gallery. — Difference between man's mind and the brutes. *SoME philosophers assert that mind is matter. Scholling and Hegel, for instance, say that surrounding things are ** solidified mind," and nature is " petrified intelligence." Hope, also, on the " Origin and Prospects of man," saj-s : — " Can we say that God has not in matter itself laid the seeds of every faculty of mind, rather than that he has made the first principles of mind, entirely distinct from that of matter? Cannot the first cause of all we see and know, have fraught matter itself from its very beginning, with all the attributes necessary to developo into mind." But we can fancy matter without any properties, where the world would be a perfect " chaos without form and void ;" as it was in the beginning ; and once this is admitted, mind cannot be matter, but only a property of it. I i 1 t 1 %■ ii 1 r 1 |(' ;■ , ■ , . : ■ ■ > i - ■ 1 ! ■ 1 ' !. . I: ■ ■ ! 1 1 i 1 ? i 1 T 38 THE ORIGIN OF CIIEATION. M'l I Although tho matter of this earth has hecii cmloweJ with atomaguetic pntporties, wo have no right to say all other worlds are endowed with exactly the same force ; for wo would thus he limiting tho power of tho Creator. If, then, matter can he endowed with different kinds of properties, and we find it to be so, there is no limit that wo can ascribe to the pnjperties and combiimtiona of matter. If therefore man is endowed with an animal mind, po.ssossing the properties of tho matter of this earth, in character similar to tho beast ; who can say that ho is not endowed with an additional divine mind, not included in our earth's material properties at all 1 If wo say that the beast's mind is as perfect as the properties of this earth can make it, and that tho brutes worship no superior being ; we must admit that man has a Divine mind, in addition to his earthly mind, because he believes in and worships a superior being. In Agassiz's lecture on " Men and Monkeys " delivered in 1867, we have a partial confirmation of our tlieory. He says : — " "Were wo not made in tho imago of the Creator, did we not possess a spark of that divine spirit which is a godlike inheritance, why should wo understand nature] Why is it that nature is not to us a sealed book 1 It is because we are akin to the world, not only the physical and the animal irorhl, hut to the Creator lit' 'self, that we can read the world, and under- stand that it comes from God." Agassiz, how^ever, while thus obviously suggesting two different minds, yet did not grasp the idea in all its fullness, and consequently is weak and erroneous in many of his arguments. That the animal mind when properly cultivated in man, is HAN S ANIMAL AMD SPIRITUAL MIND. 39 not greatly inferior to the boasts, may bo scon in those tribca lowest in tlio scale of civilization, who live and prey upon animals. The inanmir in which one Indian will track another through the forest, is almost equal to a dog's faculty of scent. The instinct which shows the former how to make a fire ; to know the signs of the weather ; which tells the natives of northern latitudes to eat no salt, and to drink no cold water in winter ; while their more civilized neighbors bring on sickneset and disease by overdosing themselves with both, all show that the animal mind only wants cultivation. He can also outwit the fox, and outstrip the swiftest antelope with cunning; besides he can bid the elephant do his will, and is also able to combat the lion with advantage. How is it then since man at first rose above the brutes, that his animal mind proved to be of such littlo use to him ; that as ho progressed in knowledge, skill, science and art, ho knew so little of the weather ; that he distrusted his appetite ; that ho coidd not cure himself when sick, and died more by ignorance than disease 1 Surely man was not given a divine mind to acquire a superior knowledge of nature and art, and to forget what con- cerns his life, and the best way of preserving his health and existence on earth. Certainly not. His Divine nund, if consulted and properly controlled, was given to aid him in understanding all that the brutes know, and infinitely more ; but man distrusted or misused it. He preferred to trust and be taught of brother man, " while the beast was taught of God." Till therefore he dethrones the authority of man, and seeks wisdom by prying for the sources of natural law in nature Jierself, and applying it properly, his progress will only be •!S :,l'i::l k ill! ;i; |.-:- If' 40 TUB ORIGIN or CREATION. ' ill 111 . obtiiined, in the iuturo, as it has been in thu past by an endless series of blunders, ini])odiinunts, and failures. Let U8 now give an opinion, of the manner in wliich the materials compnsed in a man's body, form mind, and how this mind exhibits itself. A literary man when starved, or hungry, does not feel in a humour to write, and if obliged to do so, it is accompli.shed in anything but a satisfactory manner. A nuin who is sick or feverish cannot do any mental work. When wo eat too much wo feel drowsy, and disinclined for literary labour, but allow two or three houra to elapse, and we are ready for such work. After a smart walk or early in the morniiig, we are inclined, and ready, for anything that demands attention. If we drink alcoholic spirits, some evil influence usually ascends to the head, and disarranges our faculties ; while again> some men can only write or speak with effect, when half intoxicated. Many men also when sober, will forget everything they did. when intoxicated, but remember the circumstances vhen they become inebriated again. We have read of the mind acting in a similar manner with people under the influence of chloroform. "We would gather from these facts, that the mind is influenced in a great measure by what the body cats and drinks. Some might thus say that the intellect is in the region of the stomach, but such is not strictly correct. We may lay it down as certain, Jiowever, that the animal mind of man — like that of the beast — is formed from the properties of the matter lie eats and drinks ; and man's divine mind is a property acquired by matter, after it has been trans- formed within him. But the properties of matter in food, as they lie on the ma.n'8 animal and spiritual hind. 41 dinner tablo, arc not in a (it condition for our purpose ; neither are they while dissolvint^ in the Btomacli. "Where then is the mind ] During the dissolving process, a gaseous force is generated from our food — as more fully described in another cluipter — which ascends to a space at the top of the head, — tlie purpose of which space, physiologists have long and vainly endeavored to discover — and there, the mind, we believe, assimilates and arranges the materials to bo stored away in the memorial chamber. Where then is the memory located 1 We see numbers of landscapes, i)aintings, objects, faces of men and women, etc. — and can recognise a large number of them when we see them again, or recall them in vision. Where are these memories kept, to be exercised at the will of tlie mind? We hear, read, and are taught, numberless words and facts from books, and can bring them up again at a moment's notice for use. Where are all these facts garnered and stored away ? Wo liave great powers of compression, and can contract an immense landscape into a picture the size of the pujjil of our eye, bu« to imagine that the contents of hundreds of books, with other knowledge, is stowed away in the interior of the head, scjcms an impossibility ; yet we can scarcely tliiuk otherwise. For although we read and hear a vast amount of information every day, most of it is soon forgotten. Those books also which are last read, are best remembered, and only those pictures we last saw, or the landscapes we viewed lately, can we recall to mind distinctly. The brain is therefore, as it were, like a gallery of transparent pictures, each distinct class of knowledge having a section of its own ; the largest being that devoted to the subject which we I »■[; . ^1!!' ¥■•>' I ! .'tH 42 Tnn ORIGIN OP CREATION. a •tudy most. Tho liist picture is always hung on tho top of tho preceding otwa, so that unless wo take care to make our pictures clear, and distinct, wlien photogmphod on tho hniiii, and often renew such as we wish to remember, wo are apt to lose them altogether. CHAPTER IX. CHEMICAL ACTION. SlJ STEAM DOILEIl EXPLOSIONS. A knowlc«1p;c of chcniicnl action required. — Notliing known ahont it by Bcicntiflc writers. — Prof. Grovo. — Chcmicftl action only one form of fttotnn^nctism. — Great uoparator. — Attraction the great builder. — Rc]iuisio?i the great designer. — Chemical action the great destroyer. — How sugar dissolves in water. — How a nail dissolves.— Con- centrated acid not so good a dissolvcr as diluted acid. — Soda {K)wder. Sulphuric acid. — Amusement lor speculative ])hilosophers. — IIow water evajKirates. — No latent moisture in the atmosj)here. — No latent dryness in the sea. — Steam Boilkr Kxi-i.osions. — Facts connected with explosions. — The materials dealt with. — The manu- facture of hydrogen gas. — What the United States Commissioners on explosions liave discovered. — How explosion takes place. — Not by pressure. — Mingling of gases. — Prevention. II h^ ill;. *Beforc conunencing to state what heat, light, sound and colour, arc, we propose to give a definite idea of chemical action, for in this lies partly the root of o\ir system ; and, if we can convey our meaning in such a manner as to bo understood, we have no fear for the otlier subjects to bo considered. It may be stated that, hitherto, no man has pro[)erly under- stood what chetnical action is, although he sees evidences of its working every day, in food digesting in the stomach, in a nail rusting in water, in a fire burning, ami in numberless other ways. r i i 44 THE OniOIN OF CRRATIOK. Prof. Grovo says : — "Wo havo no knowledge aa to tlio exact nature of any mode of chuinical action, and for tho pn^sont, must leavo it as an obscuro action of fonu-, of which future rcHearchcH may simpUfy our approhunsionn." J{ciiring in mind tht* hiw of atoiniigUDtism — tho attraction of like atoms, and tho rcpulrtion of like poles — all mystery is at once removed from chemic^al action, for it is only one of th' modes in which that law works. In all chendcal action tho two classes of matter are present, and in all its operations, there is a constant endeavour on the part of like atoms to associate, or coalesce, with each otiier, and thus to bo ever wearing away all material bodies, wherever situated. Thus the granite rocks on tho moors havo their sharp corners rounded, and their rough surfaces smoothed, by its operation. Thus a tree — when its life giving impidse or life power has left it — is attacked by tho destroying force of ato- magnetism or chemical action, ami it is soon nuluced to the dust from which it sprung. Tims also Avith a dead animal, cliemical action at once attacks and soon dfconiposes it ; but life giving atomagnetic action also returns, and innuniemble living organ- isms are tho result ; to bo again succeeded, when the supply of food is exliausted, by a dilfercnt chemical action, when ail tho animal substances arc finally dissipated, into their original mineral and vegetable elements. All dissolving processes, such as in a galvanic battery ; all cooking, or digestion of food ; all transformations from ono Bubstauce into another ; are examples of chemical action. All life and growth might be said to be examples of cliemical action also — for this is only a sample of the same law working under different conditions — but wo wish it to be understood I OUtilMICAL AOTIOK. 45 |t,Vi only iw the great tliHsolvcr, l)<>cn»i«« the varied actions of the ono great liiw, will bo inoro roudily compn^liendcd, by sopara- ting the dilftTont modes of forco uh much 08 posHiblo. Thus if a divinioti could bo Hiiid to exiat at nil, wu would consider tho nttraotivo forcu us tho great builder— tho repulsive force us the groat designer ; whilo chunucid action would rucuivo tho ominous nppdllution of tho gnuit destroyer. By wuy of illustration, wo may offer a few examples of the particular action referred to. Suppose we drop a piece of sugar in a glass of water, in a short time it disaolvca There is in the process no perceptible disturbance, but, on tasting tho water, it will bo evident a change has come over it IIow did this take place 1 Merely by tho mineral atoms in tho water, finding some other mineral atoms in the sugar, and attracting them ; and by tho vegetable atoms finding similar vegetable atoms and attracting them. But in attracting each other, similar poles often come in contact, BO that great repidsion must continually ensue. It is evident, therefore, that in every solution, there is a continuous motion and reciprocation between tho atoms. Tho more evenly divided tho two classes of atoms are in the solution also, the more active will the interaction be. Thus if wo place a noil in water, it takes a long time for it to rust or dissolve, for the hydrogen, or mineral atoms, in tho water are few, compared to the oxygen or Tegetable atoms. But pour some acid into tho water, and tho chemical action is instantly increased, and the nail dissolved. Suppose we place a nail in concentrated acid, tho action is, ■trange to say, also slow ; but pour in some water to weaken it, as some would think, and tho action is again increased. Chemical action is also exhibited in various forms. For t ! V 1 ! i I' 46 THi onioiM or cnFATios. I iriMtunco, vrlion n nntli powdor U mixoil, ^rfut cirorvitMctntco u the ruaiiliHliown ; whiln iti mixing Hul[>huri<; iirwl in wator, ){rmt hoat in the result for a few iniiiut<*H, without uity visihli- iiKition. Why tho one HhoiiM hiivo great motion, without heat, and the other gniiit h«'at withtitit apparent moti<;n, are prolilfnj.s that wc can unly Holve l)y naying, that all indivitlual atoni.s and elaNaes uf ntonw, liave propcrlicH ()F their own, which they hive poHseHsed from the bcj^'inniiij,', which are iiiHcparalde from them, and which cannot he annihil;it«'d. Why certain atomH are oidy eU'erveseing, and others only hinting, wo would MUggOHt as a capital and Hafu omusement, for those spccuhitivo philosophers, who are continu- ally indulging in those harnde^sand incontrovertible calculations anent the end of tho world ; as to whether it will lie caused by a comet, or n tidal wave, or a colliHion with Hercules, or by tho extinction of the sun, or by tho destruction of vegetation by insects, or ])y tho spontaneous combustion and explosion of tho oarth from its internal fires. For on tho acceptation of our system of matter and force, and its evident connciction with all tho phenomena of the heavens and tho oarth, their occupation in that direction will bo entirely gono. liOt us now take a simple experiment of chemical action by the atmoaj there. Allow a glass of water to staml on a table a whole day, and when any one attempts to drink it, ho will immediately say it is not fresh. A change, tlierefore, nmst have taken place in tho water. What was the nature of it 1 Simply that the atmcsphere being composed of the same materials as tho water (only in diflieront proportions) the atoms in one, at- tracted the atoms in tho other, and reciprocated, so that tho water lost some of its own particular atoms, and became pos- sessed of the composite particles of the atmosphere. Thus it is arCAM DOILbR UrLOSIONS. it lliat Wfttor kept in a room toiuU to keep tho ftir pure ; not nii'chaiucully, hut by its nutuml ur choiniuul action with tliu atn>oii])hur«. Agnin, if wo lay asitlo a louf of bri(atl .. will l)o chonuoally chun^'cil ill u fow diyH, and ]>c>coino luml and fttalo, instead of Hot't and moibu Sciuntitic works tell us that there ia nioiHturo in thu air, hut all oxporienco provus to us rather that thero is none, f«r wu can kiM>p nothing with nioisturu in it for any htngth of tiino. Our bread becomes stale, our wood loses its sap, our gardens thirst for r.iin, and oven our tumbler of water eventually evaporates into air, in the atmosphere. There is no nioro latent moisturo in the air, than thero '\n latent dryness in the sea ; niid wo would just as soon expect a piece of now broad to remain moist, on ft warm summer's day, as ft piece of stiilo broad to remain dry when immersed in water. But there is no need for enumerating further examples, for every natural chanj^o or action is chemical action, and is caused by the reciprocal attraction and repulsion of tho two classes of atoms. It may not bo out of place to record here, an exami)le of chemical action, which is causing the destruction of life aiul property almost every day. AVo refer to STEAM nOILEn EXPLOSIONS. No clue seems as yet to have been found elucidating tho cause of explosion, lioilers which have been tested by an hydraulic pressure of 100 lbs. to tho square inch have exploded at a pres- sure of 30 lbs. and although it has been surmised that this could not have been caused by pressure^ and that some other .-..■'SW J;)ij (li *,.'■'■»!.■" ' * fpj 48 THE ORIGIN OP CnEATlOW. q :■! force must have been in operation ; yet with all tlic skill and knowleilgo of the scientilic world it has evaded their research* Ip the United States, Congress appointed coinmisaioners to investigate the cause of boiler explosions, and allowed them $50,000 for making experiments, but after expending half tho amount, the only discovery reported to bo made, is, that the steam guages in use are very incorrect. Before showing how chemical action is their cause, we will present a few of tho facts connected with boiler explosions, culled from numerous accounts of them in tho newspapers. 1. New boilers are more frequently found to explode than old ones. 2. Tho explosion of a steamboat or locomotive boiler almost always takes place on its starting, after having been waiting for some time. Our readers may remember the terrible "West' ville explosion of one of Com. Vanderbilt's Staten Islands' steamers, whiph was just leaving the wharf at New York, when the boiler burst. 3. The explosion in a stationary boiler takes place, when* what is called a heavy pressure of steam is put on. Let us now examine the nature of the material we have to deal with. In the first place there is the boiler made of iron. An old boiler has generally an inside coating of rust or sedi- ment, which is raoi'e or less composed of vegetable matter, caused by chemical action between the water and the iron j whereas a new boiler has a surfaco of pure metal, together with the scrap iron from its manufacti^x'e. The water which is used ia the boiler is corapoFcd of two gases — oxygen f nd liydrogen — in certain proportions. It is Well known aJso that if those gases are mixed in a certain but 6TEA!A flOlLEft EXPLOSIONS. 49 uirfcrcnt proportion, an explosion will take place. Stcum is the form of gas which rises from water .i^hcn at a temperature of 212" F. As water is composed of two gases, it of course follows, that ateam must bo composed of the same. If we take this steam and allow it to pass through a red hot iron tube, the gases 8e})arote ; the oxygen being absorbed by the hot iron, while the hydrogen, if allowed to escape through a jet, and lighted, will burn like ordinary gas. It is thus that Jiydrogen gjis is produced. Another fact about steam is, that it cannot be much compress- ed, as may be inferred from observing the lid of a kettle rising by its force ; and hence comes the absurdity of trying to obtain ftnd utilise an excessive pressure of steam. Wo think We have no\^ facts enough before us, to consider and explain the cause of explosions. Let us suppose, for the flake of clearness, that the iron boiler is transparent, as a glass bottle, or retort. Let it be hfdf full of water. Put fire under it, and after a time the water begiBs to boil at the bottom, and change into its gases, which rise through the water and fill the upper chamber, "there they remain transparent, till they issue from the boiler into the atmosphere, with which they chemically unite in the form of cloud. Suppose we now shut off steai^. The gases cannot be com- pressed, and the water cannot bo made to re^ich a higher tem- perature than 212* !^. without changing into steam, although Ihe latter may be raised to a temperature of 600°. As the fire is still burning at the bottom of the boiler, the water then must be continuously changing into steam, and as it cannot gain the flr-^ace, because the upper part is already tompletely occupied by the gases, it must remain at the bottom. The water then is gradually being suspended above the bottom of the boiler. !! L li: -I,'' ( I , I, I; ''•'"'••'^ mm m mmmmKTmfi fiam stfii ill 11 il 80 THE ORIGIN OP CnEATrON*. diniiulshing in quantity as it boils, whiilo tho bottom of t'be' boilor and tho steam are both increasing in temperature. As there is thus a space filled only with gases between tho bottom of the boiler and tlie water, tlie boiler must at that part soon become rod hot. "We have already found that steam, in passing througli a red hot pipe, lias the oxygen absorbed from it, Tho same result follows here ; tho red hot metal " absorbs " chemically all tho oxygen gas derived from the hot steam, and at the same time throws oif its mineral or metallic (hyilrogen) gas, which takes the place of the oxyg-m until tho whole becomes in consequence only hydrogen. AVe have thus in the boilor, tho hydrogen at tho bottom, tho water in the middle — suspended — and tho steam at tho top. But as in water there aro eight parts of oxygen to one of hydrogen, it follows that the steam at the top, being the same in proportion as the water, is almost wholly composed of oxy- gen gas. Wo have stated before that oxygen and- hydrogen, when separate or alone, are incombustible, but when mixed in certain proportions they form, or become, one of tho most ex- plosive compounds. It follows, then, that should the tiydrogen at the bottom, and tho oxygen at the top, come into contact, the explosion that would ensue will suffice to rend the strong- est boiler ever made, and the greater the resistance offered, the greater tho explosion and destruction would be. The materials being in the position indicated, suppose we open the valve, or start the engine, the pressure is relieved on the top by allowing the steam to escape, but what is the next result 1 The water immediately, by its " gravity," falls to tho bottom, the hydrogen gas is forced up, the gases intermingle, and, as tho opening is not large enough for tho steam to escape in lime, an ex< it;;: t: STEAM DOILER EXPLOSIONS. 51 plosicn takes place by tlio consequent natural coniLustion of tho gases, and then the terrible destruction and loss of life wo 80 frequently read of, ensues. This tlien illustrates in a simple way what happens in tho case of all boiler cxjilosions, and their prevention can bo at once made certain and simple. As steam cannot bo compressed — its force being caused by its escape or condensation — an extra (Quantity or superabundance, is no more necessary than food for an over-loaded stomach. Therefore, the engineer should ahoiajs allow the steam to escape, after the water and steam are brought to their highest temperature. If by any means tho steam should have been accidentally shut off, then the only safe way to prevent explosion' is to allow tho fires to go down, so as to permit the steam to condense into water before being agitated'; or else to have an escape at both tho top and bottom of tho boiler. The reason old boilers are not so apt to explode, is that the " rust " at tho bottom of the boiler, being largely composed of vegetable matter, preserves the iron from any rapid chemical action, and so prevents an accumulation of hydrogen gas suffi- cient to cause an explosion. We frequently hear, however, of those old boders bursting in a quiet, peaceable way, and washing out the firerf, but doing no serious damage. Some of tho plates have then been usually found to be so completely oxydizcd, that they were not of sufficient solidity to stand repairing. Should the facts here stated be widely known and acted upon, wo might guarantee that accidents from boiler explosions will almost entirely cease. \\ ) I ii i ' (it !!: ¥ u « if CHAPTER X. 1 1 HEAT. Heat the result of chemical action between certain classes of atoms.'** Dynamical theory of heat. Motion. — 'Tyndall on haat. — Christo- pher Colnmbns and his followers. — No ambition among scientific men. — Heat produced in three ways. — Natural heat.— Combustion. —Friction. — Ice melting.— Hot springs and Geysers of California.— Volcanoes caused by chemical action. — Why coal burns, — Poker experiment.— Conductive power of heat. — Tyndall's experiments.— Laboratory experiments incorrect.— Atomic action likened to t; gos- samer thread. — How the Crusade against the present system of science will be conducted.— Ruskin's crusade against Renaissance Fainting, and Architecture. — Orore and Lardner. From what we have stated in the previous chapter, it must be evident, that heat is the result of chemical action between certain atoms of the two classes. Because motion in most cases will produce heat, the originators and followers of the Dynamical Theory of heat, assert that motion is the primal cause of heat among all atoms. Professor Tyndall in his lecture on " Heat as a mode of motion," says : — " Heat is not the clash of winds, nor the quiver of a flame, nor the ebullition of water ; all these are meclmnical motions into which the motion of heat may be con- verted ; but heat itself is a molecular motion, an oscillation ot HEAT. 63 ultimate particles." But the particles are not always oscillating, there must bo a force which initiates the motion. We admit that the discovery which elicited the connection between motion and heat was a great one, but it much resembles that made by Christopher Columbus when he landed on one of the West India Isla.ida, and went home proclaiming he had found a great country ; while the vast continent of America lay still beyond his ken. If our scientific men possessed half the daring displayed by the followers of Columbus, they would have searched into this theory of motion, indicated by Mayer and others, and by discovering what caused it, a great deal of useless writing, would have been spared the world. For there is this bane connected with science, that while we have trumpeters and drummers innumerable, we have no real leaders in it at the pre- sent time. There is not sufficient ambition among scientific men generally, to make researches, and hew out paths of their own, they would rather, like most of our professors and teachers of science, be flunkies to an eminent man's opinion, than ride in carriages of their own. Heat is produced in apparently three different ways, but we show that the action of matter is the same in alL Firstly, Natural heat, caused by the natural motion and reciprocal action of atoms, as explained in the preceding chapter on chemical action, or such as is known as animal heat. Secondly. Heat given out by combustion, which is the result. of an excess of the same action, when the atoms of the two classes are of a more favourable character to produce heat, and in a more favourable f^ondition and position to reciprocate or act under a changed or different form. i If ir f .54 THE ORIOIN OP CREATION. TliiriUy, Ilcat produced by friction, where that atomic action is induced by mechanical influences, as by the rubbing of two solid bodies against each other. As regards the natural heat cxliibited in our bodies, what causes it ? The human body, like every other production of nature endowed with life, is a magnet ; and as in other magnets, the force is exerted from the centre to either end. The stomach being the centre of the body — and the place where the food is transformed into blood, for repairing the waste of the body and increasing its growth — the material is forced from thence in both directions. "VVhilo therefore a certain amount of animal heat is caused by the dissolving of tlio food in the stomach, and the action and inter-action of the atoms, it is also increased by the magnetic power of the body in forcing these into circulation. Wo also increase the natural heat of our bodies by taking our food warm. In cold climates, it may bo said, the inhabitants could not preserve life otherwise. Similar heat is produced by mixing sulphuric acid and water, as already explained, and by the pouring of water on lime. Great heat is the result in both of these cases without com- bustion. Although heat is induced by water, it is kept within certain limits of temperature by water also. Masons engaged in labour at new buildings, may be seen warming their dinners by placing their pitchers among lime and wet sand. Hot springs and geysers, furnifjh other examples of the same action. At the Great Geysers in California, we find the ground all around them completely burnt, and exhibiting the most beautiful varieties of colour. Dozens of different kinds of chemicals are found all over the place. Water and steam ooze out under the feet, and from the sides of the ravine on either HBJkT. 65 liaTnl. Water also bubbles and boils in natural pots, and steam rushes out of natural funnels, with the forco and noiso of a eteamboat whistle. This all shows tlie result of chemical action, by water, under tho surface ; for we find that tho action has ceased in many spots, and every year it is travellinff further up tho valley, and breaking out in new places. Mount St. Helena which crowns tho beautiful Napa Valley, and towers over all tho liills around, was once a volcano, but its action has now ceased. Should not this lead us to believe that vol- canoes also, aro merely the result of chemical action ; else why would they become extinct 1 Let us now consider the second causo of heat in the process of combustion, or hent from combustion. In the chapter on Matter, we stated that tho mineral atoms were combustible ; but minerals will not burn of themselves, for in all continued action there must be a union of the two classes. For example, sulphur will not burn while alone, but put some portion on a piece of wood, tlie two substances will burn or re- ciprocate together, and tlie consequence is we see tho sulphur on fire. Iron will not burn if alone, but when it is in fine particles as filings, and separated, as in sprinkling them in tho atmosphere over a gas jet, they are combustible, and when ignited bum more readily than gunpowder. Wood boms because there arc mineral atoms in the composition and formation of the woody fibre. Wood is produced by a combi- nation of vegetable and minenll atoms, through tho agency of water which comprises the elements of both. This shows conclusively, that tliere is reciprocity and motion in the process of cliemical action, and of course, according to the properties of the atoms — the greater the motion, the greater i i ». WW mmw ' -i f ■. ■ ■ j t re ; , ' ^ ' j a i!nu: gr: M THE ORIGIN OF CREATION". VW it''! ■■:; 'P- will bo the boat, proviilod tho nmtorial elements and conditions are adapted to produce heat. Mineral atoms are not all combustible in every situation and condition, for some find certain vegetable atoms with which they will specially reciprocate, and, often times, will reciprocate with no other sufficiently to produce heat. The differing effects of tho various combinations of the same material, are to bo seen from the variety of di8i)lay8 in pyrotechnic exhibitions, induced by merely changing the con- ditions and positions of the lateriaL This is a branch of chemistry which is comparatively unexplored. The foundation, or cause, of chemical action being now furnished, and its mystery removed, there is abundant room hero (that is in classing matter according i_ its nature and properties) for students, to make themselves useful, not to say distinguished in their day and generation. A coal fire bums. Why 1 Because we have in the coal the suitable material for pro- ducing combustion ; that is, a certain species of both classes of atoms required. Coal is lonned from vegetable matter, saturated by mineral solutions and gases. These have been produced from the dissolving of minerals in the interior of the earth, through the agency of water. These solutions and gases by reciprocating, permeate the vegetable matter until it is crys- tallized or petrified into coal. By the mechanical appliance of fire, or combustion, to this coal, a reciprocal action again takes place in a new and different form, between the atoms of the two classes in the coal, in consequence of which these gases and particles are again set fitee, or are repelled from the pieces of coal; HEAT. AT and by the intense action of the atoms both heat and light aro produced. If wo put a poker in the firo it boconios rod with hc:it, and, should tho firo be made hot enough, it will molt. Why? Because the polarity of tho atoms of the iron are reversed, and the minerid atoms of tho firo have a greater attraction for tho atoms in tho poker than tlio max has. Gndually, therefore, tho polarity of tho atoms is reversed, and as the fire becomes hotter, they aro repelled from tho poker and amalgamate with tho atoms in tho firo ; for tho greater always influences tho less. Tho end of tho poker, if hold in tlio hand, is found to bo hot also, although it is some distance from tho firo. Why is this? Because tho metal, being conditionally a combustible material, possesses a conductive power of heat, just as it has a conductive power of sound. If we hold tlio hand before a fire wo feel it warm. Why f Because certain atoms in tho fire have an affinity to similar atoms in the hand, and are seeking so draw them out. If wo can bear it long enough for them to do so (and our hand is burned) then we feel it just as much as if a hook were put into the flesh, and a piece were torn off. We now como to the third division, and consider how heat is produced by friction. Supposing we take two pieces of metal, in which, by polarity, the atoms are all lying in ono way. That is the " north '* pole of one atom, is next in position to the '* south " or opposite polo of another, and so on all through, leaving the middle of the atom exposed on the outside of each piece. If we then rub the pieces together, wo are disturbing tho position of the poles by rubbing similar points together, and as similar poles naturally \ \ .".' i ■■ ^.i !l 58 TOE ORIGIN or CREATION. ■t' 1 / repel ono anotlior, an action conmioncos in tho atonis, if the friction continues long fnougli, to rcviTso the poU^s. Should tho friction bo intense, wo liav(5 tho metal flissolveJ, that in, reiKjlled from each bar or piece, and anudguniati'd with that of tho other. In rubbing two pieces of wood wo liavo a Hiiiiilar re.sultaut action, but as tho heat increases tho atoms aro thrown off in tho form of gas, and such is tlio naturu of tlio action in this class of atoms, that combustion is the result of their reciprocation. Sir Humphrey Davy's experiment of dissolving two pieces of ico by rubbing them together, caused ([uito a discussion at ono time, and stmngo conclusions are drawn from it by Prof. Tyndall and others. But it is easily explained. In ice there aro a con- siderable number of mineral atoms, and the friction of these at opposite poles, produces a heat which gives the atoms of ono piece, a greater attraction for the atoms in the other, than they have to the piece they are connected with, and tlius they are repelled ; a sufficiency of oxygen being thus set free by the heat, or being present in the atmosphere, it combines with tho repelled mineral atoms and forms water. »\Vo have now given, it is hoped, such an explanation of heat as will be understood, and, by way of contrast, wo make a few quotations from our most distinguished writers on the subject. In reading Professor Tyndall's lectuwis on " Heat as a mode of motion" we admired them very much, and his experiments were no doubt beautiful to behold. Ihit, while wo do not deny any fact ho illustrated, or any experiment he performed, we certainly do deny many of tho conclusions he arrived at. For, regarding tho assistance to bo derived from experiments per- formed in the laboratory, in corroborating assertioji, or proving theory, wo are very much iai doubt ; inasmuch as tlie mode of nEAT. so ftction in atoms, in all tlio phonomonn wliinh they exhibit, arc biiuieil by the 8li>,'hte3t inlluDncos, to an extent that few of our jihysicibts ovon droani of. In a\[ nutunil action, the atoms, in order to assume their atomic position — that, is, rcj^arcliiig their polarity to euf h other, which adects their form ami cliypoaition, their traiispirency and oj)acily — njust have perfect rest and an even tomicratiire. The typical form of atomic action, may bo likcmed to a gliHtcining gossamer thread springing from earth to heaven, and which if undisturbed, becomes as on endless gleam of silver, straight, pure, and transparent ; but it i.s so sijnsitivc tcj motion, that the slightest zephyr that blows, will twist luid turn it, and cause it to become knotted and ragged. Laburatory oxperiments are therefore like unto the last, for the action being in nearly all instances forced, the chemists see only these knots and rags, and argue from them. Wo believe, therefore, that more good would result, and more truths would bo discovered, if i)hy8ici8t8 would ajjpeal more to nature, and confine tliemselves mainly to a scrutiny of experiments conducted by nature herself, in hor Alpine Glaciers, her stalacUtic grottoes, and her forest dells of ferns and flowers ; for every one could then test for himself the truth of the theory propounded, without the aid of expensive and delicate apparatus. While, however, wo object to the common practice of theorizing, and basing grave laws of science on forced results obtained from in-door experiments, we have no objection to their endeavouring to pro\e by such tests, the truth of pro- blems found and solved in nature, yet we fear tliat our physicists generally proceed in a contrary manner. The crusade against the present system of science therefore, will M ■ i IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) V. /, // :/ 1.0 Ifi^ 1^ 12.2 I.I la |32 ^ '- IIIIM 11-25 mil 1.4 1.6 rv ■ip w^ ^ ts \ eo TUB ORIGIN OF CREATIOX. have to be conducted on much the same principles, and for somewhat similar reasons, that Ruskin waged war against the great Ecnaissance revival in painting and architecture ; by appealing to nature as a paramount authority in everything, over the opinions or doctrines of any man, or class of men, however eminent or distinguished. A number of persons again may read the same sentence of a foreign language, yet scarcely any two will translate it similarly : and, as a person who is ignorant of the language could only guess the meaning of the sentence, so one who is ignorant of the com- posite law of nature and its working, can only stumble at the processes of any of its phenomena. It may seem a startling thing to say, but we assert that neither Professor Tyndall, nor any other man, can read nature, or experiments in nature or in the laboratory aright, until they understand magnetism and atomic action. For instance, he says : — " A leaden bullet in hitting a tai-get is much hotter than an iron one, for iron has a greater capacity for absorbing heat than lead." This is manifestly incorrect, for such heat is entirely induced or caused by friction. The ball of lead in hitting the target is crushed out of shape ; the intense friction of the particles consequent on this circumstance, must produce great heat. The harder iron, on the other hand, by not yielding, has little or no friction, and of course very little heat. Again, from this illustration, they argue that if a solid body be stopped, a certain amount of heat would be generated, accord- ing to the rate at which it was going. But it is obvious that if the same leaden bullet had been stopped in sand, so as to preserve its shape, it would have generated no more heat than the iron one. nuv, 61 Thus they argUe, " if the world was suddenly stopped, enough neat would be generated to reduce it in great part to vapour." If the earth were stopped by coming into collision with another World (an absurdity also) and it was crushed out of shape, wo could account for the friction causing heat, but the simply stopping its motion through space would not do so. In order to carry out this great discovery to its fullest limits^ according to Dynamical principles, we are also told by Prof^ Tyndall that " the earth on stopping would assuredly fall into the sun, and the heat generated by the blow would be equal to five thousand worlds on fire !" In order to Calm the fears of Unsophisticated mankind, we will show in another chapter, how^ Under the existing laws of nature, such an event is impossible. Prof. Grove, while endeavouring to show that heat is motion^ feels himself compelled to say : " We know not the original source of terrestrial heat, far less that of solar heat." Brewer states that the principal source of heat is the sun, and Tyndall also means the same thing when he says : " We are alt souls of fire, and children of the sun." The climax is, however, reached by Dr. Latdner when h« says : " Seat is propagated by radiation, which is apparently independent of matter." If the P'rofessor could point out a place where there is heat, or anything else without matter, ths fecientific world would be largely indebted to him* J I ll^BSS^^u CHAPTER XL LIGHT. Light caused similarly to hoat. — Propagated differently. — Three divisions. — Light without heat. — Light with heat. — Propagated light. — Auroras explained.— Phosphorescence. — Tyndall refuted on molecu- lar motion. — Fire-flics. — Lighting gas by the finger.— Auroras from trees. — Candle a guide to light. — Four things required to be looked at. — The flame. — The heat. — The light. — And light as an object. — All light, reflection. — The undulating theory disputed. — Light instantaneous. Light cannot travel half a mile. — Sight travels 286,000 miles a second. — Flame not seen in daylight. — Astronomical fallacy of star light.—Undulation follows Emission into oblivion. — Tyndall's security for the continued acceptance of the Undulatory theory, overthrown. In considering this subject, we find that light, or flame, is produced in a similar manner to heat, but it is transmitted differently. If we are right in stating heat to be the result of chemical action, between two certain classes of mineral and vegetable atoms, then light is produced in the same way ; and, in most instances, we cannot get one without the other. Light however does not always indicate, or give heat, and some materials do not afford such a bright light as others. This is owing, wo believe, entirely to the proportion, condition, and position of the materials yielding the light. For example, a lamp may not give a very bright light by itself, but put a glass LiGflT. 63 h I shade over it, to secure an oxygenized current around it, and wo have a light equal to gas. Wo consider light under three divisions. First, light without heat or combustion. Second, light with heat and combu-stion. Third, how light is propagated. In the first division wo have the aurora, fire-flies, phosphor- escence on water, etc. How are those lights caused 1 Merely by two classes of suitable atoms, combining in sui - ble proportions, and reciprocating, causing friction and light. The aurora is caused by the mineral gases from the poles, or in polar latitudes, mingling with the vegetable gases from equatorial, or warmer latitudes, in certain proportions, and under certain conditions. These same gases in other proportions and conditions Avill produce rain and snow, lightning and thunder, hail and storms ; so that it will be observed, nearly everything depends upon proportion, condition and position. On the Pacific ocean, we have seen the waves, made by the steamer, rolling in a volume of liquid fire, while a long stream of light was left behind almost bright enough to read by ; yet there was no more heat in it, than in the surrounding water. "Why was this 1 Because the atoms were not in a position to produce and show a development of heat. If these light giving principles could be extracted from the water, we have no doubt they might be placed in a position to exhibit heat also. If merely cutting through the water lights it up, it may be asked why does the water not always shine, seeing that the light producing properties are always present in it 1 Because it !( -i u tttB dniom ot CRiJAttok. |!i is not in a condition to do bo. Lir/ht ie cmised only when tkt atoms afe in cxcesBide motion, when the pohs are disturbed and clash with each other ; and they ars only in this condition when the atoms are unequally divided. » * In calm water, the different classes ai-e thoroughly at rest, and arranged in natural atomic position, but the ctest of a ware in falling, or a steamer in motion, presses the atoms into collision with each other, many conoequently combine, whil6 Instiint commotion ensues throughout the mass, the greater lights attracting the lesser ; till by rapid attraction and repul- sion, the atoms ate in order again, and darkness reigns supremei It may bo asked why these little globes of light, having once been set in motion, do not continue to attract the light producing atoms, till they form an immense ball of fire 1 Because crystallization, or the aggregation of any particular class bf atoms, can only ensue when cuch atoms preponderate over others, and as the light atoms ih the water, are few, in com* j^arison to the mass of other atoms in solution, therefore, as before, the lesser must necessarily give way to the greater. Th(} streak of light left by a fish as it dashes through the Vater, or a meteor in passing through the atmosphere, is evolved on the same principle. (See chapter oti Auroras.) In the fire-fly, the light is caused by the atomic mingling of two different kinds of suitable material, one of which the fly manufactures and developes in its body from its food ; the otheif is probably derived from the atmosphere. The heat from this light is very slight) no greater than the temperature of its insect t3ody. ■ ' ' ' ■" Many healthy persons after a brisk Walk will ignite out ordinary coal gas, by merely applying their finger to the jet. !!il' )l LiadT. u This is cailaed by tlie animal, or concentrated vegetable gas, from the body, reciprocating with the mineral gaa from the pipe. A light is often seen at the ends of branches of trees on a cool morning, resembling miniature auroras in appearance, this is caused by the vegetable gas fron the tree, reciprocating with Ihe mineral atoms in the tir. Ti.j second and third divisions on the subject, viz : light With heat and combustion, and how light is propagated, wo will consider together. The explanation of daylight, we will reserve for another chapter. Taking a candle foJr our means of illustration, we find that there are four things required to be looked at. First, the flame itself. Second, the heat from it, extending twelve inches or more all around. Third, the light from it extending in a greater or less degree (or ten or twelve feet. Fourth, The phenomenon of the light itself, looked at ftom a local distance of a few miles, according to the state of the atmosphere. In the first, we bum our fingers if we put them in the flame. In the second, we feel Warmth but we are not burnt. In the third, we do not feel the heat but the light is bright enough to read by. In the fourth, we lose both heat and light, locaUy, and can only see the flame as a distant object. The phenomena felt and observed in these four instances, must of necessity make the action ir. each several case different from the others. . Now what is the action ? ^ 1 'L k 1 ■ i i mil' I 66 THE OniOIN OP CRKATION'. In tho first, wo havo the atoms of tho materials under intenscr motion and friction, causing lieat and light. In tho second, wo havo the same action, but with difToring materials, or atoms in a different condition and in a less degree. In tlio third, as the light is too far removed to bo apparently affected by, or to take part in, the chemical action going on in tho flame, tho cause awl effect must be ascribed to something different. Tiiis wo assert to bo due to tho reflective power of the atoms. If materials can combine into a flame, and reflect a powerful light all around from the action of the atoms on one another (for all light mny be said to be reflection) and if all substances reflect light more or less, the atmosphere being com- posed of the same kinds of material, roust be possessed of tho like reflective power. Consequently this reflection of one atom on another, produces what we experience as light, the intensity of the light or reflection decreasing, as the distance from the flame is increased. In the fourth instance, we have a pure «ase of sight ; that ia, wo are looking through a transparent medium at a mass of reflecting atoms; but the scientific world have invented a theory connected with it, which is worth combating. Prof. Tyndall, in his lectures on heat, says ; — " Sir Isaac Newton supposed light to consist of minute particles, darted out from luminous bodies j" this was the celebrated Emission theory. To Dr. Thomas Young, however, belongs the immortal honour of establishing on a safe basis the theory of Undulation. Ac- cording to the notion now universally received, light consists first of a vibratory motion of the particles of the luminous body, which motion is communicated to the ether in- which they swing, and thus it is transmitted in waves to the eye.- ' I LIGHT. 67 Tho act is ns truly moclianical as tlie breaking of tlio waves on the shore." The idea ia a very heautiful one, hut very hard to comprehend, for he mVh, ** a wave of light comes from Jupiter to us in a second 1 18G,000 miles." Again dillcrent waves of light have waves of dilFercnt lengths. '• 39,000 waves of red light placed oui to end make up one inch ; accordingly 470,439,0)80,000,000 red waves enter tho eye in a single second; while 699,000,000,000,000 ot violet waves enter in the same time." A great mistake, it will bo observed, is made between light and siglit. Both Light and Sight are instantaneous. It we shut our eyes and open them again, wo can see any object within their range, whether live or ten miles away. It does not require a distant vessel or house to send waves of their colour to us in order that wo may distinguish them ; so also is it with a candle. If we place it in a room, we see it as a bright light, and everything in its immediate vicinity is rendered distinct by ita reflection ; but place it a hundred yards away, and we only aeo it as a point of light. Place it ten miles away and wo cannot see it at all, and if it be kept burning for a million of years, the light will never reach us. It is asserted as one of the poetical facts of astronomy, that tho light of probably some thousands of stars has been travelling towards us ever since, if not before, Adam was created, and it has not reached us yet. If, as we assume, sight and light aro one, both instantaneous, then we may safely affirm, that tho light from these thousands of stars beyond ou .xsion, will never reach us. Again, if we hold a piece of glass before us we can see Jupiter 68 THE ORIGIN OF CREATIOK. through it The wavea being communicated througli tlio ether, whicli is everywhere and in everything, ghiss included, of course it goes through it to our eye. But suppose wo liold u piece of cloth b< foro us — which is much more porous than glass — we cannot see Jupiter. Waves and et?ier, therefore, have nothing whatever to do with seeing the star, hut sight and a transpar- ent medium, everything. Lastly, if a fire is lighted a mile or two away during the day, we see only the smoke ; the flame is not visible at al) ; while at night the light only is visible. What is to be said of the waves of light during the day 1 From what we have remarked, light at a distance must be regarded only aa a question of sight, and the Undulation theory will have to follow its predecessor Emission, into oblivion. Prof. Tyndall, in his lectures in New York, stated, that while it was quite logical for any one to insist, that sufficient evidence might be brought forward in the future, to overthrow the undu- latory theory of light, just as other theories as widely accepted had been given up before, yet it was as unlikely to be over- thrown, as the theory of gravitation. If our theory is correct, — which we are endeavoring to prove — then the foundation of security on which he has built hia hopes, is gone, for Ave adduce enough proof in another chapter to insure its rejoction. li CHAPTER XII. I \ i II THE SUN AND SUNLIGHT. Professors Thomson, and Tait, on the Sun. — The Sun a huge furnace. — Herschcll on the waste heat of the Sun. — Temperature of space. — Our view of the uniyersc. — The solar system an inhabitant of it. — The Sun a stomach. — The atmospheres, the flesh and bones of the -olar system — Movements regulated by Magnetism. — The Sun an inhabited world. How Sunlight is caused by Magnetism. — The Sun, Earth, and planets, Magnetic batteries. — Sun the main battery and head office. — Planets telegraph stations. — Sunlight caused in a similar way to the spark at the poles of s battery. — The "Journey to the Sun." Having explained how ordinary lights are caused, and what our views of light are, we now proceed to discuss the character and phenomena of daylight. "We do not profess to be astronomers, and would not wilfullj run counter to the grand discoveries which eminent men such OS Newton, Kepler, and Herschell, have made in connection with astronomy, but as our system clashes with theirs, and as it is impossible for us to see how daylight is caused by a huge roaripg furnace ; it is essential that we lay down a system, in accordance with natural law, as understood by us. Before doing so, let us examine a few of the statements made by teachers in physics. Professors Thomson and Tait, in an article on "Energy" in "Good Words," 1862, give four w I 70 TlIK oniOIN OF CUEATIO.y. III! tlicories on the imturo and nr'tion of tlic 8un. TIk* fniirtli, whicli tluiy say is probiiljly tlu; tiuo exi)liUi;itiun, i.-» as follows: — "According to this theory, matter when err tt«!d was diffused irregularly through space, })ut was endowed with tin* attra(!tive force of gravitation, by virtue of whicli it gradually becanio agglomerated into masat^s of various sizes. The teiiiper- uture produced by collision, etc., wouUl not only he in g< neral higher for the larger bodies, but they wouhl of eoursi iko longer to cool ; and henco our earth — tliough prol)ably in by- gone ages a little sun — retains but a slight anuMint of its original heat, at least in its superficial strata, while the sun still shines with brilliance, perhaps little impaired. Supplies of energy are, no doubt, yet received continually by the sun, on its casual meeting with masses traversing through spaite, or the fallitig in of others revolving about it ; just as on an exceedingly small scale, the earth occasionally gets a slight increase of kinetic energy, by the impact of a shooting star or aerolite." " But it is not probable that the sun receives in this way more than a very small portion of his heat. He must therefore, at present, be in the condition of a heated body cooling." " But it will take seven thousand years, before his average temperature can go down one degree !" This conclusion is a very safe statement to enunciate, but wo are astonished that any man with an established reputation should uiake it. The accepted idea, therefore, is that the sun is a huge furnace, which is being continually fed with fuel to kee}) the heat up. Ihis heat, we are told, is given off in every direction, and as the planets — which the sun lights — are mere specks in comparison with the vast open spaces between, there seems to TUB SDK AND SONLIOHT. 71 te, ns Sir Jolm Htnohell suyH : — " An onorinous wiwtc or wlmt appciira to bo waste." ** Tiiki! till tlio pluiiots t<»gi!tht'r, ^'rcat iind srniill, tlio light and heat thoy receive, ia ouly one 227 inilliomsth part, of the whole ([imntity thrown out hy tho sun. All the rowt escapes into free space and ia lost aipong tho stars, or does there some other work that wo know nothing about." This very fact should huvo told Herschell tho theory was a bad one ; for as there is nothing more perfect than nature, in all its inherent principles or laws ; so it is not in accordance with any of God's works, that such a furnace should bo poised in tho heavens to light and heut a few planets, when it could equally perforin tho same service to a million of them. But there is anotlier strong objection. Herschell says the temperature of empty space is no less than 230° F. Thermo- meter below zero." If the sun is a furnace, tlien according to all rules of furnaces, tho heat must 1x3 all wasted or absorbed by this cold re^^ion of sj)ace. Or, if it is really the heat of the furnace, which wo feel on a summer's day, then the " empty " space must be hotter still, for the nearer wo approach a furnace, the hotter the temperature becomes. But tho reverse in this case is the reality, for the higher wo rise from tho earth, the colder it becomes, and tho mountain tops arc covered with Ice amd snow, all tho year round. We must, therefore, give up the supposition that the sun is a furnace, and seek for an explanation of the lights and heat, which we receive from it, in tho theory of atomagnetic action. In giving a theory of the sun, wo are obliged to lay down a theory of the universe, which, it is unnecessary to say, differs from that accepted by astronomers. - ►.^ ^ T2 THB ORIGIN OF CREATION. X » Our universe is a vast body of wliich tlio solar systems ard the inhabitants, and yet these are all so regulated in their move- ments, t)io one with the other, that even the universe itself, aa far as we se* it, may be but as a k>lar system, iu a universe moro boundless still. Our solar system thon, may bo compared to an animal body with a ttomach — the sun and the planets being different members of it, all having regular arteries and channels to travel along, and from which thoy cannot deviate. And just as the different members, or parts of our bodies, are connected with blood, flesh, and bones, so the j)lanet8 are all connected with the sun, and with each other, by their atmospheres ; a firm, although elastic, and invisible material This accounts, firstly, for their position. Secondly, their movements are regulated by the law of Maqnutibm. "We have shown that every atom is a magnet, every conglo- meration of atoms, therefore, must also be a magnet. — The sun, planets, moons, and comets, are therefore magnets ; and they act upon, reciprocate with, and attract and repel each other. Thus it is that sometimes the earth approaches the sun, and again recedes, yet still keeping its fixed course and position. But the sun could not attract any planetary body close to. or into itself, for it must be like unto the earth — with its own atmosphere ; every body and planet therefore, having its own emanations, or atmosphere, enables it to keep its solid parts free, and apart from every other body. Thirdly, the life -"^'on, producing heat, light, or electricity, and all other natural phenomena on the eaith, is shown to ba m iBfei^ ( THK SUN AND SUNUOHT. 73 tho result of chemical action, caused l>y mngnetism or atomag- netic action. We do not tliink therefore that the sun ia a furnace, hut rather that it is a vast hody prohahly inhabited like our own earth, lieing the largest also, it occupies tho centre of our sys- tem, and controls the life force or magnetism of the whole. How then is sunlight caused 1 As we have already said, the sun and planets are magnets. They are also magnetic telegraph batteries with their poles, and between them there is an atmosphere acting as a connecting wire or medium, — by which they all communicate with the head olfice, tho sun. Whatever part of our earth's surface is in line with the sun, there is bound to be a powerful reciprocal force and action be- tween them, and the more direct and unobstructed the line ia, the greater will be the action. How do we know this? By the phenomena of sunlight. Supposing for illustration we cut the wire of an ordinary telegrai)h line, and bring the two ends into merely the slightest contact, we have a spark of light or electricity — Why? ]3ecause the force of tho decomposing battery, is transferred from ita poles within the solution, to the partially disconnected poles on the line, inducing them to attract and unite ; tliis force is so concentrated by the slight contact, that minute particles of mineral matter are thrown off the wire, by reciprocating with the particles of oxygen and hydrogen in the afcmosphere, and thus light and fire, or electricity, is the result. Sunlight, as we will now show, is an exhibition of this spark on a grand scale. The earth, as a battery, is continually, by tho action of water . ' 1 1 ^1; m ' I WB'' 74 THE ORiaiN OF CREATION. in its interior, (lisHolving and ri!f(jnniiig iiiincirals, and Uirowing thoir particles into the atmosphere. Hut on the surCacci the vegotahle atoms asaert thoiijselves, — the conditiona, lieat, light, and moisture, being favourable for their development — and thus they grow into vast forests, and these in turn produee and i'eeJ animals. The emanations from those forests, as well as other vegetable emanations, are sufficient to form a rim or covering of oxygen all around the earth, in close contact with it. The Sim, we believe, is of an entirely similar formaticm, with its dissolving and reforming action, its vegetation and animals, and its oxygen atmosphere. The mineral gases rising from both sun and earth being lighter than oxygen, occupy the higher spaces of the atmosj)heres. The connecting medium — called by the supporters of the Un- dulatory theory of light, "luminiferous ether," — all through sj)aco, must necessarily be of the same nature, because the conditions for the presence and maintenance of vegetable atoms do not exist there. The earth and sun, being thus like working mag- netic dissolving batteries, connected by a metallic medium, there is a strong action existent between them, as betv/een two poles. But the rim of oxygen at either end, partially breaks the connection. The result then is the continuous spark of electricity, on a scale, commensurate with the great size of the batteries — for the force of the sun and earth striving to meet er.ch other, through the hydrogen or metallic medium, causes tlie elementary atoms of oxygen and hydrogen to re- ciprocate in the lower atmosphere, andj as may be shown by experiment, the combination of the two gases with the intense friction and motion between the poles and atoms, pro- duces our glorious sunlight. \ TUE SUN AND SUNMOnT. 75 A aiiriiliir action f^oes on in tlio sun, and thus its bri^^'litnoss ia accounted for. Hut, while wo have li^dit ami darkncsH every day, th(! inlnhitantn of the sun may not know what ni^ht is ; fur owing to its central position, it is douhtUiss at all times reciprocating with planets, on every side of it. It may ho said hy some opponents, that the electric spark burns us if we touch it, why not daylight too? Because usually, tho action is so diffused, and the continuity disturlxMl by winds, etc., hut if wo concentrate the light on tho hand with a lens, it may he burnt also ; besides how many people have their faces sun burnt })y direct exposure to tho sun's rays 1 If we ascend out of tliis oxygen atmospliere, we gra ! ; 7« THE ORIGIN Olf CREATION. which regiilatcfj our movements in a manner that the simplest may undftrstand j and yet proved on our atomagnctic theory to be governed according to natural law, which is infallible. Thus liave we done away with, it is hoped, forever, that superstition worthy only of untutored minds, which imagines the sun to be a huge furnace, feeding upon comets and shooting stars, and now and then swallowing a planet to assuage its hunger. Thus have we done away with the necessity of thinking so little of the works of nature, and so much of ourselves, that a few planets should monopolize a great furnace, which — if it had them in pro- per position — could light and heat up all the starry hosts of hea- ven. And thus, in conclusion, are turned into ridicule those theoretic descriptions of a " Journey to the Sun " by a sensa- tional philosopher, in which the voyagers — iir pervious to heat or cold — after travelling far through " empty " space, at last encounter flames of burning hydrogen thousands of miles long, and see through the rifts of the raging fiery clouds, the red hot nucleus of our luminarv within. CitAPTER Xttt COLOUR. Undalation theory of colonr— What is the force which governs colour-** Primary causes overlooked aa usual — Great display of Arithmetic- Looseness in Science — When we will freeze to death — Portland Scientific Convention — Tyndall on the vibratory theory— 474,439,- 680,000,000 red waves a second — This theory questioned — No colour on the Earth — Herschell — Helmholtz — Science like a voyage of dis- covery — We introduce the atomagnetic theory of colour — Colour a property of matter — Colours of mineral flames — Why is the sky blue? — Tyndall's "Scientific use of the Imagination "—The setting sun red — The hills purple; Having given the cause of light, and its modes of action in different forms, we now give an explanation of that element of it which we reserved for a chapter to itself. As light has been explained by the theory of undulation, so also has colour, which in one way is inseparable from it. The theory is said to have been suggested by the vibration of a harp string. The shorter the string is made, the greater are the number of vibKitions produced by the same force ; and the shriller the note becomes. Thus it is said to be with colour. light vibrates, but coloured lights vibrate more. . From experiments made, it has been shown that red rays are propagated the shortest distance, and violet rays the longest. f 78 TllR ORIGIN OP CRRATION. ' M m 1 Consequently it is laid down as a settled fact, that a certain number of viLrutiona, or waves per second, produce red, a few Jnore produce orange, and so on all through tlio colours of the fipcctnnn. We can understand tvhy aharp string shoi.ld vibrate rapidly, or slowly, because wo know the force which is api)lieil to it. But what is the force wliich controls the colours, and makes the violet to viT)rato more rapidly than the red 1 'No explanation is made of this circumstance, and as it never seems to j lave been thought of, the statement about the waves is a merely em])yrical one. This shows again, how our leaders in science are forever striving to understand secondary causes and phenomena, for- getting altogether, or not seeming to remember, that there must be a' first cairsc for everything. They find something, out of which by a great display of arithmetic, astounding announce- ments may be made, and they therefore seek to obtain idl the glory possible for this discovery, before anotlier shall find the first cause of his secondary force, and blast his fame. From this looseness in science, we have one pL ^ 'sopher stating that we will all freeze to death on this earth, while the sun is gradually cooling ; but it will take seven thousand years to go down one degree ! Another states we are rushing into collision with Hercules, but we need not pack our tvunks for a million of years or so yet. Thus every scientific journal wc look at is filled with some extraordinary theory, and instead of being laughed at, the pedants are considered as men of genius. An exception, in this respect, must be made to the papers deliv- ered at the late Science Convention in Portland, United States, which have been so thoroughly ridiculed, not only by out- eiders, but by the .Americans themselves, that wo only hope it CaLOUR. 79 will teach thorn a lesson, which will not soon be forgotten, by diibblora in scienco all over the world. This vil)rutory theory is improbable on vlie face of it, and seems very sensational. Prof. Tyndall on hf^^t says : — " Light travels through space at a velocity of 192,000 miles in a second. Reducing this to inches, wo find the number to bo 12,165,120,000. Now it is found that 39,000 waves of red light placed end to end would make up an inch; multiply the number of inches in 192,000 miles by 39,000 wo obtain the number of waves of red light In 192,000 miles : this number is 474,439,680,000,000. All these waves enter the eye in a single second. To produce the impres- sion of red in the braiTi, the retina must be hit at this almost incredible rate." But all colours are not 192,000 miles away. For instance we set fire to a red light three feet from us, and in a second wo perceive tlie colour. By Tyndall's own figures, the greatest number of waves that could possibly exist in that distance would bo 1,404,000. This number then produces the im- pression of red on the brain, whereas he says nothing less than 474,439,680,000,000 could do it. It is evident that there must be something faulty about this theory, or it would not break down so easily. Again, if we examine a bouquet of flowers, is our eye being hit by millions of waves of colour, coming from them % "VVe think it more probable that our nose is being hit by millions of waves of the atoms of perfume, for we have a stronger sensation from the matter by the one, tiian from the properties of the matter, by the other. Nearly all who have written on the subject in these latter 60 TitE ORIGIN OF OUKAtIO!^. !f .: i: .'-t daya, seom to oascrt that th(jro is no colour whatov'>r in tn© earth, ami that uU the ])rillii>*\t hue» which we Hfle in u sum- tncr's day, aro iiu parted to objects by light. Heracholl, Tyndall, ^raxwell, Ilelinholtz, Brower, Parkor and others, endeavoured lo provt? this, and there is no doubl that it is the .oclc on which they have stranded. Science in many ways is like a voyage of discovery into Unknown seas and rivers, amidst which navigators have hoard that certain lauds are to bo Pmnid. Now one philosopher and now another tjikes the helm, and after placing buoys at differ- ent points to mark tlio channels of knowledge from which no Buccoeding explorer must deviate, and whoso correctness no one must question ; they stumble along from one quicksand to another, till they are lost amidst rocks and shoals. This is what is being done in the region of colour, as well as in many other branches of science. One observer having a slight show of plausibility to support him, asserted that there was no colour naturally on the earth, but that it was imparted to it by light. There being no betted theoi'y at the time, it was not questioned much. A buoy was immediately placed, and every scientific man guided by this, at once commenced to pilzzle his brains in order to account for the colours in the light, and how they acted on objects aroond us. First, the refraction theory, and then the undulatory theory was started, but they have both miserably failed. "We now introduce the atomagnetic ; and as it springs from primary causes, and elements, altogether, and as no buoys or soundings by previous observers are recognized unless they stand our own test, we feel sure it h^s better claims to stability than any that have been previously advanced. toLotift. t\ As \^e slaloci in tho firat chapter, matter is naturally possoss- •sd of ccrtiiin properties which are inaeparubl^i fVom it. 'ilio mineral atoms liavo naturally, m inlu^mnt eleuKinta, tho to.'d colours ; bhie, black and white ; while tho vegetahlo atornn «ro naturally posseaacd of tho warm colours, red, yoUcw, and oningo. Of course there appear to bo ox^Ceptions. Gold is yellow, but it is very scarce and prized accordingly. Sulphur is yellow also, but it sheds a blue light Avhen burned. Some- times we SCO a blue flower also, but they are very rate indeed. Every material wo know of has a colouring, element of its owb, caused by the colours of the ditferottt classes of matter compos'- ing it Grass and most vegetation is green — a mixture of tht yellow and blup of tho two classes of atoms — while all th« beautiful variety of colours wo sco in a flower garden, are de- rived in a similar way, "We once saw a professor experimenting before an audience x>{ an evening with different minerals, showing tho colours which they assumed on being set on fire, and were astonished that ho did not, or would not, understand what gave these flames their various colours. It could not have been from sunlight, for there was none ; neither could it have been gas- light (or " bottled sunshine," as it is called by our sensational philosophers) for that was turned down. It must, therefore, as a necessary consequence, have been inherent in tho materials themselves, and we cannot see how it could be properly ex- plained otherwise. Again, by the accepted "theory, a bouquet of fl<)wers ought to be colourless at nigJit, but if wo hold them to this mineral flame, we see the natural colours of the flowers just as in day- iight. Thus proving the fallacy of the assertion that everything I ' I i^'^- 81 THE oRiotN or cuEATro:r. in colourleaa, and that it is tho sunlight thiit gives thunt, of induod anything olse, thuir colour. It may bo oskod, how is it we 8co a spctrum of colours in light at atll I^causo tho atnioa]ilK!ro in which light is oxliibit< od, is coniposofl of all tho matormls — in a gaseoirs form — of which this earth is composed, and of course thoy retain their inherent colours also. Consequently liglit by coming through theso diitoront materials, displays also their colonrs to us. If tho 8i)ectro3coj)o is held to one of those mineral flames we speak of^ it shows a spectrum of nil tho coloiirs too ; for a similar roason, that in order to produce ilaii.c at all, there must bo a mixture of tho two classes of ntatter ; and adding tho materials of tho atmosphere in which the experiment is shown, there need bo no difficulty in collecting all tho colours together. In corroboration of our system, wo give a few facts illustrative of tho different colours, and the materials to which they belong. "Why is tho sky bluel is a question which Prof. Tyndall says is tho most difficult ono in meteorology ; and the explana- tion ho gives of it in his lecture on " The Scientific Use of tho Imagination " is simply, to our mind, incomprehensible. Com- pare our account of it with his. The atmosphere nearest tho earth is dense, and composed mainly of oxygen, -while the higher atmosphere is rarified, and composed mainly of hydrogen,, or mineral atoms. As blue is the main, or distinctive colour of the mineral atoms, the sky is blue in appearance, because in looking upwards, we are gazing through a greater volume of tho mineral, than tho vegetable atmosphere. Eut when we look at the rising and setting sun, or moon, we see them red. Why 1 Because we are looking througli a dense volume of vegetable atmosphere, and red is the distinctive vegetable colour. ' :i COLOUR. 83 Why ftro distiuit hills purplol Hocause wo have ft hlemlinK of tho two atinoMphoros, the bluo iind culd miiiural atuma uf the hill, 800U thr))ii}{h tho red warm vegetable atoms of tho valley. Tho chasms in tho Alpino glaciers are blue, thus showing the mineral nature of ice and frosit. C'obalt bluo again, is highly magnetic, a clmmcteriHtic of niincnil matter, only in an intense degree. Iron when it rusts, becomes red with oxide, through the action of vogotiiblo atoms upon it. Many more examples might be adduced in support of our assertions, but wo tliink enough has boon advanced to establish their truth. h I ; t ^ .1 CIIAPTEH XIV. « I If fi, ! ! 1 ELECTRICITY. All IJKht is Electricity.— Greatest Scifntific dcluition of the tlnj.— Mag' nctinm and KIcctrioltj cssentiiiliy different.— Quotntion* to ahow how little is known about cither.— Dr. Thomson.— Piirkcr's Schoof Book of Philosophy. — Sir Win. Thomson on KIcctricity flowing.— Prof. TyndiiU also confesses ignorance. — Prof. Grove. — Prescotl's History.— Electric spark, what composed of. — No comhustion with- out a laixturo of the two classes of mattcr.->-The cause of lightning. Following up our ohapterf on light, wc come to KIcctricity. In fact it ought to form part of tho chapter on liglit, fur all light is Electricity. Tho gniatcst scientific ihilu.sion of tho day, is the supposition that electricity has anything whatever to do with telegraphing, except, that under certain necessary cgndi- tions, the magnetic force in the wires ofttimes exhibits it. Magnetism and Electricity are essentially two different things, but they have been so interchanged by writers, for several generations, that the public mind is uncertain where the boundary line lies. We hope however by a few facts, and illustrations, to be able to show, clearly what each phenomenon is, and the difference between them. In the first place, to- show how little is really' known about KI.KOTRICITT. 89 olUior, wo will make a fevr (Hlotutioiw from wnll known writt-rt on thn subject. ' Dr. TlioM. Tliomion, in liia tn"«ti.so on *• IToiit and Electricity* 8ay« : — " Kli^cf ricity in tho property n(r(pur(Ml by Ixnlius, of uttrupt- ing ami n^pellin^ light huiliuH, throuf,'h tho action of friction on thorn." Thi« '.» oxiwtly tho property possrsHctl by a magnet. Why thon shoulil twoMunu's ]te given to tho usinio thing 1 In another cliaptor tho Brtmo writer Hayn ; — " I hIiuH now give an account of tho rotjontly discovered facts, which have shown tho dcpondcncy of miignoti.sm on electricity." Thon f))llow a numhrr of atatcmenti which in our viow would show tho rf'vorso, for tho names are merely transpoHod. Not* withstanding all ho 8;iy.s in his troatino regarding electricity, ho has at last to confess, in speaking of tho powers of attraction and rei)ul8ion : — " Wo arc altogether ignorant of tho cause of these properties." In Parker's School Hook of Philosophy wo read : — " Elec- triviity is tho name given to an inipunl, by its attracting pieces of iron j such stones wore called magnets. Uy nibbing a magnet over a piece of steel, it was found to impart a force or power to the steel, so that it became a magnet, and when poised upon a point where it was free to act, its ends would incline towards the ends or poles of the earth. Magnets when thus poised, are observed to influence « each, other by attracting their opposite ends, or poles, and by repelling their similar ends. At this point we wouRl like to give an explanation of the "magnetic curves" formed by filings between two poles of a magnet, an experiment which has long been known to scientific men, but never exjilained. It was Faraday's misfortune, that he should have been born before the law of atomagnetism was discovered, for Tyndall in his New York lectures stated, that these magnetic curves, or " lines of force": — "so fascinated Fara- day, that the greater portion of his intellectual life was devoted to pondering over them." It seems strange that wo can explain in five minutes, what Faraday consumed a whole lifetime in only trying to discover, yet such is the * case. These curves are caused simply by the attraction of the oj>posite poles of the magnet ; and the reason they form lines, is that each hair, or branch of filings, must repel every other hair starting from the same pole, because similar poles repel, whereas only opposite poles attract. This is the whole mystery,, and any one with a magnet and filings can speedily test the truth of it. We have already said in our chapter on Heat, that the force of atomagnetism when undisturbed is in straight lines, and we sco V ■If i, itidNBTlSM. 03 1, evidences of it evorywhoro. Iti the fibre of trees, in grass and Pushes. In dissolving a piece of iron in acid, it is eaten away In lines. If the frost leaves on our windows are observed forming on a winter's morning, wo may aluo perceive that the force is in straight lines, unless they are swayed either one tray or other by the polarity of rival shoots. Thus we have seen two fronds starting from the bottom of a sixah, a little apart from each other, and shooting out towards the centre, but on the points approaching they each tepelled the other, which caused both to curve outward again. - . On breaking a piece of shell loe, we have often seen on the under side, long lines of small spears of ice, furnied as regularly the one beliind the other, as a regiment on parade. Tyndall thinks that these magnetic curves will, Ijy tlie progress of science j, be found to represent a condition of the " luminiferous ether" which is " the mysterious substratum of all i^adiaut action." We are only sorry for him that these curves will, in the progress of science, only prove that his theories of light and heat are all 'Wrong. To resume our faots regarding inngnetism, particles of iron rtre attracted to both ends or poles of magnets, but not to theii' middle portion or centre. A steel magnet when bent to the shape of a IT, of of a ** horse shoe," shows its greatest force at either end, gradually diminishing towards the middle. This may be seen by placing the magnet in iron filings, w'hcn the ends by attracting the filings, arc Unrted, forming an arch of filings. A piece of soft iron similar in size to the ends of the magnet, if brought into contact with the ends, will be imme* diately attracted to the magnet. In this situation no filings Will be attracted to the magnet^ because the ends or poles of , ; -IT li- U\i ll% J I; 94 THE ORIGIN or CREATION. nil tlic atoms aro preoccupied pno with the other. If tho magnet bo divided into minute particles, the like force and action will be found to prevail in each particle, or atom, and is merely diminished in proportion to tho reduced size of tho piece. If a bar of steel remains fixed in a vertical position for any length of time, it will afterwards exhibit all the properties of a magnet, the upi)er end when placed in ant/ position, will attract tho " north " point of a compass needle, and tho other end the south point. IJut if we tako a piece of soft iron, every time its ends aro vertically reversed, it is immediately changed in its magnetic polarity, to correspond with tho attraction of. tho earth — that is, the lower end attracting the south point, and the upper end tho north, — in these northern latitudes ; in Houthern latitudes of course it is reversed. If we hold a jwcket compass to tho upper ends of any iron railings surrounding gardens or houses, or tho upper end of a stove, or any fixture of iron whatever, we will find that the north point will bo attracted, while the lower ends will attract tho south point. One of tho strange scientific delusions of the day is, that if a piece of irou is struck several times with a hammer, it is converted into a magnet. It never seems to occur to those ingenious philosophers who perform the experiment, to try whether it ie not a magnet without being hammered. From these facte, \ve infer that there exists an inherent force in the atoms of the iron, which must b^ under the dominating influence of a similar and greater force in the earth. In tho arrangement of metals for the operation of the tele- graph, we again find that the force in the line and instruments, tfA(i>rtfri«r\!. &3 mtiy bo proilucoJ, diminiahod, or changed and controlled at jilcaaurti, by tho operator. Wo will oxamino tho arrangement, and observe tho offects and causes of these clianges. To form a battery, the ends of two pieces of metal arc placed in dUiitod acid, an i by chemical action they are gradually dis* aolved. In this position they have no other magnetic force than tho power of dissolving. Eiich pieco- has however two polos, the poles in the acid being similar, and those in the ail* being also alike. If tbo dry ends be brought into contact) tho action of the ends in tho solution is seen to increase ; this is owing to tho two piecess now forming one magnet with two poles, in place of four. The two poles lost at the point of contact, now merge their influence into the whole, and the poles in the solution becpme dissimilar — opposite poles (as explained before) then reciprocate, or attract one another, and thus we have tho increase of the dissolving power exhibited, and an increase of force developed. If the junction of the two metals be made by a long con- necting wire, instead of close contact, the same action is continued between the poles or ends in solution. No more force is shown in the connecting wire, than in the middle of the magnet, because tho force can by its nature, only be developed or exhibited at the ends or poles. If however we sever tho wire or its connection at any part, the action is immediately checked at the ends, because they are now as before, two magnets and four poles ; the poles in the solution being of course similar. Bring the separated ends slightly into contact, and the result is the electric spark j for as we have explained before, those ends act as opposing poles, and- attract m \r hi 1 If li h ■ • Bi 5 V Dd fttE 6lltflIN* 01^ CRfcAttOJt. tho mineral atoinH towanlH each other in buch a way, that ihcy combine with tho oxygon of the utinoHpbcro, and produce tlcdrkity and lufht^ Wy tho »imo action in the Mohition between tho poles, tho metal (Uasolving unitrictxn cowt ami other nhoros of lato, h;i8, thrrtugh this and othor cau9««, b . , i n 'I: I iH lalu 1 !4" lir ... il i> CHAPTER XVI. SOUND. Difficult problem in Science. — Prof. Tyndall's explanation not satisfactory. — Sound vibrations and light vibrations. — Sound generates heat. — How long fifty organs would take to heat St. Paul's Cathedral? Sound in summer and winter. — How we hear fifty sound.s at the same time. — Echoes. — New theory of Sound. — A sympathy between the mineral atoms of matter. — Iron a better conductor than wood. — If a man has sympathy why should not an atom 1 — Dancing flames. — Tyndall's new theory of Sound. — Experiments at the South Foreland, England. — Vapour in layers. » An explanation of the phenomenon of Sound we consider to be one of the most difficult problems in science, and the manner in which it has been explained by Prof. Tyndall, and others, is far from satisfactory. For instance he says, sound, light and heat, are all caused by the vibrations of the atoms of the atmosphere. But sound, light and heat, all travel at different rates of speed, and in order to surmount this difficulty he says : — " they all vibrate different ways," a most empirical and yet safe assertion, for it is beyond the power of any experimenter, or microscopist to demonstrate how atoms vibrate. Again he says ; — " Sound generates heat." " Every sonorous vibration which speeds through the air of this room and wastes itself upon the walls, seats and cushions, is converted into the form with which the cycle of actions commenced : — namely SOUND. 105 into hoat." Theories like these are very easily advancej, but rather difficult to prove. "Wo would like to ask the prufessoc how long under the most favourable circumst-mces for accumula- tion, it would take fifty ordinary chui'ch or^'ans to heat Si Paul's Cathedral 1 The experiments which are made in every Scientific Institu- tion, to illustrate the various phases of sound and vibration are both numerous and beautiful, but we fail to see that sound is vibration of the' atoms of the atmosphere only, and that it ■cannot exist independently of such motion. For instance, if we sound a bugle on a warm summer's day, and again on a .clear frosty day, it is heard with twice the distinctness, and at twice the distance, on the latter occasion, ■although, the vibrations are theoretically the same. Again metal is the best conductor of sound, and a long piece of iron, from its mineral character, will yield more sound when struck, than a similar piece of wood, although in theory, «the vibration ii necessarily the same. Suppose a bar of iron, twenty feet long, by twelve inches square, lay on the ground, and we strike it with a tiny hammer, sound would res\ilt, although it is impossible that the bar could vibrate. Again if the bar were suspended and struck with the same force, we would have more sound, and yet there would be no vibration, thus showing that the position of atoms has a great deal to do v/ith sound. If tjie material composing a bell were cast in any otiier shape, it would not yield nearly so much sound as before the change. While we admit that in many instances, vibration causes aound, and particular vibrations cause particular notes, yet we could no more say vibration of itself was sound, than that a Ir I;! '■ ' : i i; 104 THE ORIOIN OF CREATION. liaramer was sound —for if the vibration of a bell caused sound, then the hammer caused vibration — these are only secondary causes ; sound muat be something deeper, some innate property of the atoms entirely independent of vibration or motion. Vibration also will produce sound from a tuning fork, or a violin string, but that a special vibration of the air for each particular note, speeds from the instrument through the atmos-- phere to strike the listeners ear, wo deny. If this were the case, how is it possible for us to hear fifty different sounds at the same time 1 It may be said that echoes prove there must be vibrations in the atmosphere, for the sound waves strike the. obstruction, and are forced back again. We disbelieve in sound waves altogether, and think it evident that if there were such phenomena, in striking the obstruction, the waves would be so changed, that a note would be sent back of a different chasacter from the one first sent. Taking everything into consideration, we submit the follow- ing theory of sound : — Sound is a property of sympathy between the mineral atoms of matter, induced in the first place by friction or vibration. Thus we hear better on a frosty day, because the atmosphere has more mineral atoms in it than on a summer's day. On the like principle, iron must be a better conductor of sound than wood. Thus also we can hear any number of sounds at the same time, for the sympathy of the atoms naturally repeats them aU, whereas the vibrations of the atmosphere, as defined by the theory referred to, would neutralize one another. SOUND. 105 So also in echoes, the soiiud is aecumuliiteJ at the point of obstruction, and must necessarily como back witliout change. Human beings are endowed with a great amount of sympathy and thus will naturally laugh, or cry, or dance, just as tho sounds they hear impel them. If human beings, who are only made up of a conglomeration of atoms, should have sympathy, is it not likely that each individual atom is i»l30 proporciooilly possessed of iti If a man siiould feel impelled to danco while under the influence of music, why should not the sympathetic atoms in a flame cause it to danco also 1 There are many of the experiments relating to sound not easily to bo explained, and many theories scarcely admitting of demonstration, but we think that fewer difficulties will present themselves by the explanation we have given, t-jan by any other. Prof. Tyndall lately delivered a lecture at the Poyal Institution, on Sound, giving an account of numerous experi- ments made at the South Foreland, Fngland, with steam whistles, trumpets and cannons, in order to determine the distance at which sounds could be heard at sea. The result of these observations is a New Theory of Sound, and it just tends to show how much dependence is to be placed on any theory of abstruse science, where the imagination is allowed conaderablo latitude — no permanent basis of natural science being established, which would enable any one to prove or disprove any startling assertion. The theory is not complete, but it is to the effect, that the imagination has to picture vapour from sea and land, rising in layers ] these layers presenting " reflecting surfaces " to the 106 THE OniOIN OP CREATION. passage of aound : — " In the relative homogeneity of the atmos- phere, or its being s^ilit up into many layers, wo have a clUo, which may enable us to arrive at a knowledge why sounds of equal intensity, will travel further in some days tliun others." LoQg discussions and lectures will probably be the result of this discovery, till, when it is on the point of being universally adopted, another clue will be unfortunately discovcreiL , ' > 1^ CHAPTER XVII. WATER AND RAIN. Fire not so powerful ns Water. — Water in granite. — Ilcrschell on Rain.— Rain caused by chemical action in tbo atmosphere. — Tlie Ruin guftge. — Rain forms in the lower atmosphere. — Proctor and Kamtz on the reason why. — Rain shot out from cloiidi*. — Ilcrschell on Rain storms. — Climate of North America changing. — E;j,ypt cultivating the Palm for Rain. — Forests and vegetation cause Ruin. — IlerscheU's reason why, a failure. — Drainage said to bo bad. — Chicngo, St. Louis, once unhealthy. — Why. — No large city unhealthy. — No air in Water. — Fishes gills used for filtering food, not for breathing. — The air they need produced from digestion. — Can we produce or bring down Rain 1 — Great battles in America were followed by Rain. — The cause. — Conclusion. • ^ The subject of the present chapter, deals wiLh one of the most powerful agencies in nature, by the medium of which, all formations, — animal, vegetable, alid mineral, — are by turns produced, dissolved and again reformed. Many scientific men assert that Fire is a more powerful agent than Water. For dissipating and dissolving, it is so, but it does not rebuild, and cannot re-produce. It has been generally con- sidered that all minerals, diamonds, and precious stones, have been formed from the action of fire, also granites and coal ; but scientific opinion is gradually veering round to a belief in the more powerful agency of water, H ■ I I 108 TUE ORIOIN OF CREATION. Strange to say, granite when cxauiinod by a microscope, is found, by Dr. Sorby, to have minute cells lllled with water, a most enij)liatic demonstration that it has been formed by the medium of water ; yet this has been explained away on the ground Ahat it is condensed steam, or vapour, wliicli was present during its formation. How steam could exist where every substance (as believed) was in a molten state, and confined to the interior of the earth, is more than any one could imagine possible. If we except the atmosphere, there is nothing so abundant on this earth as water ; for the oceans are larger than the con- tinents, and the land even abounds in lakes, and rivers, while the atmospliere itself is continually pouring down deluges of rain. "What is this wonderful element, and how is it produccdl Natural Philosophers tell us it is composed of oxygen and hydrogen — eight parts of oxygen, to one of hydrogen — and that with these gaset) "artificial" water can be easily manufactured in a laboratory. They also tell us that the most powerful combus- tion, is produced by a combination of the same gases in different proportions. Agreeably witVi our atomagnetic system, we prefer to use simpler language and say : — Water is the result of the simplest combination, next to air, of the two classes of matter in the form of gases. Moreover, because these gases can be made on a small scale oidy by a certain chemical process, our teachers would have us believe, that they are not to be found naturally in sufficient abundance in the atmosphere ; and consequently, that rain is not formed by their combination in it. But they forget, or rather they do not perceive, that the earth itself is a vast laboratory, where hundreds of nature's gases, of every i 4 WATfin AMD AAlKi 109 'S y a doacriptlon, arc continually being manufactured by the agency of water in the interior, and thrown into the atmosphere; where thoy again reform and ileacend in the shape of rain, or snow, ot hail, to repeat the same trauHformation below. They account for rain, therefore, by saying that all the water that comes down to us in that form, must have arisen first as vapour, and so remained for a time in invisible particles in the atmosphere, till it accumulated and fell again. Tlius Prof. Tyndall in his "Forma of Water," says: — "Solar heat Is the true origin of Glaciers. The sun acting on the ocean witliin the tropics, causes an exhalation which floats away as clouds to the Polar regions, as well as the high mountain ranges, whore, in each case, the clouds yield up their contents as snow or rain." The too common practice of tracing everything to the sun, is Bome thing to bo deprecated, and just as absurd, as to be for ever blaming Adam for all the ills and miseries that afflict the human race. There is no necessity for searching for a remote ancestry for any natural phenomenon, when its own immediate cause is explained. Apart from this, the theory is incorrect, as we will show further on. Thus also Sir John Herschell in "Good Words," 18G4, says: — "Common sense assures us, that all the rain, etc., which falls from the skies must have origina-' ted in the sea, and must (if the present state of things is to endure) find its way back to it." Common sense is a very good guide for a man's actions, but a poor guide to the study of science^ unless the given principles of science are correct. In out opinion, this theory would be merely distillation, which is an induced process, whereby the particles of water are expanded by heat, when confined in a vessel, so that their properties or compounds, are in no way altered by coming iu contact with ,!, • I 110 •the OniOlN Of CTL^/itiOH, i ! I other compounds or gases ; and, if coM be applied, thoy then return to thuir former condition a8 water. Evaporation, on tho other liand, in a chomii al action — induced by cnM as well an by lioat, and is a throwing off into gasos of tlio particles of tho material acted upon, TIiuh we liavo aeon tho wet muddy fltrceta of a city in 8jmng, dried up in a few hours by a piercing north wind, and snch clouds of dust raised, that would have taken the H\in u day or two iti suunner to have accomplishod. When bodies a'u evaporated into their original elements; cither hy heat or cold, or iire, or water, and then allowed to come into contact with other gases in tho ntinosi)h(;ro, those compounds will be chemically chan^'ed into a variety of new compounds, and aro thus in a j)osition to produce a variety of atmosiiheric phenomona, such as rain, hail, snow, fog, clouds^ lightning, thunder, auroras, etc., etc. If all bodies can be converted into gases or their original elements, water cannot be an exception. The main scientific objection to this, is the statement given by professors of chem- istry, that oxygen is the most universal gas, for it is found in connection Avi'h every other gas on earth, while hydrogen is only found beside metals. This is only apparently so. Vegeta- ble gas must, as a matter of course, be contiguous to vegetation. It is also more dense than mineral gaa, consequently we* find it close to the earth. But as we ascend into the atmosphere, the air becomes more cold and rarified, so that wo breathe with difficulty. This atmoaphcre cannot be composed principally of oxygen or vegetable gaa, for no vegetation grows on the tops of high mountains ; it must then partake more of tho hydrogen or mineral gas. If a large quantity of this oxygen, should come in contact with the liydrogen, tho result would probably be It! IC ' it ho ith of of or me he WAtER AND RAIN. Ill cloud imd tUun ruia, not on account of tho tumpcraturo of tho gasea, but of thuir opposite charactors causing a rociprocution Hnd chemical action. I/ot ua givu a common illustration. Tho weather (in winter) \um been cold for sovoral days, with the wind blowing from the north, so that everything is frozen hard. 8udini8hed, owing to the denudation of the country under the Spanis'a Kegime, as to contract their areas, and leave large tracts of their shores dry ; wliich, now that the vegetation ' is again restored, are once more covered by their waters." The reason why trees attract the rain is, Sit John says : — " The foliage of the trees defends the soil beneath and around! them from the sun's direct rays, and disperses their heat in the air, to be carried away by winds, and thus prevents the ground from be'.ng heated in the summer ; while on the other hand, a heated surface soil, reacts by its radiation on the clouds as they pass over it, and thus prevents many a refreshing shower which they would otherwise dej-osit, or disperses them altogether." We confess we cannot understand, neither does he explain, why a soil that is not heated will attract rain, or " vice versa. "^ How much simpler would it not be to say, that well wooded districts attract or produce rain, because there is always an excess of vegetable gases around them, which are thus always ready to combine with any mineral winds that may be blown/ over them. While on a barren moor which has no sufficient supply of oxygen, reciprocation seldom takes place. ** Drainage " — Herschell also says, " is bad, for it cuts off » mmm WATKR AND RAIX. 115 great deal of tlio supply of local evaporation, which is the material element in the amount of rain fall." We admit that dr-iinage lessens the rain fall, not for hia reason, but because there is less concentrated activity in vege- table growth, and consequently a smaller supply of vegetable exhalations necessary for* forming rain. Still wo would not say that drainage is bad, for a clump of trees at the end of n field, would counteract the eftect of drainage over a hundred acres. • These facts rc;garding vegetable exhalations, give us an insight into the cause of fever and malariiu A hundred years ago the sites of many of those great wcsteir. cities in America — St. Louis, Chicago, Cincinnati, and others, were fever swamps, full of all kinds of malaria, striking down the strongest man that took up his abode in their midst ; yet they are now as healthy as any of the cities of the Republic. Why were these cities unhealthy'? Because there was too much vegetation present with decomposing vegetable matter, and in consequence more oxygon or vegetable gas in the atmosphere, than is suitable for the health of man. We never hear of a city being a place of fever and ague, especially one which is largely built of brick and stone, unless the drainage and cleanliness are defective, for the vegetable emanations in its area are very scant. But allow the cities to go to ruin, lot them be overrun with vegetation, as in the case of Palenque and Uxmal in Central America, or those magnificent ruined citic" of Cambodia in Siam ; and they become as dangerous to the life of man, as the worst ague swamps known. A curious fallacy expounded regarding water, is, that it con- tains a quantity of air. Prof. Tymlall proves this by saying that bubbles rise to the surfact^ when water is boiled. But if I I I i; li; 116 THE ORIGIN OP CREATIOK. we boil the water long enough, it will all vanish into air, or ita original elements, therotoro according to Tyndall's own showing, water is all air. If water contained air, wo should think it would be enclosed when frozen into ice. liut Prof. Tyndall declares that it is not so, " for although ice is full of small bubbles, they are not filled w h air." Mr. H. Higgins in "Eraser's Magazine" 1870, on "The water we should not drink," says :— " A considerable volume of air is absorbed by water." " In this and in other ways (bubbling over falls and among rocks) water receives atmos- pheric air, without which it would fail of the purposes for which it was ordained. It is necessary to the existence of the creatures who live in the water, and for the continued purity of the water itself." This statement is plainly incorrect, for if water were capable of absorbing air by a process of agitation, then when we introduce a small quantity into a large vessel of water, it ought to permeate itself through it, and not show itself; but it invariably (except when confined by pressure) comes to the surface in bubbles, and disappears, thereby showing that water has an aversion to air. Water may be, however, saturated with air by mechanical pressure, as in soda water or champagne, the pressure while corked not allowing the air to escape. The idea that fish use their gills to assimilate air for them- selves, is a grand mistake ; for the motion of the mouth and gills of the fish, is not a breathing process, but one for filtering, or separating their food from the water with which it is combined. This can be proved by observing the peculiar construction of the gills of certain kinds of fish, and the nature of their food. The shark and the dog-fish have but little or no gills, (neither ^-T' WATER AND RAIN. 117 h u- lls lor I of k ler has tho lobster) hecause their food is solid, and no filtering is necessary, lint tho whale, tho herring, the mackerel, and others that are provided with extensive gills, take in a small descrip- tion of animalcuUe for food with the water ; and having dis- charged tho latter through their gills, as we see the whales in particular do, tho food is then left in a state for them to swallcjw. From the fact already noticed that water docs not contain any fixed air, tl'e air necessary for the support of the fish is produced from the dissolving of tho food in the stomach, during tho process of solution and digestion. ^ The idea that air is generated by the dissolving and decom- position of food in the fish, is supported by deduction from natural facts, for we find that all decomposing or chemical action generates a gas or air. The drowned body of an animal, for instance, becomes inflated with gas — not from air contained in the water — but from the process of decomposition by the water — and the body rises to the surface, where it floats. The question has often been asked, can we call down rain at will? and it has been answered in different ways. "VYe answer that under certain conditions it is possible, but the expense of doing so, would be greater than the value returned. During the late war in the United States, it was observed that every great battle fought in the South was followed by deluges of rain, and violent wind. It was then stated by many, in con- sequence, that we could easily bring down rain by merely discharging cannon. But during the Franco-Prussian war, the like phenomenon was not observed, so the idea was declared a myth. Since the war, some scientific American wished his government to lend him a few hundred guns to settle the question ; but the government very properly refused. It was ti' 118 THE ORIGIN OP CREATION. thought the concussion of the guns caused the rain, hut no vihration however great ■vvill cause rain to fall, unless the necessary materials are present in the atmosphere to furnish it. The rain was in part produced from the material used in firing the cannon, viz. : the gunpowder. As powder (sulphur, saltpetre and charcoal) is composed principally of mineral ingredients, these in passing into gases consequent on explosion, reciprocated with the abundant vegetable gases that filled the atmosphere in the Southern States, and in the first place formed clouds, then wind and rain. The same result would have followed, if the powder had been merely set on fire without the use of guns. The reason why no rain appeared on the occasion of the Prussian battles was, that they occurred in winter, and in places where no excess of vegetable gases existed in the atmosphere. In conclusion, as animal and vegetable bodies are composed of the same material elements as water, let us apply our knowledge to a practical purpose, "We cannot then perform our ablutions too often, and the more frequently we wash ourselves without becoming altogether amphibious, the more healthy we shall become. We cannot also, if at proper intervals, drink too much water, but it should always be preferred of the same temperature as the body. The frequent use of iced water is often injurious to health, and there is no doubt that in the present day it is used much too frequently. CHAPTER XVIII. DEW. Chambers's Journal. — Baptista Porta nearly discovered the true theory of dew.— Thought dew was condensed from fir. — Aristotle thought it was condensed from vapour. — Muschcnbroot kept back Meteorology one hundred years. — Graat d^'- "overies often foiled by the stupidity of the world. — Dr. Wells said to be the discoverer of the true dew theory. — The radiation of heat, the basis. — The cause of moonblind- ness. — Dew forms most readily on vegetation. — Arguments against radiation. — Observations with wool packs. — Position everything. — Calm and clear evenings essential. — Dew is water. — Produced in a similar way. — The cause of fog and hoar frost. — Hoar frost spears of ice. Ir In "Chambers's Journal" for 1868, is an article on the above subject, which pretends to settle the question definitely about the formation and phenomenon of dew ; but, like most other explanations of natural phenomena, it ftvils for want of a correct apprehension of natural law. . Wo find in it, that one Baptista Porta, nearly discovered, ^(according to our view of it) the true theory of dew ; but his notions are sneered at altogether, because they do not agree with dynamical principles. The old idea was, that dew was precipitated from the moon and stars ; which also shed down cold. But the writer of the above mentioned article states, that so far from shedding cold 120 ITTB OUIOIN 0** CRKATrON". on the earth, astronomers and physiciats sliow, that an impor- tant portion of the earth's heat supply is derived from the stars. A atatcmont just as a])surd as ilw other. Porta denied that the moon and stars had anything to do with dew. lie discovered that dew was sometimes deposited on the inside of glass panes ; and again, that a glass hell placed over a plant in cold weather, was more copiously covered ' a dow within than without. lie thought his ohservat ions justified him in looking on dow as condensed — not from vapour as Ariatotle thought, and as is now believed by the scientific world generally — but from the air itself. This, although not entirely correct, was a remarkable discovery, and had it been believed in then and worked up to, a great deal of blundering might have been avoided, and our knowledge of meteorology would have been much further advanced than it is. Dew was generally supposed to fall, and people still continue to speak of its falling, but Porta's experiment showed that it rose from the earth, that it was an exhalation from the ground and from plants. In making observations to establish this view, Muschenbrook found that dew forms much more readily on some substances than others. This was supposed to bo damaging to Porta's theory, for dew neither seemed to fall, nor to rise, but to bo caiised in a great measure by the nature of the substance on which it was found deposited. Had this circumstance only been searched into more minutely, it would have shown still more conclusively that Porta was right, and greater discoveries might have resulted from it. Yet it is always the way of the world, we are often on the eve of wonderful discoveries, by great minds who are ahead of their day and generation, but which ate foiled by the stupidity of those for whose benefit they m DEW. 121 )n LC3 (ut ey are ilosigncil, and who have not tho brains to undcrstund their tendency. Tho true theory, we are told, was at lengtli discovered hy Dr. Wells, of London, who made a series of ohservations with a number of little looul packs, and the result was : — "tho ruto of the deposition of dew, depends upon tho rate at whicli bodies part with their heat by radiation. If the process of radiation ia checked, dew is less copiou.sly deposited, and vice versa." For instance, wo are told that tho earth is continually throwing off its internal heat. If there are any clouds, tho radiation is checked at night and there is no dew, but whon it is clear, plenty of dew is the result. This, however, is incorrect, for we have often observed that on a clear night no dew is formed, because there was wind. A calm night is just as essential as a clear one. Dr. Wells also asserts moon-blindness to be caused by the ■want of clouds to check the radiation of heat from tho eye, which consequently becomes chilled. Moon-blindness, therefore, according to his theory, ought to be as frequent on clear starry nights, as on clear moonlight nights, yet we never hear of persons being afflicted by it. This assertion, consequently, is just as much to be relied on as the others. Let us now endeavour to find out tho origin of dew from atomagnetic law. Some objects have more dew formed on them than others. Grass and bushes in the morning are found covered with dew, while rocks and gravel roads are perfectly dry. Metal wo arc told radiates very little heat, and no dew forms on it, yet if wo plac^o a piece of metal among grass, it will be "covered with dew; while a piece placed on the road bed, will have none. What ia II il 122 THE OniaiN OP CREATIOM. tho reason of thisi It cannot be that it radiated its heat quicker in the one place than in tho otlier. This is one argnrnent against tho radiation theory. Again, if clew be formed by radiation, why is it that a glass boll placed over plants is covered with dew inside, but not outside, and that there is no dew on the plants themselves. Obstructions between an object and the sky, wo are told, check radiation, and jjrevent the formation of dew, yet here we have the plants radiating, and dew fanning on the obstruction ! Tho whole series of observations, which led Dr. Wells to advance his theory, seem to have been conducted in a loose manner. He had a number of little wool packs which h» exposed at night, some ho covered, and some ho did not ; and it was by weighing the amount of dew which each contained, that ho became convinced that he had something to work on. He found, generally, that those packs which were hid from tho sky, contained more moisture than the others. This ought to have been contrary to his theory, but he does not seem to have thought so. It does not appear that he thought the situation of his wool packs of any consequence, and if so, his observations are of np value whatever, because jjosition had every thing to do with the deposition of dew on them. If he placed them in the centre of a broad road, with little vegetation around it, no dew would ever reach them ; while if he placed them over grass, or among trees, they would be heavy with it. It will bo observed that the action and formation of dew, haa thus been explained by secondary causes only. "VVe are told, for instance, that giass radiates heat better than metal. Why it does so they cannot show us. That it radiates heat at all, is an assertion which is dogmatically laid down, and cannot bo proved, (heat being merely a property or condition of matter.) DUW. 123 W, it an 1)0 Two facts remain, however, that with fow exceptions, it ia only on cahu ami clear evenings that dew is fonneh(!ric phononKfua we sco ami lioar, fog, min, tlumder, lightning, hiiil, snow and cluud fonniitions, show us that the cmidtitution of the atmosphere is coi»tinually changing. There- fore, to Hay the atmosphere is composed of two kinds of gases, in certain proportions as elements, and nothing else, is simply unseii'ntifie. llesearchea have been made in balloons, to discover whether the atmosphere decreases in density, and temperature, at any regular rate, but with no very successful results. (Juy Lus.^ac, a Frenchman, found the temperature at 22,000 fuet high, to be lfl°, while other balloonists found it 30", below zero ; thus showing thot the tcmperataro and composition of the higher atmosphere, varies in a like degree to that on the earth, and is subject to the different conditions and positions of its surround- ings, or the material with which it comes in contact. Wliat then is our atmosphere composed of 1 Wc have stated before, that every thing with life, or having a life action, has an atmosphere, consisting of emanations from itself. In life action, the plant or animal is continually tlirowing off waste material into the atmosphere, through its outer covering. This keeps around it an atmosphere of its own, peculiarities of which may geucnilly bo detected by the organ of smell. Thus we have the atmosphere of a rose, sweet brier, a horse, a cow, a rabbit, an African, or a Euroj)ean. 'I'ho atmosphere is tluis part and parcel of the body, and it would bo as impossible for animals to avoid, or cut off their shadows, as their emanations. The earth then is a vast body, having a life action. It is composed probably of hundreds of diflferont kinds of mineral and vegetiiblo atoms. These, by the action of water in the ^1 12C TIIK OlUfllN OP cnKATlOM, ^f Interior, uro coiitiriuvlly farming, diH*»lvii»j<, uivl roforining, into tlio iliffurunt Hubstrinoua found in nnturu'ri arcann, luul all tho tiiuo throwing olF gswoa, which llnd thtiir way through fissures in tho rock, through volcanoes, and in ()th*>r ways to tho surfaco of tho earth ; whoru tlu'y nguin taku uj) a position in tlio atniospliero acoonling to their dtiiHity. Tiio light mineral ga.so.s all ascend and take up a poHition in tho higher atmosphere, while th(5 vogiitable g.wea Ijcing mure douse, remain near tho surfaco. Just alsp as a man, or other animal, has a coating of hair on the skin, so is our earth bristled all over (except at high polar lutitmleb) with an edging of vegetation, which li thrown out on every side hy tho atomagnetic repellent force of nature, u<'ter being produced by the dissolving process of water, and elements, on tho surface. Thus thousands of varieties of trees and plants liavo boon, and are btsing, continuously i)roduced, each with a diflerent exhalation ; because composed in varying proportions of different vegetable and mineral materials ; consequently thousands of differing vegetable, as well as mineral, gases, mingle in our atmosphere. It will bo seen, therefore, that to define our atmosphere as composed only of two particular gases, is sheer nonsense. Enough it is for us to know, that as wo ourselves and every living thing, aro composed elementally of certain proportions of mineral and vegetable atoms, so tho atmosphere adapted for our use is also composed of certain proportions of the same : and,, as in overloading the stomach with ono descrip- tion of either vegetable or mineral food, wo bring on disease and death, so wherever there is an atmosphere with an excess of one gas or tho other, it is also a dangerous place for us to live in. We should therefore learn the nature, and actions, of tf tni ATMOSrnKflE AXt) .-^TonMs. 127 our IhoM WtkUltilkU, mill \)ii iiblo by what wo out nml drink, to adapt ouwelvcs to any cliiiiiito or atinosiiluTo. A great deal Ima bcun said in tlreso latter tliiya alxnit a sub' ntnnco alliignd to oxiot in tlu!atmoHii}i(>rc,iuid which is con.sidon'd bcnuiiciul tu health. In onlur to ahovr how litltu is known about it, and how those who writo about it contradict thuniHflvcB, and exposu thuir ignorance whilo endeavouring to define it» churacttr, wo give n few extracts from an article on " Ozouo " in tho Scientific AnuTican, Feb., 1874: "Ozone is generated by lightning flawiie.s 1" "Ozone i» oxygen in a ncgativehj electric Hf(lIy it is osscnthil to thn proMMW of iligo.stion ami iiJHiiniliilion, although wo cannot oxplain moro than u iovr of ittt actions." " If all tiio or^'unic I'lcnicnts of nutritit)n — tho flugh formers, and hout fivers, wurc prt!! >mUj(1 to an animal in ahundiuicc, in thu absence of tho« >ral HubstancuR, the animal would not only coaso to thrivi ^ui< all nutrition would bo impoHsibli'." "Our information on this subjiict is very meagre, and while wo rocogniso the imimrtance of these mineral ingredientij of food, uhemitita do not at present profess to explain thoir action." Wo dare say our readers, by this time, are able themselves to explain tho mystery to Prof. Playfair. "Wo have already saitl that all dissolving processes are caused by chemical action. Digestion is a similar action, and chicHy a reciprocation between the two classes of matter — mineral and vegetable. As our food then is principally vegetable, no motion will take placo in it unless it is accompanied with a quantity of mineral matter, when every individual atom is loosened and tho whole dissolves away. . In conclusion, wo need not bo troubled vith indigestion, or lack that " mysterious " ingredient, (jCMtric juice, if we take a proper quantity of mineral matter and drink a sufficiency of water with our food. It may account for the Scotch, as a people, being so little troubled with indigestion, that the food, especially of tho poorer classes, is mainly composed of oatraoal, salt fish, and cheeso — substances which, Professor Playfair ahows us, hate a large quantity of mineral matter in their composition. ClIAlTiai XXI. COAL. Puund to 1)0 of vegetable origin. — Prof. Ilogcrs on Coal. — Statement! fuiiity. — Unuoqunintcil with naturil law. — llogers' theory, — Grew in a Rwiiinp. — Sonkcd with mineral oilit. — Baked by tho carth'i internal fire. — A forest makes half an inch of coal. — A tree said to absorb carbon. — Incorrect. — Sir Henry Do la necho and hit calcu- lutioriH. — Fallacies about carbon. — IIow carbon and hydrogen came into tho coal. — Our theory of coal. — Prairies. — Charcoal in tho Beams. — Nova Scotia mines. — Inundations.- No internal firo. — No Baking. — Tho whole process one of petrifaction. — Coal inexhaus- tible. For a grant many years, this useful productiou of nature wiut very little understood. It was clii8.sod among tho ordinary minerals, and was supposed to have been made in a similar manner — "otit of nothing by fire." Geologists, liowcver, in pur- suing their researches some thirty years ago, found numbers of fossil leaves and stems among the coal ; and in tho shale (a stratified kind of rock always found in conneeti(m with coal) appeared a forest of fo.ssilized vegetation. Tho conclusion was then arrived at, that coal was of vegetable origin. After this had been discovered, numberle.s.s theories were thrown out regarding the way in which these C(;al fields were })roduced ; but we have not seen one that gives an altogether satisfactory solution of the problcim. M 140 TUB oniQIN or ORKATIOti. Prof. Tlogors in •• Ooo. calculated, that " if tho quantity of carbonic acid gaa which in lockitd up in linuiHtunu, and coal, wuru dist^ngagcd in a gaauoua form, the constitution of the nttnoHphuru would undorgo a change, of which tho firdt ofluct would Im), the extinction of life in all animak" If this i» correct, how ia it that tho work of coal mining Ih so healthy t Again, thu quantity of rarbou that is discngagod every day, in a large city where coal ia consumed, ought to bo so enormous that much injury should result from it ; yet wo hear of no evil effects. As the cool is being gradually consumed, the whole of the caibon which was once in the atmosphere, must eventually bo restored to it again, the earth every year, therefore, ought to bo becoming more and more unhealthy, till no animal will bo able to live : yet wo hear of no uppcaranccs to indicate such a change. Ijastly, carbon ia said to bo so injurious to man, that if ho breathes much of it he dies ; yet we are told tliat he lives on it, for all vegetables they say are mainly composed of it I That there is such a gaa as carbon, may be admitted, but that vegetation feeds on it, and ia mainly sustained by it from the atmosphere, is an impoaaibility. The only ncce-ssariesi demanded ore heat, good or suitable soil, and water ; what- ever carbon is found in the tree or plant, has been absorbed from the soil and water, and not from the atmosphere. The hydrogen in the coal we can account for also. Prof: Rogers says : — '* A passing allusion has been made to the absence of any mineral source for the material of the coal bedft 8 II ''f- ii I l'42f TIIR ORIOIN Of CREATION. This is a fact i)atcnt to every mineralist ; and tlicro is another fiurt disclosed bj chemistry, Miat totli the carbon, and the other main ingredient of coal, the hydrogen, could have come together from no sources but the earth's atmo.sphcre and water, mid only by the process of vegetable growth or plant life." This was written before hydrogen was generally known, or admitted to be mineral. One source of the mineral, therefore, was from water, but this could not have supplied the coal with the quantity found in it. Prof. Rogers himself gave the cause when he 8.'iid " mineral oils and juiceu soaked through the d«^cayed vegetation." Our view of coal formation is as follows, and we think it will bo found to tally with all the facts that havo been ascer- tained relating to the subject, and with true natural law. In the Western Prairies of America we have a vegetation coutinually growing, decaying, and growing again. During the time this has been progressing, an immense depth of vegetable soil has been deposited. It is probable that the material of many coal beds, though not of all, was lirst formed in this manner. Parts of trees are often found fossilized in the C3al, but they are all in an upright position, or rather at right angles to the strata of coal. Thit) shows that, comparatively speaking, the growth was of inferior vegetation, such as ferns, grasses, and bushes. They were i)robably more luxuriant, however, then than now ; and in order to account for the great depth of the ileposit, many fields by convulsions may be supposed to have doubled on themselves. In the strata of the Nova Scotian shale and coal fields, ai-e found seams containing charcoal ; showing where fires had run *>ver the prairies, just a& thoy do at the present time. As th? -mi. COAL. 1^3* the ave arc run Ith? earth nldo was in luoro violent action than now, occasional inundations took place, and sands, sediments, etc, woro depo- sited, in the position.^ in which wo now find them, between and over the coal bed.-a. Taking into account the vast thickness of many coal beds, and the vast quantity of vegetation that would be required to forte thorn, we are inclined to believe it possible that some may have been formed from deposits of vegetable aoil, or matter, independent of vegetable growth. The process which the material undergoes to form coal we will now state briefly. The first fallacy of Prof. Rogers is that there is any intemat I'ro at all, and this we prove in another chapter. The next is that vegetation, oven although soaked by mineral oil, could by ' any manner of baking whatever be converted into coal. AVo - assert that the whole process was merely one of petrifaction As the vegetable deposits were gradually covered over, they would be saturated with the mineral emanations, solutions, and gases, which are continually being formed in the interior of the earth, then, by the chemical action between the two substances, the vegetable matter would thus be thoroughly combined with the others. After a time this would merely harden or petrify into coal. Neither fire nor a baking operation, or pressure, were therefore required. It ri.'.y be asked, how is it, when the prairies are level, that seams of coal arc always found lying at an angle*? Because by the mineral gases and solutions petrifying the vegetable deposits, the escape into the atmos-- phere of other accumulating gases from below is stopped, and in consequence, a force is generated which causes an earthquakc.- This thvows the whole field into the position in which we usually find it. These positions allow a free escape of the over I 3- litl It, ^^'1 III n U4 taa oRioiN ok chbatiom^ accumulating gases through tin strata ; exarapleg of which may be 8oen at many mines, arising from the Hssiires in the strata ; and sometimes when the trap is covered with water, the ga« boils through it, and may bo collected and burned in the atmosphere. In conclusion, great fears have been entertained that the coal supply of the world will run out, but we believe, that like every other production of nature it is inexhaustible. Hy the tim« the present coal seams are worked out, fresh seams equally as good may generally be found in the same vicinity. Fresh deposits also are continually being discovered, and there is no doubt but that frt^oh fields are at the same time continually being formed^ CHAPTER XXII. HOW CORAL GROWS. Str»nge Chapter. — Coral insects unworthy of notice. — Misplaced eulogy.— Theories of Coral growth. — The insect monument and tomb. — Not found below thirty fathoms. — Coral found a mile and a half deep. — Coral on the Isthmus of Panama, not made by insects. — The Coral insect a parasite merely. — The cochineal. — How Cofol grows.— Millions feeding from one month. — Coral grows by budding.— Agassiz on Florida reefs, and argument against Darwin. —Darwin'i curious theories on Coral reefs. — Sir John Ilerschell. — How Coral commences to grow. — The true theory of reefs. — How a gap in a reef was filled, — Coral merely the homo of the insect. The title of this chapter may seem strange, as we have always been taught that Coral did not grow, but was designed and built by small insects. Many are the lessons IhaL have been drawn from their supposed industry, the sermons that have been preached on them, and the lectures in which eminent men have waxed eloquent upon them, but it is our painful duty to inform naturalists generally, that their eulogy is misplaced, iftiat coral insects are no more to be compared to bees, than sand is to sugar, and that they are as unworthy of notice as a common grub or fly. Coral is only found in equatorial latitudes. In the Pacific Ocean there are islands said to be entirely composed of it, and these appear to have been formed from the bottom to tho surface. 10 I & t' I iJKil I mi if m . \ 1 146 THB OniaiN OP CREATION*. On examining the substance, it was ob'^erved to bo covered with small iasocta, and scientific men, without much thought, or close research, at once assumed that they built the coral. Commencing at the bottom of the ocean, wo were told, those industrious insects struggled higher and higher from their vast lurid sea green depths, towards the light, until they reached the surface, when, with a devotion wcjrthy of a higher phase of being, they sealed the work with their own bodies, thus making it their tomb, as well as their monument. Later discoveries have proved this to be contmry to fact. Chambers Encyclopedia tells us it has been ascerttiined, that none of tho polypes^ or coral insects, live at depths of more than twenty or thirty fathoms ; and that most of them are inhabitants of much shallower water. As coral is found at mijch lower depths than this, the question arises — what formed it at tho bottom of tho ocean ? During the cruise of H. M. S. Challenger, a piece of coral was brought up from a depth of a mile and a half ; and in tho news- papers it was stated to be, unfortunately dead. If by this it was meant that no coral insects were found in it, then we havo evidence that our view of its formation is correct, — viz; by semi-mineral growth. Every one has probably seen coral. It is generally in tho form of a tree, with branches ; or it is of a circular form, like a sponge, with the appearance of having all sprung from a centre. On the Isthmus of Panama we saw a large solid piece thai looked like the trunk of a tree, and on breaking it, we found the formation to radiate from an innuTuerable series of centres, the whole filled up with an interlacing of stars. Tho construc- tion was such that it could not havo been built by insects, for tiOW CORAL GROWS. U7 Ihe openiugs Avcro bo small that thoy would scarcely allow the point of a needlo to cuter, fur less a polyp to live and grow there ; and it aflbnled in our view, the most hoautiful exhibition of mineral growth that could possibly bo scon. Tho f rms of the centres resembled the figures of snow flakes, — which is another form of mineral growth, or crystallization, — only they were on a much smaller scale. On being broken, tho coral split in vertical layers, and showed tho star cavities to continue in long unbroken linos from tho top to the bottom of the piece. The only sign of life about it was a number of worm holes circling through it made by the borer. Coral is only a form of mineral growth, and it as surely grows in equatorial waters by natural law, as a tree grows on tho surface of tho ground. Tho coral insect is merely a parasite of the coral, just as the cochineal is a parosito of the cactus ; end it would be as correct to say, that the one formed tho plant, as that the other formed the coral. We have already explained how the lead tree is grown by suspending a piece of zinc in a solution of sugar of lead, — th^s formation and growth of the coral is by a similar process. Coral is composed of material having all tho properties of vegetable matter. In the eqtiatoTial latitudes, vegetable mate- rial is most abundant ; the waters, therefore, mrfst also be largely permeated with similar matter. This agrees with the popular theorj', fot it is -acknowledged that the material for producing tho coral is in the water, and that it is taken from thence by the insect, :and laid with mathematical precision and ■artistic taste on the fabric. But if we can show how the 'material may be drawn together without any animal aid what- l^ 148 TUD ORIOIN or CREATIOK. ever, we deal a deatli Wow to anntlier of thoBO scnsationalistrfff of Hcionco, which aro so destnictive to the arciiiiremont of a correct knowledge of the powor and functions of natunil law. Various particles of animal and vcgctahlo matter, in the nature of coral elements, settle on a rock or sea hottoni. As their numbers increase, they acquire a greater magneticr influence, and attract other particles. But, as atoms, they have the repelling powor of the magnet, and like to cither the philosopher's tree, or the natural one, they throw out roots on the rock, or sea bottom, and branches in the ocean ; looking almost exactly like a leafless tree in winter. The shape, sizo^ and colour, of the fonnation, is naturally guided by the condi- tion, quantity and quality of the surrounding materials. All coral does not contain insects, and while some, from its coarse nature, may provide convenient abodes for a species of animate jelly, yet, oven supposing that this jelly is as high in the intel- lectual scale as the oyster — which it is admitted not to be — it has no more the power of design, the gift of aspiration, the longing for the light and the glories of the sun.shine, than the barnacle, or a piece of seaweed ; and no more influence in det-ar- mining the size, shape, colour and extent of its ctAal homo;^ than a mouse has over the castlo it dwells in. Compare with this view what the late lamented Agassiz gaid about polypes in his Cambridge Lectures, in 1873: — — " Here then are animals remaining united by the lower parta of their body, but having distinct heads, and distinct internal cavities, yet in which the juices elaborated by digestion in one individual feed the common stock. This may go on till hundreds of thousands, nay millions, of individuals share the result of functions of life and digestion, performed only by a HOW CORAL GROWS. U9 iPp N ccrtiun limited number of the community." Fancy milliona of fltoiimchs fed from one moutli. Agnssiz again asserts that • some species of coral grows hy budding. Tliis ought to have been a capital argument against insect formation, but he fails to see it, and moreover states : — ** liotiinists never look upon a tree as a simple individual, but an aggregate of individuals growing upon the same foun(Uition, and remaining attached to the parent stock." If assertions like these are good for anything, there is no saying where they might end, for a man may, with as much reason, be said to be composed of an aggregate of individuals also. Agassiz founds a curious argument with coral insects, against Darwin's development of species, which is worth noting. In tracing the formation and growth of coral reefs in Florida, ho has shown that eight thousiind years are required to raise one of these reefs, or walls, from its foundation to the surface of the ocean, and as there are four wall reefs round the southern extremity of Florida, the first of these must be thirty thousand years old ; " and yet all of them arc built by the same identical species." " These facts then," says ho, " furnish as direi;t evidence as we can obtain in any branch of physical inquiry, that some at least of the species of animals now exist- ing, have been living over thirty thousand years, and have not undergone the slightest change during the whole of that period." But as we have shown the insects cannot make these reefs, or anything else, Darwin is eafe enough yet, as far as that argument is concerned. Darwin himself, has some curious theories regarding coral insects, and their work, from which he draws conclusion* :ii' i ii!i 150 THB ORIGIN OF CREATION. moro illogiciil than any Agussiz hus given. Many of the conil islands arc surrouudfid by a roi'f, a short distance from thu Hhoro, and deep wattr exists Letwcen them. ])arwiu •ays these ishinda wcro originally connected witli the reef outside, but as the islands are continually sinJiirnj, they carried down with thorn tho coral fringing it. "While therefore tho fringo was carried down, tho reef was always bronght up to thd surface, by tho aforesaid industrious insects. Why tho insects only worked on tho reef, and not on tho fiingo, is unexplained by Dr. Darwin. Moreover, tho depths of the vacant spac(!8 are 80 great, that if it were true the islands were sinking, and liad continued to sink along with tho fringe, they must havo gone out of sight long ago. In connection with th'" Sir John ITerschell says in his Essay on Volcanoes: — "Dr. Darwin has shown by the most curious and convincing proofs, that the Toral Islands are sinking, and have been sinking for ages, and are only kcjit above water — by what think youl By the labours of the coral insect which aljvays builds up to the surface.'* If wo only examine tho statement for a moment, we will find the arguments are certainly curious, but scarcely convincing. Sujipose the island to sink twelve inches, the insects cannot all assemble below tho island, and raise it up again the sj)aco of that foot. Neither can they invade the island and form coral all over its surface, a foot high. The only thing they could do, would be to work all around the sJiore, and bring it up a foot high. If this had been going on for ages, an immense high wall would be formed all around the shore, and on looking over it wo would see a beautiful island, a hundred feet or so below us, looking like a fairy world with luxuriant groves of cocoa- now CORAL GROWS. 151 nut and palm trcoa. Such romanti(5 scenes, howovor, nro not for this world, and tho plain dull truth is simply tluH, that the Islands arc not sinking, that th(! reefs do not ruquiru to be brought up to tho surface, and that, not only arc tho iusocts not rfMHiirtMl, hut they are ako as incapable of tho herculean task which tlio Doctor assigns to tlitm, as a starfiah or a sponge. We Qisert that tho reefs never were connected with the islands, hut tliat tliey are formed in a similar manner to the Lars at tho mouths of rivers or harbours, or the sand bars of iHliuds on tiio North American coast — such as those of Sable Island — which are formed whore the wash, and tho undertow from tho shore, meet. To explain more fully. Tho bottom of the sea is composed of material and formations similar to tho surface of the dry land. Both have their valleys, rocks, hills, and moun- tains. The higher mountains which rise above the level gf the sea must form islands ; such as St. Helena, St. Thomas, the Azores, the IJcrmudas, and Sable Island. What are called coral islands then, are no more formed wholly of coral, than any of the othow. Tho parts formed of coral are probably oidy tho reef on, and outsiMc of them. Comparative quiet is needed for mineral formations, therefore the fringes could not form on shore, as the surf by continually daslung on it, caused too much disturbance. But where tho wash and undertow met, there would be an aocumulation of the necessary material, and all the tranquility that is requisite. Thus wo account for the reel outside the island, and once that reef is properly fdled in solid, sufficient to intercept tho inrol- ling sea, another reef by the same action of wash and undertow ■ ■ \i It 11! I ' til III I-.: 'I 109 TnK oniaiN of creatiom. will Ito formed })cyond, or outsiilo of it ; and so on indefinitely. Chambers Enri/eJopnilia gives an instance of this outer reef having heen hrnkon tlirough to allow a vessel to puss out, and says tho gap was filled up again in JJ/tecn yearn, by these industrious insects. This incident is introduced to show the rapidity with which they work. But if wo are to attrihute this work to them, wo must also heliovo them endowed with con- siderable atlniinistmtive and governing powers. Orders must have been issued to all parts of tho reef, for tho nsscniljiing of an arn)y to repair tho damages ; and work in other places must have been delayed in order to finish this groat undertaking. "We should rather think that thoy would have been annoyed with tho destruction, and left tho gap alone. If wo could find any such gap abandoned, or not filled up again, then we would admit uur theory wrong, for the law of nature in repairing tho breach could not be stop[)ed. In conclusion, every production of nature capable of sustain- ing life has a parasite peculiar to it, and the coral insect is merely one of these parasites making its homo in or about tho coral, and feeding on tho congenial water around it. i CnAPTER XXIII. VOLCANOES AND EARTHQUAKES. Another popular fallacy. — The earth's internal fire. — Dr. M.iyer'8 theory. Dr. TyniliiU oppoHcd to It. — Dr. Mayer's dogged assertion. — Selfish* ncBS of men of science. — Ilerschcll on Volcnnoes. — Nineveh and Carthage. — The earth and an egg.— Objection toIIcrscheU's theory. —Explanation of Volcanoes. — Why Volcanoes become extinct- Coal gas. — Mount St. Helena and Sul])hur Springs. — Prof. Mallet on Water and Volcanoes. — Cauee of Earthquakes. — Prevention of Ear4h(|uake8. — Oil boring in Pennsylvania. — Herscheirs extraordin- ary theefry of Earthquakes. — What ho knew of chemical action in the interior. — The necessity fur scientific men not taking anything for granted. In tliis chapter wo deal with a popular fallacy advocated by sciertific men for many years past ; hut which has notliing to support it, save their own assertions. This theory is, that the interior of the earth is a mass of molten firo, where everything is reduced to a state of " igneous fluid ;" and the crust wo live on is r aly about twenty or thirty miles thick — so that taking the size of the earth into account — the solid substanco we arc sup- ported on, is not so thick, by comparison, as the shell of an egg, to the matter within it. Then when we fancy that the interior is bubbling and boiling all the time, the wonder is that we have not exploded long ago ; or that the Himalayas, the Alps, it. ■it % ^ ^ /} /: 4V^ ? IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 If 1^ illli •^ '^ 1111 I.I 1^ 2.0 1.25 111= U i 1.6 // 4t. .^' -fe #/ %^ x'/ '^. ^ 1^ O \ 1 '■■f'] ha i^",] J I ..if! 154 THE ORiaiN OP CREATION. or the Andes, havo not ftillcu through, and added fuel to the flame. The theory as expounded l)y Dr. Mayer in his Celestial Dynamics, is as follows : — " Several facts indicate that our earth was once a fiery liquid mass, which has since cooled gradually, down to a comparatively inconsiderable depth from the surface, to its present temperature. The first proof of this is the form of the earth. According to the most careful measurements, the flattening at the poles is exactly such as a liquid mass rotating on its axis with the velocity the earth would possess ; from this we may conclude that the earth at the time it received its rotary motion was in a liquid state." Scientilic men will however differ, and we find that Dr. Tyndall does not coincide with this theory. In a note to his hook on Heat wo find the following : — '* Prof. Wm. Thomson has recently raised a point which deserves the grave considera- ation of theoretic geologists. Supposing the constituents of the earth's crust to contract on solidifying, as the experiments thus far made indicate, a breaking in, and a sinking of the crust would assuredly follow its formation. Under these circumstances, it is extremely difficult to conceive that a solid shell should be formed — as is generally assumed — round a liquid nucleus." Dr. Mayer's theory is however strongly supported by Sir John Herschell, Dr. Lardner, and others. Dr. Mayer proceeding with his theory, says : — " The cooling of the earth must have shortened the length of the day " — as the earth would contract as it solidified, and the contraction would make it revolve quicker on its axis. But Laplace has shown that in twenty-five centuries — the time in which our earth revolves on its axis — it has not altered one five hundreth EX VOLCANOES. 155 -as tion Ihas iirth part of a sexageshual sccoiul. Tins puzzles Mayer, but he very doggodly asstn-ta, that if they give up the theory of an internal fire — they then deprive tliomselves of any teuuLle exi)lanation of volcanic activity. This result how- ever remains to be .seen. The assertion of Mayer is of a piece with most of the scientific dogmas of later days, for when facts will not coincide with theories, the ambitious philosophers yet cling to their statements, and by perpetually driving them into people's ears, endeavour to stifle the attempts of others to arrive at the truth. It is to be deplored, that there is displayed among scientific men more of a selfish desire to have their namea mentioned in connection with some secondary, and compara- tively unimportant pet theory, than is consistent with a true ambition to promote the interests ol science. Sir John Ilerschcll says, in an article on Volcanoes and Earthquali-es, Good Words, 18G3, that they are : — " Un- avoidable (I had almost said necessary) incidents in a vast system of action, to which we owe the very ground we stand on ; without which neither man, beast, nor bird, would have a place for their existence, and the world would be the habitation of nothing but fishes." The reason he assigns for this is, that the land being every day washed by the tides and rivers, is having vast quantities of its material gathered and deposited in the ocean ; and this is so constant and universal, that if there were no counter action by earthquakes to raise the land, the earth would be one vast ocean ! That earthquakes raise vast tracts of country occasionally, we admit, but that they have the influence which Ilerschell attributes to them, we deny. Volcanoes and earthquakes according to the popular theory, are thus caused by the central heat of the eartli. Ilerschell W t ;■ i I ■ t'iH:!; ■;(!;: f it W:^ i-th li.'i wi jii I 15G THE ORIGIN OP CREATION. attempts to prove this 8upi)ositioa on different grounds, from JVLiyer, "by saying that wlien wo descend into the earth, the atmosphere hecomes gradually hotter, till — sui)[)o.sing the rate of increase to continue the same — at twenty or tliirty miles the crust of the earth would he found red hot. Thus the English commissioners have fixed four thousand feet us th« limit for the depth of the coal mines. The health of the colliers, it is supposed, would suffer, should the hope of gain induce mine owners to sink their shafts below that depth. The objections to this theory are very numerous, although the number of hot springs, and volcanoes and earthquakes, woidd seem to sup])ort it. The main objection is, that Herschell and others have calculated the heat of the interior, from the surface inwards ; they have never calculated what the effect would be on the surface of the earth, from the amount of heat they soy is inside of it. If an egg shell and the meat within it, is a correct illustration of the relative thickness of the crust of the earth to the molten matter within, then we wonder how hot the egg shell would be, if the contents were only boiling hot. Any calculation at all would show us, that if our crust was only twenty miles thick, the heat would be so intense on the surface, that, far from the world being only inhabited by fishes, our oceans would be dry, our river beds empty, and neither man, beast, fish, or plant, could have any existence whatever. The whole theory is such an untenable one, and so much out of harmony with natural law, that it only remains for us to give a feasible explanation of the cause of volcanoes and earth- quakes, to have it rejected altogether. Firstly, then, with regard to Volcanoes. They are mountains, from the tops of which issue — when in IS egg Any on riace, our iither Lever. Inuch Ins to tartb- VOTX'AKOES. 157 an m ictlvity — smoke, flame, ashes, and lava ; and hence it has heen argued that if ftro issues from the crater, there must be fire inside, This, however, need not of necessity follow. The whole phen-' omena connected with both volcanoes and eartlnj^iiiikea, are caused by chemical action. The intense flame witnessed at tho moutli of a volcano, is caused by the ignition of the vast volumes of gases which are issuing from it. Tlie flame does not extend inside the mountain, for it is subject to the same condi^ tions as our coal gas is. When we light the gas in oUr rooms wo have flame, but it does not extend inside the pipe or burner j in fact there is a space outside, between the burner and the flame, that will not ignite. This is oAving to the fact, that until a sufficient quantity of oxygen is combined with the hydrogen^ there can bo no combustion or flame. If we could introduce coal gas into a vessel containing other mineral gases, we could not light it. In a similar manner, there can be no flalliG in the interior of the mountain, for there is not sufficient oxygen inside to induce a combustion. Under the surface of the mountain, in the interior of the earth, there are immense stores of mineral materials, such as sulphur, nitre, salt, iron, etc., saturated with water, which chemically act upon each other. By this action, they are continually dissolving, reforming and generating gases, till they accumulate in such quantities that they cannot be confined; they then burst with terrific force, combine with the oxygen of the atmosphere, and igniting, burn until the explosive and combustible gases are exhausted. The dissolving and reforming action with water may then con- tinue, and fresh outbursts may occur until the whole material is changed, then the volcano becomes extinct. Thus we I I !56 THE ORIdlN Ot CRRATlOi*, ,f'- P\ find nuinhcrloas extinct volc.auoca all over the f;loho, a resuU which would never ensue, wore they — as wo are told — funnels or chimneys for the molten fires witliin. A good illustration of this exists iu California, where Mount St. Helena, be* foro mentioned, being once an active volcano, has long been silent, l)ut the evidences of its violent action are to bo seen in tho wonderful Petrified Forest, while the remains of its oilco extensive stores of gas producing matter, noAv burn away in insignificant puffs in the Great Geysers, and tho Hot Sulphur Springs ; tho whole phenomena suggesting tho picture of tho charred and dying embers of an extensive conflagration. Tho lava and burnt earth found at the " crop " of the coal at the Albion Mines in Nova Scotia, show the site, where the gas generated from the action of water in the mine, at one timo formed a volcano-. To show that wo are not altogether alone in our statements regarding the cause of volcanoes, we may state that Prof. Mallet of England also maintains, that there are no volcanoes without tho action of water. EARTHQUAKES* Earthquakes are caused similarly to volcanoes. The interior of the earth, as we have said, is saturated witli water, and forms a grand magnetic battery, continuously in action, dissolving and reforming its mineral matter— whicb action produces tht mineral gas wo have so frequently refetred to — and throws it ofi through the strata of rock, principally from the poles of the earth, and mountain tops as poles. But where this gas is confined, it accumulates, and finally generates a force sufii-' cient to produce an earthquake, and to rend portions of the earth asunder* ■(r- fiARTHQlfAKES. 159 Snteriot i\ forms |ing and kes th« llTOWS it of tha gas ia 36 sufii' he eartn. If Arli!.siau wolls woro torcil to a .ifTicient doplh in tlioso places that uro sulyoct to earth(|tiiikes, wo arc iiioliiiod to bcliove that then! mi^fht result a comparativo imiminity from them, for thoso gases which are dangerous might thus bo provided with a Vei\t to pass olf without accumuLiting. Volcanoes which arc always smoking seldom break out witb great fur}'. The danger lies in the apertures closing u]) for long periods, and thus preventing th'j escape of accumulating gases. Souio suggestive illnstrations of tlic force of these gases in the earth, occurred while boring for oil in Pennsylvania. In many instances, after boring for a few hundred feet, a cavity would be tapped containing gas, oil and water, and the pressure on it had been so great, that the boring machinery and everything connected with it, were blown to a great height above the surface. Thus compressed gases were telievod, which in time might have generated an earthquake. Sir John Ilcrscholl has an cxtraorilinary theory regarding earthquakes. It is to the effect, that the continual washing away of the land into the sea causes some parts of the earth to become top heavy, and then they fall, making a crack through which the molten fluid escapes. Notwithstanding all these sttange doctrines, llerschell was quite conversant with the chemical action going on in the in- terior, and with the force of accumulated gases, yet ho evidently refused to accept the natural deductions from these truths, and would rather propound a aensational explanation than a simple ono. He says : — " There is no doubt that among the minerals of the subterranean world, there i.s water in abundance, and sulphur, and other vaporizable substances, all kept subdued) i» mi r • f 160 inn onwiy of orbatiok. uud roprcssc'J, hy tlio enorinous jjressure." ** But lot tho pressure bo roliovcd, and they make their way to tho surface, expanding na they rise, till they burst in groat power." This admission shows how necessary it is for every man of science to beware of taking any doctrine for granted, unless they have sifted it in every particular, and made it stand tho test of their own observations, exi)erimeuts, and calculations ; for it is evident that had llerscholl allowed his own common sense to guiilo him, ho would probably have discovered, and caused to bo afleopted long ago, the true explanation of voleanoea and earth- qiiakes. I ^ ICltAPTER XXIV. THE TIDES. The regularity of the Tides. — Tho influence of the new and full moon on the Tides. — There must be one grand cnusc of the Tides. — This is pressure, not attraction.— *Causo of variation in the Tides by tho position of the moon. — Formation of the Land. — Winds. — Lardner's theory of tho Tides. — Its fallacy shewn. — Tho earth ought to bo approaching the moon.— 'Facts to bo remembered. — The Plane ot tho Ecliptic. — Tho effect of pressure on the atmosphere. — The Tides caused by pressure in passing tho Plane of tho Ecliptic, — Tho moon's atmosphere. — The Tide in the Mediterranean. — The Bay of Fundy Tides seventy feet high. — Ram Pasture. — Rise of two feet in three miles.— T!ie repelling forces control tho Tides. Tub cause of tho tides is an interesting suLject of enquiry, ftnd yet there are few who attempt to explain it. The periods of the tides are so regular, that they may be determined for months, or oven years, before their recurrence j yet again they are never «o regular that it can be said the waters will rise to such a point, and no higher. The rise and fall of the tides are the same at scarcely any two places. In the Mediterranean the rise is only about one foot, whereas in the Bay of Fundy, it is sixty or seventy feet When the moon -is at the new and the full, the tides are Unusually high. When a storm also is blowing on the coast from the ocean, -the tide in the harbours exposed to it, is elevated soVeral feet higher than usualv 11 f 1G2 Tirs oniGiN ov cnRxtroN'. I lil ^m. "NVe glcnn from tlio nhovo fiictrt, tlitit while there must bo one grand rcj^ulur cauao of tides, tlu!ro aro several peculiar influences to wliidi they are subject, and whicli cauao thcin to vary in ditltTent localities, and at dill'erent seasons. This j^'rand cause wo l)elievo to be induceil by ])rcngiti'c. The variations to whi(!h they are liable are produced : — Firstly, by the position of the new and full moon — secondly, by the for- mation of the sea coast — thirdly, by pressure of winds. Before explainin;^' our views, let us review the old estab- lished theory and show that the grounds for accepting it are not conclusive. In consulting Various authorities, wo find that aftnicfion is given as tho cause of the tides, and that it is the sun and moon which are tho reputed possessors of the influence. In Dr. Lardner's Science and Art wo find an explanation to tho following cflect, of the two tides a day, one on either side of tho earth at tho same time :— 'Let us, for instance, imagine a diagram of tho earth, "with tho four cardinal points marked on it. If tho moon is directly above the north point, Lardner says, tho waters will bo heaped up there by tho moon's attrac- tion, while on the east and west sides there will bo low tides. But as the moon could not attract the waters on tho south end alfo, the high tide there is caused by the earth being drawn in from tho water. A more extraordinary theory has seldom gained ground, and we wonder how it was ever accepted, for it will not bear even the slightest examination. In tho first place, how the moon being the smaller body, coid'd attract the eartli the larger body, is a mystery ; for according to all rules of attraction or gravitation the greater always influences- tbe less* Secondly, the same rule n i TlIK TIDKS. 103 on I net trac- Ides. 1 end in in land" tho- jing is a Ition Irulc njililicH to the (question, why dovn the huh, tl»t^ hirgor body, not exLTc.iso a groatt-r uttnictivo intUu'noo over tho tides, than tho moon? Thirdly and lastly, If tho moon draws tlio earth ill, or till! earth "rt'cudcs" from tho water iit tho hide mure distant f'nmi tho moon, it follows, that as tho tides aro rising and falling continuously from ono part of tho gloho to another, tho earth is gradmdly receding from tho water hour by hour, and acconlingly ought to bo apjjroaching nearer and nearer to the moon every day. This liowever is not tho case, and would bo indignantly denied even by Lardner himself ; but it is the only logical conclusion to which his theory leads. Having thus shown that tho tides aro not caused by attrac- tion, wo now explain how, according to our views of tho law of luiture, they aro caused by jircKmtrc. In order to understand the assertions clearly, tho following facts should bo well kept in remembrance, viz.: That tho moon has an influence on the tiles. That tho highest tides occur when the sun and moon are on tho same side, or ono on either side of tho earth. That high tides follow the meridian by two or throe hours, and in many places by ten or twelve hours, according to their position on the coast. That tho wliolo rise of the tide is, on an average, only a height of four or five feet. And that while tho earth moves from west to east, the tides go from east to west. Ptecalling our arrangement of the solar system expounded in previous chapters, we have a number of jdanets revolving round the central planet, the sun. The planets all revolve on one level, called tho Plane of the Ecliptic. Each planet has an atmosphere that extends till it meets the atmosphere of the planet next it. We know also this fact in connection wuth oui* atmosphere, that 11^' il:::M;i • 'I hi ' I \ f 1 '! ! "I ■' 1 : 1 ! ■' ; .,in |, wH! ' t ilii) fi tl 164 TIIK OUIGIN OF CRKATION. if it is pressed by currents of wind, it in turn i)rcas(;s wliatevcf is oj)|)oscd to it. On water, therefore, wo find tlint wind storms will sometimes miso tho tide two ur three feet liigher than usual. If our atmosphere, consequently, is pn^sscd from without, — that is, by any othiT atmosphere — tho oceans are impelled to show evidence of such pressure by their rise and full. It will bo observed, then, that as tho earth revolves on its "axis," its atmosphere must be pressed by tho atmospheres of the other planet.4 whenever it crosses tho Piano of tlio Ecliptic, as they are jnore confined at that point than any other. As tho earth revolves onco on its axis daily, tho whole of the globe's surface must bo exposed twice to tho pressure of tho other ijlanets' atmospheres on the Plane of the J'^cliptic. "We have two tides daily. What is tho natural inference to bo drawn from these facts 1 Nothing lettn than that the pressure of other atmospheres on the atmosphere of the earth, as it crosses the Plane of the Ecliptic, caus",s the tides. But it will bo ai^gued that wo mako nothing of tho influence of tho moon, which undoubtedly has some action on tho tides. We admit the fact of that influence but its effect is apparent only when the moon is at tho new or the full, Tho tides are then much higher than usual , and this arises, in a similar way, by tho moon crossing tho Plane of the Ecliptic, and adding the pressure of its own body and atmosphere to tho influence which is felt there already. Although it is denied tliat the moon has an atmosphere, such a condition would not be in accordance with the existence of any other known body, and according to atomagnetic or natural law it could not exist without one. It may be asked, l>.ow do we account for the tide following the meridian ] The attraction theory explains it, on the ground TlIK TIDES. 16fi of I. -3. 3Ut I are [ay, [nco loon Ince to md that iMrt'nK kc^ps tlio mass of water from imnuMliatcly rising, and oLoyin;^ tlm attnu^tion of tho iiiDon. AVo may also answor that inertia provcntn it from yii'ldin;.^ at onco to tho pressuro of the atmosphcro ; and that just w, tho ocoan billows aro largest when tho tcmpi'st has nearly blown itsolf out, so the tide wave is liighest aftcsr tho prossuro in over. In anawtT to the query — "What makes tlio tide vary so much in diderent localities] W(> answer, that this is all due to tho formati»m of the land at the points of contact with tho sea, or its position M'ith regard to prevailing winds. The reason that thero is scarcely any tide observed in the ^[editerranean, is owing to tho winds l)lowing three fourths of the year into tlio bay at the mouth of tho Straits of Gibraltar. This causes a strong current to (low througli the Straits into the Mediterranean, and as tho waters are thus raised higher than the genorjxl sea level of tho Atlantic, and havo no other outlet, they flow back again to tho Atlantic l)y an undercurrent. This wo proved by experiment in tho year 1830, on board tho brig Clarence, Jolin U. Koss, master. In tho Bay of Fundy, which is a long straight bay, with a very wide entrance, tapering to a narrow point like a funnel, there is a higher tide than at any other place in the world. This is caused by the tidal wave striking the shore, and running along tho Xorth Atlantic coast into the wide mouthed bay, and, as the funnel is continually narrowing, the waters aro pressed far above the sea level, because they cannot fall back owing to tho heavy pressure of tho currents behind urging them on. Tides of sixty and seventy feet thus occur daily at tho head of the Bay. In Cumberland Basin, at the head of tho Bay of Fundy, near Sackville, Tjcw Brunswick, tho tide flows up Tantamar river, I ^ ^lil f; : 106 TiiR oriim.v or ciimation. < 'i. f* ' ; *» and round n pcMiiiisulu cidlctl Kam PaHtiirc 'i'liis pciiinsuliv is only connected l)y a narrow ncc^k of hmd fifty yards wide, and is three miloa in circunifcnaK't! fntiii n(!(;k to nci'k. Tliis neck in very flat and level. Wlicii, llicrcron', the tide iti risiii;.' has encircled the peninsula, th(! waters How Itaek over tlm n.-ck intcj tho river again, /a///».7 info if a (liHfiiiirn of firn fcrf. Tliu.s sliowing that in three miles the water has risen a height of two feet. It will bo evident, therofoni, that groat inaccuracies must prevail from similar causes in certain parts of tho M'orld, regard- ing tho height of rising ground al)f»ve the general sea level. In conclusion, while wo have great faitii in ilic mutually attractive forces of nature, we have; no reason to helieve, that they cause tho tides, hut rather that the influence exerted over them arises from their counterpart, tho repelling forces of nature, which have hero solo control. ClIAFrKlJ XXV. i TIIR GULF STREAM AND DEEP SEA CURRENTS. The cause of the Gulf Stream. — Dr. Carpenter's theory. — Oceanic Circulation. — Experiment with fjlass trouj^h. — No Comparison. — Strength of Polar CurrentH. — Channel lietwecn Faroe Islands and Shetland. — Dr. Wyville Thomson differs from Dr. Carpenter. — Reciprocal circulation of Water and Air. — Beautiful theory of Atmos])heric Circulation overlooked by Dr. Carpenter. — What causes the cold deep waters. After ]mu'^ one of the wondfTS of tho world for a long timo, and u iii3'.sU!iy wdiicU mcu of .scicncie in vain tried to unravid, wo liavo now come to regard the (Iiilf stream as a phenomenon V(!ry easily explained by tlio variou.s natural cause.s wliicli give it birth. Tho trade wind.s, whieli blow aliuo.st constantly from Ea.st to A\'"e.st, pres.s and force tho waters of the Atlantic into the Gulf of Mexico, and these along with tlin rivers running into the ■ Gulf, raise tho waters higher than the general sea level of tho Atlantic. As the narrow Strait of Florida is the oidy free outlet from the Gulf, a rapid and permanent motion is given to tho wnt'ji, whicli it maintains, in a greater or less degree, for hundreds of miles j and thus the Gulf Stream is established and kept moving. Dr. Carpenter while describing the cause of the Gulf stream in a somewhat similar manner, .sees in it only a particular instance i.iii; 168 THE ORIGIN OF CRKATWIT. ' , :L of what is constantly ocoiirring all over tho Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Ho has a theory of a general oceanic circula- tion which he is endeavouring to have accepted as an established doctrine of science, viz. : That there is a continuous under- current of cold water throughout the oceans, Irom the Poles to the Equator, and a surface current of warm water from tho Equator back again ; thereby equalizing tho temperature all over tho world, and bringing every part of the waters to tho surface, to purify and make it fit for the preservation of animal life in the deepest sea beds. Ho has made his observations from a series of deep sea soundings, in which he has found that the sea bottom, even at the depth of two and tlu'ce miles, has averaged thirty degrees by Farenheit's Thermometer. His opinion is, therefore, that tho water could not be so cold unless it came from the Polar regions, inasmuch as cold water always falls to the bottom, while warm water floats on tiie surface. In order to. illustrate his assertions he makes an experiment with a glass trough, six feet long, one foot deep, and one inch wide. This is filled with water. At the surfase of one end ho fixes a piece of ice, to represent the i^ole, and at the other he applies a bar of heated metal, for the equator. Dropping some blue colouring matter into tlie polar end, and some red at tho equator^ a circulation is at once seen to be established. The cold blue water sinks, then creeps along the bottom till it reaches the heated end, is there warmed, rises to the surface, and returns to the pole again ; while the reddened water flows along the surface to the pole, sinks and returns just as it is expected to do. But this is not a fiiir illustration, because what would occur in six feet of water, would not well apply to a distaucQ of THE GULF STREAM AND DEEP SEA CURRENTS. 1C9 no it u led lid \oi three or four thousand milos — the experiment is not a compara- tive one. The ice and the heated iron ahnost touch ono anotlicr, wliereas in the ocean there arc tliousands of miles of water of a medium temperature. If the trough wero a mile long, by the same 'L-pth and height, it would afford a hetter comi)arison, 9;id, of course, it is easy to conjecture that the two temperatures would never meet to form a current. This polar current Dr. Carpenter says is so strong, that in many places it has rounded the stones at the bottom of the sea, as in a channel between the Faroe Islands and Shetland. But it only requires one to reflect how much force is necessary to roll stones over ono another in order to round them, to be convinced that this explanation of their form is not the con-ect one. Be- sides, at another place he says the motion is only a creeping one. Dr. Wyville Thomson, one of Dr. Carpenter's eolloagues in Deep Sea Explorations, says in his late book on the Depths of the Sea, that ho difl'ers from him in his theory of oceanic circulation, and does not think tliat the facts he lias given warrant him in arriving at the conclusions he draws from them. Moreover, it is not a matter of necessity that there should be such an oceanic circulation. It is enough for the purpose of keeping the water pure, and preventing stagnation, that there is a continuous reciprocal or chemical atomic action betAveen the upper and lower strata of water, throughout the whole body of it. This we believe to be the true producer of the oceanic circulation, for its action is not confined to the ocean, but per- vades the whole system of our planet. For instance, water percolates to the interior of the earth, and by its chemical action, dissolves minerals and produces gases which fmd their III j l 170 THE OniQIX OP CIIRATIOX. way to the surface; thoro they meet other gases, which, l)y com- bining form fog, nlouds, rain or snow, that descends as Avat»r, and percolates Lack agniu. On the surface of the earth veg(;tation 13 forced out, os from a centre, by the magnetic force of tho escaping mineral gas, and this again exhaling a vegetable gas into the lower atmos[)here, reciprocates witli the rising mineral gases and forms dew, or cloud and rain. Or, let us take for consideration the bottom of the ocean. Tho mineral gases from the interior of the earth are forced into tho water, and thence through the whole mass of it ; thus the warm vegetable atoms which are at tho surface, left from evaporation and from rivers running into it, arc reciprocated with, or neutralized and purified. The surface of tho water, again, reciprocates by evaporation with tho lower atmosphere, and that again with the higher, thus forming, as said before, rain, and cloud etc. Throughout tho whole extent of our planet, therefore, from the interior of its solid body to the utmost verge of the atmosphere (for wo show that meteors are caused by reciprocation also) there is a continuous action over taking place, forming, dissolving, and re-forming, and keeping up a universal reciprocal circulation which prevents stagnation of any kind. For any one to suppose that nature works in the slow foshion of causing all the impure water distributed over the surface of the ocean, to creep to the Poles before it can be purified again, is egregious folly ; for it is evident on the face of it that such is not the case. To bring the matter homo, does Dr. Carpenter really mean to say, that if wo pour a pail full of slops into tho sea, it will require to float onward to the Arctic Pole before it can be changed ? AVe should certainly say not, for in the slops and in tho salt water, are the two different classes of atoms, THE GULP STREAM AND DEEP SEA CURREN'TS. 171 »l"g lion and by each attructing its lik<>, they noutrali/c each other; this process, as wo have said, is contimially proceudiii;^' all over the surface, and throughout the whole body of tlie o(?ean.s. To press the question still further, tho atmosphere is also being chargi'd ciuitinually with all sorts of gaseous impurities induced by the beat of tlui sun, and given out by i)Iants and animals. Does Dr. Carpenter mean to affirm that we must wait for a storm to blow them away, or must they also tnivel to tho I'oles to be purilicjd. I.i either case a i)lague would probably result before we could 1x3 relieved by these modes. 'J'he phe- nomenon of dew shows us that tho reciprocal circulation is continually in progress, and that even when there an; no Avinds blowing, the puriiication of the atmosphere is accomi)lished by the chemical action of the atoms. This leads us to ask the question Avhy Dr. Carpenter has not endeavoured to found a general system of atnioqjJiei'ic circulation, on the same princii)l6 as that of the oceanic. If tho law is good in the one instance, it ought to hold good in tho other. He would then have made his theory conqiletc, for the cold Polar current of air being mineral, would be tho highest, and this would form an upper current from the Poles towards the Equator, while the warm vegetable atmosphere being denser, would travel on the surface from the Equator along Avith the Avarm current of water to the Poles, tlie one thus helping along the other. A beautiful and complete theory of ocean and air cur- rents Avould thus be enunciated, the motions of the one accurately fitting into tho motions of the other. l>ut unfurtunateh^, he only managed to grasp the least acceptable theory, for as Ave liaA'C shcAvn in the chapter on Atmosphere, there is more than a grain of truth in the theory of the u]iper atmospheric current, while there is none in that of the oceanic. » •: II I 'ji; i H'it 'ii i-, ■ w-i^i ~r ; i ;• i '■ ih Ii 172 THE ORIGIN OF CREATION. While we deny that there is a gononil oceanic circula- tion, such a.s Dr. ( ■urpcntcr describes, Ave admit that the condition of the water and the position of tlie land, may, in many instances, he such as to induce currents, that, from a superficial examination, may lead an observer to suspect they form part only of one general movement. It may be asked, how do we account for the extreme coldness of the deep waters if it is not caused by the Polar currents ? "We answer by asking and answering another question. What causes, or how do wo account for, the coldness of the Polar sou 1 If the conditions for causing coldness arc the same on the sea- bed at the Equator, and in the Arctic ocean at the Poles, there is no necessity for the supposition of a current at all. This we endeavour to show. The gases expelled from the interior of the earth are mostly mincml in character. As the earth is a magnet, its gases, are given off principally at the Poles. Ice and snow being composed largely of mineral substances, are therefore caused by tlie mineral emanations from the Poles of the earth combining with suitable vegetable particles of the water. (This mode of ice formation accounts for the granulated, and not stratified character of ice- bergs.) But these mineral emanations are not confined to the Poles, they are exhaled all over the earth's surface, and wherever we find a place free from vegetation, or the influence of vegetable gases, there we may observe it more particularly. Thus the tops of high mountains are cold and covered with snow, while in the depths of the sea where no vegetation exists, and the warmth of the sun does not reach, we also have the cold mineral exhala- tions acting upon the salt water, and producing the so-called Polar current. CHAPTER XXVt COMETS. Very little known about ComeH.— Facts about thorn. — Jupiter's influents on them. — Comet of 1680 — Ilcrschell's description of it. — Tho movements of a Comet different from a Planet. — All the heavenly bodies, Magnets.-^The motions of Comets explained on this theory. — How Comets are made periodic. — Enckc's and Bicla's CometSi —The atmospheres of Comctsi — Their tails.— 'Their purpose. — Are they inhabited 1 In writing this cliapter on Comets, we do not intend to enter into a full history of them, fot that can be obtained in any book on Katutal Science ; neither do We pretend to give a correct account of what they actually are ; but as they come within the influence of atomagnetic law by enteving our system, We propose to offer some explanation of the phenomena and movements which they exhibit, and also a suggestion as to their character. On an average, it is said, two ot three Comets visit us every year ; but most of them are too small, or too distant to be seeH by the naked eye, or are situated in such a position with regard to the earth that they cannot bo observed. The following are a few of the particulars connected with comets, which may help us to an explanation of their nature : — First. — They all seem to be attracted towards the sun j but none have ever been absorbed by it. m\ '. IIIH Mi i|||:,l m THE OIUOIN OP CUKATIOK, K I r:. in. '■■J !,:l! :i Sijcothl — Jiqiitcr Hoiniitiincs aftructs a comot on its way towtirili tlio sun, (in(>mly r(^siorud in a proper uiiiniuT, tho lifo of tho patient is apt to go out. ludigcHtion is ono of tho most common complaints, and the cause of ment would obviously be to chemically change its condition, and to induce a free and full circulation of tho blood throughout the body : not to wait till symptoms of some particular type of fever or other disease be developed, and the whole bodily system is reduced and paralyzed. Or worse »till, ere symptoms are fully developed, to guess it tlie disease and proscribe a strong medicine, -,"hich, if the surmise should bo wrong, may probably prove to Ije tho worst drug the pationi) Gould have taken. Suppose two men are in a room with a f.;ver patient, and both are attacked by the fever, but one man recovers in a few days while the other has the fever for weeks ; it will then be commonly said that the one who recovered did not have the fever at all. Is it not more likely th?t the constitu- tion or condition of the one was able to resist, or counteract the influence of the disease, and thtis throw it off sooner, while the other wanted assistance from a physicianj but the proper means were not used. It is only reasonable to suppose, that if a strong' healthy man is able naturally or voluntarily to throw off a fever, a weak man with proper assistance and medicine ought to be able to do so too. It is not our province, in a work of this kind, to' enter inta a detailed system of medical treatment, for such a proceeding MEDICINB, 19S "ouU enlarge the volu™„ i„t„ , ,„,,„ , , . l-ally to call attention to tl,o fa.f ., , "" """"- 'H^-^o .. „,. J„ J,:"£;-;; -;*a . a.U,,o ami the manner of tro.r • , '"'" ^^ ^^««»«« »'e^ to t™. t a,: t " 7n ^77 T' "'' "'™° ""» ^»»' «--.,.en.orj::;::rnt'raS;:r""' valuable lives m'.v >,„ i aao])tea ; thus many ">^es may bo saved every year. i , I' F 'I i- Ml. «'^ CHAPTER XXX. ij 1 i ■ m ;• J rT'iS' (■ ^fj i : t iS rf; ATOMAGNKTISM AND RELIGION. Keligion not afTuctcd by Atomagnetism. — The inherent lifo In atortttf, and tho spontaneous development of the n.ind, seem grand ar- guments for the Materialist. — Tho movements of Planets and Comets. — Tho great machinery of the universe.^What need of a God 1 — Man fancies himself a Monarch.— No animal intelligence his superior. — Only a parasite. — Chained to the earth.— On a level with his dog. — -Matter existed without properties.— Who endowed it with them ? — Divine mind of man.— Magnetism not God. — How simple, miracles must bo to Him who formed and holds the key of natural law. — Insignificance of man. As Eeligion may be con.sidered to be affected by the system of science promulgated in the previous chapters, we have reserved our remarks on tho connection between tliem for a concluding chapter. It may seem, to many readers, that wo supply arguments from which the materialist could still further advance his cause. "When we say that matter is posses.sed of inherent life, and that this life is capable of forming any production on earth spon- taneously, according to tho nature, condition and position of the materials commingling, not only in the mineral and vege- table kingdom, but in the animal kingdom as well ; it appears a most astounding assertion. But when we state that the same atomic matter spontaneously produces the mind, not only in ATOM AON ETISM AND RELIGION. 197 the unintoll(^ctu!vl iininml but in man, and that those wonder- ful instinctive powera wliicli seem to baffle the wisdom of man, in the boe and the beaver, are only manifestations of the same power inherent in the atoms of matter ; miglit not the infidel exclaim, what niore do we wanti Furthermore, if the power of matter controls and governs the universe, guides the planets in their course, steers the comets in their erratic wanderings through space, and shields those jodies which come in their path ; if the mysterious meteoric shower, the awe inspiring thunder, the earthcpuike, and every movement in earth, sea and atmosphere, from the tiniest individual atom to the bright orb above us, are all controlled by the same inanimate force, so that each is powerless to work except as that law impels it, and each moves but as a wheel in the great machinery of the universe ! might not the materialist exclaim ; what need of a God at all] But, here insignificant man fancies himself monarch of all he surveys. His lofty mind looking down on the brute creation, and seeing nothing which could be deemed his superior, makes a G.od of himself. lie forgets that this earth is infinitely less than millions of others in space. He sees those brilliant worlds above him, but fancies they are only jewels studded in the skies, to add to the glories of his earthly home. He forgets that they are peopled with beings perhaps many times more able than himself, and with intellect as much above his, as his own is above that of his dog ! He forgets that he is merely a parasite of the earth, chained to its surface without hope of escape, while those other beings may be gifted with angels wings to soar from star to star. He forgets that the dog he spurns from his feet is made of dust like to himself, and yet he would place himself on a level with Him who created the heavens 198 TUB ORIGIN OF CREATION. !v ii;, r . i: .ji H ■'■■; y\ and the cjirtb, and caused both liiniself and his dog to grow upon it. While we deny that our system favours the materialist or the infidel, wo maintain tliat it brings the most conclusive evidence to bear against them. In the science of the day mystery is found on every hand, and no two observers read phenomena alike. A man may in consequence bo excused for liolding opinions of his own on science and religion, when his state- ments cannot be disproved. But, as we have laid down tlie law which regulates all nature, which originates and controls all forces in it, and is therefore as infallible as nature itself — tbe possibility of any misconception or misconstruction is obviated entirely. The existence of the Great God, the Designer and Kuler of all, is thus seen at once to be true, for in the perfec- tion of the law, is shown the perfection of ITim who created it. While then we say that matter has inherent properties, we have also said that it may exist in a position not to exhibit its properties ; as in the beginning of our earth, when, as we are informed, the material forming the earth, sea, and atmosphere, was " chaos" or invisible matter — ** Without form and void." Grant, therefore, that matter did exist without properties ; where is the materialist who will explain how the properties were imparted to it without a God ? The fact, too, that man has a divine mental faculty or mind, distinct from his animal or earthly mind, is also conclusive evidence of a power beyond that contained in matter. We have ourselves been told that because we stated life to bo magnetism, we therefore implied that magnetism was God. But if magnetism is a power with which matter was endowed, there must also of necessity have been an endower of that power. ATOMAGNETISM AND RELIGION. 199 This latter fact strikes a vein of thought, which convinces us of the illiiuitable i)ower of the Creator. If atomagnetism so regulates all atoms and forces of matter, that, not the slightest movement, not the waving of a blade of grass, not the flutter of a bird on the wing, not the fleeting of a cloud in the sky, but is governed by this law ; then how great is the power of Him who holds the key thireof ! Ho who gives a power can surely take it away again ; and He who can create one power, can surely devise another. How simple a matter then must it bo to the Deity to shut the mouths of lions ; to take the heat from a burning fiery furnace ; to part asunder the Kod Sea ; and to raise Lazarus from the dead. The fact that not only these mysteries, but the creation of our world, the flood which deluged it, and all other natural phenomena recorded in Scripture are found by this atomag- netic system to harmonise with scientific facts ; and the impres- sive and yet simple fact that the infidel's own lips but open and shut, according to the same law, should show proud man what a miserable and insignificant being he is, and how much ko is at the mercy of an Aluighty Kulkr. I. ■ INDEX. A. Adam, blainod for all the ills tlmt nflHct inaiikiii.l, ... 109 African, Atni()8i)liuro of the ... 125 AKivssiz, Louis, on living beings born of eggs ... 21 Agasniz, Louis, on an animal and divine mind ... 36 Agassiz, Louis, on men and monkeys ... 22 AgHHsiz, Louis, on the creation of the many at tlie beginning 23 Agassiz, Louis, on special cre- ation ... 27 Agassiz, Louis, on coral insects... 148 Agassiz, Louis, on millions of coral insects fod from one mouth ... 148 Agassiz, Louis, on coral growing by budding ... 149 Agassiz's, Louis, argument against Darwin with coral in- sects ... 149 Agassiz, Louis, on the age of Florida reefs . . . 149 Air, no moisture in ... 47 *' no, in water ... 11.5 " no, in ice ... 110 " Mr. H. Higgina on water absorbing ... 110 " composition of ... 124 Albion Mines, Nova Scotia, site of a volcano ... 158 Al|)habet, similarity between the elements of matter and the ... 5 America, rain diminishing in North ... 114 ** rain increasing in Spanish ... 114 " disastrous effects of clearing the forests in North ... 114 " ruined cities in Central 115 American, weather maps ... 132 Animals, possessed of one mind only ... 32 " have no soul ... 32 .i\jiimals, their mind a property of earthly mattcronly 32 '* how produced spon- taneously ... 21 Appetite is incijneut mind ... 30 " the, of spontaneous in- sects ... 30 •* what is ... 30 " governs all animals up to man ... 31 a seal's ... 31 a calf's _ ... 31 " how to acquire an ... 32 Atomagnctism, the law of mat- ter and its force ... 6 Atomagnetism, how great the 1>ower of Him who holds the :ey of ... 199 Atomagnetism supersedes gravi- tation ... 98 Atomagnetism, the motive pow- er of the whole machinery of the universe ... 197 Atomagnetism, Pioligion, and... 190 Atomagnetism, explains all mys- teries in Scripture ... 199 Atomagnetism brings the most conclusive evidence to bear against infidels ... 198 Atoms, their character ... 1 " two great classes of ... 2 " Mineral and vegetable... 2 " male and female ... 2 *' properties of ... 2 all alive ... 3 " are all magnets having polarity ... 7 " the attraction of like, explained ... 7 Atomic action, continuity of... 123 " likened to a gossamer thread ... 59 '* matter, spontaneously produces mind ... 190 Atmosphere, tlie, in layers ... 106 ■' temperature of, in balloon researches 125 " composition of ... 125 '■ r 202 INDEX. i Y Si \\' 4 1 *' '■■■ ■/ ■"■; 'i .A ■ ■-■'- ^'1 "I n AtinoRi)] ore, ovorytliin-;; lias an 125 it of tiiP African ... 123 <( extent of tiie phi- net* 163 II prcMHuro of, cauaca tiilea 104 II pressure on, cauaea roeteora 180 Atmosphoric circulutioii, theory of ... 171 Atlantic S. S.. loafl of '.'.'. 101 Attraction not tlio cause of the tidcH ... 102 ArtcHian wells for the prevention of earth(|iiako» ir)9 Auroras, facts cmicerning 18'2 II Mairan on 1H2 «( Liir'lneron 182 li M. l>i()t on 182 «« disturb the magnetic needle 183 4* caused by the magne- tism of the earth... 183 U two theories of 183 l< colours of, caused by... 185 Kalloon researches, by Guy Lussac ... 125 Bastian, Mr. H. Charlton on Origin of lowest organisms ... 28 Battles, followed by rain, cause of ... 117 Beasts have only one mind ... 34 *' have no soul ... 35 " know not sin, nor do ■wrong ... ^f) " have appetites but no desires ... 35 Beavers, foreknowledge of ... 3i Bees, " " ... 34 Beche, Sir Henry do la, on carbon ... 141 Beer, vast quantities of, drank in England ... 192 Berkeley, Bishop, on matter ... 1 Biot, M., on auroras ... 182 Bible, the, comprehensiveness of ... 14 " proof of vegetable life drawn from ... 14 Blood, what is ... 188 " function of the ... 189 " cause of the circulation of the ... 190 Botanical theories of vegetable life ... 14 Botanical theories of trees ... 110 Bottled Hunsliino ... til Borer, the, worm holes in coral made by ... 147 Body, Human, a machine easily injured ... 1X\ Brain, tlio, a picture gallery ... 41 Branches and leaves, why they Kpread Brewer, Dr., on the sun the source of heat Buolcland, Frank, on a chicken's instinct Buoys, Bcientific,for leading men Astray. Itl 50 33 81 0. 12t) Calms, cause of equatorial " cause of, in the centre of cyclones Cambodia, ruined cities of Cambridge, Lectures, Agas.siz. Carbon, trees composed of " Sir Henry de la Bccho on '* said to bo injurious to man " CRtenbyman Caqienter, Dr. W, B., his theory of oceanic circulation Carpenter, Dr. W. B., his deep sea soundings Carpenter's, Dr. "\V. B., experi- ment with glass trough Carjienter, Dr. W. B., Dr. Wy- ville Thompson against Carpenter, atmospheric and oceanic theory overlooked by 171 Cells in plants, what impels them to divide ... 16 Central America, ruined cities in ... 115 Celestial Dynamics, Dr. Mayer's 154 131 115 148 140 141 141 141 168 168 168 169 Chamber's Journal on Derw Charcoal in the Nova Scotian coal fields Challenger, H. M. S. Chamber's Encyclopedia on coral insects Chamber's Encyclopedia on the time taken to fill a gap in a coral reef Cheese, life in " Chinese Chemical action, Prof. Grove on " all changes caused by " Digestion caused by... 119 142 146 146 152 20 136 44 44 44 li , 1NDSX. Chemical nctiisn tlie great do- HlroytT " " cxiinipleH of... Child, Dr., oil HpontiuieuiiH {jone- nvtitPii Chicago, onco a fovor nwainp... " Hiiow Htoriii at ChincHo cheuHu, tniulo of pciiH and l.caim City, u, wliy it iH free of fever iinil :i;,'ll(i " of AVaHliiiigton, S. S., loss of Cincinnati, once a fever swamp Circuhitiou of tlu> Mood, cuuho of tlio " of tlic blood in the hody compared to a Hre CIoikIh, formation of 110, Common senso, .Sir John Her- Hchull tin Common senHc a jioor K"'lier Colour, length of red and violet rays of light " vibratory theory of •• IIer.schell, Tvndall, Maxwell, Hslmholtz on " Atonuvgnetic theory of... " a property of matter... •Compass magnetic, exhibition of mineral life " cause of deviation of, in ships " general ignorance of its action ** influence of a cargo of petroleum on the... " distuibed by auroras, why Comets, tvfo or three visit the earth every year . . . " facts connected with ... *• not absorbed by the sun 4i <( 45 46 24 115 1:12 136 115 101 115 190 191 123 109 109 5(5 139 140 143 142 144 140 142 147 83 53 77 79 80 81 91 10 98 99 99 183 173 173 173 203 174 (i II II ti II II II 11 Coniot», Jupiter attractH *' j)eriodiial, llalloy'a k Kncke's ... 174 " some have not tailtt ... 174 of ItlMO ... 174 why repelled from the HUH ... 175 how ma 1»? i)eriodical ... 175 hav«< atmoHphereM ... 176 caUMo of the luminous tails of ... 176 Consumption, cause of ... 192 " the doctors on ... 192 •• cure of ... 193 " no young person need i'i'iuM ovorthrown... l.^ Darwin, Dr., on miiiil . . 'M •* •* on tho jiowor of wiHliing . . 28 Darwin, Dr. AxiiMHiz'H urgtimunt witli coriil inNt>ctH aKiiiiiHt ... 141) Darwin's, Dr., tlicorics of ct>ral innoctM ... 141) Darwin, Dr., Hfatc» the Coral IhIiukIh iiro HJnkinK ■■■ ^'^^ Darwin, Dr., DeHcartoH on mutter and motion 6 Davy, SSir Huniphroy, on huat in ico ... ns Deep sea, the, temperature of... 1<)8 •* aniiniil life in ... 168 " •' cohlneHH of the, ac- counted for ... 172 " " currents, Dr. (Carpen- ter's theory of ... 105 " Dr. Wyvillo Thomp- Bon on ... 109 Dew, Chamber'H Journal on ... Ill) " Haptisita I'orta nearly dis- covered tiie true tiieory of 111) " Aristotle on ... 120 " MuHclienbrook delayed the discovery of tho true theory of ... 120 *' Dr. Wells discoverer of the accepted theory of... 121 " produced similarly to water ... 123 '* a calm and clear evening essential for the forma- tion of ... 123 De la Rive, on two differing elec- tricities ... 86 Delusi(ms, scientific, about mag- netism ... 94 Deviation of sliips' compasses, caused by a speaking trumpet 100 Deviation of snips' compasses, caused by steering ai)paratu8, 101 Deviation of ships' compasses, caused by a cargo of petroleum 99 It ti Deviation of shlpt' compannoii, cauited )>y iron croNN tn^cH .. 101 DtNeaNeN, doctorH ignorant of the nature of . . 186 Diiteaiivii, HO cnlii'd incurable ... 180 *• Mliould be the e.xccp- tion, as .Sir J. Y. .Simi>Kon said, ... 187 •• thooauHe of ... 190 Diiitillation. the common theory of rain a jiroctHs of ... 109 Digestion, what is ... Iil8 " extraordinary cane of, by coral itisectii ... 148 Doctors, ignorant of i'Ihcuho ... 186 " their ii^niiraneo not creditnlili! to them 1S6 " life action of the body unknown to ... 187 " their renu'dial know- ledge gained only by experience ... 187 " mysterious deaths by, igiu)red by the coroner 187 authicity of, in Ontario 187 ono chiss of, petitioning for a bill to persecute others... 187 Dogfish has no gills ... 116 Drainage, Sir .lohn HerHchell ■ays, lessens the rainfall ... 114 Dumas, M., on origin of life ... 20 Dunsappii! I.och, near IJdinburgh, Scotland, oimcure ice on ... 112 Dust and Disease, Tyndall on... 26 E. Earth, the, heat generated by, falling into the sun 61 ' a magnetic battery 73 ' no colour on ... 80 " " I'rof Rogers on the central iieat of 1 10, 1.53 " *' thickness of the crust of ... 153 " " Dr. Mayer on the internal fire of ... 154 •• •• Drs. Tyndall, Thom- son, and llerschell on ... 154 Earthquakes, Sir John ller- schell on 1.55, 159 *' how i)revented ... 159 " cau.sed by chemi- cal action ... 158 Ecliptic, plane of the, tides cauBed by pressure on ... 164 << t, ruin liocoiiiini; nioro fr« iiuunt in ... 114 " ciiltiviition of tiic iiiilm in 114 Klootricity, Dr. 'I'Iioh. 'riioiiiRun oil 65 Klectricity, l'»rk.r, Hir Win. TlioiiiHiin, Tymliill, (trov#, iinil |)u III Kivo on HT}, 80 Klectricity confounilcil with niiv^iii'tiNMi ... 84 Klectricity not u force, only coiiihiiHtion ... 87 Klectricity cuuned by nmgne- tinm ... 87 Klectricity, nil \\1 Kncko's comet 174, Hit Knerny, I'rofoHgora Thonmon and Tait on ... 69 Kngliiih navvies, the work they do ... 1.H7 £(luator, calnu of tlie, explained 129 K8(iuiinaiix, Sir .folin Kohh on tlie apjietito of ... 1.S7 Kvaporatiou, a chemical action.. 110 " induced by cold as well as by heat... 110 Evolution, doctrine of ... 27 KxperimentH, laboratory, doubt- ful helpH to Hcience ... BS Kxperinientsi, Nature's, to be studied ... 59 !•. Fftitb, essential in religion ... 1.30 Faraday, Micliael, on magnetism 01 " " on niagnetio curves ... 92 " •• bora too soon 92 " " leil astray by Ids imagination regarding mag- netic curves ... 130 Faraday, Michael, how he l«d Maury astray ... 130 Fevers now caused anc' cured ... 193 Fire mist ... 4 Fireflies, light of ... 64 Filings, iron, magnetic arch formed by ... 93 Fire, not so powerful as water,,. 107 It 41 FUh produoi^d spontaneously ... 27 Fishes uills uned for ttlterintf their food not for broatl. k.. 110 Florida r««rs, Agatsii on tho age of ... 140 Faod, Prof. Lyon Ployfalr on ... 134 " l.iebijjon ... 137 Playfair's tubl«i of ... i:i4 on mineral ... 137 how transfornlcd into bloo.l ... 189 Fogs, cttu«oof no, 111, 123 Forests, why thev proiluce rain.. 114 Forms of water. i'Vudall's ... 109 Fox, cunning ot the ... 3'> Fi'nser's hiagazino on matter ... 4 Frost leaves ... 93 '* hour, cause of ... 123 Funily, IJay uf, .Vortli America, high tiiies in, cimiho of 1(51, 165 Fundy, Hay of, rise of two foot in three miles ... 106 9. Oastric Julcc, what is ... 1,38 Gorins, theory of ... 25 '* ditfercnoc between atoms and ... 25 " where do thoy como from 25 " must be born in some way ... 25 " Paptour k Tyndall on 25, 26 floograpiiy of the sea, Maury's.. I'M) Geysers and hot Hi)ringH, cause of i>4 (Jreat, (Jalifornia, 54, ir>8 fJhoorkas, flcsli eating ... 137 Oills of a fish used for filtering food, not breathing ... 116 Gibraltar, upper and under cur- rent at Htraits of ... 165 Glaciers, why chasms in Alpine, are blue ... 83 " Tyndall on solar boat tho cause of ... 109 God, magnetism not ... 198 " perfeotiori of ... 198 " the power of ... 190 Gossamer thread, atomic action likened to a ... 59 Graham, Prof., oh the Leonarto meteorite ... 180 Granite, water in ... 108 Gravitation, the law of, upset... 93 " fails to account for the repelling power of the ■un ,,. 174 M 20« fMHtt* ii ■ ' II I :,-f II i t>r«vUiktil nt the |irviunt timu ... 17^ (h'HH, why i|r«'»'H ... Nl " why ilrw ili*|)o«it« im ... liJl OrVrxhiii, I.Ko. II. iiti lifu ... T2 J>T«)ve, Vtitt., otk iiuUtiT ... 1 '* ui)tifi"<^<'N l);iii)riiuca of thu Niiitrctt of lu'iifc " I'nif., on .•hctiicity ... '* on tuat^H" il nil Oulf Stri'iMii,nolo|i;_, I ntnyBtory U\7 •' Dr. Carpcntor on... 1U7 m II «i II II ti «• from Hult in llounil, n'i'ut of n Hope, on Oj'igiii and I'roNpecti of malt " on mind Hot MpringH and ncyiom, oauio of Hu.xluy, I'rof., on matter nnd motion " *' on origin of life Hydrogsn, In oo'd ** how introduced into colli " All mineral matter ii " in tiiu Leonnrto met- eorite z. Icarus, fato of Ice, action of miigneiinm in shell '* hoar frost, wpeurs of '* oonijKjMitioii of Icebergs, why grunulatcd Inertia, action of, on tho tideii... Indij{CHtion, Tiie Sotcii compar- atively free from Indigestion, cause of '* not so common in Fnglarid an in Amori' ... 192 Indian, nniinul min ... 39 Instinct, a liiglit"*- iiiind than appeti' ... 33 Intellectual on rain ... 112 Iron, why r lens ... 84 " croHf) trt..., dangerous na- ture of ... 101 Iron ihips, great mortality in... 99 '* great care sliould bo taken in fitting up... 99 " tlio steering apjiara- tus in, dangerous ... lOl '* the iron stancliions and davits of, aro magnetic poles ... 100 ISO ino IGO 174 49 83 129 13/ 31 37 87 50 fl 28 141 142 2 ISO 21 93 123 172 172 lti5r 138 192 ' % I tHum* m 3. juptter, Ili(« lime Ilgitt inkti to ootut (rum .,, 07 Kuiiit/. un ruin ... 112 " iii« tlipory oi»p««el'll ... P Iin|ilucf, on the rorolution of tho ciiith ... 1S4 T.artlritr, Dr., on h«»t in«lopen- (lent of iiiuttor ... 60 T.iinltutr, Dr., on tho moon otiua- \i\H tlio tiilt*)* ... 102 Lanluer, Dr. *>n AiirornN . . 182 Loud troo, (>.xi\niplo of niinonil lifo ... n " trco, ciuinril by niugootiiim % tiOoniirto niutoorite, I'rof. (tru- hum on ... 180 Life, tho »tonm((netio notion of tho body ia ... 190 " minerikl ... '.» " vogetiilile ... 11 " miigiiutinm it ... 198 Light, Hir Ikiuio Nowton'a CTniM- Hion tht'ory of ... 00 " iincliiliitory tlmory of ... 0(! " Tyn.liilPn waves of ... 07 " ruto of triiVL'Uipg ... 07 " how niiiiiy wuvos of, make an inch ... 67 *• how intiny rod untl violet wiivcH r>{, enter the eyo in a Hccon;{ " cau.so of ... 04 " offireflieH ... 64 Locko on matter ,., 1 Lobster has no gills ... 117 Loudon air, Tyndall on ... 26 II It cpuido of . . 9'i " '* Fiwrtday unable to eipiain ilium ... 09 TvKdall on ... 93 the can Me of Htornia ... 130 R^ngnetio curves, Furiiday'a fal- liicieH rt'gi^rding ... 1.30 Mngnetiu curvuM, Maury led UMtray by Karaday'n tlieorioHof 130 Mngnetio ourveH, cauNu of au- roras .,. 18^ Magnetism, tho universal foroo in naturu ... 00 Magnetism, tho cause of germa.. 24 I'rof. (J rove on ... 00 " Faraday on ... Olt " an iniierei»t proper- ty of matter ... 01 of iron railinga ... 04 of iron ships ... 100 changes with posi- tion ... 04- in Ktraigiit lines ... 03 not Ood ... 108 matter en' Wm Urn It 11 M rtury, Matter composed of inalo and fuiualo atoniH ... 2 Mattur, Vustigua of Creation on 3 " I'liik'H Cliemical Cate- chiHni oil ... 4 " analogy between tlio al|>lialiet and ... 5 withn\it properties ... ',\7 an the compass noedlu U philosopher's tree an oxamjdo of ... 10 '• " «oral and crystal- lized candy ex- amples of ... 11 Monads, Lamarck on ... 2.'i Mount Mt. Helena, (California, an extinct volcano .')J 'j Moon, tho, light of .. /5 " tides high at new and full ... 161 " h' w it influences tho tides ... 164 " Lanlnor on tho influence of tii(!, on tides ... 162 Moonblindness, l>r. Wells on tho cause of ... 121 Muschenbrook on I)(!W ... 120 *• stuiiidity of ... 120 Miiskrat, foreknowledge of tho... 34 IT. Napa Valley, ('alifornia ... 55 Navvies, Knglish, work done by 132 Newton, Sir Lsaac, on nuittor and motion ... Newton, Hir Isaac, on tho omis- sion theory of light ... 06 Nowton, yir Isaac, on tho ajiplo falling ... 97 Newton, Sir Isaac, liis law of gravitation upset ... 9? Newton, Sir Isaac, not satisfied with his discoveries ... 98 Newton, Sir Isaac, on comet of 1680 . ... 174 Newton, Prof., Yalo College, America, on meteorites ... 179 Nicaragua, Lake, effect of rain- fall on ... 114 Nitrogen, classification of ... 124 Norton, Prof. W. A., on .natter 3 North America, the rainfall di- minishing over ... 113 Nova Scotia, dangerous coast of 101 " " transparent ice on Pictou River ... 112 coal fields of ... 14'i " " Albion Mines in... 158 llf' INDEX. 209 Oceanio circulation, Dt. Carpen- ter's theory of ... 1C7 " Carpontor's experiment to prove ... 168 Dr. Wyville l'homp»on asainBt Ciirpo'itor'a theory of ... i<;.o *' No necessity for an ... ICU Oil boring in Potinsylvania ... 159 Opacity, cause of ... Ill " caused by combination of gases . . . l'^'2 " cause of auroras' light 184 Origin of life ... 18 •^ " Sir Win. Thomson on ... 12 Origin of lowest organisms, by H. Charlton lUstian ... 20 Ozone, the discovery of, non- sense ... 127 " contradictions regarding 127 " matches generate ... 127 P. I'alenquc, Central America ... 115 Parker's School Hook of I'luloso- phy on electricity ... 85 Pswteur, M., on spontaneous generation 24 on germs ... 24 on preseved meats 25 Panama, Isthmus of, coral on the ... 146 Park's Chemical Catechism on matter ... 4 Piuasites, all plants and animals 23 " of fruit, raspberries, figs, etc. ... 2.3 Pennsylvania, oil boring in ... 159 Petrifaction, coal made by ... 143 Pictou River^ Nova iSootia, transparent ico on ... 112 I'igoons, instinct of ... 34 Philosopher's tree ... 9 Playfair, Prof. Lyon, on food... 134 " supports Liebig's divi- sion of food ... 134 " food tables ... 136 " on the close connec- tion between animal and vegetable sub- stances ... 136 ' ' on English navvies and Arabs ... 137 (I Playfair, knows not the action of the mineral part of food ... 137 Phonphorescoiit waves off the coast of Mexico ... 170 Plants, do not oroatho, but ox- hale ... 10 " absorb sustenance from the earth ... 10 " result of painting ... 10 Polos, every atom has two 7 *' like, repel ; unlike, attraci 7 " Nortli and South, why cohl ... 172 Polarity of at(«ns ... 7 Polypes, coral insects, Agassii on ... 14« " Chamber's Encyclope- dia on ... 140 Porta, Baptista, nearly disoov- ored the true theory of dew .. 119 " denied the moon and stars caused dew ... 120 " thought dew was conden- sed from air ... 120 " shewed that dew rose from tlie earth ... 120 Prairies in coal fields ... 142 Proscott's History of the Elec- tric Telegraph ... 86 Preserved meats, why they de- compose ... 25 Pressure on the atmosphere, the cause of tides . . . 162 " The cause of meteors ... 180 Proctor, Prof. R. A., on rain 112, 113 B. Rainbow, why not seen between the observer and tlie sun ... 186 Rain, how accounted for ... 109 " assists in the formation of glaciers ... 109 " Sir John Herschell on ...109 '* does not come from the Gulf Stream ... Ill " formed in the atmosphare around us ... Ill " does not necessarily fall a great distance ... Ill •• Prof. Proctor on ... 112 " Kamtzon ... 112 " shot out of a cloud ... 113 " becoming more frequent in Egypt ... 114 *• why trees attract ...114. u 210 INDEX. W I " 3."! Rjiin, why forests produce ... 114 ** great battles followed by 117 Kainfiill, diminiHhing in North America •* florschcU says drain- age lessens the Kain gnage, the nearer the ground the greater the rain- fall indicated Reefs, coral, Agassiz on the age of Florida " Darwin's theories of ** how formed " how a gap was filled up Religion, faith essential in " and atomugnotism ... Renaissance, Painting and Archi- tecture Rogers. Prof., on winds ' on coal and pe- troleum on coal being baked on hydrogen in coal on the earth's in- ternal fire ;^ Roots, why they spread Ross, Sir John, on the appetite of an Esquimaux Ruskin, John, his crusade against RenaissMice ai't II