THE ACTION OF THE RADIANT MEDIUM ON

THE HEAVENLY BODIES.

Page

The mechanism of the radiant medium must cause opaque

dark spheres to tend to revolve round a central luminous

one in the direction of their rotation-no evidence against

the existence of this medium constituted as now contended

for can be derived from astronomy, but in this science as

its optics it explains the observed phenomena, . 163-167

RADIANT HEAT.

The ancients possessed of more just ideas respecting fire

than the moderns-specific heat of radiant medium very

small-the radiation of heat is merely the conduction of heat

in the radiant medium-cause of the force of radiation in

cold climates-the phenomena of dew-of the rapidity of

cooling displayed by different surfaces-of the transmission

of heat through skreens-difference between hot light and

cold light-effect of colour in modifying an interchange of

beat with the radiant medium-the original calorific energy of

planets and stars expressed, in a rude way, by the same for-

mula as gravitation-of the temperature of the sun and moon

-the heat of the sunbeam is generated at opaque bodies—

excessive heat adverse to the propagation of light, the op-

tical phenomena of a diffracted sunbeam probably due to a

thermo-polarization of the radiant medium contiguous to

the diffracting edges,

. 167-193

BOOK III. OF CHEMICAL AND NATURAL

SUBSTANCES.

HYDROGEN.

Its structure and properties, regions of development, &c. 200-209

WATER.

Its structure-its molecules-cause of the forms of snow and
ice-polarizing angle deduced-natural history and proper-
ties of water-cause of the prevalence of the number three
in cellular vegetables-origin of algae-distribution of water
in nature-nebulæ and comets-its galvanic decomposition,
&c.

. 209-240

OXYGEN.

Its structure-vital air-deutoxide of hydrogen,

NITROGEN.

Page

240-247

Its origin, particles, and molecules-history of common air-

new air-pump-trade winds, &c.-nitric acid-intoxicating

gas-nitrous gas-nitrous acid-hyponitrous acid,

SULPHUR.

247-268

Its structure, history, and properties-sulphureous acid-oil

of vitriol-dry sulphuric acid-the hyposulphureous acids-

sulphuretted hydrogens, &c...

268-280

SELENIUM.

Its structure and history-selenious acid-selenic acid-sele-

nietted hydrogen-sulphur and selenium,

ARSENIC.

280-283

Its structure and history-arsenic acid-arsenious acid-arsenic

and hydrogen-arsenic and sulphur,

283-287

TELLURIUM.

Its structure and relations to arsenic-oxide of tellurium-tel-

lurietted hydrogen,

PHOSPHORUS.

287-289

Its structure, properties, and history-phosphoric acid-phos-

phorous acid-hypophosphorous acid-phosphatic acid-

phosphorus and hydrogen-phosphorus and sulphur, 289-301

BORON.

Its physical and chemical history-boracic acid, &c. 302-306

AMMONIA.

Its structure-physical and chemical history-phenomena o

decomposition,

306-313

CARBON

Its structure and properties-molecules-diamond-spiral ves-

sel-cause of the prevalence of the number five in the more

woody vegetables-charcoal-carbonic acid-respiration-

cause of intoxication-pyragyne-carbonic oxide-acetic acid

- citric acid-oxalic acid-tartaric acid-malic acid-car-

bonates of ammonia-carburetted hydrogen-olefiant gas-

binolefiant vapour-sugar-starch-alcohol-ether-fixed oil

-volatile oil-bicarburetted hydrogen-naphtha-cyanogen

-hydrocyanic acid-cyanic acid, &c.

CHLORINE.

Page

313-376

Its origin, structure, and properties-muriatic acid-sal-am-
moniac-chloric acid-per-chloric acid-euchlorine-per-
oxide of chlorine-sulphurane-phosphorane-phosphorana
-chloride of selenium-chloride of tellurium-chloric ether
-chlorides of carbon-chloro-carbonic acid,

370-388

MANGANESE.

Its structure and properties,-oxides and acids-sulphate-ace-
tate-phosphate-carbonate, &c. .

SODIUM AND SODA.

370-397

Its structure and properties-common salt-Glauber's salt—

selenites of soda — soda, — natron — trona-bicarbonate-

phosphate-borax-arseniates of soda-acetate of soda-

hard soap, &c.

POTASSIUM AND POTASSA.

397-406

Its structure and properties-potassane-nitre-chlorate of po-

tass-manganate of potass-carbonates of potass-oxalates

of potass-soft soap,

MAGNESIUM AND MAGNESIA.

406-419

Structure and properties-carbonate of magnesia-epsom salt—

boracite-muriate of magnesia,

419-423

CALCIUM AND LIME.

Structure and properties-chloride and muriate-carbonate

-nitrate-phosphate-borate-arseniate-oxalate,

419-431

SILICON AND SILICA.

Its structure and properties-cause why it resists most che-

mical agents-hydrates of silica-opal-hyalite-menilite,

&c.,

FLUORINE.

Page

431-438

Its structure and properties-relations to phosphorus and sili-

con-fluoric acid-cryolite-topaz-fluo-silicic acid gas-

fluo-boric acid gas,

ALUMINA.

438-448

Structure and properties-relations to water-hydrates, salts,
and stones-alum-phosphate of alumina-muriate of alu-
mina-petrosilex-felspar-albite-analcime-leucite, &c.

COPPER.

448-456

Its structure and properties-molecules-peroxide-protoxide

-sulphurets-chloride-carbonates-phosphate-arseniates

-blue vitriol-nitrate of copper-verdigris,

IRON.

456-463

Its structure-relations to radiant matter-polarizing angle-

molecules--peroxide-hæmatite-ochre-protoxide-spe-

cular and magnetic iron-ore-iron-pyrites-arsenical pyrites

-chlorides of iron-carbonates-phosphates-arseniates—

green vitriol-Prussian blue-on the natural distribution of

iron-of the vapour of iron-of the siderial canopy-of the

zodaical light-of the aurora- of aerolites-of the revolu-

tion of planets,

463-492

BOOK IV. OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS.

The characters of the kingdoms of nature by Linné-sensibility,

a property in nature new to us-its source investigated, 492—498

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.

Possesses an almost crystalline character-its hyaline or gela-

tinous substance a mixture of water and radiant matter-

the respiratory system analogous to the nervous-both con-

fluent in insects-structure of the nerves,

498-515

MIND.

Page

No evidence can be found against the existence of a sensitive
and cogitative substance the existence of mind as an es
sence distinct from matter demonstrated, the first principles
of this work being granted-of the Deity-of finite minds-
of animated beings-of the gradual improvement in organiza
tion—of man,

515-543

THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HUMAN MIND.
The nature and tendency of mind's action may be learned by
viewing physical phenomena as a sensible exemplar of the
economy of mind, which cannot be directly observed-action
of matter consists in three functions-1. A nascent or active
body during development, imitates itself as it existed the
moment before, by which specific identity is maintained. 2.
It imitates surrounding bodies whence the harmony of con-
tiguous substances arises. 3. It imitates the form of the
atom of light which is spherical, and is universally present, in
virtue of which it tends, so far as circumstances permit, to
become spherical or most perfect in form-imitation, a para-
mount tendency in mind-always when truly active mind
exists simultaneously in a double state, viz. of perception on
the one hand, and of sensibility as its substratum on the
other-but the state of sensibility existing can only be dis-
covered when the accompanying perception is that of the mind
itself-happiness is the state of sensibility proper to a mind
acting wholly according to its nature-misery arises from a
laceration of the mind's true nature-tenor of a truly instine-
tive life described-instincts peculiar to man are desire of
religion, and desire of virtue-mental phenomena are devel-
oped by the tripartite law of imitation exemplified in ato-
mic phenomena-1. Self-imitative states of mind are the feel-
ing of identity, memory, habit-this the lowest era of mental
action-these modified by collateral perceptions are sugges-
tion, imagination-2. States of mind excited by imitation of
surrounding minds are the social emotions-3. States of mind
excited by the presence of the Deity (exemplified by the in-
fluence of light on visible things), are the perception of truth,
moral approbation-The same law is then applied to the