Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-03-29
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1926.
FLOR the Phenix Gazette.l
Messrs. Editors:

Is COLD NEGATIVE, or Is II q POSITIVE substances
Philosophers have generally inclined TO the
former opinion. The reasons on which they
predicate this opinion are ihese:-During the
absence Of the sun, cold is generated--it is cold
er as you approach the poles than towards the
euuator-by artificial means, or what they eai
putting heat into latent state an intense degree
of: cold can be generated, sufficient to freeze
mercury curious experiment is made In
this wav: on a given quantity OF pounded ice,
muir sulphuric acid, and the most intense de-
gree of cold imaginable is produced.-On wa
ter brough, to the freezing point-though not
frozen-or in which the thermometer Whilst
at the same degree as in pounded ice, pour the
same acid, and a degree OF heat will be produced
sufficient to break the glass In which 1t Is Con-
tanned No satisfactory reason has as yet been
given for this phenomenon; nor can any be CIV
en- on the principle of cold being "negat'ce quoi.
ity9" But allowing 1t to be "pos'f've quahty,
we might then suppose, that In one case the
atent cold, and in the other the latent heal, was
kset at iberty-that the different arrangement OF
particles, in a solid and fluid state OF water,
caused the different results. Water, from cold,
becomes more and more contracted, till it comes
within FIVE degrees Of the freezing point, when
II bepins gradually to expand, till it has lost its
changing to solid state, as has been generally
supposed This renders the phenomenon of
the TWO different results Of heat and cold, just
related, still more surprising, and would seem
10 incline us to the opinion, that cold is posi-
tive substance, and not negative qua.ity, mere
" occasioned by the absence Of heat.
True, in viewing the sun Of fire, we have an
occular demonstration of the source OF heat
this we have not of the source Of cold; yet we
know that certain artificial arrangements and
fricrions of particles Of matter will produce cold,
as we'll as fire-And we likewise know that even
the pressure of the sun, for six months, without
in,ermission, cannot expel cold from the polar
regions. Its rays certainly go there more OBJ
lioue, and have TO pass through greater space
of atmosphere, yet were cold but negative
quality, the smallest degree Of heat would be
sufficient to expel it.
We find, too, that there are parts impervious
20 both heat and cold, and in these there are
medal temperature, between the heat oil the tor
rid, and cold Of the irigied zones. l aliude to
deem caverns, mines, SC In these the heat OF
the sun is completely excluded Now, 1t cola
were negative substance, would not these be
the coolest regions in the universe! But the
recerse Of this is the case Tor instead OF intense
cold. from the exclusion Of heat, we ind tenn
perate climate-cold being excluded as weltas
heat: and could the suns light be conveyed
here. by means of refraction, have no doubt
but that vegetation would so on, as well as on
the surface. As il is, vegetables will grow In
dark caverns; but for want OF light they are de-
void of colour, and cannot come to complete
perfection.
From all these, and various other reasons,
am inclined 10 think that cold, as well as heat,
is positire substance, and has its source in the
polar regions. True, cold regions exist IN the
torrid, and warm spots are found in the frigld
zones; but these are exceptions to the common
order Of things--the first arising from the height
of tropical mountains, where the rays OF the sun
does not find suffciency Of OXYGEN gas to en-
gender heat-and the latter, from arctic vol
canoes, which propel the cold for certain dis
lance.
Admitting, therefore, cold TO be positive
substance. and not occasioned by the absence OF
the SUMS rays, we can easily conceive that the
interior surface Of our globe is as fitting Tor an
imal and vegetable life as the exterior Even
to suppose that our interior brethren are de-
nrived of the heat Of the sun, IL does not follow
that they are deprived of its light; Tor 1t is
known that sun beams are compounded oil rays
of light and rays of heat, or rather OF rays oc-
casioning heat when they come in contact with
terrestrial, combus,ible substances, such as oxi-
gen, sc. The rays Of light are considerably
refrangible; The rays Of heat not much so, II at
all. Now, the light Of the sun falling oblique-
ly on the transparent icy ring Of the polar O.
pening, must have its rays rciracted from the
highest part Of he ring into the interior re-
gions The angle Of reiraction TO the angle OF
Incidence, being N ice as to 3, must occasion
the light from that side alone to be nearly SUI
6cient to fill the whole concave. Those rays
which pass the part of the ring next to the sun,
fall on that opposite, and are reflected back to
the other extremity, where they are once more
refracted, and sent still farther into the Interior
Tbus two refractions aud one reflection, will
senarate the rays of light into their primary
colors, as in the rainbow, and cause great IL
Inm;nstion in the interior of the polar opening
sufHcient 10 fill all the space within, and occa-
s;onallv to burst out at the opposite pole, in the
form Of an aurora BOreaks, Nor does 1t require
much reflection to conceive, that concave
surface. like The interior of our earth, is much
easier lighted than convex one, like the outer