, 1843-06-17

hre and wafer as the chief ingredi'
ents, but what other elements Of ma.
ture more subtitle than fire may exist.
we do not know; the electric fluid,
though acting on combustlble bodies,
Is perhaps only the agent that pro.
vokes the flame, and carries with i,
or collects the fire that invests the
surrounding space; but there is a mag
netlc quality in the electric fluid, that
indicates something of 4 nature vet
undiscovered; there may be a distinct
element in this irresistible force OF mo.
ton. Fire will not naturally adhere
10 lndurated bodies; it requires VIC.
lent and continued motion TO muse
its particles, and to make it separate
the atoms Of iron; but lightning in
stantIy decomposes that substance,
and reduces it to a state of fusion. 1t
seems likely from this experimental
process, that an element more pene-
trating and keener than fire prevades
the universe, and another still on ad
infnitum.
Air is indistructible; that is. you
cannot change its %nature;i il will still
be air under whatever process you
may place it; yo cannot make it any-
thing else; but its quality may alter,
and Is subject 10 perpetual changes,
such as hot, cold, moist, and dry; these
are variations, but only in the effect
tina, il produces, according TO circum,
stances, for 1t loses nothing ofits SUBJ
stance. nor TRANSFORMERS into any 9TH
er element. Tins PECULIARLY also en-
c'udes the possibility OF analysis, or
divisions OF It's parts.
The elasticity ofthe air, which gives
il transparency, is that quality winch
enables US 10 see objects distinctly;
the light passes through II o the or
CANS OF sight, and penetrating /" the
"ptic nerve. pictures the form of sub
stances by reflection upon the visual
tablet. Again. the atmosphere is most
admirably adapted TO sustain our OK,
istcnce bv the power it possesses OF
publication, and The exact adaptation
Of its substance for animal resplra-
ton; were it more dense than it is.
we should be in continual darkness;
were it more thin and rarefed, we
would not breathe 10 it, but must soon
expire.
Our atmosphere is the medium
through which LIGHT is communicated
l o US. and had we no atmosphere, we
should be unable TO distinguish one
object from another; for n food oil
light would inevitably destroy the
sight and deprive us of vision. just as
by fixing our eyes on a full-shInIng
sun, we shall for 4 moment after be
unable 10 see anything distinctly
LIGHT is transmitted through the al
inosphere in a broken or undulatIng
course; it enters the surrounding me
dunn through which we view in a d.
rect course, but becomes bent in the
descent, by which a luminous body
will appear higher than it really is "a
bove the horizon; this peculiarly may
be exemplifed by putting a straight
stick into water in a slanting direc-
ton; the end that is immersed will
seem crooked, and appear higherthan
it actually is, because the rays oil
light are conveyed into the water IN
The same refrangible ann as they
pass through the atmosphere. Plan
cts and comets are luminous through
the atmospheres that surround them,
whether the light they emit be Pri-
mary or reflected. LIGHT is not a
substance. but an effect Of some IN
Huence that operates on the elastic
element called ether, and can neither
be produced nor reflected without the
medium on which il has 10 act; mel
Their is SOUND Il substance, but the Ell
fec, of a conclusion on the ATMos'
pierre: for the blow of a hammer on
an exhausted receiver will make no
sound, nor could either light or sound
find a conductor to the eye or ear
without an atmosphere; yet, the at
mosphere is no, light nor sound, but
!, ;s The medium OF both; that is, the
element by which we are made SEN
siole of both, and through which we
realize their benefits.
Nose and Lips.-A sharp nose and
Thin lios are considered by physIog-