Were attraction a property of the atomic substance of the loadstone, it
could be neither transferable, receivable, nor liable to be destroyed
by fire. A magnet is a work of art, the substance is inert, it can
no more attract than think. Magnetism is an accident of matter; it
consists in the correlatives of an iron bar having become separated,
and drawn one to each end of the bar: separation and transition to
the extremities of the bar, are what the rubbing on the poles of the
loadstone effects.
Two paving-stones hanging a short distance asunder and touched by
nothing but the tranquil air, remain at rest; but should attract
each other had "every atom in creation" the property. Were a vacuum,
partial vacuum or air much rarer than atmospheric, now placed between
the suspended stones, each would be in motion towards the other the
same instant. Here both _causes_, the general pressure, and the
minus-pressure, or motion _promoting_ means, are given; the latter are
sensibly present, and the absence of attraction is as evident as the
inutility of anything of the kind to effect the mutual approach of the
two bodies. Not so is the approach of two magnets understood, because
the intermediate minus-pressure means _present_ are not sensible. That
iron magnets do not move together by attraction, or that attraction is
not the cause of the phenomena imputed to it, is proved in the case of
iron-filings dropping from a bar, when the connection of the bar with
the galvanic battery is broken; and it will not be contended that the
galvanic current is attraction.
In order to arrive at a knowledge of wherein consists the means which
subvert the equilibrium between two suspended magnets, reference
has to be made to the artizan's mode of operating in converting the
unmagnetised bar to a magnet. He holds the bar in the middle, and
draws one half along the pole of a loadstone; then draws the other
half along the other pole, and after a few such alternate _rubbings_
against the poles, the bar is a polarized magnet. From which it was
formerly supposed, that iron contains a magnetic fluid which the
loadstone rubbings divide, and draw half to each end of the bar. But
were such the fact, the ends or poles should be _equals_, whereas they
are magnetic opposites. Now, with more reason, it is considered that
iron includes two different, removable elements, (correlatives,) which,
by the manipulation on the loadstone, are drawn one to each end of the
bar, and there remain as polar atmospheres, and constitute what are
termed the polarities, or opposite polarities of the bar; the latter
opinion is somewhat confirmed by the corresponding manner in which iron
filings, while being scattered on a sheet of paper, become arranged
round the poles of a magnet lying under the paper.
The magnetic relation, which the polar atmospheres of any iron magnet
bear to those of every iron magnet, being the same as exists between
the polar atmospheres of every individual magnet, makes manifest, that
a certain pair of correlative elements is common to all magnetisable
iron; but without concluding that, by the same kind of correlatives,
the polarities are produced in bodies not ferruginous, which, if the
physical fact, so may the animal correlatives be different in some
instances. From which it follows, that no one mesmeriser can affect
mesmerically every person, nor any one person be so affected by all
mesmerisers. Neither are all persons "nervous" alike, which should
moderate the war cry against mesmerism generally because of failure in
some cases; and should awaken the philosophic mesmeriser, willing to
make perfect the science, to investigate the cause of exceptions and
difficulties.
Now, as respects the interposed minus-pressure means or matter, which,
by destroying the equilibrium, promote the approaching motion of two
suspended magnets; there is nothing whatever to refer to, but the
magnets themselves, that is, their polar atmospheres, which, together
or facing one another, make a rare or minus-pressure medium between
the proximate ends, into which both magnets are moved by the greater
pressure on their remotest ends. It lies with the previously-instructed
patient, while clairvoyant, through questioning by the mesmeriser,
to make close observation, and report all circumstances respecting
the magnetic lights; also, those attached to and proceeding from
the mesmeriser, towards elucidating this most of all recondite
subjects--magnetism, in the philosophy of physics. The mesmeriser
should hold in mind, that, probably the air between the facing ends of
two magnets is magnetically affected, that is, made a magnet in the
series by the other two; which seems to be the case when the patient is
magnetised at a distance from the mesmeriser by means of the pointed
finger, and by the _effect_ of will at a much greater distance.