Researches on Magnetism, Electricity, Heat, Light, Crystallization, and Chemical Attraction; In Their Relations to the Vital Force (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1850. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... each other, and which are made on as many different persons. I shall therefore drop the very detailed and voluminous form of proof above employed for the fact of the existence of the light from magnets, and be satisfied with a smaller amount of testimony to my further observations. Yet in all things of any considerable importance, the reader will find, that I have seldom called as witnesses less than ten or twelve individuals. I would request the reader to judge of the account here to be given of my further researches into the phenomena of the odylic light in its various forms, with reference to the principles just enumerated. FORMS OF THE EMANATIONS OF ODYLIC LIGHT IN THE MAGNET. 336. The odylic light of magnets appears, as far as my researches at present extend, in five forms, exhibiting themselves as distinct to the eyes of the sensitive. These are-- 1. The odylic glow. 2. Odylic flames. 3. Threads, fibres, or feathery down. 4. Luminous vapour or smoke. 5. Scintillations. We shall consider each of these forms of odylic light successively. 1. ODYLIC GLOW ON STEEL MAGNETS. 337. We have seen that one of the first and most general phenomena, observed by almost all sensitives in complete and long-continued darkness, is a peculiar kind of luminous state, in which steel magnets appear as if feebly glowing or red hot, and which I know not how to call otherwise than the odylic glow. Of the nature and appearance of this glow I have already spoken in the preceding treatises, and have produced publicly the names of more than fifty earlier and later ocular witnesses to the fact of its existence. The next question is, whether the odylic glow remains at all times alike, or whether it is subject to variations, and what these are. 338. I showed to the boy Stephan Kollar, in t...