A short view of electricity / [Benjamin Wilson].

  • Wilson, Benjamin, 1721-1788
Date:
1780
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A short view of electricity / [Benjamin Wilson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    SHORT VIEW O F ELECTRICITY. 1. |_jS LECTRICAL effeCts feem to depend principally upon J_y certain properties and circumjlances of that univerfal elaftic fluid, or cether, defcribed by Sir Ifaac Newton. 2. The earth, and all bodies upon it, as well as the air, (fo far as hath yet been experienced) have naturally a certain quantity of this fluid appropriated to them : which, being extremely fubtile and elaftic, is liable to be difturbed from a variety of caufes ; and when difturbed, will be continually endeavouring to recover its natural ftate. 3. Bodies are faid to be electrified, in the technical fenfe, when the natural quantity of this fluid is, by any caufe, either aug- mented or diminished. In the former cafe they are faid to be electrified plus: in the latter, minus. 4. Two very light bodies of the fame material, fize, and Shape, properly fufpended, and in their natural ftate, (fo far as re- fpeCts the fluid contained in them) do not change their place, but continue at reft. 5. Two fimilar bodies equally eleCtrified plus, that is, having re- ceived more of the fluid than naturally belongs to them, re- cede from each other. 6. Two fimilar bodies equally eleCtrified minus, that is, having lojl part of the fluid which naturally belonged to them, do alfo recede from each other. 7. Two fimilar bodies, equally eleCtrified, but in a contrary ftate, that is, the one having more and the other lefs of the fluid than