will liberate ten times more electricity than another set of the same size and revolved at the same rate? His answer no doubt would be, that the one set of magnets contains ten times more of that mysterious magnetic property that develops the electric current than the other, and consequently is ten times better adapted to liberating the substantial but immaterial electric fluid from the natural fountain of force. Why can he not apply the same reasoning to soundforce, with all the insuperable facts and arguments here presented, and let the impracticable notion of air-waves assumed by his theory be cast to the scientific dogs, where it should have gone long ago? without the least hesitation-should leave no room for doubt on the part of young scientists either here or in England who have no prejudices to conserve. A. WILFORD HALL, Ph. D., LL.D. Editor of the MICROCOSM, New York. ASSUMPTIONS IN REGARD TO LIGHT. The wave-theory is the arch beggar of the age. There is scarcely a position taken it its or heat in which it does not beg the main own defense whether relating to sound, light question. With a view to testing the truth of this assertion let us look into a few of the chief assumptions as to the nature of light. 1. The existence of ether extending through all space, interstellar and interplanetary, is conDr. Taylor would hardly be satisfied at this fidently assumed in order that light may have enlightened day to look upon that marvelous the means of traveling everywhere in the electric fluid, that is now working such me- shape of undulations of said ether. This huge, chanical wonders, as the mere vibration of the but to them indespensable, petitio principii is defended with all the earnestness due to a well air caused by the rotation of the dynamos. ascertained scientific fact. The assumption On the contrary, his common-sense would the being vital to the theory its defense is unbetter be satisfied by regarding electricity, as avoidable, for how could the sun send its unwell as the magnetism which aids in its liber-dulations over ninety odd millions of miles if there were no medium by which to carry these ation, as a substantial something,- -as a real undulations? How could light reach our atthough immaterial entity. Why not then ap-mosphere where undulations are possible ply the same common-sense logic to soundforce, and look upon it as an objective, substantial, though immaterial entity, which addresses our sense of hearing practically on the same principle as substantial odor addresses our sense of smell? No one thinks of teaching that odor consists of the motion of the air, or that we smell by the vibration of the nasal membrane set into simple harmonic oscillations by the odorous pulses issuing from a flower garden. Nor does any scientist teach that we taste the various delicate flavors by our palate "swinging to and fro with the motion of a pendulum." Nor would any man be so wedded to wave-motion as to insist that we see by the to and fro oscillation of the retina when it is known that any motion of any part of the eye, however minute, interferes with our sight. Of what use then are the analogies of nature if we do not view all our sensations from the same substantial standpoint, and abandon the preposterous idea that the tympanum (not a stretched membrane as usually supposed, but a flaccid mass of tendenous fiber) was ever intended to vibrate to and fro to every sound heard, as well as distinctly to reproduce the vibrations of a hundred conflicting instruments at the same time! The fact that the wave-theory falls helpless at our feet in attempting any kind of answer to the difficulties sprung in this paper, while the substantial theory unstammeringly advances to the footlights-answering with a clear, ringing yes and no in every case and without an undulating medium of some kind? fense of the ether theory a necessity however This demand of the wave-theory makes the depresumptuous it may seem to all unprejudiced men. But if light as taught by the Substantial Philosophy is a real entity lying along not far from the line which separates the material from the immaterial, why could not solar force send it across said space in straight lines as well as in supposed crooked ones? And why could not this be done with less expenditure of stant perturbation the illimitable depths of energy than would be needed to keep in consuch ether? If our sun has forever to keep up such agitation to the most distant planet28,000,000,000 miles-making one orbit of 56,000,000 diameters and extending the same distance in all directions, the mechanical force required would be an inconceivable waste, and as the Creator seems always to execute the economical principles it is hard to believe that mechanical work of the universe on the most He has made an exception to his general rule in this case. The space embraced in a shell of solar light of 56,000,000,000 miles radius would contain more than three quadrillions of cubic of which must be kept in unceasing commomiles of ether (3,000,000,000,000,000,000,000) all tien by force of solar rays if the ether theory be true. I do not affirm the negative of this, for it is not our present duty to affirm negatives so much as to point out the huge petitio principiorum of the undulatory philosophy. The duty of the hour with physicists, therefore, is to show first that there are any waves of sound, light or heat, and if this can not be not be provided for by Substantialism just as proved why every scientific requirement can well. 2. Another assumption is, that admitting the undulations of light as it flies from the sun to the moon, and that it also waves its way from the moon to the earth, how could said tiny waves go dashing at the rate of 192,000 miles per second against the craggy surface of the moon and not be too much deranged to pick themselves up again, reorganize and come on in good shape to the earth? Let no one suppose that we are trifling either with the facts or the logic of the case, for all wave theorists hold them to be real and veritable waves produced in a material substance, and of course they are subject to physical laws no matter if billions of them do pass a given point every second. If they are not too small to be created they are not too small to be destroyed, and who knows that lunar reflection has force enough to reform them and drive them onward again just as they started from the sun? Scientists well know that "the light of the sun is 600,000 times as powerful as that of the moon," and also that the moon reflects none of the sun's heat, so that with no solar heat and only 600,000 of its light the theory has but a poor showing from a lunar standpoint. Should it be true that undulations are the very nature of light,-are light itself,- and do not need to be formed either on sun or moon, we reply that light waves would be very unlike waves of air or water, for these confessedly are generated by external forces. Here are the winds, bells, prongs of tuning-forks and stringed instruments supposed to produce waves, and should it now be held that luminous waves are not generated by some sort of solar force it will greatly weaken the argument for the generation of sound waves on earth by forces exterior to the waves themselves. But if it be conceded that it requires all the power of King Sol-both heat and light-to cause said luminous waves to reach the moon, what power has Queen Luna with only 000 of solar light and none of its heat to reorganize said smashed-up waves and send them on to us at precisely the same speed, right side up and in good order? I would remind the reader again that it is not my business to-day to prove a negative, but to present this second petitio of this giant scientific beggar-the wave-theory of soundand to suggest how easily all these difficulties are overcome by the theory of Substantialism; for if light is an immaterial substantial entity emanating from the sun and flying by some law of conduction not yet understood, its striking the moon and glancing or reflecting off to the earth is as natural as the boundings of a rubber ball from the oblique surface of a wall. 66 3. It is well known to physicists that "In numerous phenomena light exerts a chemical action (Ganot), which would be impossible if light were nothing but motion." Chloride of silver blackens under the influence of light; transparent phosphorus becomes opaque; vegetable coloring matters fade." Not only so, but the chemical action differs in different parts of the spectrum. It is more energetic in violet than in any other part, and then away beyond the violet are the invisible and still more refrangible actinic rays from the sun of decided chemical power. Then it is admitted that "the most remarkable chemical action which light exerts is in the growth of plants,' and that "under the influence of the sun's rays the chemical attraction which holds together the carbon and oxygen is overcome." * "When we burn petroleum or coal we reproduce in some sense the light which the sun has expended in former ages in the production of a primeval vegetable growth." * * The assumption that light is a nonentity as soon as what is supposed to be its luminous vibrations have ceased, requires its advocates to account for this stored up power it possesses after geological ages have rolled into the eternity past, and ready to leap into active and even violent energy as soon as the necessary chemical conditions are present. Now if the sun's rays were nothing but undulations of ether, air or of both, how are we to explain its chemical power, its influence on vegetation, and many other powers we have not space to mention? It becomes luminous when it reaches our atmosphere, but beyond that it may be as invisible as when locked up and packed away for millions of years in coal beds, mineral oils and otherwise, without even suspecting its own potential nothingness. We touch the piano keys and thereby tap nature's great reservoir of sound force; we develop the subterranean_storehouses of carboniferous deposits, and flames of sunlight break away from their long confinement to contradict the notion that light is and always has been a nonentity-but here we pause for the present, hoping ere long to dig a little deeper into this mine of argumentation for Substantialism. THE EFFECTS OF OUR ATMOSPHERE ON THE APPARENT SIZE OF HEAVENLY Dr. Hall,-I need not say that it is with diffidence the following thoughts are exposed to public view, and that nothing but a desire to know the truth impels me to write them. The atmosphere acts as a convex lens, and magnifies all bodies seen through it, as much as a glass lens of the same refracting power. Is not this self-evident? The disc of the sun, at the zenith, subtends an angle of 33'. How much of this is due to refraction? Have astronomers made any allowance for such refraction? It occurs to me that the sun's disc ought to be magnified, even when at the zenith, and that it ought to increase in diameter as it recedes from that point and goes towards the horizon, because the atmospheric lens increases in thickness. This may be the cause of the sun's enlarged appearance at sunset or sunrise. I respectfully suggest that the MICROCOSM investigate this subject. If my conjecture is not faulty, very important results must follow. The atmospheres of the planets may be, and no doubt are, of such thickness and density as to cause the sun to appear to all nearly alike, and, of course, to equalize the amount of light and heat received by them. The appearance of the sun, and the amount of light and heat at the different planets, as given in astronomy, depend upon the law of decrease according to squared distance, and were calculated independently of atmospheric conditions. The densities and specific gravities of the sun and planets, mentioned in text-books, are evidently unfounded, and should be expunged from the record. Yours truly, LIFE AND DEATH. D. JAMES. BY J. I. SWANDER, D.D., PH.D. What is life? The question still challenges the wisdom of the world. Our observations of its phenomena, however, justify us in our attempts to give a definition of its essence. Preparatory to such an undertaking, we may assume that there are two orders of life in the universe-infinite and finite-and that while the one is distinct from the universe the other is a constitutional part thereof. We may also safely assume and assert that the latter form of this mysterious something is the product of the former. Even the great apostles of atheism have either been driven into silence or compelled to surrender the position they once occupied, that life is evolved from matter as a phenomenon thereof. Upon the other hand, Christian theism has of late years been so quickened and strengthened by the tenets and beneficial teachings of the Substantial Philosophy as to acknowledge no evolution except that which is rendered possible by previous involution. The life of the creation is from the Creator. It owes its existence to the pre-existent. To assume the existence of such a pre-existent Being is the essential starting-point, not only of all sound religious faith, but also of all truly rational thinking and logical reasoning. While Substantialism is largely in agreement at many points with the best teachings of other organic modes of thought, it yet goes beyond and rises majestically above all others by the originality and consistency of its claims that finite life is a substantial force, created and ordained of God as a constituent part of nature, and endowed with its own peculiar mission to animate matter, mould it into various gradations of organic forms, and thus enable it to praise the Creator for his goodness, wisdom and power as demonstrated in the grand economy and sublime purpose of the universe. is the result of the mastery of life-force over mere chemism; when they subside such subsidency is but the result of the reversal of this order. The chemical forces so gain upon the vital as to dissolve the organism and send its constituent elements back to their common reservoir. Hence of the animal, rather than of man, it may be said: "There is no death; what seems so is"-solution. Advancing, then, to the discussion of our subject proper, we lay down the proposition that only within the realm of rational being should death be viewed as such in fact. Passing by those apostate creatures "who kept not their first estate," and in consequence of their apostacy were "hurled headlong from the ethereal skies," we confine our inquiries, for the present, within the domain of the human. Here we have an order of beings each one of whom combines the spiritual as well as the sensuous and material in his personal and individual organization. As his spiritual substance is directly from God, and his person in the image of God, his well-being demands continued union and consequent communion with his Maker. All the lines of man's normal existence meet in a heavenly center, and the whole periphery of his proper being is so intoned with a divine melody that "Through all the compass of the notes it ran, The diapason closing full in man." The continuance of this harmony between man and his maker is the fundamental condition upon which man's spiritual and physical forces may continue to work with harmony in his wonderfully wrought constitution. In the rational domain disharmony is incipient death. Here we have death in reality. Because of the deathlessness of man's spirit, the perversion of the substantial life force of his personal being is the beginning of the death that never dies-an everlasting abortion-a failure to retain his proper dignity, and a consequent failure to attain his proper destiny. If the foregoing definition of finite life, the account of its origin and view of its nature be correct, it must, in logical reasoning, follow that death is something antithetic and in opposition thereto. If life is a substance, death must in some sense partake of the nature of a shadow. If life is from God, the actualization The foregoing is an intimation that death in of the possibility of death must have had a the human family is the development of sin. different genesis. If life is a positive entity, But whence is sin? It is the realization death must in some sense be like unto a neg- of a possibility. Then whence is the possiative quantity. If life is a force, death must bility? It has a two-fold basis-anthropologbe either an unqualified weakness or a perver-ical and theological. In other words it grounds sion of vital force. (See our "Substantial itself in human liberty of choice and in the Philosophy," chapters xi. and xii.) divine purpose to produce a creature possessed of and perfected in that moral goodness which is not attainable except through voluntary obedience. It should, however, always be borne in mind that there was no necessity for the sad realization now seen in the records of history. Hence it follows in logical reasoning that while the possibility of death was a necessity in the essential constitution of man, death itself was not forced arbitrarily into the race or upon the world. In this paper we will aim to confine ourself to the discussion of our subject as it relates to the rational domain of finite being. The vegetable and animal orders of organic existence are not subject to death in the sense that that term is properly used when applied to the human race. The dissolution of the plant does not disturb the harmony of nature or make it subject unto vanity. The subsidency of the animal is in accordance with the Creator's purpose. In either case the economy of nature is helped rather than harmed; no violence is done when plants and animals live just long enough to fulfill their mission in the wise and subordinate purpose in the general constitution of things. Barring cruelty and needless destruction by man, the animal surrenders its life-force in an orderly way. Beginning, living and growing it appropriates only from nature, and ceasing to live it yields back the original elements of its organic subsistence. There is no violence done to any law; no matter is annihilated; no force has been destroyed or abnormally dissipated. While the plant and the animal grow such growth We now lay down the next proposition, viz.: that just as little as animals can sin and die, as a consequence thereof, so little could sin and consequent death have entered the organism of humanity through the animal or physical side of its being. Whatever there may have been of incipient lust or sensual desire awakened in the primitive head of the race, it certainly did nothing more than to open the way for sin and consequent death to make their beginning in the spirit side of human existence. In whatever manner the instigation confronted and entered man's spiritual being, the possibility of sin was first actualized in his spirit-at that point tual energies of the world's advanced and ad- where the human stands in touch with the Christian civilization so quickens the intellecDivine and continued thence its development through the province of the soul into the body. The record of inspired history shows that such was the fact. Although man died spiritually on the very day-in the very instantthat he transgressed, the power of death, i.e., the perversion of the substantial life-force of his personal being, was gradual in its march into his corporeity. There is no record that there was a genuine case of bodily death until nearly 1,000 years after the Creation. Abel's early departure partook more of the nature of martyrdom than of mortality. Death, however, reigned from Adam to Moses. The struggle between two laws, or rather two antagonistic forces, was continued in Adam's corporeal nature for 930 years, "and he died." Several of his posterity attained to even a greater longevity. After Noah's time the age of man began to shorten. The death-force, i.e., the perverted life-force, asserted itself with ever-increasing power. At the time of Moses-a 1,000 years after the flood-it was only by reason of strength that some could pass their four-score years. At the present time the average duration of life in the world does not exceed thirty years, and would doubtless fall very much below that number were it not for the blessings of Christianity and the consequent benefits of Christian civilization which are constantly dispensing their sanitary influences over many of the nations and individuals of the earth. "And so it is written, the first man, Adam, was made a living soul, the last Adam was made a quickening spirit." Christ came that men might have also physical life, and have it more abundantly. Christianity brings a sanitary influence upon the human body, as well as a sanctifying substance into the human soul. He who fails to see this as one of the benefits of the incarnation had better mount another pair of soteriological spectacles. Statistics show most clearly that there is a marked increase in the average duration of life in those countries and under those conditions of society where Christianity and Christian civilization are dispensing the healing benefits which come fontally from "Him who came to destroy death" by giving new life to the world. This fact has been carefully observed by the actuaries of life insurance companies in settling the basis of their calculations. Dr. Lange, in his excellent commentary, says: "So does the healing of the the spirit-life, then the life of the soul, and new life mark its passage; first in renewing finally becoming visible in the restoration of a new corporeal capacity for transformation at the end of the world." Perhaps it is in this view of the truth that we are enabled to see the meaning of Isaiah, 65:20. The power of death shall be so diminished that "there shall be no more thence an old man that hath not filled his days for the child shall die an hundred years old." Such greater longevity is attainable. 1. Because the life of the second Adam, the quickening spirit, is already at work in the organism of humanity, delivering it from the "bonds of corruption," and freeing it from the "law (force) of sin and death." 2. Because that under the influence of Christianity men are led to look upon life as worth living, and are consequently less disposed to shorten its course in senseless dissipation. 3. Because DR. SWANDER'S NEW BOOK. that Dr. Swander, our able contributor, has We were surprised as well as pleased to learn for some time been writing a new volume on titled "The Substantial Philosophy, Vol. II." the Substantial Philosophy. It is to be enThe size of the book is not yet determined, but the price we learn will not be more than $1, by mail. We shall announce the full details of this volume as soon as it is in shape to be examined either complete or in advance proofs. The preparation of this volume, with other important literary and educational work, has, silence for months past, which he has now as we learn, been the cause of Dr. Swander's broken in this number of the MICROCOSM. We shall hope to hear often from the doctor's pen rush of work. now that he seems to have gotten over his first volume of the "Substantial Philosophy" He wishes us to say to our readers that his will still be sent by mail to all who may desire a copy for 65 cents-its actual cost of production and postage. No clergyman should neglect to secure a copy of this book at the all orders to Rev. J. I. Swander, D. D., Ph. D., price named, as it is a work of nearly 400 pages-the published price being $1.50. Send Fremont, Ohio. THE TIME TO RENEW OR SUBSCRIBE. This number commences the VIIIth volume of the MICROCOSM. If the reader, whoever he may be, shall consider the articles herein contained as indicative that twelve such numbers will be worth 50 cents, we will be glad to put the name of such reader on the mailing list as one of our subscribers. We send this number to all our old subscribers, and intimate that now is the time to renew for the present volume if it has not already been attended to. If, in stopping the MICROCOSM after this number to those not renewing, any mistakes shall occur, our bookkeeper will immediately make correction with thanks on being notified by postal card. Two new names will entitle the sender to the third copy of Vol. VIII. free. A club of 10 new names will be supplied with Vol. VIII. at 30 cents each ($3), while a club of 20 at one time with $5 will be marked paid for the next volume, with any additional names at 25 cents. OUR SCIENTIFIC LIBRARY. Since the "Problem of Human Life," our first scien tific book, was issued, we have published nine other 1. Problem of Human Life. 3. Two volumes of Scientific Arena. Total... 2.00 .50 $12.50 All these volumes will be sent by express for.... 6.00 7.50 We make this offer at actual cost for the purpose of spreading a knowledge of the Substantial Philosophy. Vol. VII., MICROCOSM, now completed and bound, will be added to the above library for $1 extra. to be inoculated, Dr. Koch tells the physicians that the "lymph" is so expensive and difficult of preparation that it will be several weeks before he can have a supply, and even then only for the more important cases of the soldiers, and that the masses of the poor can not be inoculated at all without long waiting unless an appropriation be made by the government to meet the great cost of a supply of the lymph. The Emperor of Germany, as is reported, has been so impressed by Dr. Koch's claimed discovery that he earnestly recommends a large $2.00 appropriation expressly for the manufacture 8.00 of lymph, and a correspondingly large sum as a compensation to Dr. Koch for his discovery, so he can afford to give the whole secret to the world, both as to the production of the costly compound and the method of its application. Now we take the liberty of expressing our conviction, as we did of Browne-Sequard's elixir in advance of all other adverse criticisms, that this inoculation with anti-bacterial lymph in order to cure consumption unless Since the notice, a few months ago, that the ed-aided by another process is a chimera of the itor's large photograph would be sent at cost (25 cents) to those desiring it, several thousand copies have been ordered. It is quite natural that persons sending for the Health-Pamphlet should wish to inspect the present appearance of the man who forty-one years ago made the discovery of the treatment and who has steadily practiced it upon himself ever since. As a further encouragement to this wish on the part of purchasers, the doctor now proposes to send a copy of this photograph free to every purchaser who shall hereafter send the $4 for the Health-Pamphlet provided the desire for it be expressed in the same letter with the remittance. most fallacious and imaginary character, the reasons for which we will give. On the very face of the claimed process of inoculation of a consumptive with a vaccine by which alone to destroy the microbes that have taken possession of the patient's lungs, is, in our opinion, a self-evident absurdity. This diseased condition of the lungs being a disease of nutrition, is fed and re-inforced necessarily by the diseased condition of the blood and DR. KOCH'S CURE FOR CONSUMPTION. other circulating fluids of the body, and if these WHO FIRST SUGGESTED IT? BY THE EDITOR. or less than the one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter, would without assistance rout this army of occupation fortified and provisioned as it is for permanent possession? fluids shall continually carry to the lungs thus surcharged with bacilli the very food upon which they thrive and multiply, in the shape of The papers of Europe as well as of this coun- organic impurities and seeds of decay, is it likely try are now full of the new sensation,-a that a drop of this anti-bacillus lymph the claimed certain cure for consumption discov-one-five-hundredth part of a cubic centimeter, ered by the eminent German specialist, Dr. Koch. The most remarkable feature of this now widely-prevailing sensation is that without waiting for any well authenticated cases of cure of consumption the papers all over the civ- Not a syllable has Dr. Koch intimated as to ilized world should, as by concert of action, any necessity for hygienic aid to his anti-bachave taken up the cry of Dr. Koch's wonderful terial lymph in the shape of blood purificadiscovery almost precisely as was the elixir tion, when administered to a consumptive craze of Dr. Browne-Sequard caught up and pro- patient. Had his claim been to prevent by inclaimed without waiting for authenticated and oculation alone consumption in persons who practical tests of its efficacy in prolonging life. had been exposed to that form of microbe, as From the vague hints given to the public it Pasteur claims to prevent hydrophobia in appears that Dr. Koch claims to have discov-sons who have been exposed to rabies and beered a certain “lymph” or vaccine which he fore the bacilli had become fortified in the orproduces by a secret process, and with which ganism, the claim might reasonably have been he inoculates consumptive patients, claiming admitted. thereby to neutralize the bacilli or parasites which cause that disease. This vaccination he administers by subcutaneous injections of the lymph on the back of the patient somewhere between the shoulders. He has not yet, as he admits, cured any case of consumption, but claims to have cured several cases of lupus, a kind of skin disease of a virulent character, and as supposed somewhat related to consumption in its tuberculous growth. per No one pretends to cure small-pox by inoculation alone; but vaccination aims to prevent those peculiar microbes which cause the disease from becoming fortified in the system after exposure. To cure small-pox as well as consumption, after such disease has become well-seated and its parasites have entrenched themselves in the vital parts, will, as we think, require more than the mere inoculation of the patient with the milder form of bacterial lymph. What would have been thought of Pasteur's claim had he pretended to cure hydrophobia with a sub-cutaneous injection of his lymph, and thus to stop the ravages of the disease after the rabid bacteria had swarmed through So important is this claimed discovery considered by prominent physicians in Germany, even in advance of all adequate proofs by experimentation of its actual cure of consumption, that extensive preparations are already making for gathering into suitable barracks all the consumptives of the army for treat-out the entire vascular system and had set the ment by this new process. But a hitch occurs just here. After vast numbers of sufferers are collected and waiting brain, heart, lungs and stomach on fire? |