Contents.
Chapter I.
The Theory of the Aether in the Seventeenth Century.
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Matter and aether,
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1 |
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The physical writings of Descartes,
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2 |
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Early history of magnetism : Petrus Peregrinus, Gilbert, Descartes,
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7 |
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Fermat attacks Descartes' theory of light: the principle of least time,
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10 |
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Hooke's undulatory theory: the advance of wave-fronts,
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11 |
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Newton overthrows Hooke's theory of colours,
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15 |
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Conception of the aether in the writings of Newton,
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17 |
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Newton's theories of the periodicity of homogeneous light, and of fits of easy transmission,
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20 |
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The velocity of light: Galileo, Roemer,
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21 |
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Huygens' Traité de la lumière: his theories of the propagation of waves, and of crystalline optics,
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22 |
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Newton shows that rays obtained by double refraction have sides: his objections to the undulatory theory,
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28 |
Chapter II.
Electric and Magnetic Science, Prior to the Introduction of the Potentials.
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The electrical researches of Gilbert: the theory of emanations,
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29 |
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State of physical science in the first half of the eighteenth century,
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32 |
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Gray discovers electric conduction: Desaguliers,
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37 |
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The electric fluid,
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38 |
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Du Fay distinguishes vitreous and resinous electricity,
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39 |
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Nollet's effluent and affluent streams,
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40 |
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The Leyden phial,
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41 |
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The one-fluid theory: ideas of Watson and Franklin,
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42 |
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Final overthrow by Aepinus of the doctrine of effluvia,
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48 |
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Priestley discovers the law of electrostatic force,
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50 |
