Page:On an inversion of ideas as to the structure of the universe.djvu/55

 that the granular medium, as already defined, accounts by purely mechanical considerations for the evidence; and also affords the only purely mechanical explanations possible.

If then the substructure of the universe is mechanical, all the evidence, not already adduced, is such, as may be accounted for, by an extension of the analysis; and, thus far, this has been found to be the case.

Thus we have the purely mechanical explanation of the absorption of light by the molecules of matter;

The dispersion of the spectrum;

The association and dissociation of the molecules;

The refraction of light;

The polarization of light by reflection, and as it now appears this is caused only by that component of the motion of the transverse wave which is in the plane of incidence; also

The metallic reflection of light;

And of the aberration of light, as resulting from the absence of any appreciable resistance to the passage of matter through the medium.

Then, considering that not one of these phenomena had previously received a mechanical explanation, it appears how indefinitely small