and
annulled by the presence of another loadstone.[178]

[167] M: pp. 121, 123, 124, 304, 305, 306, 307, 309.

[168] Gilbert defined the _orbis virtutis_ in the glossary at
the beginning of his treatise as, "... totum illud spatium,
per quod quaevis magnetis virtus extenditur." This is the
core of the difference between electric and magnetic forces.
The substantial form of an electric could not be "effused,"
but was "imprisoned" in matter (as the Neoplatonic soul in
the human body); while the primary form of a magnet did not
require a material carrier and its effusion was similar to
the propagation of a species in light.

[169] M: pp. 124, 150, 151.

[170] M: pp. 123, 307.

[171] M: pp. 304-307. See also p. 310, where it is stated
that the sun and earth could awaken souls.

[172] M: pp. 101, 110, 112, 123, 148, 149, 304, 305. This
awakening of the iron within the "orbis virtutis" is
comparable (pp. 216, 350) to the birth of a child under the
influence of the stars.

[173] M: pp. 110, 111, 112, 189, 216, 217. See also footnote
36.

[174] M: p. 106.

[175] M: pp. 106, 109, 110.

[176] M: pp. 113, 114.

[177] M: pp. 190, 192, 210-216.

[178] M: p. 209.

Although one does not normally find iron to be magnetized, a loadstone
always has some magnetism. That two bodies such as iron and loadstone
should have different properties is the result of the loss of a form
by the iron, but this form is still potentially present in the iron.
The iron that has been obtained from an ore has been deformed,[179]
for it has been placed "outside its nature" by the fire.[180] The
nature has not been removed, since, once the iron has cooled, the
confused form can be reformed by a loadstone. [181] The latter
"awakens" the proper form of iron.[182] After smelting, the magnetized
iron may manifest stronger powers than a loadstone of equal weight,
but this is because the primary matter of the earth is purer in the
iron than in the loadstone.[183] If fire does not deform a loadstone
too much, it can be remagnetized,[184] but a burnt loadstone cannot be
reformed.[185] Corruption from external causes may also deform a
loadstone or iron so that it can not be magnetized.[186] Bodies mixed
with the degenerate substance of the earth or with aqueous humor
spoilt by contamination with earth, do not show either electric
attraction or magneti