"A semi-metaphysical hypothesis as to the nature of Elasticity was started by Descartes and extended by John Bernoulli and Euler. It is extremely unsatisfactory, but the attempt to found a valid dynamical theory by did not lead to any more definite results."
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/A_History_of_the_Theory_of_Elasticity_and_of_the_Strength_of_Materials