  A general proof of the optical theorem (also known as the optical
cross-section theorem) is presented that reveals the intimate connection
between the forward scattering amplitude and the absorption-plus-scattering of
the incident wave within the scatterer. The oscillating electric charges and
currents as well as the electric and magnetic dipoles of the scatterer, driven
by an incident plane-wave, extract energy from the incident beam at a certain
rate. The same oscillators radiate electro-magnetic energy into the far field,
thus giving rise to well-defined scattering amplitudes along various
directions. The essence of the proof presented here is that the extinction
cross-section of an object can be related to its forward scattering amplitude
using the induced oscillations within the object but without an actual
knowledge of the mathematical form assumed by these oscillations.
