1882.] 265 [Chase. 



205 . Ratio of JEtliereal Elasticity to Density. 



In my first approximation to the ratio between atmospheric and sethereal 

 elasticities {Proc. Amer. Phil. Sac, ix, 440), I followed Herschel, in suppos- 

 ing that the velocity of light, in the interstellar spaces, is uniform, and that, 

 consequently, the elasticity of free tether varies directly as its density. The 

 same conclusion would follow from Newton's views (See Note 200), and 

 is involved in Edlund's discussions of the relations of electricity to heat. 

 Every additional evidence of harmonic relations, that is brought to light 

 through the application of the laws of gaseous elasticity to the kinetic 

 aether, is also an additional evidence of the truth of the hypothesis that all 

 physical energy is transmitted by means of a universally diffused elastic 

 medium. 



206. Spectrum of Lightning. 



Schuster (P. Mag., [5] vii, 319), gives some of his measurements, at 

 different times, of lines or bands in the lightning-spectrum, comparing the 

 means with two measurements which Vogel had deduced from his own 

 observations. The harmonic character of the lines is clearly shown by 

 the following tables. The value of a, in the harmonic divisors, is .01578.- 

 Schuster. Mean. Vogel. Harmonic. Harmonic Divisors 



5592 5592 1 



5348 



5329 5334 5341 5339 1 + 3 « 



5325 



5260 5260 1 + 4 a 



5175 



5193 5182 5184 5183 1 + 5 a 



5177 



207. Torsion, Flexion and Magnetism. 



G. Wiedemann {La Lumilre Electrique, vi, 90), in speaking of results 

 obtained by the torsion of wires and the flexure of rods, says that the phe- 

 nomena correspond so closely with those of magnetism that the words 

 "torsion" and "magnetism" are almost always interchangeable. This 

 is a further illustration of the identity of fundamental vis viva, which was 

 spoken of in Note 204, and which is especially exemplifted by the applica- 

 tion of Coulomb's torsional coefficient to solar rotation (Note 162). My 

 earliest "numerical relations of gravity and magnetism" {Proc. Amer. 

 Phil. Soc, ix, 355 — 60, 425 — 40, et al.) were based upon the mechanical 

 consequences of rotation in an elastic medium. 



208. Phyllotaxy and Atomic Heat. 



The constant product of atomic weight by specific heat, 6, which is indi- 

 cated by the law of Dulong and Petit, is ec|^uivalent to the continued pro- 

 duct of the first three numbers of the phyllotactic series 1x2x3. "Were 



