312 LIQUIDS AND GASES. 



and place one in each of this pair of scales and they balance. The 

 fact tliat a nnniber of areas thus measured gave the tlieoretical results 

 of itself furnishes a strong support of the Justice of the conclusions we 

 drew as regards the forms of these cnrves. 



To attempt to explain the reasons of this behavior would take more 

 time than can be given to-night; moreover, to tell the truth, we do not 

 know them. But we have at least partial knowledge and we may 

 hope that investigations at jiresent being carried out by Prof. Tait 

 may give us a clear idea of the nature of the matter and of the forces 

 which act on it, and with which it acts, during the continuous change 

 from gas to liqnid. 



