268 



to be easily and noiselessly swung in and out of the path of the radia- 

 tion from the window. It was noticed that when the lead was interposed 

 the intensity of the sparlc gap as seen through the ground glass di- 

 minished considerably and increased again when taken away. This was 

 what we were lool^iug for. Of course we thought that after weeks of 

 vain effort we Avere to be rewarded. After changing our apparatus a 

 little the results were just the reverse oi what we expected. We also 

 noticed the character of the sound of the vibrator of the induction coil 

 changed in unison with the intensity. A little investigation showed that 

 a slight pressure anywhere on the table would produce the same effect. 

 It seemed that the vibrator was vibrating about a point of nearly un- 

 stable equilibrium. A slight change of level of the table caused the 

 vibration to be different and thus cause a different intensity of the 

 spark. The weight of the screen as it was swung to and fro was enough 

 to change the level of the table, which was an ordinary wooden one set 

 solidly on a concrete basement floor. 



A three-glower 220 volt Nernst lamp was substituted for the Wels- 

 bacli lamp. The results were the same as before. 



Our results are all negative. After experimenting for some months 

 and appreciating the difficulties and the various psychial phenomena 

 that may enter we are tempted to believe, as some others do, that 

 the various French physicists have been misled. On the other hand, 

 when we consider that the experimenters on this phenomenon have 

 world-wide reputation, we can not tlilnk that such men as Blondlot, 

 Charpentier, or Becquenl would rush into print on a subject of which 

 they were not al)Solutely certain, especially on one that has lieen called 

 in question by noted physicists. 



It is our intention to remodel our apparatus in certain respects and 

 continue tlie investigation. 



Bibliography N-Rays. 

 R. Blondlot. 



New Light. 



Comptes Rendus 130. pp. 735-738, March 20. 1903. 



Journal de Physique, Yol. II, p. 339. 1903. 

 Rays from an Auer Burner. 



C. R. 13G, pp. 1120-1123, May 11, i:X)3. 



Journal de Physique, Vol. II. p. 4S1. 1903. 



