498 Professor W. Chandler Boherts-Austen [March 15, 



point is, however, that the presence of one of the rarer metals must 

 have endued the soldier with his singular endurance, and in the end 

 left an incorruptible record of him. 



This incident has been taken as the starting-point of the lecture, 

 because we shall see that the ordinary metals so often owe remarkable 

 qualities to the presence of a rarer metal which fits them for special 

 work. 



This early love of metals is implanted in us as part of our " un- 

 squandered heritage of sentiments and ideals which has come down to 

 us from other ages," but future generations of children will know far 

 more than we did ; for the attempt will be made to teach them that 

 even psychology is a branch of molecular physics, and they will 

 therefore see much more in the melted toy than a shapeless mass of tin 

 and lead. It is really not an inert thing ; for some time after it was 

 newly cast, it was the scene of intense molecular activity. It probably 

 is never molecularly quiescent, and a slight elevation of temperature 

 will excite in it rapid atomic movement anew. The nature of such 

 movement I have indicated on previous occasions when, as now, I 

 have tried to interest you in certain properties of metals and alloys. 



This evening I appeal incidentally to higher feelings than interest, 

 by bringing before you certain phases in the life-history of metals 

 which may lead you to a generous appreciation of the many excellent 

 qualities they possess. 



Metals have been sadly misunderstood. In the belief that animate 

 beings are more interesting, experimenters have neglected metals, while 

 no form of matter in which life can be recognised is thought to be 

 too humble to receive encouragement. Thus it is that bacteria, with 

 repulsive attributes and criminal instincts, are petted and watched 

 with solicitude, and comprehensive schemes are submitted to the 

 Royal Society for their development, culture, and even for their 

 "education,"* which may, it is true, ultimately make them useful 

 metallurgical agents, as certain micro-organisms have already proved 

 their ability to produce arseniuretted hydrogen from oxide of arsenic. f 



It will not be difficult to show that methods which have proved 

 so fruitful in results when applied to the study of living things, are 

 singularly applicable to metals and alloys, which really present close 

 analogies to living organisms. This must be a new view to many, 

 and it may be said, " it is well known that uneducated races tend to 

 personify or animate external nature," and it is strange, therefore, to 

 attempt, before a cultured audience, to trace analogies which must 

 appear to be remote, between moving organisms and inert alloys, but 

 "the greater the number of attributes that attach to anything, the 

 more real that thing is." J Many of the less known metals are very 



* Dr. Percy Frankknd especially refers to the " education " of bacilli for 

 adapting them to altered conditions. Key. Soc. Proc. vol. lvi. 1894, p. 539. 



t Dr. Brauner. Chem. News, Feb. 15, 1895, p. 79. 



+ Lotze, ' Metaphysic,' § 49, quoted by Illingworth. ' Personality, Human 

 and Divine.' Bampton Lectures, 1894, p. 43. 



