Febniary 6ih, igi2.] PROCEEDINGS. xxxi 



This result may be explained by supposing that the /3 

 particle initially is liberated within the atom endowed with a 

 certain speed, but that in escaping from the atom it may pass 

 through two or more regions in which the quantity of energy a 

 or /'' is abstracted. The number of these units of energy 

 abstracted will vary from atom to atom, each individual atom 

 probably giving rise to only a few of the types of /3 rays observed. 

 Evidence was given that the values a and ^ served as a measure 

 of the energy of the y rays emitted from radium, and were 

 connected with the energy of the /> particle required to excite 

 the characteristic radiations in the atoms of radium B or C. 



It is of great theoretical importance to examine with the 

 greatest care the nature of the emission of /3 rays from all the 

 known radio-active substances, for it promises to throw a great 

 deal of light on the interior structure of the atom. 



Ordinary Meeting, February 20th, 19 r 2. 



The President, Professor F, E. Weiss, U.Sc, F.L.S., 

 in the Chair. 



A vote of thanks was given to the donors of the books upon 

 the table, which included " T//e Medical Chronicle" vol. iv. 

 (1886)— vi. (1S87); New Series, vol. i. (1894)— x. (1899); 3rd 

 Series, vol. i. (1899) — iv. (1901); 4th Series, vol. i. (1901) — 

 xxii. (No. 3, Dec, 191 1), (8vo., Manchester and London); 

 presented by Dr. A. A. Mumford. Mr. Barnes also drew attention 

 to a few bound sets of Dr. A. N. Meldrum's seven papers on 

 " The Development of the Afoniic Theory" which are now offered 

 to members at 2/- per volume. 



Mr. T. G. B. OsBORN, M.Sc, gave a brief account of recent 

 investigations into the nature of the moulds which attacked 

 exported cotton goods. Several common fungi and bacteria 

 were found infecting the goods. 



