LIV EOYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



word "atoms'^ but speaks of the smallest parts ("partes minimas"). 

 He also employs the term lui divided, not indivisible — "partes indivisae.' 



Wilson appears to have regarded the word "massy" in the "Opticks" 

 as redundant, yet if it be omitted, we have only four essential properties 

 instead of the five given in the " Principia," 



Dalton's genius was as quickly recognized on the Continent as in 

 England, perhaps even more quickly. His experience on a visit to France 

 presents another instance of noble generosity among lovers of Science. 

 He was so warmly welcomed by the members of the French Institute, 

 and so much more honoured than among his own countrvanan that on 

 his return ho'me, although not given to express his feelings, he said, 

 " If any Englishman has reason to be proud of his reception in France, 

 I am that one." 



Present View of the Atom. Transformation of Matter. 



The latest advance in the study of the constitution of matter is that 

 the I>altonian atom is of a very complex nature, a kind of infinitesimal 

 plametary system in iiself, which in the case of some, at least, of the 

 chemical elements, seventy or so in number, is breaking up by its own 

 internal energy, projecting a number of particles, and, after a series 

 of steps, exhibiting a veritable transformation of one element into 

 another. In this manner uranium is the parent of radium, and radium 

 is the parent, of helimn. Further changes are the subject of eager 

 investigation which is now in rapid and breathless progress. 



Many in Canada are engaged in the research, which had its origin 

 a few years ago in the investigations that followed the discovery of the 

 X rays, which are now so familiar to us all, and so startled us at first 

 in exhibiting the skeleton of the hand of a living man. 



Ten years ago Henri Becquerel of Paris discovered that uranium 

 could produce in the dark, what, for want of a better word may be 

 called photographic efEects similar to those of the X-rays; the explana- 

 tion being! that uranium is constantly sending off invisible radiations, 

 i.e. streams of particles, whose action is thus made visible. 



M. and Mme. Curie, undertaking a patient examination of all the 

 chemical elements in search for any with similar properties discovered 

 radium in 1898. 



The extraordinary phenomena exhibited by this and certain other 

 elements, were linked together by the theory already given which had 

 its birth in Canada and has been accepted generally throughout the 

 scientific world. Its authors were Dr. Eutherford and ]\Ir. Soddy. 

 Canada unfortunately has been unable to retain Mr. Soddy, but after 

 going to England his work in the same direction bore gopd fruit; for 



