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7 
ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 10] 
in these spectra. I cannot find in what Mr. Lockyer has written 
that he goes farther than this, if quite so far.. But the Medical 
Tribune of April 15—a journal of scientific pretensions, publish- 
ed in New York—contains a well written article, by Dr. Wilder, 
its editor, based upon the Papers in the No. of Nature J have 
quoted, in which the argument of Prof. Lockyer is asserted to 
be, “that in hydrogen we have matter reduced to its lowest 
terms—the only one clement.” I do not think myself that Prof. 
Lockyer has made this a distinetly definite conclusion, but it affords. 
at all events, to the writer in the Tribune, an opportunity to as- 
sume for the hypothesis, or theory, of our associate, Mr. “Dewar, 
and his friend Dr. Fraser, a like degree of credence. These gen- 
tlemen have long since announced, in their ato-magnetic theory, 
that all primal atoms are either hydroge en or oxygen, mineral or 
vegetable, which Se the “hypothesis or theory of Prof. 
Lockyer, as stated by the Tribune, but is of earlier date, and 
were it substantiated by experiment, would be as little objection- 
able. The writer in the Tribune, favorable to Mr. Lockyer’s 
hypothesis as to the principle involved, objects “ that as hydrogen 
is not a luminous substance, and, therefore, is of itself without 
motion, and, being molecular, must have been built up from atoms 
of a still more elementary character, there must be some force 
acting upon.it to set its atoms in motion.” Here again comes 
into play Messrs. Dewar and Fraser’s plausible theor y of the 
magnetic polarity of atoms. He quotes the suggestions of other 
scientists to account for this motion ; also, that electricity, by 
inducing the primal atoms to assume polarity, may cause the first 
motion by means of the attraction and repulsion of the two poles, 
the positive and the negative; and gives a reason to show that 
the element denominated hydrogen, when negatively electric 
and uneombined, is identical with the substance known as oxygen. 
Thus the theory is similar to that of Prof. Lockyer, but with a 
difference. Ido not pretend to understand the processes which 
have prompted these several speculations, generally alike. 
Neither appears to have advanced much beyond the confines of 
enquiry, and we may be content to await with patience their 
further investigation. To those interested in its progress, I 
would recommend a study of the articles in Nuture of January, 
1879, and to supplement them with that in the Medical Tribune 
of April 15, following. Perhaps in time the spectroscope may 
help us to a satisfactory solution of the difficulties. 
To the spectrum and the microscope we may look for some of 
the most valuable discoveries ever made in the realms of science. 
