PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS—SECTION B. 65 
Recent physical investigations have thrown wonderful light on 
the nature and functions of the ether, for a simple account of 
which I refer you'to that fascinating book by Professor Lodge, 
entitled “Modern Views of Electricity.” In his preface to the 
work he says “the evidence for (the existence of) ether is as 
strong and direct as the evidence for (the existence of) air,” and 
he regards it as “‘a perfectly continuous, subtle, incompressible 
substance pervading all space, and penetrating between the 
molecules of all ordinary matter, which are embedded in it and 
connected with one another by its means.” If there be such an 
all-permeating form of matter, does it not seem improbable that 
this substance should exist separate, distinct and different from 
all other forms of matter, and having no share in their compo- 
sition? Is it not more likely that it forms an essential part of 
all forms of matter known to us, and is it not possible that the 
known effects of heat, light and electricity, for all of which this 
ether is undoubtedly the means of transmission, are either due to, 
or at least would be greatly aided by, its presence as a con- 
stituent part of the matter upon which the effects are produced ? 
You are doubtless well aware that Sir W. Thompson has 
elaborated what is known as the vortex theory of matter, which 
represents the atoms as vortex rings formed of the substance of 
the ether, he having demonstrated that vortex motion is capable 
of conferring upon a fluid such as the ether the necessary rigidity. 
In speaking of this, Professor Lodge says:—‘“The atoms of 
matter are not so much foreign particles imbedded in the all- 
pervading ether, as portions of it differentiated off from the rest 
by reason of their vortex motion, thus becoming virtually solid 
particles, yet with no transition of substance: atoms indestruc- 
tible and not able to be manufactured, not mere hard rigid 
specks, but each composed of whirling ether—elastic, capable of 
definite vibration, of free movement, of collision.” 
Whatever opinions we may hold on these subjects, there is not 
one of us but must feel, I think, that the scientific atmosphere 
is pregnant with coming discoveries, though the boldest prophet 
may well hesitate to predict what they will be. In a few years 
chemistry, perhaps, will be reduced to a mere branch of the all- 
embracing science of physics, to be studied by differential 
equations and other mathematical processes yet to be invented. 
Already it is becoming more and more necessary for scientific 
chemists to be, not mere chemists, but also physicists and mathe- 
maticians. Let those of us who are not able to plunge into the 
more abstruse reasonings upon which some of the recently 
obtained results depend, content ourselves with doing our utmost 
to discover such new facts as lie within our reach, to aim at 
generalising these facts as far as possible, and so add to that 
storehouse of knowledge, by means of which those possessed of 
greater powers of analytical investigation than ourselves may be 
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