268 



to be easily and noiselessly swung in and out of the path of the radia- 

 tion from the window. It was noticed that when the lead was interposed 

 the intensity of the sparlv gap as seen through the ground glass di- 

 minished considerably and increased again when taken away. This was 

 what we were looking for. Of course we thought that after weeks of 

 vain etfort we were to be rewarded. After changing our apparatus a 

 little the results were just the reverse oi what we expected. We also 

 noticed the character of the sound of the vibrator of the induction coil 

 changed in unison with the intensity. A little investigation showed that 

 a slight pressure anywhere on the table would produce the same effect. 

 It seemed that the vibrator was vibrating about a point of nearly un- 

 stable equilil)rium. A slight change of level of the table caused the 

 vibration to be different and thus cause a different intensity of the 

 spark. The weight of the screen as it was swung to and fro was enough 

 to change the level of the table, which was an ordinary wooden one set 

 solidly on a concrete basement floor. 



A three-glower 220 volt Xernst lamp was substituted for the Wels- 

 bacli lamp. The results were the same as before. 



(Mir results are all negative. After expi-rimenting for some months 

 and appreciating the ditticulties and the various psychial plienomena 

 that may enter we are tempted to believe, as some others do, that 

 the various French physicists have been misled. On the otlier hand, 

 wlien we consider that the experimenters (in this phenomenon have 

 world-wide reputation, we can not thiuu tliat such men as Blondlot, 

 Charpentier, or Becquenl would rush into print on a subject of which 

 tliey were not absolutely certain, especially v.n one that has lieen called 

 in (luestion by noted physicists. 



It is our intention to remodel our apparatus in certain respects and 

 continue the investigation. 



Bibliography N-Rays. 

 R. Blondlot. 



New Light. 



Comptes Rendus 136, pp. 735-738, March 20, 1903. 



Journal de Physique, Vol. II, p. 339. 1903. 

 Rays from an Auer Burner. 



C. R. 136, pp. 1120-1123, May 11. i;X)3. 



Journal de IMiysique, Vol. II, p. 481. 1903. 



