644 PLATEAU ON THE PHENOMENA OF A FREE LIQUID MASS 



the two terminal portions, at least so long as the constrictions 

 have not attained their greatest depth ; but beyond that point 

 this will not exactly be the case, for independence being then 

 established between the masses, each of the dilatations, excepting 

 that which rests upon the solid base, will enlarge simultaneously 

 on both sides, so as to pass into the condition of the isolated 

 sphere, by appropriating to itself the two adjacent semi-constric- 

 tions, whilst the extreme dilatation can only enlarge on one side. 

 Consequently, after the termination of the phaenomenon, we 

 should find, at one of the solid bases, a portion of a sphere of 

 but little less diameter than that of the isolated spheres, and at 

 the other base a much smaller portion of a sphere, arising from 

 the semi-constriction which has remained attached to it. 



Lastly, in the third place, let us suppose that the terminal por- 

 tions of the figure were both constrictions, in which case, after 

 the termination of the phasnomenon, a portion of a sphere equal 

 to the smallest of the two above would be left to each of the solid 

 bases. In this case, to be more definite, let us start from one of 

 these terminal constrictions, for instance that of the left. All the 

 liquid lost by this first constriction being driven into the conti- 

 guous dilatation, and being sufficient for its development, let us 

 admit that all the liquid lost by the second constriction also 

 passes into the second dilatation, and so on ; then all the dilata- 

 tions, excepting the last on the right, will simply acquire their 

 normal development; but the right dilatation, which, like each 

 of the others, receives from that part of the constriction which 

 precedes it the quantity of liquid necessary for its development, 

 receives in addition the same quantity of liquid from that part 

 of the constriction which is applied to the adjacent solid, so that 

 it will be more voluminous than the others. Hence it is evident, 

 in the case in point, that the opposed actions of the two terminal 

 constrictions introduce an excess of liquid into the rest of the 

 figure. Now, whatever other hypothesis may be made respecting 

 the distribution of the movements of transport, it must always 

 happen, either that the excess of volume is simultaneously distri- 

 buted over, all the dilatations, or that it only augments the 

 dimensions of ore or two of them ; but the former of these sup- 

 positions is evidently inadmissible, on account of the complica- 

 tion which it would require in the movements of transport; 

 hence we must admit the second, and then the isolated spheres 

 will not all be equal. Thus this third mode of transformation 



