286 APPENDIX 



25 gallons. Thus he has two heaps of 25 gallons each. 

 So far he is quite in harmony with the possible, and 

 figures correspond with facts. 



But then the mathematical physicist goes a step 

 further. He says : I can multiply the 25 gallon heap 

 by the 25 gallon heap or multiply the two heaps 

 together. He thus argues that he can obtain a 

 "numerical value' 1 of 625 (i.e. 25x25). Now . what 

 does this numerical value mean ? It cannot be 625 

 gallons, for he has only 50 gallons, and this he has 

 proved by addition and subtraction. Here comes the 

 fundamental metaphysical error, and it is this error 

 Avhich clouds all natural phenomena. 



One asks oneself, how is it that the physicist obtains 

 such remarkable results by his mathematical processes ? 

 It is because in the system of pure mathematics the 

 "product" of multiplication is proportional to the 

 " sum " in addition. The following explains this : 

 Addition. . Multiplication. 



4 + 4 = 8 4x4 = 16 



4 + 5 = 9 4x5 = 20 



4 + 6^10 4x6=24 



4 + 7 = 11 4x7 = 28 



and so on ; thus in the above case the steps in addition 

 are by units, while the steps in multiplication are by 

 fours. Now the first operation (addition) in concrete 

 numbers can be performed, while the second (multipli- 

 cation) cannot be performed the conception is purely 

 metaphysical. 



It is this dwelling upon the impossible, which 

 prevents the physicist grasping the existence of this 

 subtile fluid Ether and its operations through and on the 

 atom or molecule. 



