CH. in.] OF ELECTRICITY 23 



I have emphasised this matter of the ratio m to e, 

 or e to ra, because it plays a considerable part in 

 what follows. The absolute values are of less 

 consequence to us than the ratio, and are only known 

 approximately, but the ratio is known with fair 

 accuracy ; and the ratio e : m for hydrogen is very 

 nearly 10 4 magnetic units, or more exactly 9,660. 



Thus what we learn from electrolytic conduction, 

 briefly summarised, is that every atom carries a 

 certain definite charge or electric unit, monads 

 carrying one, diads two, triads three, but never a 

 fraction ; that in liquids these charges are definitely 

 associated with the atoms, and can only be torn away 

 from them at the electrodes ; that the current 

 consists of a procession of such charges travelling 

 with the atoms, the atoms carrying the charges, or 

 the charges dragging the atoms, according to the 

 point of view from which we please to regard the 

 process. 



