MODE OF CONDUCTING AN ORIGINAL RESEARCH. 377 



importance ; such, for instance, as definite experiments to 

 test the existence of a new relation between two forces. 

 Oersted acted upon this plan ; he asked the question, 

 ' Are electricity and magnetism really related to each 

 other ? ' and ultimately discovered electro-magnetism ; 

 and Faraday in particular employed it, and found, after 

 many trials, magneto-electric induction, and the relation 

 of magnetism to light. Andrews also appears to have 

 acted upon it in his researches on the continuity of the 

 liquid and vaporous states of matter. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 



OUTLINE OF A MODE OF CONDUCTING AN ORIGINAL 

 RESEARCH. 



As it may be of service to young experimentalists, I give 

 the following condensed outline of the chief steps to be 

 taken in carrying out one of the commonest forms of ori- 

 ginal qualitative research in physics or chemistry. 



As discoveries are originated in a great variety of 

 ways, it is assumed that in this case the investigator is 

 already acquainted with some phenomenon or mode of 

 working, original or otherwise, 'which he believes may, by 

 his taking the requisite trouble, yield some new results. 



The first step to be taken is to prepare the necessary 

 substances and apparatus ; and if it is a chemical research, 

 to ensure at the outset the highest attainable degree of 

 purity of the substances. If apparatus is required, it is 

 necessary to consider carefully first its general plan (aided 

 by a sketch) and its proper magnitude, then each part of 

 it in succession, so as to secure what appear to be the 

 essential conditions of its action, and to exclude those 



