CHAPTER M1 
INORGANIC EVOLUTION 
F the atoms of the various chemical elements 
are in reality such complex bodies as the 
researches of physicists indicate, and especially if 
they are compounded of vastly different numbers of 
infinitesimally small corpuscles all of one size, merely 
varying in mode of arrangement and in their 
numbers and relative motions, it seems natural to 
ask whether any evidence can be obtained bearing 
(a) upon their genesis, or (4) upon their decomposi- 
tion or disintegration. 
Modern research has furnished us with something 
in both directions. The former kind of evidence 
has been derived from the stars, as studied by 
spectrum analysis; while for the latter knowledge 
we are indebted to quite recent researches—that is, 
to some of the astounding revelations concerning 
radium. 
The spectroscope has been assiduously used 
during the last forty years by Sir Norman Lockyer 
in studying the constitution of the sun and the stars. 
And his results, together with those of other workers 
in the same field, have led to the gradual building 
up of the doctrine of ‘‘ Inorganic Evolution.” With- 
out the aid of the spectroscope no such know- 
p <a) 
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