14 



.\'. / 77 RE 



[M 



\\ 



1N9: 



chance. Then, also, there is the indicilion of the results 

 of an infinitely great number of grazes in the shape of 

 lines of metals which we see at the temperature of the 

 oxy-hydrogen flame, but which we do not see so well 

 at the temperature of the arc and the spark ; and, on the 

 other hand, there are indications of the results of high 

 temperature which we can study in the sun, and such obvious 

 indications of high temperature that we get the two lines 

 which I have referred to, neither of which has ever been seen 

 so far in any terrestrial laboratory, although they are very- 

 familiar indeed to students of solar physics. 



The total result of all this inquiry has been that the mean 

 temperature of the meteoritic jihenomena brought before us 

 by the nebula of Orion is distinctly low. That is a result of ex- 

 treme interest and importance, l>ecause, remembering what was 

 said almut the objection to I^place"s view of high temperature 

 gas Ixrcause it Wolated the laws of thermodynamics, we have 

 now, after minute study, come to a conclusion regarding the 

 stniclure of these nebul.c, which is quite in harmony with the 

 laws of thermodynamics. 



When the series of lines associated with high temperatures 

 was first recorded in the spectrum of the nebula;, I stated that 

 possibly this might be due to the fact that in regions of space 

 where the pressure always operative is extremely low, we might 

 l)e in ihe presence of chemical forms which are unfamiliar to us 

 here, because all that we know of here chemically is the result 

 probably of considerable temperature, and not very low pressure. 

 It was therefore supjwsed that these lines might represent to us 

 the action of unfamiliar conditions in space. Thus, if we have 

 a compound chemical substance, and increase its temperature 

 .sufficiently, the thing goes lo pieces — is dissociated ; but 

 imagine a condition of things in which we have that same 

 chemical substance for a long time exposed to the lowest pos- 

 .siblc pres.sure. Is it possible that that substance will ever gel 

 |)ulle<l to bits? If so, we may imagine [larts of sjace which 

 will contain these substances jiulled to bits which really con- 

 ilitute finer forms of matter than our chemical substances. .So 

 that we may logically cx|x.'Ct to get the finest |»ssible molecules 

 a.s distinct entities in Ihe regions where the pressure is the lowest 

 possible. These forms are. of course, those we should expect 

 to be produced by a very high temperature brought on by end- 

 on collisions; hence the line of thought is not greatly changed 

 in both these explanations, and 1 think that ))rotmbly future re- 

 ■*arch niiiy show thai we are justifie<l in looking to both of 

 these |x)ssible causes as those which produce for us those so- 

 called " chromospheric lines" which we find in Ihe spectrum 

 of the nebul.x. 



However thai may l)e, we have arrived finally at the con- 

 clu.sir)n that the tem|x;raliire of these nebul.-c is low on the 

 meteoritic hyjKjthesis. 



I have already referred in my jirevious lectures lo Dr. 

 Muggins's \iews connected with the nebuke and stars, and you 

 will Iherefore quite understand th.at I am rielighted to find lliat 

 L)r. Muggins has now come to the conclusicm that in nebulx we 

 have distinctly a relatively low teinper.iture. In 1889 .Mr. 

 Muggins wrote : ' " They (the nebulx] consist probably of gas 

 .it a high lemperature," but in Ihe aildress of 1891, to which I 

 have alreaily had occasion to refer, he gives this view up, and 

 refers to " the much lower mean ten)|>erature of Ihe ga.seous 

 ina.vs u'hiili we should t.\pe>t at so early a stage of eondensa- 

 tion" !!- 



1 am als<j glad to .say that Dr. Keeler is also iierfcctly i>rc- 

 |jarcd to accept the \new' I have l)ecn insisting on. .So that, if Ihe 

 opinion of .astronomers i)f rej^ute is worth anything, we do seem 

 to have arrived al very solid ground indeed on this point, so far 

 as a conscn.sus of opinion can make any ground solid. 



J. NOKMAN LOCKVER. 

 ' 7o he iotitiiiiicd. ) 



run HAKliK METALS AND THEIK ALLOYS? 



'PIIK study of metals |>ossesscs an irresistible charm for us, 

 quite a|iart from ils v:iM national imporlance. Mow many 

 of us made our first rcieiilific ex|>erinienl by watching the 

 melting of lead, little thinking thai we .should hardly have 

 done a Ijod life's work if Ihe ex|>erinient h.ad been our la.sl, 



' P.K.S. \.A. »lvi. p. V). 



3 In thU printinK nl the |Kt<iugc, the itjiltc^ and notes of cxclanmtion arc 

 ...:,. I V I 



rw, ficltvcred at the Roynl Inuilnlion on March 

 r.li., VMS. 



provided we had only understood its full significance. Hov lew 

 of us forget that we wistfully observed at an early age the nvlting 

 in an ordinary fire of son>e metallic toy of our childhood ; a.td the 

 experiment has, like the "' Flat iron for a fitrthing," ii Mrs. 

 Ewing's charming story, taken a prominent place in li.erature 

 which claims to be written for children. Hans Anderstn's fairy 

 talc, for inst.ance, the "History of a Tin .Soldier," has been 

 read by children of all ages and of most nations. Theroniantio 

 incidents of the .soldier's eventful career need not be dvelt \i|X)n ; 

 but I may remind you that at its end he perished in th- flames <A 

 an ordinary fire, and all that could subsequently be fiund of him 

 was a small heart-sha]>ed mass. There is no reason to doubt the 

 perfect accuracy of the story recorded by Andersen, who at leasi 

 knew the facts, though his statement is made in popuiar language. 

 No analysis is given of the tin soldier ; in a fairy lale it wouKl 

 have been out of jilace, but the latest stage of h's evolution is 

 described, and Ihe record is sufficient to enable us to form the 

 opinion that he was eomjiosed of both tin and lerd, certain alloy> 

 of which melals will burn to ashes like tindir. His uniform 

 was tknibtless richly ornamentetl with gold l;;ce. Some small 

 amount of one of the rarer metals had proliably — for on I his 

 point the history is silent — found ilsw.ayinto lis constitution, and 

 by imiting with the gold, formed the hearl-sha])ed mass which 

 the fire would not melt, as its temperaUre could not have 

 exceeded 1000" : for we are told that the golden rose, worn by the 

 artiste whi.> shared the soldier's fate, was .ilso found unmelled. 

 The main point is. however, that the presence ot one of the 

 rarer metals must have endued the .soldier wilh his singuku 

 endurance, and in the enil left an incorrupLible record of him. 



This has been taken as the starting-poin: of Ihe lecture, because 

 we .shall .see that Ihe ordinary metals so often owe remarkable 

 qualities to the presence of a rarer metal which fits thent lor 

 special work. 



This early love of metals is implanted in us as part of oui 

 " uns(|uandered heritage of sentiments and ideals which has come 

 down to us from other ages," and future generations of chililren 

 will know far more than we iliil ; for the attempl will be made 1.. 

 te.ach them that even psychology is a branch of molecular physics, 

 and they will therefore see far more in the melted toy than a 

 shapeless mass of tin and lead. It is really not an inert thing : 

 for some time after it was newly cast, it was the scene of intensi 

 molecular activity. Il probably is never molecularly quiescenl. 

 and a .slighl elevation. )flemi>erature will excite in it nqiid atomic 

 movement anew. The nature of such movement I have 

 indicated on previous occasions when, as now, I have tried in 

 interest you in certain properties of metals and alloys. 



This evening I appeal incidentally lo higher feelings llian 

 interest, by bringing before you certain phases in the life-history 

 of metals which may lead you lo a generous appreciation ol the 

 many excellent qualities they possess. 



Metals have been s;iilly misunderstood. In the belief thai 

 animate beings are more interesting, experimenters have neglecteil 

 melals, while no form of mailer in which life can be recognised 

 is too humble to receive encouragemenl. Thus it happens ihal 

 bacteria, with repulsive allribulesand criminal inslincls, arepetleil 

 and watcheil with solicilude. and comprehensive schemes are 

 submitted lo ihe Uoyal Socielv lor their dcvelnpnieiil, culture, 

 and even fi>r Iheir " educalion,"" ' which may, it is true, ullimalelv 

 make Ihem useful metallurgical agents, as certain micro-organisms 

 have already proved iheiraliilily to produce arseniurelled hydrogen 

 from oxide of arsenic. - 



Il will nol be diflicull lo show ihal methods which have proved 

 so'fruitfiil ill results when applied lo ihe slucly of living things, 

 are singularly applicable lo melals and alloys, which really preseiii 

 close analogies lo living organisms. This must be a new view 1" 

 many, and it may be saiil, " il is well-known that uneducated 

 races leml to personify or animate external nature," and you may 

 think it strange that the atlempl should be made lo trace analogies 

 which must appear lo be remote, between moving organisms and 

 inert alloys, but " ihe greater ihe number of allribiiles lh;il allach 

 I to anything, Ihe more real ihal thing is."'' .Many of the less 

 ' known melals are very real lo me, and 1 wani Ihem to be so In 

 you ; listen to me, llieii, as speaking for my silenl metallic friends, 

 while 1 try to secure for ihem your sympathy and esteem. 



hirst, as regarils their origin and early history. I fully 



Ur. Percy I'ranklaml specially refers lu the "educiilion " of Imcilli fm 

 :in to .-Altered conditions. Koy. Soc, I* roc, vol. 



adaplinj^ thci 



; 2 Jji-. Hranner. Cliein, Mcti's, Feb. 15, 1895. P. 7g. 



1 ' IjMk, " .Mcl.iphy»ic, " i 40, ijuoled by Illingworlli. " Personality, H 



I and Pivine." M.imploti I.eciures, 1804, p. 43. 



Ivi., 1894, 



,N«>. I.>31, \<>I.. 52] 



