On Radiant Matter. 25 



side of the glass tube (Fig. 19, b). To show the first 

 action of the heat I have coated the tube with wax. 



FIG. 19. 



I will put the apparatus in front of the electric lantern 

 (Fig. 20, d), and throw a magnified image of the tube on 

 the screen. The coil is now at work, and the focus of 

 molecular rays is projected along the tube. I turn the 

 magnetism on, and draw the focus to the side of the glass. 

 The first thing you see is a small circular patch melted in 

 the coating of wax. The glass soon begins to disintegrate, 

 and cracks are shooting starwise from the centre of heat. 

 The glass is softening. Now the atmospheric pressure forces 

 it in, and now it melts. A hole (e) is perforated in the 

 middle, the air rushes in, and the experiment is at an end. 



I can render this focal heat more evident if I allow 

 it to play on a piece of metal. This bulb (Fig. 21) is 

 furnished with a negative pole in the form of a cup (a). 

 The rays will therefore be projected to a focus on a piece 

 of iridio-platinum (b) supported in the centre of the bulb. 



I first turn on the induction-coil slightly, so as not to bring 

 out its full power. The focus is now playing on the metal, 

 raising it to a white-heat. I bring a small magnet near, 

 and you see I can deflect the focus of heat just as I 

 did the luminous focus in the other tube. By shifting 

 the magnet I can drive the focus up and down, or draw it 



