236 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



ing with vortices shows that they possess just such quahties as we demand of an 

 atom to have it explain some of the principal properties of matter. When we 

 form vortices in air and make them visible with smoke, it becomes possible for 

 us to see and study their actions. Without the visible smoke they are still there 

 and subject to exactly the same strictures as our author puts upon the hypotheti- 

 cal ones (pp. 43, 44), but ignoring such logic they still swing. 



Our frictionless fluid is neither destitute nor incapable of difference. It can 

 have various sizes and shapes of vortices and these are all the differences needed. 

 Relation after relation in time and space can be built up hypothetically among 

 them. Here we have the universal fluid as mass and the vortex as motion. The 

 motion is of the fluid and not of itself. Inertia is potential in every vortex be- 

 cause of the presence of mass. They are in space flying in all directions. By 

 beginning with such a fluid and such atoms we explain the solid by the gas as our 

 author declares we should. But even this is subject to his censure. We have 

 here relations of something and he wishes the relations themselves to be every- 

 thing. Now such atoms do not gravitate. Let us hypothetically build up from 

 these a gravific molecule. These vortices if supposed to be clashing against each 

 other and rebounding with perfect elasticity will be all that is needed. Preston's 

 modification of LeSage's theory (Phil. Mag. Ser. 5, Vol. 4, pp. 364, 375,) will 

 give us some idea of what would happen under such conditions. We need no 

 stich long free paths as he calls for however. They can be comparatively very 

 minute. A number, anywhere from three up, of the largest of our vortices 

 shield each other from the cannonading of myriads of small ones. The shielded 

 faces necessarily rush together. Their elasticity makes them rebound. Back and 

 forth they rush. Natural selection brings from chaos order. Molecules are 

 evolved from rushing atoms in this manner. Myriads of centres of our large 

 atoms are formed having an indefinite permanency because of the orderly rush. 

 We have then molecules that rapidly change from expansion of their substance to 

 contraction of the same in incessant rhythm. Their balanced constraint by the 

 rush of small atoms gives them tangible inertia in every direction. It tends to 

 keep them as a whole in the condition of rest or motion in which they happen to 

 be found. 



Such are the gravific molecules demanded by a Kinetic theory of gravity^ 

 They are rapidly expanding and contracting pieces whose movements resemble 

 somewhat that of a cosmic system according to the nebular hypothesis, but, while 

 the system requires untold ages to undergo its changes, our molecules pass through 

 theirs in inconceivably minute periods of time. Surrounding these molecules on 

 every side is found the smaller sized atoms in differentiated arrangements totally 

 unknown. These we will suppose constitute the universal ether. Now what 

 would happen to such expanding and contracting molecules pressed in upon every 

 side by walls of rushing ether particles? All those having a common time of 

 change would necessarily be driven together by their own pulsations. Systems 

 of waves would go out from ah to ah and these waves would be in unison with 

 the molecular beats they came in contact with. A's waves would keep time with. 



