for the year 1876. xvii 



interesting in the highest degree, and although the supposi- 

 tion that the remarkable phenomena exhibited indicated the 

 existence of a new force^ which was at first entertained by 

 some, has not been sustained by further investigation and 

 experiment, his researches in this direction have, at least, 

 •opened up a new and interesting, if not useful field, in phy- 

 sical science. Concerning this, Mr. Foord will probably have 

 a few words to say in the course of the evening, more especi- 

 ally in reference to a very interesting little apparatus known 

 as Crookes' radiometer. Some little sensation has been 

 excited latety by the supposed discovery of a new force, 

 allied to electricity, and called etheric force. Some peculiar 

 phenomena, observed with respect to induced electric cur- 

 rents, have been the origin of this supposition. There can 

 be no doubt, however, that they are simply induction phe- 

 nomena, perhaps not hitherto thoroughly investigated, 

 although certainly known, but which with the present ten- 

 dency to discover iww forces have been precipitately put in 

 that category. 



Although the science of Chemistry advances steadily from 

 year to year, it is not quite always that discoveries of popular 

 interest are included among its newer acquisitions ; the 

 newly-discovered metal " gallium" is, however, sufiiciently 

 remarkable to demand a brief notice on this occasion. For- 

 merly, the processes of humid analysis, including electrolysis, 

 were the only means available for the discovery of new 

 elementary substances ; of late years the much more deli- 

 cate and searching method of spectrum analysis has enabled 

 ns to discover — first, rubidium, smd ccesiuTn, then thalliuTn, 

 afterwards indium, and now. by its means gallium has 

 been recognised, and has since been separated. All these 

 are elements ; they are all metals, each possessing definite 

 chemical and other properties. Gallium was discovered in 

 August, 1875, by M. Lecoq Boisbanbrau while examining 



