ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 101 



in the spectra. I cannot find in what Mr. Lockyer has written 

 that he goes farther than this, if quite so far. But the Medical 

 Tribune of April 15 — a journal of scientific pretentions, publish- 

 ed in New York — contains a well-written article by Dr. Wilder, 

 its editor, based upon the Papers in the No. of Nature I have 

 quoted, in which the argument of Prof. Lockyer is asserted to 

 be, " that in hydrogen we have matter reduced to its lowest 

 terms — the only one element.'' I do not think myself that Prof. 

 Lockyer has made this a distinctly definite conclusion, but it affords 

 at all events to the writer in the Tribune, an opportunity to as- 

 sume for the hypothesis, or theory, of our associate, Mr. Dewar, 

 and his friend Dr. Fraser, a like degree of credence. These gen- 

 tlemen have long since announced, in their ato : magnetic theory, 

 that all primal atoms are either hydrogen or oxygen, mineral or 

 vegetable, which approaches the hypothesis or theory of Prof. 

 Lockyer, as stated by the Tribune, but is of earlier date, and 

 were it substantiated by experiment, would be as little objection- 

 able. The writer in the Tribune, favorable to Mr. Lockyer's 

 hypothesis as to the principle involved, objects " that as hydrogen 

 is not a luminous substance, and, therefore, is of itself without 

 motion, and, being molecular, must have been built up from atoms 

 of a still more elementary character, there must be some force 

 acting upon it to set its atoms in motion." Here again comes 

 into play Messrs. Dewar and Fraser's plausible theory of the 

 magnetic polarity of atoms. He quotes the suggestions of other 

 scientists to account for this motion ; also, that electricity, by 

 inducing the primal atoms to assume polarity, may cause the first 

 motion by means of the attraction and repulsion of the two poles, 

 the positive and the negative; and gives a reason to show that 

 the element denominated hydrogen, when negatively electric 

 and uncombined, is identical with the substance known as oxygen. 

 Thus the theory is similar to that of Prof. Lockyer, but with a 

 difference. I do not pretend to understand the processes which 

 have prompted these several speculations, generally alike. 

 Neither appears to have advanced much beyond the confines of 

 enquiry, and w r e may be content to await with patience their 

 further investigation. To those interested in its progress, I 

 would recommend a study of the articles in Nature of January, 

 1879, and to supplement them with that in the Medical Tribune 

 of April 15, following. Perhaps in time the spectroscope may 

 help us to a satisfactory solution of the difficulties. 



To the spectrum and the microscope w T e may look for some of 

 the most valuable discoveries ever made in the realms of science 



