/ 
- 
1884.] 591 [Chase. 
with ethereal undulations, but they are also, as we may reasonably pre- 
sume, produced by them. If cosmical rotation is dependent, in any way, 
upon wthereal waves, the reaction of cosmical inertia should produce a 
tendency to ethereal rotation. 
414. Hatent of Rotating Influence. 
It is not unreasonable to suppose that the tendency to swthereal rotation 
at stellar centres, may be felt at a distance which is at least as great as the 
modulus of light. That distance in our system is very nearly equivalent to 
seventy-four times Neptune’s mean radius vector, Although the rigidity in 
a rotating ethereal sphere may seem to be of a very different character from 
the rigidity of metallic rods and cosmical globes, it must evidently be ac- 
companied by similar tendencies towards gravitating and oscillatory 
centres. 
415. Kinetic Postulates. 
All modern researches which have been guided by the theory of uni- 
versal kinetic correlation seem to justify the following postulates : 
1. An all-pervading, elastic ethereal medium, the particles of which are 
subject to gravitating attraction, 
2. Consequent cyclic, rhythmic and harmonic tendencies of various 
kinds, 
8. Probable frequency of simple forms of harmony, which are governed 
by centres of oscillation. 
4, Mutual and equal action and reaction between centripetal gravitation 
and centrifugal radiation. 
5. Radiating as well as projectile velocities, which are measured by 
the sum of cyclical resistances 
6. Correlation and mutual convertibility of light, heat, electricity, gravi- 
tation, ete. 
7. Tendency of harmonic approximations to become numerically exact, 
as demonstrated by Laplace in discussing the motions and orbital periods 
of Jupiter’s satellites, 
416. Importance of Reciprocals. 
Tn some text-books on arithmetic, a few lines are given to the explanation 
of reciprocals, and the statement is sometimes added, that the reciprocals 
of an arithmetical progression constitute a harmonic progression. Few, 
except those who devote themselves to a thorough scientific study of 
music, ever get any further knowledge of a subject which is full of interest, 
and which is likely to become of great importance in the future annals 
of scientific research, In his pamphlet on ‘‘ Electrical Units of Measure- 
ment,’’ Sir William Thomson enlarges upon the want of a unit of con- 
ductivity to represent ‘the reciprocal of the resistances.’’ He says: ‘It 
is the conductivity that you want to measure, but the idea is too puzzling ; 
and yet, for some cases, the conductivity system is immensely superior 
in accuracy and convenience to that by adding resistances in series.’’ 
PROC. AMER. PHILOS. 800. xxt. 116. 3w. PRINTED JULY 21, 1884. 
