392 Mr. A. Tribe on Dissymmetry 



and when the lines crossed the field parallel to one another, 

 what I have regarded as evidence of dissymmetry was no longer 

 observed. 



I had hoped to work at several questions suggested by these 

 results ; but as I am unable at present to proceed with the 

 experimental development of the investigation, I propose in 

 this communication to record without further delay my un- 

 published observations bearing more especially on the subject 

 of dissymmetry. This is the more advisable, in view of the 

 interesting observations of Prof. Roiti (Nuovo Cimento, s. 3. 

 vol. x.), and of the recent experimental and theoretical studies 

 of Drs. Pasquilini and Volterra (A. dell' Accad. Sc. Torino, 

 vol. xviii.). 



In the first set of experiments to be described I employed a 

 trough 305 x 305 millim. and 128 millim. deep, a 5-per-cent. 

 solution of copper sulphate filling the trough to within 8 millim. 

 of the top; copper electrodes about 7*5 millim. wide, placed in 

 grooves running down the centre of two opposite sides of the 

 vessel ; analyzers of fine silver, 67 x 7 millim. (weighing 

 about *75 gram), placed lengthwise, midway between the sur- 

 face of the solution and the bottom of the cell, and parallel 

 with a vertical plane joining the electrodes. The analyzers 

 were supported by means of a small wedge of the metal pro- 

 jecting from the lower edge at the centre of the plates, this 

 being fixed into a small stand of paraffined wood. In each 

 experiment one analyzer was employed and a current of two 

 amperes for six minutes. 



The numerical results of twelve experiments are given in 

 the annexed horizontal section (fig. 1), showing the position 

 occupied by the several analyzers. It will be remembered 

 that the + ion (copper) and the peroxide of silver form per- 

 manent images of the — and + electrifications respectively, 

 so that after the completion of an experiment the magnitudes 

 of these electrifications can be measured. It will also be 

 remembered that the +. ion is deposited on that end of the 

 analyzer nearest the + electrode, or the side of the cell in 

 which this electrode is fixed, and that the grey silver per- 

 oxide is formed on that part of the analyzer nearest the — 

 electrode, the two effects being separated by a part of the 

 plate on which no visible action has taken place. The num- 

 bers give the lengths of the electrifications in millimetres. 



In the cases where they were the same on the two sides of 

 the analyzer, numbers are placed on the one side only in the 

 diagram. Of course the numbers at the ends nearest the + 

 electrode show — , while those at the ends nearest the — elec- 

 trode refer to + electrifications. 



