On the Numerics of the Elements, 151 



through the galvanometer. There was no sudden change in 

 the deflection of the needles at any time when the wires 

 crossed the junction of the two bars. A similar negative 

 result occurred when a thermo-couple formed of iron and 

 German-silver wires 1*5 mm. diameter was employed ; and 

 also when a pair composed of platinum wire and mercury 

 was used. 



Had there existed a difference of resistance equal to *001 

 ohm at the junction in either case, it would probably have 

 been detected. I conclude, therefore, that if " surface -resis- 

 tance " of any kind exists at the junctions of metallic thermo- 

 electric couples, it must be exceedingly small in amount, and 

 that it does not sensibly affect the direction or strength of the 

 currents produced by them. 



Some attempts were made to ascertain whether the amount 

 of " transfer-resistance " at an electrode formed of a loop of 

 platinum wire was affected by passing a separate current of 

 electricity through it simply as a conductor, but the results 

 were not satisfactory. 



Several of the results of experiments described in this 

 paper agree with the conclusion that differences of " transfer- 

 resistance" are incapable of producing a current, and are 

 essentially unlike differences of electric potential ; also, that 

 heat decreases " transfer-resistance " whilst increasing contact- 

 potential in metal-electrolyte thermoelectric couples. 



XXII. On the Numerics of the Elements. — Part II. 

 By Edmund J. Mills, D.Sc, F.R.S* 



7re7repacr0a[ re to nav ko.1 era eirai Kocrpov' yevvatr&ai re avrbv e< irvpbs 

 Kai nrakiv eK7rvpovadai Kara, rivas Trepiohovs eva\\a£ rbv crvpTvavra ala>ua' 

 tovto de yivearOai naO* elpappevrjv. — DlOGr. LaeRT. ix. 8. 



Contents. — Introduction. — New Data and Verifications. — Genesis of 

 the Elements. — Scale of Celestial Temperature. — Variable Stars. — 

 Classification of the Elements. — Polymers. — Periodicity. — Evenness. 

 — Frequency. — Table of the Elements. 



IN Part I.| I have shown that the Numerics of the Elements, 

 so far as they have been accurately determined, may all 

 be expressed by the equation 



y=pn- 



v^tt) ' 



* Communicated by the Author. 



t For Part I. see Phil. Mag. [5] vol. xviii. p. 393 (1884). 



