66 Scientific Intelligence. 



and develop into the groupings now known as lithium, beryllium, 

 boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, sodium, magnesium, alu- 

 minum, silicon, phosphorus, sulphur and chlorine." " Suppose the 

 vis gefteratrixtra.ve\mg to and fro in cycles along a lemniscate path 

 as above suggested, while simultaneously temperature is declin- 

 ing and time is flowing on; each coil of the lemniscate track 

 crosses the same vertical line at lower and lower points. Pro- 

 jected in space, the curve shows a central line neutral as far as 

 electricity is concerned and neutral in chemical properties — posi- 

 tive electricity on the north, negative on the south. Dominant 

 atomicities are governed by the distance east and west from the 

 neutral center line, mouatomic elements being one remove from 

 it, diatomic two removes, and so on. In every successive coil, 

 the same law holds good. As the mighty focus of creative en- 

 ergy goes round, we see it in successive cycles sowing in one 

 tract of space seeds of lithium, potassium, rubidium and caesium ; 

 in another tract, chlorine, bromine and iodine ; in a third, sodium, 

 copper, silver and gold; in a fourth, sulphur, selenium and tellu- 

 rium ; in a fifth, beryllium, calcium, strontium and barium ; in a 

 sixth, magnesium, zinc, cadmium and mercury ; in a seventh, 

 phosphorus, arsenic, antimony and bismuth; in other tracts, 

 aluminum, gallium, indium and thallium; silicon, germanium and 

 tin ; carbon, titanium and zirconium ; whilst a natural position 

 near the neutral axis is found for the three groups of elements 

 relegated by Professor Mendelejeff to a sort of hospital for incur- 

 ables — his eighth family." " We have now traced the formation 

 of the chemical elements from knots and voids in a primitive 

 formless fluid. We have shown the possibility — nay, the prob- 

 ability — that the atoms are not eternal in existence, but share 

 with all other created beings the attributes of decay and death. 

 We have shown from arguments drawn from the chemical labora- 

 tory, that in matter which has responded to every test of an ele- 

 ment there are minute shades of difference, which may admit of 

 selection. We have seen that the time-honored distinction be- 

 tween elements and compounds no longer keeps pace with the de- 

 velopments of chemical science, but must be modified to include 

 a vast array of intermediate bodies — ' meta-elements.' We have 

 shown how the objections of Clerk-Maxwell, weighty as they are, 

 may be met; and finally, we have adduced reasons for believing 

 that primitive matter was formed by the act of a generative force 

 throwing off at intervals of time atoms endowed with varying 

 quantities of primitive forms of energy." — J. Chem. Soc, liii, 487, 

 May, 1888. G. f. b. 



5. Measurement of High Potential. — Quadrant electrometers, 

 it is well known, are not suitable for the measurement of high 

 potential. A. Voller enters into a full discussion of the faults 

 inherent in the various methods of connecting the parts of the 

 Thomson electrometers with the sources of electricity, and finds 

 these methods all unsatisfactoiw. He has been led, therefore, to 

 adopt a new method. The needle of the electrometer is provided 



