Very — On a Possible Limit to Gravitation. 37 



equatorial plane are mutually repelled polewards, and 

 this would split the atom into two halves were there not a 

 restraining force. 



The electrons are supposed to be rotating at enormous 

 speeds and all in a given set in the same direction of spin 

 in respect to the orbital motion, which will necessarily 

 give the appearance of opposite rotations in the two 

 halves of the same meridional section of the atom. We 

 must presume that these motions are so nicely balanced 

 and take place in a medium so free from viscosity that 

 they form a perpetually regenerating system. 



Particles of the sort described are supposed to attract 

 outside particles in proportion to the energy of the elec- 

 tronic motion, and this will vary in direct proportion to 

 the number of electrons included in the atom. The 

 attraction will apparently be that of pulsatory motion, 

 or will form waves of longitudinal vibration in the uni- 

 versal aura, passing outward into forms which at first 

 approximate to perfect spheres. Owing to the perfect 

 sphericity of the atomic surface, the combined vibrations 

 of its electrons will generate a composite spherical wave 

 in any case. The orbital motions give rise to vortices in 

 the magnetic medium which are the cause of inertia, and 

 the pulsatory motions produce the changes of density 

 which are the origin of gravity. The conception, it 

 seems to me, affords a rational basis for the conclusion 

 reached by Fessenden on general physical principles, but 

 without attempting to devise details of mechanism, 

 namely, that ' ' the inertia of matter is due to the electro- 

 magnetic inductance of the corpuscular charges, and 

 gravitation is due to the change of density of the ether 

 surrounding the corpuscles, this change of density being 

 a secondary effect arising from the electrostatic stresses 

 of the corpuscular charges.'' 1 



The Nature of Positive Electricity. 



As to the nature of positive electricity which is always 

 associated with the negative electrons in the atom, we 

 know nothing, save that it has opposite properties to 

 negative electricity, so that if the shell of positive elec- 

 tricity is composed of discrete positive electrons, 

 arranged in circular strands which revolve in the same 

 general direction as the negative electrons and nearly 



2 Science, N. S., vol. 12, p. 327, August 31, 1900. 



