SCIENCE. 



443 



There appears to be reason to believe that the color of 

 the hair is due to an oily pigment, and that this is in- 

 creased under the influence of Jaborandi. 



Shaving the scalp usually has the effect of making the 

 hair thicker and darker, on the contrary, as age advances 

 and the processes of nutrition are enfeebled, the hair be- 

 comes thin and dry and whitens. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE "ATOM" OF 

 SCIENCE * 



By Mrs. A. B. Blackwell, Somerville, N. J. 



[Abstract. "I 



This paper developed the hypothesis that in each atom 

 of matter a given quantity of force and extension are 

 conditioned by each other to act in special modes, rigidly 

 adjusted in time and space. All atoms react against 

 many opposed and unlike forces simultaneously, hence 

 each atom must be a highly complex (not compound), 

 elastic structure, which, by its changes in space, gives the 

 direction, extent, rate of vibration, and all modes and 

 transformations of the atomic force. 



We can explain this variety and change of action, if 

 we suppose every atom to alternately expand and con- 

 tract unlike filaments or poles that act and react in vibra- 

 tions towards and from a common axis, which is at rest. 

 No point outside this axis can be at rest, except when 

 held in equilibrium by other atoms. Reaction is equal 

 and opposite between every part of the atom, and be- 

 tween it and all other atoms. Chemical combination is 

 the interlocking, the literal intertwisting of certain poles 

 of the combining atoms. Such combination brings to 

 rest, makes latent, the opposed combining poles, wholly 

 or in part ; the more completely this is done the greater 

 the transformed motion called heat, and the more stable 

 the compound. 



In combining, the uniting poles are massed or knotted, 

 as any intertwisting cords would be, and many-atomed 

 molecules require no extra room for their vibrations ; but 

 all gases contain equal numbers of molecules to the 

 volume. But the atomic axes are shifted to a common 

 centre ; and thus the vibrations of all the free poles are 

 more or less modified, according to the number and kind 

 of the combining factors ; they are always so far modi- 

 fied that the molecules of any compound vapor cannot 

 repel those of either of its constituents, nor those of any 

 unlike vapor — the explanation being that the periods of 

 greatest expansion, the stretch outwards in their free 

 poles are not synchronous. In like molecules they are 

 synchronous, and the free poles, striking at any point 

 short of greatest expansion, drive the atoms asunder. 

 We call them mutually repellant. The action of all re- 

 pulsive forces will admit of similar explanation. Push or 

 strain in one direction compels counter-push or strain in 

 another direction ; hence opposed electricities, magne- 

 tisms, and polarization in general. 



Gravitation may be considered the concurrent result of 

 brief intertwisting of the physical poles ; cohesion and 

 crystalogenic energy represent more permanent inter- 

 locking. But chemical and physical combination are 

 supposed to be alike in kind — the result of opposed, 

 adapted mechanical energy. Chemical action in general 

 produces more radical changes in the sensible properties 

 of substances, because, taking the initiative, it sifts the 

 aton ic axes, and subsequent combinations are but in ac- 

 commodation to these previous changes. 



The hypothesis attempts to give a fairly adequate ex- 

 planation of material changes ; of the how and why of 

 such changes. 



The unlike elements of matter are supposed to be con- 

 ditioned in special groups, but are essentially of the same 

 type, and their changes are all in time and space only. 

 There is held to be a higher type of atoms in the living 



sentient, or " mind matter" group, which we know only 

 through their active organisms. In these atoms, force is 

 conditioned both by extension and by intensiveness, and 

 not in time and space alone — as with simple matter, but 

 in time and space and sentience. 



Possible changes in sentience, emotion, may be nascent 

 in these atoms just as complex motion is nascent in all 

 uncombined or but little combined atoms. Complexity 

 of action in molecule and larger mass against which any 

 atom must react in equal measure and opposite direc- 

 tions, compels complexity in the atomic reactions, and in 

 the higher type of atoms one phase of all these reactions 

 represents changes in sentience-sensations, thoughts, 

 volitions. 



Molecular complexity sufficient to excite a pleasurable 

 degree of feeling would tend instinctively to repeat itself ; 

 hence the rise of organisms. The organism is the 

 sentient atoms everchanging active molecule ; and organic 

 growth is adapted to the more and more complex sen- 

 tient states. Decadence means failure in such adjust- 

 ments. Sentient changes vary all the way between the 

 low sentient state of profound sleep and the most alert 

 phase of self-consciousness, but they are all individual or 

 atomic changes. This hypothesis claims to offer an ex- 

 planation of the joint facts both of matter and of mind. 



BACTERIA AND THEIR RELATIONS TO PLANT 

 CULTURE. 



By Thomas Taylor, Microscopist, of the^Department 

 of Agriculture. 



If we examine, under a high power of the microscope 

 a small portion of the scum of a fermenting infusion of 

 vegetable matter, numerous particles of a globular shape 

 will be observed, measuring about one twenty-thousandth 

 of an inch in diameter, uniform in size and shape, highly 

 refractive and frequently found in gelatinous masses. 

 These are known as micrococci, or spherical bacteria. 

 Associated with them is generally found another descrip- 

 tion of germs of the same diameter, but of a rod-like 

 shape, jointed and of various lengths. In common vege- 

 table fermenting infusions they are seldom observed over 

 .003 of an inch in length, and are frequently under .001 of 

 an inch. They have generally an active motion, as seen 

 under a high power (as have also the micrococci), and 

 are known as rod-bacteria (from bacterion, a staff). 

 Botanists of the present day assign both of these organ- 

 isms to the division algae. 



Many investigators believe that certain species of these 

 organisms produce contagious fevers, but there certainly 

 are other species which perform a most useful part in the 

 economy of nature, and in many of our valued industries 

 their active co-operation is absolutely necessary. It is 

 well-known that they are the chief agents of fermentation 

 and putrefaction, and it is to the decomposing power they 

 thus exert, in conjunction with the action of the ele- 

 ments, that all organic bodies decay and restore to the 

 earth soluble fertilizing salts, instead of the insoluble and 

 therefore unavailable material of which, in their un- 

 changed state, they are made up. There is high authority 

 for stating that organic substances are not inherently 

 unstable. Under suitable conditions they may remain 

 for an indefinite period wholly unaltered. It is well- 

 known that in some portions of the earth the carcasses 

 of dead animals tend to dry up and become mummified. 

 In the arctic region the remains of animals imbedded in 

 ice are kept in perfect preservation for centuries. It is 

 only under conditions more or less favorable to the ex- 

 istence and multiplication of the small organisms which 

 produce fermentation and putrefaction that rapid decay 

 takes place. 



Without bacterian fermentation the compost heap of 



* From the A. A. A. S., Cincinnati, 1881. 



Read before the A. A. A. S., Cincinnati, 1881. 



