1901 - 2 .] Mr J. Fraser on Constitution of Matter and Ether. 61 
attachment of monads of the same kind to the nucleus, it must be 
by four steps, in order to preserve the symmetry. 
We may now, with profit, look a little closer into the reason 
why atoms of the same hind should group themselves symmetrically 
round a nucleus. First, then, the nucleus is granular in structure ; 
and consequently in the vicinity of the points to which the atoms 
are attached, owing to the vibrations of the said atoms, those 
portions of the nucleus are alternately in a more or less condensed 
or rigid condition ; that is to say, when the atom reached the inward 
limit of its swing towards the heart of the nucleus the portion of 
the latter to which it was attached would he in its most rigid con- 
dition, and when it reached the outer limits it would be in its most 
dilated condition, and the same would he true of the areas of 
attachment of the atoms to the nucleus. These alternate expan- 
sions and contractions of the granules would act as a sort of wave 
motion along the surfaces of the nucleus and atoms, the amplitudes 
of which would be greatest in the immediate vicinity of the points 
of attachment, so that if a stray atom sought to attach itself near 
any of these points, the pressures of these wave motions would 
cause it to be removed to a point where the said pressures would 
be equalised all round, and that would he at an equal distance 
from all the others. It would, in fact, in a manner of speaking, 
slide downhill to the lowest point, where it would remain. I have 
now given my notions on this portion of my subject, so far as I 
have explored it ; I have not, so far as I know, made use of any 
but well known mechanical principles, so that if my reasoning is 
anywhere fallacious it can be readily exposed. I have not entered 
into the subject of the constitution of complex molecules, feeling 
that I am scarcely competent to do so without further study, and 
this latter I have little time for. This I must leave, with a great 
deal more, in the hands of more competent people to deal with.* 
* If I have made any blunders in my chemistry I hope I may be excused, as 
I gave fair warning when entering on the subject that I knew very little about 
it. But to the chemists I should like to say that I have given them an atom, 
with its great potentialities, and shown them its hooks, clamps, or bonds ; and 
I do think that it is for them, with the knowledge of the facts at their finger- 
ends, to clamp the atoms together in the way which best suits the facts ; and 
sure am I that if they give the subject a little of the thought which I have 
given, they will soon be able to string all the facts together into one perfect 
whole. My text-books of chemistry, I find, are somewhat out of date. Since 
writing the above I have been given to understand that valency does not 
