710 Some Results of Gravitation . [December, 
reduce some of its sensible heat to the latent state. Tem- 
perature equilibrium would be disturbed, and could only be 
restored by the outflow of sensible heat from the atom to the 
ether. As a result the density of the former would increase, 
and that of the latter diminish. This adlion might be 
almost instantaneous, but its effedfs must be the same as in 
the case of larger bodies ; it must limit the degree of atom 
formation. As atoms were formed the adjacent ether must 
have grown rarer, and its absolute heat have increased, until 
its centrifugal exceeded its centripetal energies. This rela- 
tion between atoms and ether once attained, no more atomic 
aggregation could take place. 
As atoms aggregated into molecules, and these into 
spheres, the ether between them must have been forced out, 
and have flowed into interspace. But the vast volumes of 
sensible heat produced by this secondary condensation 
also flowed into interspace. Through its adfion the cen- 
trifugal energy of interstellar matter must be increasing, 
and a reverse process of disintegration taking place there, 
atoms being reduced to the ethereal state until the necessary 
relations of equality between centripetal and centrifugal 
energy are reproduced. 
Matter is practically continuous ; but it cannot be really 
continuous unless ether have elastic properties enabling it 
to swell and fill vacancies. Except in this improbable con- 
tingency there must be voids left as matter condenses. But 
these voids are practically occupied by moving matter, the 
centrifugal energy of ether, as well as of atoms, keeping it 
in constant activity, so that no such void could remain 
empty more than an immeasurably small interval of time. 
The vibrations of light which pass through ether may pass 
through atoms and molecules as masses of ether. If ac- 
cordant with the pitch of the atom or the molecule, they are 
absorbed. If accordant with the pitch of the atomic ether, 
they are transmitted. If discordant with either, they are 
repelled. 
As we have spoken of the elasticity of a rotating atom, 
and the lack of elasticity in a non-rotating atom, it may be 
well to close with a brief consideration of this subject. 
Rotating atoms might be perfectly elastic. The particles 
would retain their lines of movement around the centre with 
considerable vigour. If driven from these lines, all the 
energy of the central force would aid in regaining them. 
The side of an atom, for instance, might bend deeply to- 
wards the centre under the influence of a blow, but the 
curve-preserving energy would force it out again, and thus 
