54 
IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
The X-rays which emanate from a Crooke’s tube are 
assumed to be ether waves produced by the rapid motion 
and intense collisions of the corpuscles. 
Radium, in the light of this theory, consists of atoms in 
a state of instability. Radium atoms are probably in a 
period of transition. Radium gives oh B-rays, which like 
the cathode rays of a Crooke’s tube consist of negatively 
charged corpuscles. These corpuscles being ejected from 
the radium atom leave behind an excess charge of positive 
electrification. The positively charged atoms interact on 
each other and give place bo X-rays like those emanating 
from the anode of a Crooke’s tube. Finally, by virtue of 
the B-rays, Y-rays are also produced. The Y-rays are 
identical with the X-rays of a Crooke’s tube. 
Again, we infer from this theory that mass formation 
from primordial conditions is the result of a spontaneous 
and prolonged process of accretion. First corpuscles, then 
atoms of varied structure; finally, atoms by their electric 
attractions produced the molecules that make up the 
aggregate masses. 
In the summer time, it is customary to say that the 
high relative humidity of air prevents the retention of 
static charges on insulated conductors. The more prob- 
able reason, in the light of modern research, is that the air 
is given conductivity by the presence of a large number of 
free corpuscles due to the radio-active gases of damp soils. 
Finally, we note the interesting fact that a substance 
might have a very high corpuscular temperature and yet a 
very low atomic or molecular temperature. In other words, 
the expression “corpuscular temperature” does not mean 
heat in the accepted sense. It means kinetic energy of 
corpuscles which results in continuous ether wave radia- 
tion of different periods. 
It is possible then for a nebulous mass in the heavens to 
give off an intense light and yet be very cold. The light 
of a comet increases in intensity as it approaches the sun, 
not because of the increased temperature of its substance, 
but rather because of an increased corpuscular activity in- 
duced by some manner by the sun. 
