The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-14
THE SCIENCE OF spEcrRoscopY.

THE SCIENCE OF spEcrRosCoPY.
The science of spectroscopy, or spectrum analy-
SIS which has enabled IIr. j. Norman Lockyer to
discover the nnermost secrets Of the solar compost
tion though Of the youngest branches of physi-
cal research already exhibits disposition to assert
itself the equal in Importance of any of its elder
brethren. The spectrum, colored image arising
from the dissertation of ray of light into its constt
uent colors has been observed and treated opt
cal curiosity from the days of Newton and Huyghens.
1t was not however until 1859 that Messrs. Kirch-
hoff and Bunsen made the brilliant discovery that
the dark lines in the spectrum of the solar light are
due to the vapors Of various elements in the suns
atmosphere, and that the lines themselves cor
responded to the bright lines given by the same ele
ments when vaporized by the passage of electric
spark The inference obvious that the cause of
the darkness Of the solar lines is that the vapor (of
iron, for instance) existing in the suns atmosphere
absorbs light than it cmits. and consequently
the lines caused by iron vapor in the solar light ap
pear darker than .the adjacent portions of the spec
trum, whereas the spectrum of terrestrial iron
vapor, when separately examined gives an intense
bright light
The identity Of the dark lines of the solar spectrum
with the bright lines given by the illuminated vapors
of the terrestrial elements being established it
surprising value were laid. In fact but few
months passed before the leading metallic consttu
ents Of the solar atmosphere announced includ
ing iron, sodium, borum. calcium, magnesium,
aluminium, manganese chromium, cobalt. nickel.
zinc. copper, titanium. well as hydrogen. which,
at that time had not been generally recognized as
metal. The "nobe meta.s'-gold platinum. &C.
were not found. the non-metas or metal
loids-such as oxygen. nitrogen. carbon and phos
phorus.
HISTORY DISCOVERY.
No long time elapsed before Messrs. Bunsen and
Krchhof announced the existence Of metallic lines
in the solar spectrum which did not correspond to
any known terrestrial metals. and they commenced
q systematic search for such metals. which were
naturally presumed to exist. In 1860 two
elements discovered by these scientists in
tain German mineral waters. whose spcctra cor
responded to the already observed solar lines. BY
the same method Mr.. William Crockes. in 1868. dis
covered the element thallium. and recently NJ.
Lecoq de Boisbaudran has added galium to the list.
In apportioning honor to whom honor is due it
should never be forgotten that the researches of
Stokes and Higgins formed an indispensable prelim-
mary to the discoveries of the German chemists. and
especially that to an American scientist. Dr. j. W.
Draper due the observation, early 1876,
that "al solid substances. and probably all liquids,
peraturc. that temperature being 977 Fahrenheit
We have not space to enter into details respecting
the magnificent applications Of specroscopy to many
departments of astronomy including the discovery of
the essential unity of all worlds by ascertanng the
existence OF terrestrial elements in the remotcst
stars the investigation Of the nature of the nebnln of
spots and solar protuberances, aud especially of
the. solar corona In these researches American
physicists and astronomers like Young. Langley.
Watson and the two Diapers father and SOM have
honoraby distinguished themselves. Quite recently
Dr. Henry Draper proved as he thinks the existence
of oxygen in the sun, manifesting itself. not like the
metals, by dark lines but by bright ones, aud the
same process of reasoning makes it probable that
ntrogcn carbon and the other metalloids are there
present
1t was only few days ago that Professor Crova of
the University of Montpelier, France announced TO
the French Academy of Sciences the discovery of
practical application of spectroscopy to industrial
chemistry. which. in the opinion of Mcssrs. Dumas
and Bcrthcot. is the greatest discovery of modern
times" 1t consists Of an instrument which he calls
n spectre photomctcr,' by which he determines
with great precision degrees of heat hitherto beyond
the range of calculation which until now has been
limited by the point OF fusion of the thermometrc
tube. In many manufactures enormous degree of
heat requisite for carrying out such operations as
iron casting, nut the prccisc amount required for
each metal has before been determined. NJ
Crova fixes spectroscopically the fusion point of all
the metals enabling the manufacturer to regulate his
fires so as to produce the precise required effect.
Mr. Lockycrs great discovery, of last November
that all tho elements built up from print
tive material lighter than hydrogen, which he
identities with the element yielding the celebrated
1414 line the spectrum OF the solar corona il too
recent and the experiments upon which IL Is based
are too impcrfcctly known to allow yet TO count
II as ono OF the assured results OF modern research
STILL the tendency of speculative philosophy Is all in
the direction of Mr. Lockyers conclusions aud il his
latest results, to-day announced, should prove to be
dcmonsrabc facts It will not be easy to cxaggeratc
tb, importance of the conclusions to which we are
brought by the convcrgng researches of Lockyor.
Crova. Crookes, Higgins. Draper and Young.
ONE USE or GREER.
IL remains to make an observation upon the philo.
logical aspect OF the subject in reference the employ
ment of the words "chromosphere" .'dssocation''
and association" One of the most striking consc.
auenccs of the rapid accumulation of discoveries in
modern physical science is the constantly recurring
necessity of finding equivalent words to express the
cardinary ideas involved In each new hypothesis
The activity of inventors and cxperimcntnlists
has outrun the resources Of the English Language:
hence the multiplication of new terms of Greek or
Latin Derivation which makes modern science so
strangely nnnclligbc to the ordinary reader. But
though the wonderful copiousnoss and ncxbility CT
the Greek language invite the scientific discovercr to
avail himself of its treasures, by introducing the
proper combination of roots and prcfixcs into our
English vocabulary. IL is not every chemist, physi-
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