Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-11-11
THE ULTRA-G STATE
Professor Crooke's Theory of
Fourth Form.
A CURIOUS SPECULATION
John Stuart Mills Description of
Matter---Nothing More Than
"a Permanent Possibility
of Sensation"
WHAT IS A MOLECULE ?

Matter is commonly believed to exist
only under the three forms of solids, fluids
and gases. DR.. Crooke, editor of the
London Chemical NetoS, has, however,
advanced theory that there is such a
thing as fourth or ultra-gsseous state of
matter. The Boston journal of Chemistry
reproduces q "Letter TO the Secretary of
the Royal Society,"" in which this eminent
experimeDter i'll molecular physics under
takes to substantiate his rather startling
theory. The "Letter" begins by explain
ing at considerable length what appears to
its writer to be the constitution OF matter
in the three states in which it is percepti-
BILE to the senses. He regards every solid
as composed Of distinct molecules, having
no actual contact under any circumstances
whatever, but separated from each other
by relatively large distances. These mole
cules he further considers as "buiit up of
atoms They are kept together in
apparent iuxtaposition by the attraction
OF cohesion, force which is, to some ex-
tent, counterbslanced by the force of re-
pulson, or what DIR. Crooke calls the
motion or oscillation of the molecules
about certain centres. Whom these oscl-
lating centres lose their fixed position with
reference to one another the solid becomes
is very much reduced, and the adhesion of
the centres OF oscillation of the molecules
is destroyed. When artificially heated the
intermolecular movements increase in pro-
portion as the temperature rises, until at
last cohesion is broken down and the
molecules tiy off into space with enormous
velocities. At this point the liquid has
become gas.
DR.. Crooke proceeds to consider what
these molecules or rudimentsry units of
matter are. He says "What, then, are
these molecules? Take a single lone
mOlecule in space. Is it solid, liquid or
gas Solid it cannot be, because the idea
OF soljdity involves certain properties
which are absent il the isolated molecue.
In fact, an isolated molecule is an incon-
ceivable entity, whether we try, like New
ton, to visualize it as little hard spherical
body, or, with Boscovich and Faraday, to
regard it as centre of force, or accept
Sir William Thompson's vortex atom. But
if the individual molecule is not solid, a
toTtte11 it cannot be regarded as liquid
or gas, for these states are even more due
to inter molecular collisions than in the
solid state. The individual molecules,
therefore must be clsssed by themselves
in distinct state or category" Matter in
1.-THE ultimate result of gaseous expRn-
sion." Ills attempts to explain exactly
what 1t really is, only makes the subject
more foggy to the average mind, and sup
plies another and a striking illustration of
the fact that the physicist is Just as be-
wildering at times RS the metaphy sician.
Between this fourth state of matter and
the third or gaseous state he say there is
no sharp line OF demarcation any
more than there is between the
solid and liquid states, or the
liquid and gaseous states, which each
merge insensibly one into the other In
conclusion DIR. Orooke remarks:
These considerations lead to another and
curious speculation. The molecule-intangi-
bic, invisible and hard TO be conceived-is the
only true matter, and that which we call
matter is nothing more than the effect upon
our senses OF the movements of molecules.
or, as John Stuart Mill expresses it, 'a perma-
nent possibility of sensation" The space
covered by the motion of molecules has no
more right to be called matter than the air
traversed by rifle bullet can be called lead.
From this point of view then, matter is but
mode of motion; at the absolute zero of
temperature the intermoecular movement
would stop, and, although something retain
ing the properties of inertia and weight
would remain, matter. as we know 1t. would
cease TO exist.
All this is interesting as showing that
-naturalist making inductions from facts
can arrive at the negation of any reality
in things as easily as the philosopher who
undertakes no experiments but reasons
1'EoT1. The intrinsic unreelity Of matter
has been demonstrated in a very similar
way upon the hypothesis of infinitely
minute atoms, incapable of even theoret-
ical subdivision, as the primary constitu.
ents of all material bodies. OF course,
whatever is infinitely small-that is, SO
small that nothing smaller is conceivable
is equivalent TO nothing. or so near to
it that there is substantially no difference.
million nothings can be no more than
nothing Nothing multiplied even by
infinity remains nothing. The physical
universe rests on a very unsatisfactory
basis if this atomic theory is true. Prsc-
tically, however, very few of us will attach
less value to our earthly possessions by
reason of this sort cf argument.