New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-10-06

Again at L., aSs9rdng TO accepted theory. when cur
atoms are divided into parts Which some OF the
and negative charges as they move in opposite AZ
ours gas does not conduct eIectrieitv ohs' &C.
Is however. from the theory of ions that the mos,
received unexpected support recently
The dream that matter OF all kinds will some "a,
yived many shocks. The opinion is consistent wi1t
en great ar that the properties Of
weights. Sir Norman Lockyer has long 6 sso1.s
OF The stars indicate the reduction OF our solcass
eI,ements TO simpler forms. and now Professor y u
atom part the mass of which is not more thar am
pmscies @ b ho OF na ne Mh9,e ana tnas these
the negatve charge in electric current III atoros
biity Increased that the different structures p.G4s
We call elements may all De built OF similar brcSn
which the corpuscIes penetrate different bodies "A
penis only on the density of the obstacles and no,
on their chemical constitution, is held by Professor
I Inc son 70 be "a strong confirmation OF the view
made up OF simpler parts. all of which are alike
If liquid is stretched into very thin slrn sro,
as soap bubble. should expect Indicators ~ Sn
change In its properties when the thickness Of "a
sance between two neighbOrins molecules In IsSa
S SSErneke de,ected evidence of such change in
millmetre and quite recently Rudolph Weber foHnS
ionths of mmetre. Taking the mean 81 81 th mn,
numbers and combining the results OF differen1
should become unstable and teni to rupture sn INN
tancOusly somewhere between the thickness ~ IN
ana % mililonths OF a millimetre. and Professor
stability is actually exhibited between the fbfcr
ness OF 30 and Il millOnths of a millimetre Tha-s
can th retore De little doubt that approach
10 molecular magnitudeS Is SigDalfed when ~"
thickness of film is somewhat less thar ISa tne
ionths OF millimetre four rnfIIionths a. q,
inch We have every reason 20 believe ,ha.
though the molecules IN gas frequently co IIfe
with each other, yet in the Of the more ner
rect gases the time occupied in collisions Is sn,p
compared With that in which each moecule travsIs
undisturbed by its fellows. The average dIstsncs
HSSiv
called the mean free PATH and for the reason f,s,
given, the question of the magnitude OF This a;s1
lance can be attacked without any precise know,
edge OF what molecule is. or of what happens dur
ing an encounter.
Perhaps the chief objection which can ba
only with the inanima.e side of nature and Largo
ly ignore the phenomena Of life II is therefore In
this direction, III any. that change of type NAV ha
expected / do not propose 10 enter ar length
upon so difficult a question bur hOweyer n,a r
Explain or explain away the characteristics OF life
the argument for the truth of the atomic theor,-
living matter does Ut possess the thermal and me-
chanical properties 10 explain which the atomic
theory has been framed This is notoriousv nor
the case that there Is the graveSt doubt whether
the organism OF the laws of matter IN bulk be-
longing to the domain of mechanics, physics and
chemistry
1t may be granted that we have not vet framed a
consistent image either OF the OF atoms
of the ether in which they exist: but hav.
tried to show that in spite of the tentative nature
ing difficulties the atomic theory unifies so MANY
facts. simplifes much that is complicated that
have right 70 insiSt-at all events till an
equally integible rival hypothesis is produced
atoms are not merely helps to puzzled mathemai-
clans. but physical realities.