The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-06

the case OF the colloids they may be actu-
ally precipitated-and this is held 10 be one
proof of their electrified condition-only by
the addition OF the salts known as electro
lytes because of their power TO carry cleo
tricity. The presence of these salts imme-
diately disturbs the electrical conditions ex-
listing between the different particles. and
by taking all the electricity TO itself. per-
mits them TO come together and form
masses. visible to the naked eye and each
made up, IL is believed, of millions and mil
lions of particles. To return to the coal bin
figure the effect is the same If the cleo
tricity in the individual Goals were all at
once diverted and absorbed by the wood
work Of the bin itself and the Goals left 10
fall TO the bottom by force of gravity. Ii is
one of the marvels of modern science that
the invisible cannot only be detected but
measured, and it has been estimated. in
several ways, that the average diameter
of these invisible particles is in some cases
about a tenth of the wave length Of light.
1t has been said the possible practical
value of the investigation, which, its
American side, DR.. w. r. Whitney Is now
conducting in the research laboratories Of
the Massachusetts, Institute of Technology
and Drs. Loeb and Matthews have been in
vestigating in Chicago, reaches into many
forms of life. In the digestive processes,
for example. it is apparently leading toward
the solution of many chemical mysteries
that presented no tangible theories until IL
became possible to reckon upon the pres
ence and properties of the colloids The
presence of the small quantities of mineral
material invariably found by the chemist
as constituent of all naturally occurring
vegetable or animal matter-whether In the
woody fiber of the tree or the sinew Of the
man-is now in accord with the expected.
The growth of these materials takes place
by deposition from a solution. as sap or
serum. and in that process a certain small
quantity Of the mineral matter Is also de-
posted.
EXPLAINS CERTAIN MYSTERIES.
In the ordinary digestion of food certain
chemical phenomena are known TO take
place. such as the production OF hydro
chloric acid in the stomach. that have pre-
viously been unexplainable. These reac-
tons could never be obtained by combining
apparently similar compounds-the chem
zeal elements supposed fully to represent
the foods and those supposed fully to rep
resent the digestive products of the living
organism-in the laboratory: but they are
obtained when the collodial substances are
present thus obviously suggesting that
these little particles were the unknown fac
tors in the equation.
In the familiar phenomena produced by
applying an electric current to the nerves
of a frogs leg 1t is again not impossible
that the presence of these minute particles
Of matter, each Of them highly electrified.
may furnish solution of the phenomena
fr,,S cfal
the study of the nervous system In the
growth of.plant life. in the processes Of
human digestion to which IL is somewhat
analogous the presence of collodial SUBJ
stance in the material from which the plant
derives its food offers hope OF a future ex-
PLANTATION Of a process that has hitherto
lacked any complete scientific explanation.
And in the industrial sciences. particularly
dyeing, wherein the transfer of color is I'm
some cases doubtless the transference OF
colored colloidal particles from q solution
to the fabric by the depositing action OF
.. salts. the further study of the colloids il
likely to be Of considerable practical value.
More than that the presence of these coli
loid particles in substances that may be
taken into the human system and SO be
added chemically to the vital forces OF the
human organism offers yet another field OF
almost spectacular interest That such pos
sibilties exist, however, is the result OF
nearly half a century OF research and ex-
pertinent, and the future development OF
any one of them depends probably upon
years of further study of the coiloidal SUBJ
stances. In its broadest outline the investi-
| CATION, as it now stands. is a proof OF q
widespread diffusion of coloids that adds an
entirely new factor to the consideration Of
nearly every form of organic phenomena.
| and that adds also further proof Of the
wide diffusion OF that mysterious substance
that we call electricity.
| nual election of officers In its hall. at tho