The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-10-04
TRANSFORMATION AGAIN.

When Sir William Ramsey was in this city two
or three weeks ago he referred to the possibility that
he was on the verge of an important chemical dis
covery says the New York Tribune. Evidence had
been obtained which suggested though it did not yet
prove, that one element might be made from an
other with the assistance of concentrated energy
like that emitted by radium At that time The Tri-
bune mentioned that an inkling of the facts was
afforded by letter which Sir William had written
to "Nature" Further information is now afforded
by belated reports of the recent meeting of the
British Association for the Advancement of Science
The kind of change of one material into another
which formed the subject of Sir Williams expert
ments is not identical with that revealed in his
earlier discovery-the evolution of helium. This
is regarded as product of disintegration The
newer researches were meant to find out whether a
transformation could be effected by the opposite
process building up. What Sir William now de-
eribes is the formation of deposit on the walls
of several glass vessels which had long been exposed
to the influence of solution of radum. One of the
substances which he thinks were developed there
sembles lead apparently came from the glass or
the air, and is attributed to the action of the So
called 'beta" rays, thrown off by the radium.
The experiments were interrupted in such a man
ner that no final conclusions could be drawn, but
their director wisely made preliminary announce
ment of the result By thus putting himself on rec
ord, he secures whatever credit is justly due him
for pioneer work. but in the meantime he states the
ease with commendable caution. 1t will be neces-
sary for him or others to carry the research much
further. 1t will then be known whether any new
matter was created at att, and the nature of his
product or products can be determined with pre-
cision. If elements hitherto unknown have thus
been generated, their properties should be ascer
tanned. If an old one-lead, for instance-was pro-
duced by method hitherto unpractised, the fact
should be fully demonstrated. Years may elapse
before these results can be attained but it is greatly
to be hoped that Sir Williams perseverance will
match his insight and past activity
If his suspicious should be verified, good many
people will be eager to learn whether the discovery
possesses any commercial value. The distinguished
chemist himself is reticent on that point, doubtless
1eelllS IHdC any eApTeSSloH VI Oplulou dC pIcSeuI
would be premature. Without scientific train
ing, however, it is easy to see that at least two
questions must be Settled before such an inquiry
can be answered One relates to the utility of the
product, and the other to the cost of obtaining it.
Many Of the elements already known have failed
thus far to render any service to humanity. Hence,
there is no telling in advance what to expect from
future additions to their number. Again, if the
"beta" rays required for the conversion could be
obtained only from such an expensive substance
as radium, it would never pay to use them indus
trially The cathode" rays of vacuum tube are
believed to be identical in nature with the 'h:ta
rays of radium, but they are less powerful The
fact that Sir William kept his glass under the in
fuence of a solution Of radium for nearly year
in order to secure what proved to be a microscopic
quantity of product not encouraging to the theory
that any substitute could be found, but it is too
soon to judge. Nevertheless, if the discovery did
nothing more than throw some light on some of ma
tures operations it could not fail to add materially
to its authors reputation.