New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-29
TRANSMrTArLON AG4LN-

When Sir William Ramsay WAS in this city
two or three weeks ago he referred 10 the pos
sibility that he was on the verge of an impOr
tant chemical discovery. Evidence had been
obtained which suggested though it did not yet
prove. that one element might be made from
another with the assistance of concentrated
energy, like that emitted By radium. At that
time The Tribune mentioned that an inkling Of
the facts was afforded by letter which Sir
William had written to Mature" Further in
formation 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 an
other which formed the subject Of Sir Will
Jams experiments is not identical with that re-
vealed in his earlier discovery-the evolution of
helium. This is regarded a product of dis
Indignation The newer researches were meant
to find out whether transformation could be
effected by the opposite process-building up.
What Sir William now describes is the forma-
ton Of deposit on the walls of several glass
vessels which had long been exposed to the IN
fiuence Of a solution of radium. One of the sub
stances which he thinks were developed there
resembles lead, apparently came either from
the glass the air. and is attributed to the ac-
ton Of the so-called beta" rays, thrown Off
by the radium. The experiments were inter
rupted IN such a manner that no final conclu-
sions could be drawn. but their director wisely
made a preliminary announcement of the re-
suit. BY thus putting himself on record he Sc
cures whatever credit is justly due him for
pioneer work, but In the mean time he states
the case with commendable caution. 1t will
be necessary for him or others to carry the re-
search much further. 1t will then be known
whether any new matter was really created at
all, and the nature of his product or products
can be determined with precision. If elements
hitherto unknown have thus been generated
their properties should be ascertaned. If an
old one-lead for instance-was produced bv
a method hitherto unpra ctised the fact should
be fully demonstrated. Years may elapse be-
fore these results can be attained, but ii ia
greatly TO be hoped that Sir Williams perse
Yerance Will match his insight and past ac-
tvity.
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 feeling that any expression of
opinion at present would be premature With
out scientific training, however ii is easy 70
see that at least two questions must be settled
before such an inquiry can be answered One
relates 10 the utility of the product, and the
other TO the cost of obtaining it. Many OF the
elements already known have failed thus far
" i0AuVA any SeIF4Ce 10 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, ii would never pay In use
them industTially. The cathode" rays of n vac
uum tube are believed TO be identical i'm nature
with the beta" rays of radium, but they are less
powerful. The fact that Sir William kept his
glass under the influence of a solution of radium
Tor nearly a year in order TO secure what
proved TO be microscopic quantity of product
Is not encouraging TO the theory that any sub
stitute can be found. but It is too soon to Judge
nevertheless, II the discovery did nothing more
thah throw light on some of natures opera