New-York tribune., 1908-09-28
BLACK EYE FOR TRANsMUTATION.

The results Of two independent investigations
which have a bearing on the possibility of the
tranSmutation OF metals have recently been
made known. Nine. Curfe undertook several
months ago to duplicate the experiments which
led Sir William Ramsay to suspect that copper
underwent a change to sodium, potassium and
lithum under the influence of radium emana-
tions. A short account of her attempt was sub
mitted a few weeks ago to the Paris Academy
of Sciences. Realizing that sound conclusions
could not be drawn from her tests if the faint
est trace of sodium. potassium or lithium was
present in the copper, distilled water and other
agents she employed. her first step was to
purify her materials. To her aStonishment she
discovered that fluids and salts from which she
had eliminated these elements so completely
that the spectroscope did not betray their pres
ence would after short time tell another story.
The substances that she sought to remove would
appear after her preparations had been con-
tanned in glass vessels and even in quartz Only
when she reSorted to platinum receptacles did
she succeed in getting rid of them. Her anal
yss of the mineral residue she had left at the
end of her experiments was somewhat indie
csive Though she is hardly willing TO say that
sodium, potassium and lithium cannot be formed
from copper she is equally unable TO confirm
the English chemists announcement.
No alleged discovery in astronomy. chemistry
or any other science is accepted until after cor
roborative testimony by competent persons has
been afforded. For instance. when Asaph Hall
reported the existence of two tiny bodies in
close proximity to the planet Mars, his pro-
fessional brethren waited until one of their
number had also seen the satellites before re-
garding the original report true. When Sir
William Ramsay declared that the atmosphere,
in addition TO its previously known consttu-
ents. also contained a gas which he named
argon. similar corroboration was deemed
prerequisite to a belief that there such
an element. The same rule holds good concern
ing the phenomena attending the activity of
radium. No more authoritative verdict on that
particular subject could well be rendered than
that of a person who had share in the dis
covery of radium. Her inability to ratify Sir
Williams beliefs concerning copper, therefore.
affords formidable objection TO faith in them.
Inasmuch as no one else has yet supplied the
needed proof, it would at present be a grave
mistake to accept It as settled that the British
chemist accomplished what he thought he did.
Nine. Curie's experiments raise some new and
interesting questions. Sir William Ramsay
marked year so ago that lithum was less
widely distributed than sodium and potassium
and was not TO be found in dust. These pleas
were designed TO shut out the suppOSiton that
the lithium he found in copper salts had been
there all the time or could have gained access
to them by accident. At the recent meeting of
the British Association for the Advancement of
Science Professor w. y. Hartley took issue
with him. Professor Hartley declared that he
and an assistant had made an elaborate ex-
animation of a vast number of ores and min
erals. In no less than 10 they had found
sodium and potassium. and lithium was usually
associated with them Lthium was present in
limeStOnes GRANTEES, pipe clay, asbestos and
sixty-One of sxty-two kinds of iron ore 1t was
also detected in common dust volcanic dust
SCOT the fine dust of chemical works and that
from copper smelling works
That shrewd n chemist as Sir William
Ramsay should have underestimate the chance
that the three elements which he attributed to
the degradation of copper were already present
impurities, were in the air. his receptaces
some of the chemicals he used. hardly seems
possible Yet, as the case stands this explana-
ton of his startling announcement must be con-
sidered a plausible one. That so liberal and
hard headed a judge Lord Kelvin should
lave remained unconvinced by Sir William is
alone powerful argument against transmuta-
tion. The case is strengthened when 1t becomes
apparent that Sir William might have put