Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-08
ALCHEMYS RIDDLE /
Reported SOLVED.
Paris Paper Says Sir Ernest
Rutherford Discovered Trans
mutation of Matter
HAS BEEr SOUGHT FOR AGES


the University Of Manchester, England,
has solved the riddle of transmutation
of matter, the secret sought by the
ancient alchemists, according to the
Matin. lie is one Of the best known
physicists in the world and has devoted
much attention in recent years TO radio
activity.
DR.. Robert B. Owens, secretary of
the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia,
stated today that while synthetic
transmutation was thinkable," he did
not believe that the problem had been
solved. Doctor Owens wos an associate
with Sir Ernest when the latter was
professor OF physics at McGill Uniycr-
sity, Montreal
I worked with Doctor Rutherford
upon radio activity he ssId TINS ait
ernoon. "At that time our investiga
tions indicated that in the decompo
sition of radium, thorium, uranium and
similar elements, they broke down into
mater of Different properties.
For instance, the alpha particles
resulting IN the decomposition of rudium
break down into lead, two kinds of
lead. But this lead differs in atomic
weight from the ordinary popularity
known lead l think the SO o-called
discovery reported by the Matin has
reference to this kind of transmutation.
Not Synthetic Transportation
ut is transmutation without doubt,
only it is not synthetic transmutatiou,
and scientists can't, for the life of them,
take that lead again aud change it back
fwaf.. el,, al, .hs. ts.la. e
In 1899 Doctor Rutherford aud
discontinued our joint activity.
dropped the matter and he continued his
Investigations. met him over in
England only short time ago. I was
chief signal officer in London during
the war"
Doctor Owen was recently awarded
the %. s. o. by the British Govern
ment. He received the award from the
Prince of Wales, along with Major
Warburton and Doctor Furbush.
Doctor Rutherford was given the El -
Hott Cresson gold medal by the Frank
lin Institute in 1910 for ''the distin b
guished leading and, directive work in
the advancement of the electric theory.
DIR. Arthur w. Goodspeed, head of
the University Of Pennsylvania depart
ment of physics, says the announce
ment is the 'old old story and will
give 1t no credence until Sir Ruther-
ford presents his own monograph of his
researches.
j have no more comment to make
on the announcement In the Matn than
had when 1t was announced some five
or six years ago that Sir William
Ramsey had made similar discovery, p"
said Doctor Goodspeed
Every now and then the newspapers
print some such story as this for want
Of something better sy,< -isaf.r
Doctor GoOdspeed Skeptical
''The whole trend of science is to
< ward the disintegration of the atom and
lis construction. Sir Ernest Ruther
ford has done as much as any man in
studying this problem. That he has
made any sudden discovery ] very much
doubt. ! have no doubt, however, that
ia the long run his studies will add
vastly to our knowledge on this i'm
portant subject.
II would not wish to enter into d
discussion of the subject based on news
paper reports. When the results o'
his work have been published in tht
scientific magazines it will be possible
= 10 make intelligent comments OF
them"
Doctor Rutherford's reported lates
discovery is one which has been sUugh
for ages The Bible contains many al
lusions to the science of alchemy, bu
the first record is to be found in al
ancient Chinese work dating back int
ages almost beyond computation.
Aristotle forms quite a prominent fig
Ere in the history of the science, h
being the first man to advance tn
theory of q universal element binding
all the others together.
Aristotle made up schedule of con
structions and juggled with it TO th
mystification of all his followers. IL
said the four elements-fre, air, waite
and earth--are not single and definit
substances. but derive their existenc
from other more primal elements. Thus
fire was composed of heat and dryness
air of heat and moisture, water of col
and moisture and earth of dryness an
cold.
Aristotle Sought Prime Element
On the basis of this table he con
structed some very plausible question
and led the way to the idea of the dis
covery of the one prime element wit
which one could transform any sub
stance into anything else.
TIE old alchemists sometimes use
good logic in their arguments as to tn
existence of the philosophers stone, an
all alchemy was not the fraud tht
mouern people Lhluk. lnefe were SON
good honest workers in the rank
searchers after the truth. as well 4
knayes that are TO be found in ever
branch of life.
The discovery alleged to have bee
made by Sir Ernest Rutherford follow
years Of work along the lines Of radio
Gcfivity, in which he is the highest liv
ing authority, His work may be sun
med up as a demonstration that q
matter, whether il be precious like go
or common like the baser metals, is
essence, in its ultimate constituent
The same. That is to say. the minute
particles--be the scientific name f
them what 1t may--of any element al
the same in ultimate essence as are Il
minutest particles of every other elC
ment.
Theory OF TransmUtatiou
These infinitely small PARTICLES. how
ever, are arranged in one way and in
certain proportion aud quantity to NAL
gold. They are arranged in another Wi
and In another proportion and quanti
to make lead.
The idea might be conveyed BY 6
Illustration which the art OF mus
supplies with fair fidelity. The not
that build up popular air and Il
notes that build up grand opera a
has been explained with regard to &
metals.
This Indicates what Sir Ernest Rutl
tfford proved in his laboratory on 4
whole subject of what is known
4 a ~