INTRODUCTION
Since it cannot be assumed that every reader of this book is familiar with the author’s previous publications dealing with this subject, it is necessary to introduce briefly the method and character of the experiments used for this intimate study of matter. All we need is filter paper, glass dishes, (preferably round) about 4 ins. in diameter, and the substances we wish to study. These are dissolved in rainwater or distilled water in various concentrations. The filter paper is folded cylindrically and is held in position by a metal clip. Then it is inserted into the solution; a glass dish about 4 ins. in diameter requires about 10 cc. of the solution. After this has been done it is possible to watch how the liquid rises into the filter paper. We may take a note of how quickly it rises in 5 minutes or in 10 minutes. We can observe the speed, varying according to the substance used. After some time the liquid stops rising and a characteristic border line is formed. It may be a straight line, or a wavy line; this depends on the substance used for the experiment. Some substances rise higher, some less high. We may study how this process of rising is influenced by changes in the temperature, or by changes in the humidity of the surrounding atmosphere. We may even start our studies with water only, watching the differences in the rising height during day and night, we may watch for every hour over a long period and record the results obtained in a graph.
Interesting results are obtained if we go on for a month, or better still for a year, studying water in this way, and, if possible simultaneously, solutions of silver nitrate, iron sulphate, copper sulphate, or other salt solutions, making accompanying graphs of the temperature and humidity. If these studies are carried out carefully and conscientiously over one year, the result certainly is interesting. But what is one year? A mere nothing. At the beginning it may be satisfactory to compare the results obtained one day with the results obtained the next day ; soon we feel it is necessary to compare one month with another month ; then one year with another year.
With this type of experiment we remain in the sphere of measure, number and weight. This is a sphere where we feel completely safe. We think we can control every detail perfectly.
But the various substances are not only rising in the filter paper, they form a definite pattern as well and with this phenomenon we will deal in this publication. We want to study the Formative Forces of various substances, for instance the formative forces of silver nitrate, or iron sulphate, or mixtures of silver nitrate and iron sulphate, etc. To begin with, we study the differences which occur in the formative forces owing to the fact that an experiment is carried out during day time or during the night.