Referee's report by Henry Edward Armstrong, on a paper 'The sensitiveness of silver and of some other metals to light' by J Waterhouse

Description

Sectional committee: [Chemistry]

The paper is an interesting but very lengthy record of a set of observations on the action of light on plates of polished silver et cetera. The author confirms and considerably extends Meser's[?] observation that on exposing polished plates of the metal or even glass behind cut out screens to light, images are produced which, if not visible, may be developed by mercury or other vapours. As to the cause of their production, which is the point of interest, he imagines the conclusion is that it is very difficult to give any definite opinion. The author already favours the explanation that the effects may be due to the gases or vapours occluded in or attached to the silver surface. As the observations are but an extension of well known similar observations, and as the cause of their production is in no way identified he does not think the publication of the paper in its present lengthy form is justifiable. Would like to see some concise statement of the results arrived at in the Proceedings.

[Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society, 1899].

Endorsed on recto as recevied 4 May 1900.

Reference number

RR/15/132

Earliest possible date

03 May 1900

Physical description

Letter on paper

Page extent

2 pages

Format

Manuscript