Referee's report by Oliver Joseph Lodge, on two papers 'On the continuity of effect of electric radiation and light on matter, and on the molecular strain theory of photographic action', and 'On the similarities between the radiation and mechanical strain' by Jagadish Chunder Bose

Description

Sectional committee: [Physics and chemistry

Both papers not recommended for publication in Philosophical Transactions. Having read Bose's papers he does not find himself appreciably the wiser but acknowledges that his own acquaintance with photographic literature is extremely meagre and the opinion of Sir William Abney or Professor Meldola would be of much more value.

Regarding 'On the Continuity of Effect...' Bose discourses somewhat loosely and at random and uses his imagination freely to press analogies and force the connection between the different phenomena. Evidence in the paper is 'extremely meagre'. Bose has evidently been tracing in every department of science analogies to what he himself has developed in connection with Branly's detecting electromagnetic radiation, as if it were a true effect on the substance, and supposes that the powdered form is only necessary because it is a 'skin' effect. This seems like pure assumption. This paper may be put in book form after a good deal of improvement or in a letter to a weekly magazine. Its chief value is to the author himself as leading him to experiment and hypothesize. Anxious not to discourage Bose as his lively imagination and energy may lead him to very good work.

Regarding 'On the Similarities between the Radiation...' this consists chiefly of repetition of what is in the other paper with some further and quite necessary but insufficient experimental details. If the experimental results related in this shorter paper are established the paper might perhaps appear without the other. The paper may act as a suggestion to students working in a lab and in that way be of great value.

Bose should work in a lab and defer considerations of publishing until he has something definite to publish.

[Both papers not published].

Endorsed on verso as received 4 December 1900.

Reference number

RR/15/18

Earliest possible date

02 December 1900

Physical description

Report on paper

Page extent

9 pages

Format

Manuscript