VI – THE GREAT FESTIVALS OF THE YEAR AND THEIR REFLECTION IN SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS

By tom April 21, 2014
Plate 29, Fig. 55, 1% Gold chloride and 1% Iron sulphate

Plate 29, Fig. 55, 1% Gold chloride and 1% Iron sulphate

Plate 29, Fig. 55, 1% Gold chloride and 1% Iron sulphate, equal quantities mixed: This picture is vividly coloured. In the lower part we notice various delicately formed wavy lines in rhythmical arrangement. The colours, due to the activity of gold, are carried right up to the top and only a narrow band bears witness to the presence of Iron sulphate. Still, we would not classify this experiment as of outstanding value.

Plate 30, Fig. 57, 1% Gold chloride and 1% Tin chloride

Plate 30, Fig. 57, 1% Gold chloride and 1% Tin chloride

Plate 30, Fig. 57, 1% Gold chloride and 1% Tin chloride, equal quantities mixed:This is a very beautiful result. The form, which we pointed out especially in the previous experiments, as a dark purple arc in the centre below, is also indicated in this experiment,but is more delicately shaped and much lighter in colour. The central figure which reminds us of the formation in Fig. 49, (Gold chloride and Quicksilver chloride) is continuously interrupted by lighter and darker shades of mauve arcs. In the quicksilver experiment, the top of the elongated form has been described as golden yellow, and here too it is of golden yellow, but much more widely formed. A strong line of dark purple rounds off the more vividly coloured part of the experiment and is then followed by a light yellow zone with a faint mauve border line.

Plate 31, Fig. 59, 1% Gold chloride and 1% Lead nitrate

Plate 31, Fig. 59, 1% Gold chloride and 1% Lead nitrate

Plate 31, Fig. 59, 1% Gold chloride and 1% Lead nitrate, equal quantities mixed:Here too we have the immediate impression that we are faced with an unusual picture.The dark arc described in Fig. 47 (Gold chloride and Silver nitrate) has loosened up.It is there, but metamorphosed. The form which is half hidden in Quicksilver—Gold chloride and is worked out more definitely in Tin chloride—Gold chloride, comes to perfection in Gold chloride—Lead nitrate. The middle structure is outlined by a distinct red-purple line. Dark wave interchanges with light wave in rhythmical sequence,encircling on top two light pinkish-yellow spots which look like eyes and give the picture a mask-like character. The colours have reached to the top, where a wavy line changing between yellow and purple colours form the border. This too, is a “unique”picture for Gold chloride and Lead nitrate. We have never had a similar one, and cannot expect to find it repeated.

These seven experiments again form a unit; they belong together in a mysterious way. The metamorphosis of the middle form is indicated in the following diagrams:

SIM - Figs 1,2SIM - Figs 3,4,5SIM - Figs 6,7* * * * * *

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXPERIMENTS WITH VARIOUS SUBSTANCES CARRIED OUT AT NOON ON APRIL 25th (EASTER SUNDAY ACCORDING TO THE CHURCH)

Plate 32, Fig. 60, 1% Gold chloride and 1% Silver nitrate

Plate 32, Fig. 60, 1% Gold chloride and 1% Silver nitrate

Plate 32, Fig. 60, 1% Gold chloride and 1% Silver nitrate, equal quantities mixed: This experiment does not look specially beautiful; there is no characteristic form (unless we take the dark shape in the centre lower part, as a kind of inverted arc) compared with the experiment of Silver nitrate and Gold chloride in the previous series. A fine wavy line indicates the end of this form. The colours in themselves are quite beautiful, light and dark mauve; there is even a slight indication of yellow on the top. But the colours run into each other and form a chaotic mixture; they are blurred and show a tendency to deteriorate quickly. We certainly would not call this an especially beautiful result.

Plate 33, Fig. 62, 1% Gold chloride and 1% Quicksilver chloride

Plate 33, Fig. 62, 1% Gold chloride and 1% Quicksilver chloride

Plate 33, Fig. 62, 1% Gold chloride and 1% Quicksilver chloride, equal quantities mixed: As far as the colours are concerned, the original looked clear and beautiful,but no forms whatsoever are noticeable. The border line is unquiet, partly formed of tiny waves, partly of stronger, intersected waves; however it is a clear, dark purple line. All we could say of this result is that nothing unusual has happened.

Plate 34, Fig. 64, 1% Gold chloride and 1% Copper sulphate, equal quantities mixed

Plate 34, Fig. 64, 1% Gold chloride and 1% Copper sulphate

Plate 34, Fig. 64, 1% Gold chloride and 1% Copper sulphate, equal quantities mixed: This we would term a specially insignificant, expressionless picture of gold chloride and copper sulphate, which is seldom obtained. Even the colours do not look very bright. Most of the picture is dark purple, contrasting with the top band of light bluish purple, followed by a band of light yellow and a scarcely noticeable border line of pale green. This is a disappointing result.

Plate 35, Fig. 66, 1% Gold chloride

Plate 35, Fig. 66, 1% Gold chloride

Plate 35, Fig. 66, 1% Gold chloride: The original was vividly coloured, but rather dark in appearance. The gold activity has reached to the top and formed a clear dark mauve border, intersected with tiny waves. Underneath the dark border, we notice a narrow band of light purple, and near the middle of the picture traces of golden yellow. Then follows again an irregular dark band which lightens up towards the centre and is followed by a wavy line of bluish purple. Also here we could only say as a general description that the result is dull.