A Fourth State of Matter

IN Mr. Crookes' communication on this subject (NATURE, vol. xxii. p. 153) occurs the sentence, “An isolated molecule is an inconceivable entity.” This proposition would appear to me to be questionable. For if we cannot conceive an isolated molecule, how are we to conceive of two (or more) molecules, i.e., conceive of matter at all? For the conception of two molecules involves the isolation of each in the mind, otherwise surely the two would be mentally blended into one. It is further said of a molecule, “Solid it cannot be.” May not the external qualities ordinarily attributed to a “solid” be said to be those of a body possessing a certain amount of rigidity (i.e., whose parts resist displacement) combined with a certain elasticity? Would not these be substantially the properties of a single vortex molecule, according to those who have investigated this subject? For it appears that such a molecule would be (perfectly) elastic, and inseparable into parts. At the same time it would seem that there would be nothing to prevent it from being harder or more rigid than any large scale solid (built up of such molecules?) with which we are acquainted.