147.

It is true that we shall not thereby prove that this hypothesis represents the only possible or even the most adequate expression of the elementary dynamical law of the vibrations of the oscillators. On the contrary I think it very probable that it may be greatly improved as regards form and contents. There is, however, no method of testing its admissibility except by the investigation of its consequences, and as long as no contradiction in itself or with experiment is discovered in it, and as long as no more adequate hypothesis can be advanced to replace it, it may justly claim a certain importance.