Prof. Van der Waals on the Continuity of the Liquid and Gaseous States

Abstract

THERE are many, no doubt, who will be pleased to have the English translation of some of the papers of Prof. Van der Waals which has recently been published by the Physical Society. There are those at any rate who will be glad to satisfy themselves, without overmuch labour, as to how much there is of real importance in these much-discussed memoirs, published originally in a language too little studied in this country. I do not propose to criticize the papers, though I do not think that either the thermodynamics or the conclusions will bear examination; but I cannot avoid the task, however ungracious, of pointing out that they do not show a proper appreciation of the work of Andrews.