In his 1894 "Discourse" at the Royal Institution of Great Britain, A. M. Worthington presents a fascinating study of the physics and aesthetics of splashing drops. He describes how drops of mercury, alcohol, and water may appear unbroken but have actually undergone violent motion, which can be observed as traces on opaque glass. These traces, which he calls "footprints of the dance," lead to insights into the fundamental properties of fluids.

Worthington is particularly captivated by a series of images showing drops at different stages of dissolution. Many of these images are engravings of photographs, made possible by "sensitive plates" and short-exposure photography, which he credits to the inventors of the technology. He also describes a lensless process for capturing drops using physiological afterimages and a short-duration flashing device. His research, which he terms the "Natural History of Splashes," reveals that drops have dynamic forms, including the "beautiful beaded annular edge" formed during collision and the "Worthington jets" produced by splashing milk.

The text also explores the limitations of human perception, with Worthington noting discrepancies between his old drawings and photographs of drops. He attributes this to the mind's idealized vision of the splash, which can never fully match the real phenomenon. The work is a blend of scientific inquiry and descriptive prose, with both mesmerizing images and thought-provoking observations.