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II. Analysis of a Meteoric Stone which fell near Adair, in the County of 

 Limerick, on September 10, 1813. By James Apjohn, M.D., M.R.I.A., 

 Professor of Chemistry in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. 



Read 23rd May, 1836. 



IHERE is no natural phenomenon more calculated to excite astonishment, or 

 which has actually caused more surprise, than the fall of heavy bodies through 

 the atmosphere. For a length of time the fact was altogether denied by the 

 highest authorities in science, and the strongest evidence resisted, when adduced 

 in support of an event which was conceived repugnant to the laws of nature. 

 Philosophic incredulity, though generally useful, was, in this instance, carried 

 too far, and proved injurious to the progress of science; for while doubts were 

 entertained concerning the reality of stony showers, the sources of the aeroliths 

 and their nature were not, of course, likely to be made objects of investigation. 

 The occasional occurrence, however, of such a phenomenon having been at length 

 established by incontrovertible testimony, the questions just alluded to were 

 eagerly discussed, but by no means with the same degree of ardour or success. 

 A multitude of hypotheses were almost Immediately broached in reference to the 

 origin of meteoric stones, but philosophers were more slow in applying themselves 

 to the analysis of these singular bodies, though it might have been easily foreseen 

 that a knowledge of their constitution and pi'opertles would, if not essential as a 

 preliminary to the investigation, be at least very useful in all attempts to trace 

 them to their origin. Mr. Howard, indeed, as is well known, was the first com- 

 petent person who devoted himself to this latter research, and after an analysis 

 of four distinct specimens of aeroliths, and as many of native iron, he was enabled 

 to announce to chemists the following facts in reference to their composition : — 



1st. That meteoric stones always contain an alloy of iron and nickel, the 

 amount of which is subject to variation. 



VOL. XVIII. D 



