Scientific Reviervf. 263 



added two remarkable facts to our former knowledge of this mat- 

 ter : ^rst, " that the decomposition of water into the two free 

 gases now considered, is probably only a chemical experiment, and 

 never occurs in nature to any great extent," (p. 238.) ; and se- 

 cond, that oxygen " is never met with in nature in a free state, 

 nor can it be insulated in the laboratory ; its properties are conse- 

 quently unknown," (p. 241.) Chemists generally consider oxygen 

 gas to be constituted of the radical oxygen, and caloric, which does 

 not affect its chemical properties ; but Mr. M'V.'s heat is merely 

 vibration, and his oxygen consequently is an entirely new sub- 

 stance. 



Fital or Empyreal Air. Oxygen " always affects the aeriform 

 state, and thus exposed to the incidence of radiant matter, an atom 

 perches in its pole as hydrogen does, and the oxygen becomes vital 

 air." The only thing in the shape of a reason for this compound- 

 ing of vital air, we find in the following lines : — 



" When we consider the unipolar electrical state of a particle of oxygen, and 

 the susceptibility of an atom of the radiant medium contiguous to its pole, to 

 have an opposite state induced upon it, we will not hesitate for a moment to be- 

 lieve, that, as soon as oxygen mingles with radiant matter, it wiU unite with it 

 9s it does with hydrogen, by receiving an atom in its pole." P. 241. 



Nitrogen. " Suppose, by a violent compression in the direction 

 of the equator, that a particle of hydrogen is driven in towards the 

 centre, its presence there forms a mechanical obstacle to the evo- 

 lution of the form of oxygen, and the five remaining particles are 

 under the necessity of uniting by their apices, and a form results, 

 possessing symmetry enough to exist for some time. This is a par- 

 ticle of nitrogen." 



Thus azote is a result of the decomposition of water, " and that 

 such decomposition," says Mr. M'V. " must take place abundantly 

 in the ocean, both on its confines with its own basin and the sun- 

 beam, we can scarcely doubt." We confess we not only doubt, but 

 we absolutely discredit all such fanciful resolutions and composi- 

 tions ; and, supposing them actually to take place as here describ- 

 ed, we have not a particle of evidence before us to prove that figure 

 evolved as above, has any claim to represent the form of azote. 

 But our author finds the five particles which constitute azote, ca- 

 pable of three arrangements, of which he deigns to inform us, 

 that " the two small forms continue in the ocean, but the large 

 symmetrical one is aeriform." Such writing requires no comment. 

 But nitrogen has also other forms. " It is not only developed in 

 the decomposition of water, but is an abundant product of animal 

 assimilation. While it remains in the organization of animals, how- 

 ever, there is every reason to believe that it exists in a solid state, 

 or as an icosaedron ; and if so, the icosaedron may be regarded as 

 the characteristic form of the animal structure." And so it is con- 

 cluded, of course, that the icosaedron is the characteristic form of 

 the animal structure. And yet this is a fair specimen of the kind 



