Scientific Nevit, Isfe. 235, 



only cometary elements: 2. Aeriform; containing more comets than plaaets : 3. Liquidi- 

 form; in which the planets exceed the comets: 4. Solidiform; containing planets only. 

 Thefe ftates may not, perhaps, exift purely and diftin£t from each other in nature. Another 

 fifth ftate is, that in which no aggregation takes place. The latter cometary elements are the 

 particles of light, of which the colours, the refle£tion, refraction, difFraiSion, abforption, 

 double refraction, the Newtonian fits, &c. are explained by analyfis ; together with thofc 

 refults, in which light i^ faid to enter into combination. The formulas, which relate to the 

 igneous aggregation, are applied to caloric, eleiStricity, and magnetifm. The aeriform 

 aggregation exhibits the phenomena of fluidity, comnreflibility, hydroflatics, and found ; and 

 under the article of the folidiform aggregations, fome obfervations are made refpeCting im- 

 pulfe, elaflicity, mechanical divifion, and re -union : and the caufes which produce cryftal- 

 lization, vegetation, and animalization. When two diflin-Sl bodies approach each other as 

 nearly as poffible, without ceafing to be diftindl, and by the influence of the elements of 

 the one upon the elements of the other, their centres of gravity acquire a new motion ; 

 this operation is called impulfe. Mechanical divifion is the feparation of the parts of 

 3. body, by contrary impulfions given to thofe parts : if the dire6l contrary operation could 

 be performed, mechanical union would take place ; this is performed to a certain extent 

 when poliflied fuffaces adhere by application to each other. 



With regard to the other doCtrines of cryftallization, vegetation, and animalization, in 

 which, I prefume, there mufl: be fome principles affumed as data, which may require farther 

 experiment; it'would anfwer no ufeful purpofe to enumerate the refults. For the developement 

 of thefe, we muft wait till the work (hall appear. 



Death of Galvanl. 



The celebrated philofopher, Galvani, died lately at Bologna, at the age of fifty-five. His 

 name has been given to the difcovery of the influence of the contadt of tv.'o metals on the 

 animal economy. 1 he circumftance which occafioned this difcovery, is not, perhaps, generally 

 known. The wife of Galvani took fbup of frogs on account of her health ; her hufband, 

 who was much attached to her, had fliinned feveral frogs, and on touching them by chance, 

 he unintentionally made a communication, which produced the fingular phenomenon, fince 

 known by the name of Galvanifm. The account to be publifhed by the commilTaries of the 

 inftitute, and the memoir of Baron Humboldt, in the Journal de Phyfique, for the month of 

 Prarial, an 6, give an ample account of this curious difcovery. Dr. Aldini, nephew and co- 

 operator with Galvani, is employed on a continuation of experiments calculated to elucidate 

 this phenomenon ftill farther. 



Lalande,. in the Magaz. Encycl. V. 55 1» 



On 



