134 CLASSICS OF MODERN SCIENCE 

 as it is demonstrated that aeriform substances and air itself contain 

 a large quantity of fire in combination, by so much it is probable 

 that solid bodies contain little of it. 



For the rest, I repeat, in attacking here the doctrine of Stahl, it 

 was not my purpose to substitute for it a rigorously demonstrated 

 theory, but only an hypothesis which seemed to me more probable, 

 more in conformity with the laws of nature, and one which appeared 

 to involve less forced explanations and fewer contradictions. 



