144 SEVENTH REPORT—1837. 
brought about by the alteratian in the arrangement of the pre- 
viously existing elements. 
Amongst the changes taking place under one or other of these 
conditions in inorganic or dead matter, and wholly removed 
from the influence of life, and to which some parallels may pro- 
bably be found in changes effected within the living body; the 
following examples may. be pointed out by way of illustration. 
None are more notorious and familiar than those which take 
place in wine and other fermented liquors when kept in well- 
closed bottles. In some of these instances it may be said that 
the change is only mechanical, and the result of very slow de- 
position ; yet there are unquestionably cases in which no depo- 
sition takes place; and the change, be it what it may, is un- 
doubtedly effected in the chemical combination of the ultimate 
elements. Between these extremes there are mixed cases, as 
when crystals are deposited and gases liberated to occupy the 
upper part of the containing vessel. Amongst the long-neg- 
lected bottles which may sometimes be seen in a chemist’s labo- 
ratory, we may occasionally observe the results of very slowly- 
effected changes in the combination of the enclosed elements | 
exhibited in remarkable precipitates and in alteration in colour. 
In the mineral kingdom, and more especially in rocks of 
voleanic origin, and possessing a cellular character, we may ob- 
serve the most remarkable transfer and chemical combination 
of elements in the products, often beautifully crystallized, by 
which the cavities become more or less filled, notwithstanding 
the firm and apparently impenetrable character which the rock 
may possess. Amber may be adduced as another example fur- 
nished by the mineral kingdom, for it is doubtless whilst apper- 
taining to this class that it has received the characteristics which 
distinguish it from the recent resins to which it is not only 
closely allied, but from which it is in all probability really de- 
rived. In this instance we have a material as impervious to 
water as the volcanic rocks before-mentioned. But the obvious 
change produced is in some respects different. Instead of a 
new substance, separated in distinct portions, the result of a 
transfer to sensible distances, we find an uniform change of 
substance throughout. There is perhaps no change in dead 
matter which is more interesting, from its relation to the sub- 
ject before us, than the conversion of all the soft parts of animals 
into the peculiar fatty substance called adipocere,: which takes 
place under exposure to certain circumstances, of which immer- 
sion in moisture appears to be the most important. It is wor- 
thy of note that this change seems to take place nearly alike in 
