94 Mr. Parkes' additional Observations 



it to those who may understand the subject, and are, at the 

 same time, well acquainted with the attainments of the As- 

 sociates, whether it arises from ignorance or design. Ac- 

 cording to them, any one who is not acquainted with chemistry, 

 would imagine that all acids must necessarily taste sour ; 

 whereas, it is well known, that the molybdic, the tungstic, the 

 uric, and some other acids are tasteless. 



For the other part of the charge respecting explosions, a very 

 few words will suffice. " There is reason to suppose," say 

 they, " that Mr. Parkes is actually a believer in explosions 

 without noise, for in page 570 of the Chemical Catechism, he 

 defines detonation to be an explosion vAth noise, which mani- 

 festly implies that, in his opinion, noise is not necessary to ex- 

 plosion." Not quite so manifest, for though I am aware that 

 there may be much sound with little sense*, I am still of 

 opinion, that noise of some kind must always accompany ex- 

 plosion. To consider my expression, " explosion with noise," 

 to be equally incorrect with that of " silent explosion," is to 

 confound that which, according to their own notion, is a mere 

 redundancy, with that which is a direct absurdity ; but if these 

 Associates had been acquainted with the etymology of the words 

 explosion and detonation, they would surely not have hazarded 

 so ridiculous an observation. Explosion is evidently derived 

 from the Latin word explode, and this was formed from ex and 

 plaudo. With the Latins, plaudo meant " to make a noise by 

 clapping, to clap in token of applause," as at the close of an 

 entertainment ; and consequently explodo meant " to drive out 

 with clapping of hands, to hiss off the stage." Agreeably to 

 this, Dr. Johnson explains our English word, explode, to mean, 

 " to drive out with some noise of contempt," and explosion to be 

 " the act of driving out." Our great poet gives the word a 

 similar explanation, and without meaning any invidious appli- 



Bullatis mihi nugis, 



;ina turgescat, dare pondus idoneafunio. " 



Persius. 



