346 On Chemical Philosophj. 



peat^ depend on the nature and the degree of rapidity and ex- 

 tent of those alternate subversions and formations, transforma- 

 tions and transmutations, of the various forms of matter which 

 one power produces. We are not, therefore, to confine the 

 meaning of the word to the mere effects and appearances of heat 

 and flame ; — effects and appearances which are only the more 

 striking features of a power on which every eft'oct depends; the 

 mere specific and determinate effect depending on the mode or 

 degree or nature or circumstances in its operations — which in fact 

 depends on the rapidity and extent and nature of the change pro- 

 duced, the rapidity and extent with which old combinations are 

 subverted and new products formed by this power. The quan- 

 tity of heat or flame (I say heat or flame, not aiid flame, for they 

 are not in equal but inverse proportion) are in proportion to this. 

 // is during these actions oj' ignition and solution, of combina- 

 tion and consolidalion of matter, that by its combination and 

 concentration, disunion and radiation, its rapid movements to 

 and from a point in this combined and condensed form^, it pro- 

 duces, us tvell as these changes thefnselves, that also which is 

 the most useful of all its effects, and that which is the mast 

 leautifid of all its phcenomena, heat and flame. Agreeably 

 to these vieivs, I define that part of our knowledge of nature, the 

 object of which is to treat of heat and flame, or caloric, as that 

 which treats of some of those particular and more striking 

 operations and effects of the grand agent on dissimilar kinds 

 of matter, attended ivith heat and sometimes flame, and of ob- 

 serving and applying its actions in these states in order to as- 

 certain its nature and produce other effects. 



I wish to be understood, that I do not conceive this power of 

 nature is caloric, either alistractedly considered or according to 

 the common acceptation of the word; but on the contrary, that 

 heat is a mere effect, and that flame is a mere effect; — that heat 

 and flame are mere effects, indicating some specific mode or de- 

 gree in its operations. That this is the fact not merely as respects 

 heat and light, but also electricity and galvanism; that it as- 

 sumes either tlie form of electricity, galvanism, magnetism, ca- 

 loric or light, when in its movements and changes which it pro- 

 duces on matter it combines with or separates from them in a 

 more or less perfect manner, and in a greater or less degree, 

 according to the nature of the substances on which, and the cir- 

 cumstances in which it operates. So true is this, that it may 

 be reduced to the form of an axiom, " that this power is either 

 given out or absorbed in one form or the other in every change ; 

 and this in proportion to the extent, rapidity, concentralioji, and 

 the nature of the change produced." From a partial view of 

 this applied to caloric in its usual acceptation. Dr. Black 



formed 



