56 LIMITS AND FLUXIONS 



circle is a polygon of an infinite number of sides. 

 He also uses the infinitesimal triangle. Hayes and 

 Stone have no hesitation in speaking of '' fluxions 

 of fluxions," and " infinitely little parts of an in- 

 finitely little part." No writers, unless we except 

 Newton (1704) and Ditton, dispense with the use of 

 infinitely small quantities. The dropping of such 

 quantities from an equation was usually permitted 

 without scruple. 



What an opportunity did this medley of untenable 

 philosophical doctrine present to a dose reasoner 

 and skilful debater like Berkeley ! [See Addenda, 



p. 289.] 



