I2O KANTS UNIVERSAL NATURAL HISTORY 



in this theory is further increased by the fact that the 

 shortening of the axis, or polar diameter, brings with it 

 an approach of the parts to the centre, and consequently 

 an increase of the gravitation, while the prolongation of 

 the equatorial diameter brings with it an increase of the 

 distance of the parts from the same centre, and therefore 

 a diminution of their gravity ; and for this reason the 

 flattening of Newton's spheroid is so increased that the 

 difference of the diameters is raised from o-|-yth to 



For these reasons the diameters of Saturn must stand 

 to each other in a still greater ratio than that of 20 : 32 ; 

 they must almost attain to the proportion of 1:2. This 

 is a difference which is so great that the least atten- 

 tion would not fail to observe- it, however small Saturn 

 may appear through the telescope. But from this it is 

 only to be inferred that the hypothesis of uniform density, 

 which appears to be applicable with tolerable correctness 

 to the earth, deviates very far indeed from the truth in 

 the case of Saturn. And this is already probable of 

 itself in a planet whose mass consists in the greatest 

 part of its contents of the lightest materials, and which 

 allows the elements of a heavier kind in its composition 

 to sink far more freely to the centre in accordance with 

 the nature of their gravity before it obtains the solid state, 

 than in the case of those planets whose much denser 

 matter retards the settling down of their materials and 

 so lets them become solid before this precipitation can 

 take place. If we therefore suppose in the case of Saturn 

 that the density of the matter in its interior increases 

 with the approach to its centre, then gravity no longer 

 diminishes in that ratio, but the growing density com- 



