48 A CHEMICAL TRIAD. 



remain outside. Nevertheless, little gaps can be found, here 

 and there, through which inquisitive folks may peep; and 

 I think it may be possible to give the reader who is no 

 chemist a peep into the enchanted domains of the atomic 

 theory and doctrine of definite proportionals to unravel the 

 secrets of which was the aim of Dalton's life-long labour. 

 Yes, there is an opening, and you shall have a satisfactory 

 peep, but on one condition only you must not be frightened 

 by names. If people would only make up their minds not 

 to be frightened by names, they would not find science so 

 difficult. The ' atomic theory' is the name, or rather one of 

 the names, you are not to be frightened at ; the c doctrine of 

 definite proportions,' or ' equivalents,' these are other names. 

 Forget the existence of all these names, however, at present. 



The philosophers of ancient Greece and Rome were fond 

 of arguing about philosophic beliefs matters which they 

 could neither prove nor disprove, because they were not ex- 

 perimental people. Amongst the chief topics of argumenta- 

 tion, the following was one : whether a thing having weight, 

 and cognisable to the senses (matter), could or could not be 

 divided without end. Epicurus and Pythagoras imagined that 

 matter could be thus divided ad infinitum, and Lucretius sets 

 forth the views of these philosophers. Other ancients, too 

 numerous for mention here, adopted the other side of the 

 argument; and so they continued to argue away, proving 

 nothing, until both sides got tired. 



And what do you say about the argument ? Don't fear 

 giving an opinion. You have common sense, and that goes 

 a long way in philosophy. What do you think about it? 

 Can a substance any substance a potato, for instance 

 can that potato, I ask, be indefinitely divided, or is such 

 indefinite division impossible ? Evidently the potato may be 

 cut into two halves, and each of the two halves may be 

 halved again and again and again, and so on, until our eyes 

 are not sharp enough to see the little pieces. If instruments 



