THE METAMORPHOSES OF MATTER. 



So far as the discoveries of chemistry have hitherto gone, the 

 elementary bodies of terrestrial creation, and probably' of the 

 entire universe, are no more than about 63.* 



Considering the immense diversity of material things with- 

 in our cognisance, the existence of a far greater number of 

 material elements would have seemed probable ; and feelings 

 of surprise rise to their culminating point when individuals 

 not versed in chemistry are informed that even of the 63 ele- 

 mentary bodies know^n, Nature somewhat fantastically as it 

 might seem has decreed that nearly two-thirds of the ma- 

 terials of the earth's accessible crust should be made up of 

 two elements alone, these being oxygen and silicon. Nor is 

 the surprise thus begotten likely to be diminished by the as- 

 surance that chemical analysis of animal and vegetable beings 

 demonstrates the fact, that the main elements the bulk of 

 their composition are only four: viz. hydrogen, oxygen, 

 nitrogen, and carbon. Belief in the immutability of chemical 

 elements may be regarded as the axiomatic basis of modern 

 chemistry, as distinguished from ancient and mediaeval al- 

 chemy ; nevertheless, within the last quarter of a century, 

 some curious revelations have been made that seem almost at 

 variance with the dogma. Of these a very cursory notice must 

 on this occasion suffice ; seeing that the scheme and tenden- 

 cies of this paper lead us in another direction. Perhaps the 

 best popular illustration of the mutation of aspect and qualities 

 of which an element may be susceptible without combination, 

 is that afforded by the element phosphorus. 



* The number is not exactly determined. 



