I CHANGES OF MATTER 29 



bodily frame, as they were during life, but become its 

 masters. Oxygen, the slave of the living organism, 

 becomes the lord of the dead body. Atom by atom, the 

 complex molecules of the tissues are taken to pieces and 

 reduced to simpler and more oxidised substances, until 

 the soft parts are dissipated chiefly in the form of car- 

 bonic acid, ammonia, water, and soluble salts, and the 

 bones and teeth alone remain. But not even these dense 

 and earthy structures are competent to otfer a permanent 

 resistance to water and air. Sooner or later the animal 

 basis which holds together the earthy salts decomposes 

 and dissolves — the solid structures become friable, and 

 break down into powder. Finally, they dissolve and are 

 diffused among the waters of the surface of the globe, just 

 as the gaseous products of decomposition are dissipated 

 through its atmosphere. 



It is impossible to follow, with any degree of certainty, 

 wanderings more varied and more extensive than those 

 imagined by the ancient sages who held the doctrine of 

 transmigration ; but tlie chances are, that sooner or later, 

 some, if not all, of the scattered atoms will be gathered 

 into new forms of life. 



The sun's rays, acting through the vegetable world, 

 build up some of the wandering molecules of carbonic acid, 

 of water, of ammonia, and of salts, into the fabric of 

 plants. The plants are devoured by animals, animals 

 devour one another, man devours both plants and other 

 animals ; and hence it is very possible that atoms which 

 once formed an integral part of the busy brain of Julius 

 Ceesar may now enter into the composition of Csesar the 

 negro in Alabama, and of Caesar the house-dog in an 

 English homestead. 



And thus there is sober truth in the words which 

 Shakespeare puts into the mouth of Hamlet — 



" Imperial Caesar, dead and turned to clay. 

 Might stop a hole to keep the wind awuy ; 

 Oh that tiiat earth, which kept the world in awe, 

 Should patch a wall, to expel the winter's flaw ! " 



