52 MOLECULES. 







reception than the former theory possessed, I cannot 

 avoid observing that the whole theory of molecules and 

 decrements, is to be regarded as little else than a series 

 of symbolic characters, by whose assistance we are 

 enabled to investigate and to demonstrate with greater 

 facility the relations between the primary and second- 

 ary forms of crystals. And under this view of the 

 subject, we ought to divest our notions of molecules, 

 and decrements, of that absolute reality, which the 

 manner in which it is necessary to speak of them in 

 order to render our illustrations intelligible, seems 

 generally to imply. 



