13 



ferred to plastic powers ; very lately, in our 

 own time, Phlogiston explained every phe- 

 nomenon in nature. 



Now Hydrogen, Carbon, Caloric, and 

 their allies, have supplanted Phlogiston in 

 all his prerogatives ; who succeeds them we 

 are not yet certain, but it is said there are 

 already strong symptoms of a revolution. 

 The nerves are thrown out like a bait to 

 fishes ; the patient and his friends catch it 

 greedily, and swallowing it like the apple 

 of knowledge, become as wise as the doc- 

 tor himself. My dear, says the wife, I 

 always told you it was the nerves was the 

 matter with that child, but you never 

 would believe me, now you see the doctor 

 says so too : the husband nods assent, and 

 all are satisfied they understand the disease. 



