32 OF THE ATOMIC THEORY. 



a difference in their size or specific gravity, or of 

 both together, I do not enquire. 



The weights attached to the atoms of bodies, 

 and deduced from the combinations into which 

 they enter, merely express the ratios of the atomic 

 weights, and hav" e no reference whatever to the 

 size or specific gravity of the atoms to which they 

 are attached. 



If a body be simple, it seems reasonable to be- 

 lieve, that its atoms or ultimate particles, are in- 

 capable of farther diminution or division : and 

 consequently, that the supposition of the exis- 

 tence of half atoms involves an absurdity. Not- 

 withstanding this, I have in certain cases, in the 

 following pages, admitted the possibility of one 

 atom of one body, uniting with one and a half, 

 or with half an atom of another body. This ad- 

 mission has been viewed by many persons as im- 

 proper and absurd, and as even involving an 

 impossibility. I need hardly observe, that we 

 can get rid of these half atoms with the greatest 

 ease, by merely doubling the numbers represent- 

 ing the constituents of the compound. Thus, if 

 an atom of iron weigh 3-5, and an atom of oxy- 

 gen 1, and if we consider it as absurd to view 

 peroxide of iron as a compound of 1 atom of 

 iron, and 1^ atom of oxygen ; we have only to 

 double 3-5, and 1-5, which are the two consti- 

 tuents of peroxide of iron. By so doing we get 

 7=2 atoms of iron, and 33 atoms of oxygen, 



