CHANGING IDENTITIES 



PROPOSITION XVII. 



The production of new atoms of elementary sub- 

 stances from void matter is a necessity, and the 

 primary spheres composing the new born atom must 

 needs form into that new identity and no other. 



Because all atoms are nuade up of primary 

 spheres. (Prop. XIX, B. 1.) And because simular 

 atoms contain the same number of primary spheres. 



Therefore, the production of a new atom con- 

 sists in bringing together, and in holding together 

 with the same power that holds the parent atom 

 together, just so many primary spheres in just 

 such a form. 



And it is evident that the accidental coming 

 together in closest contact of four primary spheres 

 will not produce the first form of organized mat- 

 ter ; otherwise, all matter would have long ago been 

 organized into that form. 



The most exact reproduction that our art is able 

 to make of any form is to use that form to make a 

 mould, and to fill up that mould to reproduce the 

 form. 



Circles of like diameter, drawn on a plane in 

 closest contact, will show that one circle is sur- 

 rounded by six others. And these seven are again 

 surrounded by six figures of seven circles each. 

 In like manner, if three circles are considered as 

 a triangle, it is surrounded by six simular triangles. 



And with circles, triangles, or any other figure, 

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