continuity so necessary in a channel, the contents 

 of which always remain on the same spot ? It is 

 clear that this indicates an effect by means of 

 transmission, like that of electricity; although, 

 what we hitherto know about electricity, cannot 

 here be applied in explanation. 



In this state of our information, I consider it 

 as no small merit in a lover of the science, if 

 he distinctly lays open what is really known, and 

 determines with equal distinctness, what is yet 

 unknown to us, without filling up the chasm with 

 conjecture. Problematical tenets, they say, are 

 conductors to truth; and I do not altogether 

 deny it, when they are proposed for examination 

 by themselves ; but when in the accumulation of 

 scientific knowledge, they are mixed with the 

 mass of facts, they often lead even the intelligent 

 reader astray, who afterwards cannot, without la- 

 bour and application, get rid of the illusion. Ani- 

 mal Chemistry is more exposed to this intermix- 

 ture of hypothesis than any other science ; partly 

 because much remains still to be explored, and 

 partly because there is still more, which certainly 

 never can be discovered. It might indeed be 

 possible, by applying to this science the many 

 more or less ridiculous medical theories about the 



