HYDROSTATICS. 193 



The circumstance that has so long rendered the theory 

 of capillary tubes a matter of doubt, is the difficulty 

 of finding a perfect experimentum crucis^ or a fact 

 which can be explained by one theory only. It can- 

 not be said, that even the theory of CLAIRAUT and 

 LA PLACE possesses the demonstrative evidence 

 which such an experiment would afford, ~i' 



VOL. I. N HYDRAULICS. 



