TO PHYSIOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY. 9 



tibie, and the cause of acid, something acid ; the caustic property of burnt lime 

 was derived from a caustic, which suffered itself to be transferred from one body 

 to the other, from the lime, for instance, to the so-called mild alkalies ; the pre- 

 sence of a primitive alkali was pre-supposed in the alcalies ; an acidum universale 

 in acids ; a primitive salt in salts ; while analogous bodies were varieties of one 

 substance. 



FALSE EXPLANATION OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. 



Many physical properties of bodies were explained by the physical character 

 of their most minute parts ; thus, for instance, a sharp taste was ascribed to sharp 

 particles. Lemery's* view that the smallest atoms of an acid were lance-shaped, 

 and that the atoms of alkalies were porous like a sponge, met with great approval, 

 for it seemed to confirm their mutual power of neutralization ; and the fact of 

 ammonia precipitating gold in its solution was a convincing proof to the chemists 

 of that day, of the capability they ascribed to ammonia of abrading the lance-like 

 points of the atoms ; it acted, to use Lemery's words, like the cudgel thrown by 

 a boy against a nut tree laden with fruit. . . v* 



Thus certain substances which possess an astringent or cooling flavor, were 

 supposed to exercise an astringent or cooling effect upon the living body ; and 

 any alcoholic drink, which may be termed strong according to the common mode 

 of speech, was admitted as a tonic among other remedial agents. 



It is an error to suppose that this mode of considering natural phenomena be- 

 longs to a very remote period, as will be seen from the following extracts drawn 

 from Mulder's " Chemistry of vegetable and animal Physiology. 't " We, there- 

 fore, rightly conclude," he observes, "that in sulphur, selenium, chromium, and 

 manganese, similar forces exist ; and thus we arrive at the idea that the chemical 

 relations of these elements are not dependant upon their matter, but upon the 

 analogous forces, by which their molecules are governed. Thus the idea of the 

 matter of sulphur is associated what somewhat of the idea of force, and of 

 the same force which operates in selenium also which operates not only in 

 forming combinations, but in contributing likewise to the formation of the whole 

 character of the compound substances produced. We remark the effects of this 

 force which exists in sulphur, selenium, &c., even in more complicated compounds 

 than those to which we have referred." 



The excellent investigations of Mitscherlich and Kopp upon isomorphism, have 

 not been able, as we see, to eradicate this mode of observation. 



EVERY PHENOMENA OF NATURE IS DEPENDANT ON MORE THAN 



ONE CAUSE. 



The truth of a number of opinions or views, whether justly or unjustly, is 

 liable to be doubted ; but a phenomenon, an effect, cognizable to the sound senses 

 of the most different persons, every where, and at all times, cannot be doubted, 

 excepting inasmuch as the causes which bring about certain results may not be 

 fully known. But this cause can never be supplied by the imagination, in the 

 department of natural investigation; for we know that one and the^same effect, as, 

 for instance, a mechanical motion, a blister upon the skin, or the contraction of a 



* Lemery's opinions were first promulgated in his Cours de Chimie, published in 

 1C75. An English translation entitled, A course of Chymistry, containing an easy 

 Method, &c., passed through four editions, the last bearing the date of 1720. 



f " Versuche einer allgemeinen physiologischen Chemie." Braunschweig, 1844, p. 

 37, of the first edition. 



