* 
928 Biography of Johann Nepomuk von Fuchs. 
made it prominent by interesting examples. He begins by men- 
tioning some facts from bis paper on lime and mortar, viz., t 
powdered Opal unites with lime in the wet way, and is easily 
- soluble in boiling caustic een solution, while the finest quartz 
is unattacked by lime, and dissolves’ with exceeding slowness in 
tash solution. This behavior can only have its foundation in 
a difference of aggregation (or ‘olidity} (Zustand des Starren), 
which is either crystalline, or the opposite of crystalline—amor- 
hous. Common glass is an amorphous y, which may as- 
sume the crystalline condition by long exposure to heat, as in 
Reaumur’s porcelain, Glass and Reaumur s porcelain have the 
same relation to each other as opal to 
mong amorphous bodies belong Stiidinn, pumice, pitchstone 
and pearistone (he was inclined to reckon le ‘ucite among them), 
also allophane, psilomelane, thraulite, &c., the fossil coals, resins 
and gums, gelatine, and many other substances. He insta tanced 
cinnabar: interesting 3 is his remark upon deformation, 
i e., the Section. from m3 crystalline to the amorphous condi- 
tion. He says, “In my view deformation ser nay, must 
the cry stalline® molecules of two or more. bodies arranging them- 
ees in juxtaposition, so that in fact a chemical product is noth- 
re than a very intimate mixture. M inion is rather, 
that Seder two substances can combine they must first lay the 
crystalline form ordinarily peculiar to them (become amo hous), 
and then are they in a condition to take on together the new 
form which they are inclined to assume, or to which the resu 
ant of their innate forces disposes them. This view is sustai 
ak the fact Aaa crystallization acts like a repulsive force against 
ity, an must be overcome before that power can exercise 
Ey the inorganic body must also become amorphous be- 
pe: it can enter the organic kingdom, and be assimilated to aD 
organic substance. Crystallization and life are absolutely i0- 
compatible with each other, and so soon as a substance in am 
organic body begins to to erystallize, so soon it falls into the inor- 
_® The original is the op- 
posite of amo gina eee rein Sere aie 
