OK THE ALKALI^iE MATTER IK SERUM, &C. 233f ' 



no error w'as discovered, and no important informatloa 

 was added to that which had originally been gained from 

 microscopic quantities. / 



It is far from my intention, howe^^ep, to c^Oiftend, that on 

 some occasions, new and important facts may not Ibe brought 

 to light by means of processes conducted upon an extent Expetiment* 

 sive scale, which would not admit of being reduced to a<^"*^"ge 

 small compass. I only mean to assert, that such instances out iheir use. 

 are comparatively but rare; and that no philippic against 

 the examination of small objects ; no appeal to old Mas- 

 ters ; no slight upon modern improvements, ought to deter 

 chemical Inquirers from adopting methods, which some of 

 our contemporaries have employed with so much utility and 

 success. 



Among other inaccuracies in the critique which has Dr Wollastoai 

 given rise to these remarks, my paper on dropsical fluids '"?*^^'"^*^|^ 

 has been represented as being the joint work of Dr. Wol- the author, 

 laston and myself; for which supposition there was no other 

 authority but a note in the paper iji question, iii which I 

 acknowledged my obligations to Dr. Wollaston for the in- 

 formation and assistance, which I have, on this and other 

 occasions, derived from his kindness. I need not say how 

 highly I should have been flattered by such an association; 

 but 1 think it due to him to state, not only that he had no 

 share in the general inquiry, but that he did not even see 

 the paper in question previous to iti publication. 



I cannot refrain from noticing, among Dr. Pearson's re- Expressions 

 marks, another kind of licence, which appears to me stilt less ^j^g author " 

 •warrantable. 1 allude to the practice of quoting in italics cited so as to. 

 or placing between inverted coraiMs, words or phrases j^j, * 

 which have not been used, and to seize upon them as a sub- 

 ject of ridicule. This is the case with some proposed 

 elegant changes, and with my supposed recommendation to 

 transfer chemistry to the '* fireside of the drawingroom"; 

 expressions which I have not used, and yet upon which Dr. 

 Pearson has thought proper to be extremely jocular. 



1 have not only farther to add, that should Dr. Pearson 

 again write upon the subject, I shall not easily be induced 

 to resume the controversy. I am sorry, therefore, to find it 

 intimated at the conclusion of his paper, that he propoaea 



to 



