8 Dr. E. J. Mills on the First Principles of Chemistry. 



allowing of their gradual reaction (such, for example, as is 

 used in a gas-battery), and had examined the composition of 

 the gas from time to time. Then doubtless it would have 

 been found that the peculiar relation he observed is reached 

 continuously, and is merely a maximum value of one of the 

 functions in the equation to the reaction ; and this would have 

 been noticed in each of the four cases. Thus each abrupt rela- 

 tion would appear as but one of a long unbroken series. The 

 experiments, however, were not so designed as to show this, 

 or give any chance of showing this ; on the contrary, they 

 were explosions — broken, abrupt, discontinuous — of set pur- 

 pose. To deduce discontinuity where we have expressly in- 

 troduced it, is to beg the entire question. But even so, the 

 evidence of a break is fallacious. We might as reasonably 

 infer, from the striking of a clock at regular intervals, that it 

 had not been previously going, though in fact the entire 

 phenomenon is ultimately based on the gradual uncoiling of a 

 spring. In like manner all the " definite and multiple pro- 

 portions " of chemistry depend upon, and are evidence of, some 

 action exerted continuously. 



The process of exhausting the chemical energy of a sub- 

 stance, as represented mathematically in logarithmic equations, 

 requires an indefinitely great period of time for its accomplish- 

 ment. Hence we can understand how chemical action is pos- 

 sible. It can begin because it never has ended. During any 

 period we choose to assign, every substance retains a minute 

 but real reserve of unexhausted energy, sufficient to meet or to 

 induce some further attack. For it is as experimentally cer- 

 tain that the generated substances take part in a reaction as it 

 is that the generators share therein. When, therefore, a body 

 is enclosed in some vessel and set aside, it must not be regarded 

 as inactive ; it may quiver, but will not expire. Thus has the 

 old adage, corpora non agunt nisi sint soluta, been deposed by 

 modern research ; and " afinitates quiescentes " have regained 

 more than their ancient importance. 



It appears, then, that chemical action is a process at once 

 definite and continuous. Those positions in its course which 

 Dalton termed " definite proportions " are fitly conceived as 

 maxima or minima on curved lines. 



(8) In this place we may consider the question, What are 

 the substances that act ? As has been stated in (4), matter is 

 directed motion ; and, after considerable reflection, I feel 

 strongly convinced that the definition is both sound and ade- 

 quate. Hence we conceive that matter cannot be made up of 

 discrete parts, whether we term these atoms, monads, particles, 

 radicals, or centres of force. This inference, which is ulti- 



