428 



Miscellaneous. 



of the vegetable, we have evidence enough to shew, that the latter was 

 in no wise dependent for support upon the former. If it be allowed that 

 the paucity of animal remains, even in the carboniferous strata, where 

 plants so abound, proves that the balance betwixt animal and vege- 

 table life now subsisting, was then unknown, we must suppose that the 

 food of plants was then supplied from other sources. 



It matters not what vague speculations have been held regarding 

 the cosmogony of the world. With these the chemist has nothing 

 to do. His science treats only of matter and its properties. Nor 

 can he, without ample demonstration, listen to specious notions pro- 

 pounded of the transformation of the elements of which it is com- 

 posed, or admit these as a basis for induction. His science teaches 

 him that there are fifty-five bodies on the earth, by the different 

 combinations of which all the varieties of matter are produced. 

 And further, in the present state of his knowledge, he must allow 

 that all these elements were on the globe when its present position was 

 assigned to it. 



However different in intensity and in form may have been the 

 causes which produced the mighty yet gradual revolutions of former 

 times, we discover in them a close analogy to those of the present 

 day. Hence we are not warranted in presuming that the food of 

 plants and animals was different then from what it is now. So far 

 only can we affirm, that the food of plants was received from other 

 sources than at present. 



The food of plants consists of water, carbonic acid, and ammonia. 

 What proofs can we find of the existence of these in former periods 

 of the earth's history ? During the depositions of the primary 

 strata, where as yet no traces of plants and animals have been 

 found, it is evident that carbonic acid existed. The primary lime- 

 stones furnish sufficient evidence of its existence. It is true that 

 the partial and irregular distribution of these limestones prove that 

 their deposition was due to limited and local causes; but this does 

 not militate against the idea that the carbonic acid must have been 

 generally diffused throughout the atmosphere. All the limestones 

 of aqueous origin have evidently been deposited from a solution in 

 water containing an excess of carbonic acid ; for without this ex- 

 cess, carbonate of lime will not dissolve. Now, without entering into 

 geological speculation, it seems to be pretty conclusively established 

 that the heat of the ocean was considerable during the deposition of 

 the earlier of the primary strata. From the contortions in the 

 laminae of gueiss, mica schist, and chlorite schist, the water from 



