STONBS FALLING FROM THE AIR. 
C7 
mass which fell at Groepzig in Saxony, and was more than five 
feet in length, and e<mal in size to the body of a man. For 
it is not less difficult to admit, that these globes can be formed 
in the air, than the aerolites themselves. If we endeavour to 
combine all these facts, there is sufficient inducement to iliink, 
(hat a kind of formation of metals may take place in the air in 
the same manner as we see the plants, and organic bodies in 
general, have the faculty of changing the nature of the sub- 
stances they have absorbed*. It is well known, that hydrogen 
gas, at a certain temperature, can volatilize some ofthe metals ; 
but again it is hardly possible that this gas should have given 
the form of vapour to the metallic particles of aerolites, since 
that it is found in the air in a quantity altogether incon- 
siderable. Besides which, hydrogenf never volatilises either 
nichel or iron, nor the various earthy substances which enter 
into the composition of these stones. Nor can heat give these 
• 
* The exj>eriments wliicli liave been made on tlie formation oftbe 
metals and earths in plants enttivated in sulphur or in charcoal, and 
watered for t\ro months with distilled water, may be found, 1st. in 
the memoir of Schrader, which obtained the priiie of the Academy of 
Berlin. An extract may be seen in the Jouriual de Chimiede Gehh n, 
vol. II. 2 d. In the memoir of Crell, entitled, Pii icu/up wes/neur/K/Ju's 
pui'i, quail vocant, S(c. in plaiitb regttanlibui invaitiganlii. This memoir 
• was read to the Society of Uottengen, and has been published as an 
extract in the Journal de Medecine de Sa^rbourg, of the 8th of Aprtl, 
1811. 1'be experiments of Schrader and of Crcll were made with tlie 
most scrupulous exactness. 
t Scheelo is the first who made the remark, that anenic unites with 
. gaseous hydrogen. Sec his Essays, Gennan edition, tom. II, p. 1:56. 
Potassium is dissolved in hydrogen. M. Beit.iollet, Introduction to 
Thonrp.son’s Chemistry. A enrreut of hydrogen gas, or of azotic gas, 
determines the volatilization of sodium. Keeherihes physiques et 
chemiques, par MM. Gay I.Lu.s'ac ct Thenard, tom. II, p. 2H. Rit- 
ter has even asserted, that a great numlK?r of metals may b<’ combined 
witli hydrogen gas by tlie action of a strong galvantc pile, hut this has 
not been proved. See Annalen tier Piiyiik, Von Gilbert. Much in- 
formation may also he had from the observations of M. Corradori, 
published in the Journal of Briigaatclli. 
substance* 
