188 
of some seconds,,* crystals are precipitated of marvellous lucidity, 
sparkling like so many diamonds, which are, without exception, 
crystals of potassic alum in regular octohedrons; and if we 
suppose the diameter of these crystals equal to a millimetre, it 
will result from this experiment, that in the short space of a 
minute of time there have been produced molecules of alum 
composed, each one of 94 atoms, grouped amongst themselves 
with a perfect order, and that always the same;” the groups 
arranged in lines amongst themselves with an absolute pre- 
cision, and in so great a number that I will not fatigue my 
readers with the recital of the attempted calculation, but refer 
to the original work, which I have pleasure in presenting to 
the Institute. 
33. What then has the chemist done ? Has he approached 
to the communication of life ? Certainly not. He has simply 
brought the molecules of the different fluids into such juxta- 
position that the play of affinities can take place ; that atom 
can displace atom according to the inevitable laws of affinity 
and atomicity ; or (as the Greeks said) of Eros and Anteros, of 
love and of hate. When the new combinations have taken 
place, the phenomenon of crystallization follows as a matter of 
course, simply because the molecules are different and differ- 
ently arranged. 
34. In order to place this part of my argument in as clear a 
light as possible, I will, in the first place, copy from the same 
author f a sketch of the probable manner in which molecules 
assemble side by side to form a square prism. It will be 
understood that the square figures represent not atoms but 
* Many other instances might he adduced more striking in their in- 
stantaneous effect. 
t Monde des A tomes, p. 65. 
VOL. VIII. 
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