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198 
[Dolbear. 
any reason are not symmetrical with the rest ; phenomena which 
are well enough known. The foregoing explanation of the or- 
ganization of atoms into molecules and molecules into crystalline 
forms is made to depend upon the freedom of the bodies them- 
selves to assume their geometrical positions such as gases and 
liquids permit but it is not to be inferred that molecules could not 
cohere except at such nodal points. So long as the atoms vibrate 
they must produce fields and this must compel the molecules to 
assume a degree of compactness which must depend upon the 
strength of such fields, and this may bring about condensation to 
a solid Avithout any semblance to regularity in form. This is the 
case with perhaps most of the masses of matter Ave see but it does 
not imply that the molecules of which they are composed are un- 
syrnmetrical. A piece of wrought iron having no semblance of 
structure may be made crystalline by repeated jarring as it gives 
to the molecules a transient degree of freedom to assume any 
position they have any tendency to take. In like manner a 
bar of iron held in the proper position in a magnetic field will, if 
jarred by the stroke of a hammer assume polarity, for the jar 
assists the molecules to rotate to the magnetic position induced 
by the field. But the strength of cohesion in crystals is generally 
less than in amorphous bodies, probably from the fact that when 
the molecules have moved to the vibratory nodes forming geo- 
metrical figures, they have moved somewhat away from the places 
of greatest pressure which is where the amount of motion is 
greatest, the atomic impacts at such places tending to move them 
towards less disturbed points. When molecules are very compact 
such change of position is mechanically difficult and vigorous jar- 
ring aids somewhat to the arrangement. Hence the crystalliza- 
tion that often takes place in solids like iron. 
So far only so called inorganic phenomena have been referred 
to. The distinction that was formerly supposed to exist between 
inorganic and organic chemistry broke down long ago Avhen it 
Avas discovered that the distinction was one of degree only not of 
kind. Vital force as an entity, or as a force or factor different 
from chemism and that could bold chemical phenomena in abey- 
ance or direct it to this or that end has been abandoned by all 
except a few of the old school biologists who have not yet 
perceived the significance of the theory of the conservation of 
energy, and who probably never will. They do not see that such 
