Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Two Curious Philosophical Papers. Written By Dr. Franklin,
hich this earth is composed , each brought its portion ofthe loose heat that had been connected with it , and the whole * , when pressed together , produced the internal fire which still subsists .
No. Ii.
No . II .
ENDORSED " LOOSE THOUGHTS ON AN UNIVERSAL FLUID . Passy , June 25 , 1 ' 7 8 4 . UNIVERSAL space , as far as we know of it , seems to be filled with a subtle fluid , whose motion , or vibration , is called lig ht . This fluid may possibly be the same with that which into other solid matterdi
being attracted by , and entering more , - lates the substance by separating the constituent particles , and so rendering some solids'fluids , and maintaining the fluidity of others ; of which fluid when our bodies are totally deprived , they are said to be frozen ; when they have a proper quantity , they are in health , and fit to perform all their functions it is then called natural
; heat ; when too much , It is called fever ; and when forced into the body in too great a quantity from without , it gives pain by separating and destroying the flesh , and is then called burning , and the fluid so entering and acting is called fire . While organized bodies , animal or vegetable , are augmenting in growth ling their continual wasteis not this done by
, or are suppy , attracting and consolidating this fluid called fire , so as to form of it a part of their substance ? And is it not a separation of the parts of such substance , which , dissolving its solid state , sets that subtle fluid at liberty , when it again makes its appearance
as fire r . For the power of man relative to matter seems limited to the dividing it , or mixing the various kinds of it , or changing its form and appearance by different compositions of it ; but does not extend to the making or creating of new matter ; or annihilating the old . Thus , if fire be an original element , or kind of matter , its quantity is fixed and permanent in the world . We . cannot
destroy any part of it , or make addition to it ; we can only separate it from that which , confines it , and so set it at liberty ; as when we ' put wood in a situation to be burnt ; or transfer it from one solid to another , as when we make lime by burning stone , a part of the fire dislodged from the wood being left in the stoneMay not this fluidwhen at libertybe capable of
pene-. , , trating and entering into all bodies , organized or not , quitting easily in totality those not organized , and quitting easily in patr those which are •, the part assumed and fixed remaining till the body is dissolved ?
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Two Curious Philosophical Papers. Written By Dr. Franklin,
hich this earth is composed , each brought its portion ofthe loose heat that had been connected with it , and the whole * , when pressed together , produced the internal fire which still subsists .
No. Ii.
No . II .
ENDORSED " LOOSE THOUGHTS ON AN UNIVERSAL FLUID . Passy , June 25 , 1 ' 7 8 4 . UNIVERSAL space , as far as we know of it , seems to be filled with a subtle fluid , whose motion , or vibration , is called lig ht . This fluid may possibly be the same with that which into other solid matterdi
being attracted by , and entering more , - lates the substance by separating the constituent particles , and so rendering some solids'fluids , and maintaining the fluidity of others ; of which fluid when our bodies are totally deprived , they are said to be frozen ; when they have a proper quantity , they are in health , and fit to perform all their functions it is then called natural
; heat ; when too much , It is called fever ; and when forced into the body in too great a quantity from without , it gives pain by separating and destroying the flesh , and is then called burning , and the fluid so entering and acting is called fire . While organized bodies , animal or vegetable , are augmenting in growth ling their continual wasteis not this done by
, or are suppy , attracting and consolidating this fluid called fire , so as to form of it a part of their substance ? And is it not a separation of the parts of such substance , which , dissolving its solid state , sets that subtle fluid at liberty , when it again makes its appearance
as fire r . For the power of man relative to matter seems limited to the dividing it , or mixing the various kinds of it , or changing its form and appearance by different compositions of it ; but does not extend to the making or creating of new matter ; or annihilating the old . Thus , if fire be an original element , or kind of matter , its quantity is fixed and permanent in the world . We . cannot
destroy any part of it , or make addition to it ; we can only separate it from that which , confines it , and so set it at liberty ; as when we ' put wood in a situation to be burnt ; or transfer it from one solid to another , as when we make lime by burning stone , a part of the fire dislodged from the wood being left in the stoneMay not this fluidwhen at libertybe capable of
pene-. , , trating and entering into all bodies , organized or not , quitting easily in totality those not organized , and quitting easily in patr those which are •, the part assumed and fixed remaining till the body is dissolved ?