Statement of a theory of life, founded on observations & experiments / by David Porter, M.D.

  • Porter, David, M.D.
Date:
1829
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Statement of a theory of life, founded on observations & experiments / by David Porter, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    [3] particles containing less essential fluid are within reich,the reddndaut fluid of the plus particles, having no other outlet, is forced on those in contact, and by these on the next, till an equilibrium is produced. This is healing and copling and proceeds more or less rapidly accor- ding to the capacity and recepliveness of the successive particles, winch, together, determine their characters as conductors of heat or culorick. Bodies in the minus state, are exactly opposite to those in the plus, as regards the above explanations. They attract plus particles, as- sume a nitrogenous atmosphere, or acquire equilibrium by receiving fluid from the adjoining particles. 8. Chemical Uiiion of Particles. Simple particles are disposed to unite into compounds, as they are opposite in their proportions of eb seiitiil fluid, and these corn ponds may again unite with other simple or compound particles lor the same reason. Thus where two particles containing different quantities of essential fluid aie in contact, that which contains least, in thakeffort to part with its disposable fluid, which is constant with all particles at all times, is contracted At crow- ded into the capacity of the other, occupied by its disposable At tran- sient fluids, which latter are crowded out, and the disposable fluid thus thrown o(Fis the heat evolved in composition. lu forming compound particles^ it is necesfcry — 1st. Thai th'e'enter- ing particle have so little essential fl.iid, that it niav cohtfaot suffl c:><n ly to eu'or the capacity ofthe receiving pariicie.— - Oxygen & a- cids, which are chiefly composed or' it, are best suite,! to this purpose. It is mcess iry, also, that the receiving particle have fcno\iirf] essential fluid to invito the union, AH cdmbiistibles are of tins kind, but \>la- tiiid.gold, rl-fT, &c. ft>r want of it, do hot unite with oxygen. It is, in (he lasi place, necessary that the receiving pai ii<vie have sufficient disposable and transient fluids, to leave room in their escapp, fot tire eriteri ig particle. For want of this, oxygeri cannot unite with many substances which possess the most essential fluid, until theil disposable or transient fluid is increased, or, in other voids, til! their temperature is raised They will then receive oxygen til! 11:: iv capa| city is filled, when they are vitrified. Some bodies, as potasium, bed.. um, phosphorus, &,c. contain disposable fluid enough, at the Common temperature, for combination with oxygen. The capacity ofthe cohar pound, is always less than those of its constituents. 9. Temperatnre'of Ccfypouitds-.—As simple particle^ in u; part with their fluid, so compound particles in receiving fluid are sep' arated info their consiituen's. This separation like the union is grad- ual, and proceeds as the fluid increases from that quantity which is proper to the compound particles, to that which constitutes the sum of their separate amounts. Fluctuation between their extremes pre* duces temperature. Tims hydrogen and nitrogen, g^sses, being chie!- iy filled with essential fluid, cannot separately vary their temperature or stock of fluid to any great extent, 3r their volume under the same ve. But combined with — — '-wsnto