Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-09-15
EVENING STAR.
ON THE INFINITE DIvIsIBILITY OF
MATTER.
by HARLAyp coULrAss.

| these parts are again separable into other and
minuter particles, and SO on, if wo regard
matter mathematically, ad infnItan.
Whether matter be infinitely divisible OF
not, is question which the limited nature Of
our faculties renders it impossible to answer
The science Of chemistry has pointed out 9
series OF facts respecting the proportions in
which bodies combine, and il is now generally
believed that the ultimate clements into which
matter resolves itself, consist Of certain minute
| imPerceptible atoms which are incapable OF
| further subdivision. But these stoms, where
are they! Like the points and lines Of math-
| ematicians, they exist only in the imagination
of the philosopher.
Whom it is said, for instance. that a line is
length without breadth, it is obvious that to
| draw such line is practically impossible /;
we may make an approximation, and, with
delicate instruments, draw one so fine that it
| can only be distinguished by q microscope
| This Is the case with the lines of the microme-
ter scale, used for the purpose Of measuring
| microscopical objects. A millimetre, or the
tenth part Of an inch, is divided into one hun
| dred equal parts by fine lines drawn parallel to
| each other, which are graved on fine glass
plate, by means of 4 diamond fixed in ma
chine. This is great triumph of art but
after ali, such lines possess breadth, and there
fore are not, strictly speaking, mathematical
lines. 1t is tho same with atoms The mi
nutest particle Of matter which the human
mind can fancy, must exist as an extended
figured substance. For if matter exists at all,
il must exist with these its essential proper-
tics. If so, 1T possesses bulk, and if We place
the aforesaid particle on a perfectly smooth
surface or table, the uppermost s;do of il will
be further from the table than the undermost
side; it is therefore clearly divisiblc in imag-
inatiOn, although it ceases to be any longer
divisible by art. The Atomic Theory must.
therefore, after all, be ever only theory.
We have many surprising instances of the
mi1ute division of matter by art. The gold
beaters, for instance, can beat gold into leaves
so thin, that if three hundred thousand OF
them were laid on one another, they would
not be an inch thick. One single grain of
gold admits being drawn out into a wire nine
ty-eight yards long, and an equestrian statue
may be gilded all over with 4 gold dollar.
Yet all this is nothing when compared with
the extent to which Nature goes in the diyi-
sion of matter.
The effiuvium which excites the sense of
smell, consists Of an incalculable number Of
small particles of matter given forth by the
perfuming body, and 60 minute as to be alto
gether invisible to the eye. The efiuvium
given forth 10y grain Of musk has been
known to perfume an apartment for twenty
years, and yet at the expiration Of that time,
there was no sensible diminution of the musk
The light from 6 candle placed In the open
seen, on dark night, two miles of. The lu-
minous particles which extend from it in all
direction, must therefore fl the concaye sur
face of hemisphere, whose base is more
than twelve and half miles in cireumfer-
ence.
The solution Of solids in fluids furnishes us
with another instance Of the divisibility of
matter. A piece of loaf sugar put into cup
of tea, is Immediately separated into particles
so small, as TO be altogether imperceptible TO
the eye, which particles are ditfused eaually
through all parts of the fluid.
Ii sixteen quarts Of water bo poured into a
large glass jar, three-quarters Of grain of
cochineal if thrown into the water will COM
municate color to the entire mass.
But the powers Of the microscope have in
deed revealed wonders to Us in this particular.
The unassisted vision Of man takes in, in a Sc
ries, the animated chain of nature, from the
elephant to the mite, and at this point com.
mences new order Of animated existences,
animalcuisS-in some instances so small that
three hundred millions Of them would not
cover the superfces Of grain Of sand. No
naturalist ever yet was able TO ascertain the
point at which existence termin ates; on the
contrary, there is every reason 10 suppose that
there is a class of snimalcula beyond those
which the most powerful microscope has yet
revealed. Some of these little beings arc
highly organized, having complete circula-
minute must be their organs, vessels and
fluids! How delicate the processes carried on
in them. a whale requires an ocean to swim
in; a hundred millions of these creatures
would find ample room for all their eyoluiiOns
in n drop.
1t is obvious from these considerations that
matter is indestructible. Every atom bears
it tho impress of its everlasting and infinite
Author. The doctrine Of definite proportions
is confrmatOry of the language of Holy Writ |
and reminds US of its sublime description Of
the power of One 'swho has weighed the noun
tains in scales, and the hillsin balance" |
Matter may disappear from immediate obser- |
vation, but il is nevertheless still in existence
1t disappears only to enter into new arrange |
ments and combinations. You may crush the /
parts OF body to powder, melt it into Ii i
quid, and, by q still intenser application of /
heat, dllate it into gas and dissipate it in /
vapcr, but it still continues In being, and in /
many instances, can be collected again into q /
body without change of form. Mercury and /
water may be converted into vapor without /
the loss of n single particle. The decay and /
ultimate disappearance of organized bodies, /
animals, and plants, is only process by which /
their associated particles are again liberated |
in order that they may enter into new living |
combinations. Thus death itself becomes the |
source of life. ~
There must be death in order that there |
may be life. There is but limited amount \
Of matter existing in nature, aud its appear
ance in any living fabric implies draught on |
her resources which would be speedily ex- |
hausted, if there were not an equivalent |
amount returned in that death and disintegra-
tion to which all are subject.
Wherever there is life there is attraction. |
Each terminating seed, what is it but centre |
Of attraction, around which dead inorganic |
matter collects to be moulded into a living or |
ganized form. Wherever there is death there |
is repulsion. The plant or animal decays and |
disappears Both are alike resolved BY the |
repulsiye principle into earthly elements and |
invisible gases, and the atoms held together |
by life thus sundered by death again roam
through the universe, and gather around the
living centres of attraction.
The matter which cOmposes the fabric Of
living bodies, is therefore only borrowed from
the earth and atmosphere, and united together
by the operation Of natural laws for little
space Of time. s.-i.. ...-- -.-.'a
What life borrows, death will sooner or later
claim. The living incur a debt which must be
paid. Matter is the grand circulating medium