[*] According to Sir H. Davy’s views of the nature of the muriatic and oxy-muriatic acids, dry muriat of soda is a compound of sodium and chlorine, for it may be formed by the direct combination of oxy-muriatic gas and sodium. In his opinion, therefore, what we commonly call muriat of soda contains neither soda nor muriatic acid.
[*] According to Sir H. Davy’s new views, just explained, oxy-muriat of potash is a compound of chlorine with oxyd of potassium.
[CONVERSATION XX.]
ON THE NATURE AND COMPOSITION OF VEGETABLES.
MRS. B.
We have hitherto treated only of the simplest combinations of elements, such as alkalies, earths, acids, compound salts, stones, &c.; all of which belong to the mineral kingdom. It is time now to turn our attention to a more complicated class of compounds, that of ORGANISED BODIES, which will furnish us with a new source of instruction and amusement.
EMILY.
By organised bodies, I suppose, you mean the vegetable and animal creation? I have, however, but a very vague idea of the word organisation, and I have often wished to know more precisely what it means.
MRS. B.
Organised bodies are such as are endowed by nature with various parts, peculiarly constructed and adapted to perform certain functions connected with life. Thus you may observe, that mineral compounds are formed by the simple effect of mechanical or chemical attraction, and may appear to some to be in a great measure the productions of chance; whilst organised bodies bear the most striking and impressive marks of design, and are eminently distinguished by that unknown principle, called life, from which the various organs derive the power of exercising their respective functions.