Year-book of Nature and Popular Science for 1872John Christopher Draper Scribner, Armstrong & Company, 1873 - 333 pages |
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absorption action alcohol ammonia animals appearance atmosphere auroras body boiled burning capillary carbonic acid cause cells cent changes chemical chloride coal coal gas color combustion containing copper crystals decomposed Diseases dissolved distilled earth eggs electricity employed England examination experiments explosion feet fermentation finds fishes flame fluid glass glycerine gun-cotton heat hydrochloric acid hydrogen inches increase iodine iron light lime liquid Lobos Islands magnesium magnetic manufacture matter measures ments metal metres minute mixture movement nitric acid obtained odor organic oxidation oxygen ozone paper Paris Parthenogenesis passed phosphorescence plants poison potash precipitate prepared produced Professor puddling furnace quantity rays recent result salt says shows silver soda solar soluble solution species spectrum starch stars stone Strychnia substance sugar sulphuric acid surface tained temperature tion tube vapor vegetable vessel weight wire wood zinc
Popular passages
Page 254 - ... the passage from the current to the needle, if not demonstrable, is thinkable, and that we entertain no doubt as to the final mechanical solution of the problem. But the passage from the physics of the brain to the corresponding facts of consciousness is unthinkable. Granted that a definite thought, and a definite molecular action in the brain occur simultaneously ; we do not possess the intellectual organ, nor apparently any rudiment of the organ, which would enable us to pass, by a process...
Page 254 - I do not think he is entitled to say that his molecular groupings and his molecular motions explain everything. In reality they explain nothing. The utmost he can affirm is the association of two classes of phenomena, of whose real bond of union he is in absolute ignorance. The problem of the connection of body and soul is as insoluble in its modern form as it was in the prescientific ages. Phosphorus is known to enter into the composition of the human brain, and a trenchant German writer has exclaimed,...
Page 144 - The Science of Modern times, however, has taken a more special direction. Fixing its attention exclusively on the Order of Nature, it has separated itself •wholly from Theology, whose function it is to seek after its Cause. In this, Science is fully justified, alike by the entire independence of its objects, and by the historical fact that it has been continually hampered and impeded in its search for the Truth as it is in Nature, by the restraints which Theologians have attempted to impose upon...
Page 239 - The hypothesis of Lamarck — that progressive changes in species have been produced by the attempts of animals to increase the development of their own organs, and thus modify their structure and habits — has been repeatedly and easily refuted by all writers on the subject of varieties and species...
Page 131 - During the months of June, July, and August the climate is pure and most invigorating, with scarcely any rain or storms of any kind, but the thermometer frequently sinks as low as 26°. There is frost every month of the year.
Page 144 - No logical proof can be adduced that the peculiar shapes of these flints were given to them by Human hands; but does any unprejudiced person now doubt it? The evidence of design, to which, after an examination of one or two such specimens, we should only be justified in attaching a probable value, derives an irresistible cogency from accumulation. On the other hand, the improbability that these flints acquired their peculiar shape by accident, becomes to our minds greater and greater as more and...
Page 145 - But when Science, passing beyond its own limits, assumes to take the place of Theology, and sets up its own conception of the Order of Nature as a sufficient account of its Cause, it is invading a province of Thought to which it has no claim, and not unreasonably provokes the hostility of those who ought to be its best friends.
Page 239 - Neither did the giraffe acquire its long neck by desiring to reach the foliage of the more lofty shrubs, and constantly stretching its neck for the purpose, but because any varieties which occurred among its...
Page 237 - There is no chemical distinction that holds; there is no structural distinction that holds ; there is no functional distinction that holds ; there is no distinction as to mode of existence that holds. Large groups of the simpler animals contain chlorophyll, and decompose carbonic acid under the influence of light as plants do. Large groups of the simpler...
Page 221 - Tetraodon and Diodon. Was there a way to come nearer to a correct solution of my doubts? As I had in former years made a somewhat extensive study of the pigment cells of the skin, in a variety of young fishes, I now resorted to this method to identify my embryos. Happily we had on board several pelagic fishes alive, which could afford means of comparison, but unfortunately the steamer was shaking too much and rolling too heavily, for microscopic observation of even moderately high powers.