OXYGEN AND NITROGEN.

JJ

EMILY.

Just as caloric penetrates bodies ?

MRS. B.

Yes; but caloric being a much more subtlefluid than oxygen, can penetrate substances muchmore easily.

CAROLINE.

But if the attraction of cohesion between theparticles of a body, counteracts its affinity foroxygen, I do not see how that body can decom-pose the atmosphere ?

MRS. B.

That is now the difficulty which we have to re-move with regard to the piece of wood.—Canyou think of no method of diminishing the at-traction of cohesion ?

CAROLINE.

Heating the wood, I should think, might an-swer the purpose; for the caloric would tend toseparate the particles, and make room for theoxygen.

MRS. B.

Well, we shall try your method; hold the stickclose to the fire—closer still, that it may imbibethe caloric plentifully; otherwise the attraction