Did we know the mechanical affections of the particles of rhubarb, hemlock, opium, and a man, as a watchmaker does those of a watch, whereby it performs its operations; and of a file, which by rubbing on them will alter the figure of any of the wheels; we should be able to tell beforehand that rhubarb will purge, hemlock kill, and opium make a man sleep: as well as a watchmaker can, that a little piece of paper laid on the balance will keep the watch from going till it be removed; or that, some small part of it being rubbed by a file, the machine would quite lose its motion, and the watch go no more.
Arabarbaren, astaperrexilaren, opio-belarraren eta gizaki baten partikulen eragipen mekanikoak zehatz-mehatz ezagutuko bagenitu, erlojugileak erlojuarenak ezagutzen dituen bezala, hots, eragiketak burutzeko moduan, edo erlojuaren gurpiltxoak karraskatuz beraien irudia aldatzen duen limarenak ezagutzen dituen bezala, orduan aldez aurretik esan ahal izanen genuke arabarbak purgatu, astaperrexilak hil eta opioak lokartarazi eginen duela gizakia, erlojugileak esan ahal izanen lukeen moduan balantzinaren gainean kokaturiko paper zatitxoak ez diola erlojuari ibiltzen utziko handik kendu arte, edo makinaren atal txiki bat limaz karraskatuz gero, makinak erabat galduko lukeela higidura eta erlojua ez litzatekeela sekula gehiago ibiliko.