32 Dr. Prout on the ultimate Composition 



ing before the Royal Society, a few observations on the origin 

 and object of the whole series may not be deemed irrelevant. 



Many years ago I published an anonymous paper, contain- 

 ing some views, at that time new, connected with the doctrines 

 of chemical proportions*. Though this paper, for reasons 

 which need not be here stated, was drawn up and published 

 in a very hasty and imperfect manner, it attracted some no- 

 tice : and the views therein advanced gradually gained ground, 

 and at present appear.to be generally admitted in this countryf. 

 When this paper was published, it was my intention to have 

 pursued the subject further, but I soon found my progress ob- 

 structed by insuperable difficulties. The first and chief of 

 these was the want of accurate data; and the infinity of ob- 

 jects comprehended by chemistry prevented the hope of ac- 

 quiring, by individual exertion, however unremitting, a suffi- 

 ciency for the establishment of general laws. Professional 

 duties still further limited my exertions, and at length obliged 

 me to relinquish chemistry in general, and confine my atten- 

 tion solely to the chemistry of organized substances ; a sub- 

 ject that has occupied the greater portion of my leisure hours 

 for the last ten or twelve years. 



Organic chemistry is confessedly one of the most difficult 

 departments of the science ; and though much has been done, 

 and more attempted on the subject, it is yet in a very imper- 

 fect and unsatisfactory state; and it must be frankly admitted 

 that physiology and pathology have derived less advantage 

 from this most promising and really powerful of the auxiliary 

 sciences, than might have been expected. To explain this 

 perhaps would not be difficult; but as the explanation would 

 be misplaced here, I shall merely observe, that, dissatisfied 

 with the old modes of inquiry, I determined to attempt a 

 different one, and keeping in view the notions I had origi- 

 nally formed respecting chemical combinations, proposed to 

 myself to investigate the modes in which the three or four 

 elementary substances entering into the composition of orga- 

 nized bodies are associated, so as to constitute the infinite 

 variety occurring in nature. 



With these views my first object was to determine the ex- 

 act composition of the most simple and best defined organic 

 compounds, such as sugar, and the vegetable acids ; a point 

 that had been several times before attempted, but, as it ap- 



* Annals of Philosophy, vi. 321 , and vii. 1 1 ] . (O. S.) The object of the 

 second Paper was simply to correct some oversights in the first. 



f Dr. Thomson's Chemistry, and his attempt to establish the first prin- 

 ciples of chemistry by experiment. Also, Dr. Henry and Mr. Brande's 

 Elements of Chemistry, &c. 



peared 



