126 Prof. Haidinger on Iodine and Codeine. 



teresting in an optical point of view, by the name of Ander- 

 sonite. Had this been a substance occurring in nature as a 

 mineral, this would have been a proceeding of which we 

 have already numerous examples, but the introduction of the 

 practice in a branch of science, which we are in the habit of 

 looking upon as altogether separated from mineralogy, may 

 be considered as an innovation. In our knowledge of inor- 

 ganic substances, however, we have still so much to ascertain, 

 that even here the necessity for independent specific names 

 becomes daily more apparent. Amidst the large number of 

 new substances, any general attempt in this direction would 

 be as thankless as it would be troublesome, and probably 

 unsuccessful, for it is only at some future period that the im- 

 possibility of avoiding it will become fully apparent. In the 

 meantime, we may advantageously provide for individual 

 cases. I have long wished, ever indeed since I commenced 

 the study of these substances, to associate the names of the 

 chemists of the day with the wonderful phenomena of the 

 crystals with metallic surface-colour, to call the yellow platino- 

 cyanide of barium, Redtenbacherite ; the carmine-red, platino- 

 cyanide of magnesium, with the green surface, Quadratite, 

 suggestive also of its pyramidal form ; while the prismatic 

 platino-cyanide of magnesium, wdth aurora-red colour and 

 blue surface, might be called Aurorite. Knop's platino- 

 cyanide of potassium would be called Knopite; Schunk's 

 chrysammate of potash, Schunkite ; Gregory's oxalate of 

 chromium and potash, Gregorin (the name of Gregorite for 

 the Cornish titaniferous iron, though long in disuse, can 

 scarcely be considered as altogether free) ; and here Ander- 

 sonite would distinguish the still incompletely-examined com- 

 pound of iodine and codeine. These investigators have un- 

 questionably contributed much more to the progress of science 

 than by the individual facts with which I wish to associate 

 their names ; all that I am desirous of doing, is to establish 

 a principle for the fulfilment of a want, which is every day 

 becoming more apparent. 



