GENETIC CONNEXIONS BETWEEN THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS. IQI 



iLi + 8o iB+8o (N+80 (O+80 



I Zn + 22,Y = Gl + 8o,Zi-= I Ga + 2i,Cb= I Ge + 2i,Mo= ( As +21, 

 Ru = Br + 2i, Rh = Ki- + 2i, and Pd = Rb + 2i. Another additive 

 series follows, but derived from a lower source, thus : Ag = 

 Ca + 68. Cd = Sc + 68-3, In=Ti + 67i, Sn = V + 68. Sb = Cr + 68, 

 I = Co +68, X-Cu+671 Cs^Zn + e'yh, Ba = Ga + 67* and Ce = 

 Ge + 67|. This 68 complex has a valency of-i. A connection 

 between the last two families is seen in Mo = Si+68 = As + 2i. 

 and other cases of the well-knovvn 47 difference. The highest 

 elements are next connected b}? the 88 difference, e.g., Ta = Cb + 88, 

 W = Mo+88 and so on; but they can also be connected with 

 the very lowest series, from which they differ by 181 (the atomic 

 weight of Ta), thus: Os=TaGl, Ir = TaC, Pt=TaN, Au=TaO, 

 Hg = TaF, Tl=TaNa, Bi=TaAl, Ra = TaSc and Th=TaV. 

 Uranium is quite probably Ra Hc;;, and radium-emanation 

 PI) He,. 



It only remains to point out another curious type of regularity. 

 We have seen that HeF, LiO, GIN, and BC = 23. In the same 

 way we have BBr, OAs, SCo, KCr, CaV, CSe, GeF, Cu Si Fe CI, 

 <}lKr and ZnAl all nearly equal to 91. So Ne CI, NaS, Mg P, 

 and Si Al = 55-3 and have a valency-sum =7, like most of the 

 foregoing. So KBr, Ca Se, As Sc, Zn Cr. CuMn, — 119. So 

 Li CI, Gl S, BP, CSi, NAl, MgO, NaF and Ne,, approximate to 40. 

 Even longer series have been matched*. 



To conclude, the following summary of the author's views on 

 the constitution of the simpler elements may be of interest. 

 Assuming the following sub-atoms : /.( = -og9, c = oioo (? coronium), 

 H = i. x = 2, z = 3 (possibly Hx) ; we get H = H^(; He = 4 H=Xo; 

 Li = 7H-|-;H = HoZx«; Gl = 9-iH+//o=:Hz2X^(vC : B = z,x^(3; C=Z4/j,; 

 N^z^x/./:,; = Z4Xoy((.j ; F = Z:,x.-,/< or possibly OHx — /-( ; Ne = 2oH = 

 z,x, ; Na = Li Ne — ^He, and so on. Some obvious difficulties of 

 this system appear in the shape of surprising isomerisms, but in 

 most cases the author is satisfied that difference of configuration is 

 a sufficient explanation. Examples are the isomerism of CO with 

 N.,, and of Ca with KH.t 



RUMEX ECKLONIANUS.— According to Andrew Smith the 

 dock known by the Kaffirs as i-Dolo lenkonyana. or calf's knee — a 

 weed v.'hich " one would hardly imagine to be good for anything " 

 — is used by the natives as a remedy for tape-worm, the roots 

 being boiled in sweet milk and so administered. This plant, 

 Riimex ecklonianiis. Meisner, has been investigated by Messrs. 

 F. Tutin, F.C.S., and H. W. B. Clewer on behalf of the Wellcome 

 Chemical Research Laboratories, and the results were submitted 

 at a recent meeting of the Chemical Society. London. No evidence 

 was obtained of the presence of any glucoside. but a small amount 

 of essential oil was procured by distillation of an alcoholic extract 

 with steam, while Ceryl alcohol, a phytosterol. chrysophanic acid 

 and other crystalline substances were isolated. 



* See P. R. Roux ; Jourii. Chem. Met. and Min. Soc. of S.A., July, 1909. 

 See 1. Chem. Met. Min. Soc. of S. A ^or September, 1909. 



