86 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
The view that the atom is a complex aggregate instead of a simple 
entity, as was first supposed, does not in any way invalidate the basis 
‘of chemical theory. All we have to suppose is that the chemical 
atom is the smallest quantity of matter which takes part in a chemical 
combination, and that the removal of an electron is a sub-atomic 
change quite distinct from ordinary chemical action, although a chem- 
ical action may in some cases be accompanied by the emission of 
electrons. 
The evidence of the complexity of the atoms of the elements is 
very strong from other points of view than those considered in this 
paper. The extraordinary complicated spectrum of heavy elements of 
atomic weights is of itself very strong support of the view that an atom 
is a very complicated structure. 
At the close of the address there was a vigorous discussion among 
the members of the section, in which Professor Lash Miller, Cox, 
Goodwin, Baker, Walker and Ruttan took part. 
