140 



next pointed out several imperfections in the nomenclature now 

 in use in chemical writings, and explained a modification of it which 

 he conceived to be more precise, completely descriptive, and ad- 

 mitting of application to every case and proportion of combination. 



He suggested, 1st, That the prefixes of proto, per, super, and sub, 

 now in common use, should be discontinued, as unnecessary, — as 

 possible sources of confusion — and as deviating from the sound rule, 

 of employing numerajs of the same order and language to denote a 

 continued series of any compound. 



2d, That the happy suggestion of Dr Thomson, of employing tiie 

 Greek adverbial numerals to denote the number of atoms or equi- 

 valents of base, and the Latin the number of atoms of oxygen, 

 acid, &c. should be adopted. 



3d, That the interweaving of the Latin and Greek atomic nu- 

 merical indications in the same word ought to be avoided as mucli 

 as possible. 



The following tabular views of the nomenclature of oxides, and 

 of metallic salts, were given as specimens of the nomenclature of 

 the more simple and more complicated combinations. 



TABLE I. 



