155 
Martin then stated that he had visited Dr. Kidder at the 
Brooklyn Navy Yard, and conferred with him freely and at 
Jength. The preparations and arrangements were of the 
most promising character, and far more extensive than he had 
ventured to expect. Dr. Kidder isa gentleman familiar with 
naval service at sea, and an enthusiastic student of natural 
science. He takes out an excellent hbrary and apparatus; 
and has lately been in conference with some of the most ac- 
complished scientific men in our country, among them Prof. 
Baird, of the Smithsonian Institution, Dr. Elliott Coues, 
Count Pourtales, and Prof. Allen, of Cambridge. He will 
pass several months on Kerguelen’s Land, and will probably 
have excellent opportunities, both there and elsewhere, for 
important work. 
Prof. Martin stated that he had hoped that Dr. Kidder 
would be present this evening; but in his absence, he could 
only congratulate the Lyceum on its share in this important 
enterprise, now so auspiciously begun. 
Dr. H. C. Botton presented some remarkable facts rela- 
tive to “ Paradoxes in Organic Chemistry,” illustrating the 
points by graphic formule. 
In studying organic bodies, some very singular results appear, when 
the methods of derivation, substitution, etc., are pushed one step 
farther than is ordinarily done. 
(1) Thus it may be shown that the first alcohol of the series 
Cn H2n+20 is water; the common difference between successive mem- 
bers of this homologous series is CH:; ethyl alcohol, for example, less 
CH, yields methyl! alcohol, 
Crh .O—CH,.—CH,0: 
If now we subtract CH: from methyl alcohol, we have water, 
CH.O—CH.=H.0O. 
(2) A like process will show that the first hydrocarbon of the ho- 
mologous series C2 H2n is hydrogen; here again, the common differ- 
ence being CH2, we have 
C.H;-—CH.=CH,, and 
CH.—CH.=H:2. 
(3) Again, the first acid of the fatty acid series is a molecule of 
oxygen; for we have as before 
C,H,0O.—CH.=CH202, and 
CH.0O,2 CH.=0:.. 
(4) Moreover, the first aldehyde of the series derived from the 
alcohols C2 H2n+20 is an atom of oxygen; thus 
C.H,O—CH,=CH.O, and 
CH. OCHO 
