ORGANIC SUBSTANCES. 681i 
fourth conjugate dithyonic acid C*H? + S$?0°®, in which the con- 
junct has the composition of methyle. This is the same body 
which we suppositively adduced as a constituent of acetic acid, 
should this prove to be a conjugate oxalic acid. 
Kolbe has further shown that chloroxalic acid can in the same 
manner be converted into acetic acid; and has also made men- 
tion of intermediate members of the series, the proof of the ex- 
istence of which, once established with certainty, would be of the 
greatest importance to the science. 
These simple experiments, in which the chemically active in- 
organic oxide is the same for all the acids, and consequently of 
such a nature, that its constituents do not interfere with the 
question concerning the changes effected by substitution in the 
conjunct, lead to the following simple deductions. 
1. A conjunct can, notwithstanding its composition be com- 
pletely changed, retain its position as a conjunct. 
2. When the conjunct is a chloride of carbon, and the chlo- 
rine is partially exchanged for hydrogen, new radicals are pro- 
duced consisting of carbon and hydrogen, the proto- and per- 
chlorides of which still constitute the conjunct; and when the 
whole of the chlorine is exchanged, there results a carburetted 
hydrogen, which, as conjunct, takes the place of the chlorine 
compound. It follows from this, that when the exchange takes 
place in an inverse order, or when hydrogen is exchanged for 
chlorine, the process must be judged in the same manner. 
3. A possibility is afforded by the agency of an electrical cur- 
rent of exchanging chlorine for hydrogen, and in this case carbon 
and hydrogen form together a radical, in which hydrogen can 
occupy the same position as chlorine did, but cannot therefore 
play the same part. This result of Kolbe’s experiments com- 
pletes the refutation of the metaleptic views and the fanciful 
theory of chemical types. 
It is far from my intention to maintain that what has been 
here stated affords an explanation of all those cases in which 
hydrogen is empirically replaced by a salt radical. The internal 
process in these cases and the products may be of the most va- 
rious nature. The fault which has always been committed, con- 
sists in the endeavour to give an explanation that should apply 
in every case. There are instances in which even hypochlorous 
and hypobromous acids appear to be constituents of the pro- 
ducts. 
