386 On definite Proportions. 
7 times, and in the phosphate, sulphate, and carbonate of 
soda, 10 times as much oxygen as the base. 
In order not to be misunderstood, I shall here insert the 
principle of the formation of organic productions, which I 
shall extract from the continuation of my experiments re- 
lating to organic nature. It stands thus : 
‘© In organized productions, two, three, or more inflam- 
maile substances are united, and attached to a single por- 
tion of omygen, which is only sufficient for the oxygeniza- 
tion of one of them; and this combination cannot be divided 
into more immediate component parts, nor be formed frote 
such parts.” , 
This mode of combination belongs so exclusively to 
organic nature, that when such compounds occur in inor- 
ganic nature, we always attribute to them an organic 
origin ; and, as far as I know, we have only two examples, 
in which we can obtain products formed according to this 
Jaw, from bodies completely inorganic: these are Hatchett’s 
artificial tannin, and the artificial extraction. See my 
Analysis of Crude Iron, Afh. III. 132. Since inorganic 
nature consists partly of combustible bodies without oxygen, 
and partly of oxygenized bodies, each combustible body 
contained in this class bas its proper portion of oxygen, 
which belongs exclusively to it, and which accompanies 
it, when it is separated from the rest. But organic products, 
although they never exist without oxygen, are still all com- 
bustible, because the oxygen, although it does not belong 
to one of the constituent parts rather than to another, is 
still only sufficient to bring one of them into a definite state 
of oxygenization, and this state is very seldom the highest 
of which tt is capable. ‘ 
On the whole I may be permitted to conclude, that I 
have sufficiently demonstrated in this essay the proposition 
implied in its title: An attempt to determine the definite 
and simple proportions, in which the constituent parts of 
morganic substances are united with each other. Many of 
my readers will be disposed to believe, that the same laws 
must prevail for both kinds of natural bodies. But from 
what I have here remarked, it appears that each kingdom 
has a separate modification in the principles of its constitu- 
tion. I shall endeavour, in the continuations of these 
experiments, to examine and demonstrate more particu- 
Jarly the last mentioned principle for the formation of 
organic products. 
[To be continued} 
LXIlI. Let- 
