168 Dr. Kane's Notice on the Theory of the JEthers. 



of the a3thers as being, not defiant gas, but, as Thomson 

 proposed, the isomeric liquid, whose formula is (4 + 4 H) ; 

 denote by the name of ethereum the hypothetic body formed 

 by its union with an atom of hydrogen, (as Berzelius terms 

 the compound of ammonia + an atom of hydrogen, ammo- 

 nium ;) and see the expressions for the composition of some 

 of the most interesting of these bodies. 

 Sulphuric Eether (oxide of aethereum) = (4 C + 4 H) + H + O. 

 Alcohol (hydrated oxide of sethereum) = (4C + 4H)+ H 



+ + H. 

 Muriatic aether (chloride of gethereura) = (4C + ^H)^- (H 



+ Ch.) 

 Hydriodic a3ther (iodide of oethereum) = (4C + 4H) + (H 



+ 1.) 



Nitrous aether (hypo-nitrite of oxide of aethereum) = N 



+ (4 C + 4 H) + (H + O). 



Oxalic aether (oxalate of oxide of aethereum) + 2 C + (4- C 



+ 4H) + (H + 0). 



" Any one conversant with the subject will at once see how 

 simply the above view accounts for the varied decomjoositions 

 which occur in the production of these difierent bodies. I 

 regret that the necessary brevity of this note prevents me from 

 illustrating any instance in detail, for it would facilitate very 

 much the comprehension of the subject. It is at once appa- 

 rent that the different oxy- combinations of aethereum have 

 been well studied, and that it is very probable that corre- 

 sponding chlorine, iodine, &c., compounds exist, a ^ew of 

 which, as muriatic, hydriodic, and hydro-sulphocyanic aethers, 

 are already known. I had intended to enter into the deve- 

 lopment of this subject myself, but want of time prevented 

 me ; the only experiments I made on it are a few, which I shall 

 subsequently relate. I now bring the subject forward in or- 

 der to direct the attention of those persons who are interested 

 in the progress of chemical philosophy to it, that its truth or 

 falsity may be, if possible, proved." 



