Abstracts from Foreign Jotirnals. 297 



in your last Number, I could not, however, avoid being struck 

 with some inconsistencies in the reasonings adduced ; and 

 should these be a sample of what we are generally to meet with, 

 we may account in good measure for the reluctance manifested 

 by our countrymen to adopt every new theory that may be 

 put forth, even under the sanction of men whose reputation 

 stands deservedly so high. Theories now succeed each other 

 with such surprising rapidity, that scarcely has one been 

 blazoned to the world ere another is proposed to supersede 

 it, and this experiences, it may be, a dominion of still shorter 

 duration. 



Take, for example, the theory of the constitution of alcohol, 

 which MM. Dumas and Stas, in iheir last papei', propose to 

 modify : let us consider the views that have been taken, or may 

 be taken of its molecular arrangement, and then let us decide, 

 if we can, which view is the true one, or even which may be 

 said to merit the preference. 



Alcohol. Empirical formula C4 H(. Og 



(1.) Bihydrate of Olefiant Gas (C^ Hg + H) + 2 H O. 



(2.) Bihydrate of Etherine, (d HJ + 2 H O. 



(3.) Hvdrate of oxide of Ethyl, (C^ H5 + O) + H O. 



(4.) M^ethylic Aldehyd + Marsh Gas, (CoH.,0,) + CgH^. 



(5.) Bihydruret of Aldehyd, &c. &c., {C4 H^Og) + H2. 



Each of these views may be said to be supported by expe- 

 riment. (1.) ThuS; when alcohol and sulphuric acid are mixed 

 in certain proportions, and heated, olefiant gas and water are 

 the results. (2.) In other proportions, the same ingredients 

 yield etherine, or etherole, and water; (3.) whilst, in again 

 differing proportions, oxide of ethyl and water are the results. 



Thus much the effects oi acid re-agency on alcohol : MM. 

 Dumas and Stas have tried the effect ol alkalies in producing 

 its decomposition. The results, as might be expected, are 

 equally various. 



Heated with hydrated alkalies, acetate of the base is formed 

 and hydrogen evolved. If thetemperature be somewhat raised, 

 carbonic acid and marsh gas result; here it is the hydrated 

 acid ihai undergoes this decomposition, C4II4 O4 = C., O4 + 



a H4. 



In this instance the formula of acetic acid is represented to 

 us as C, IT, O, ; a little further on, when mentioning the re- 

 sults of the transmission of aldehyd, Q, II4 O.2 over heated lime 

 and potassa, acetic acid is said to be formed by the action, 

 and the formula given is (C,, II3 O3), the true ibrmula for the 

 anhydrous acid. Surely we must not admit and discard the 

 presence of water in these cases just when it suits our con- 

 venience to do so, for by this mode of proceeding, alcohol 

 and ether would become synonymous and convertible teims, 



