Chemical Elements, 83 



of matter. The variables In this case are fixed so 

 that probably no man now believes that Sodium 

 and Potassium ever change, one Into the other, or 

 Iron into Manganese, or Silver into Gold, though 

 there is great likeness between some of these ele- 

 ments, so great, that some eminent men have be- 

 lieved either that all kinds of matter are modifica- 

 tions of one element, or that each group of elements 

 is a modification of one element. A crude belief 

 of this kind was the foundation of the labors of the 

 old Alchemists. It is certain that the likeness of 

 the elements to each other is such that they can be 

 formed into groups by a truly natural classification 

 as can the kinds In the kingdom of life. The most 

 accurate modern research among the elements, has 

 but satisfied the best minds of their distinctness and 

 that the Alchemists were not only pardonable in 

 being misled by such a mistake but that the mis- 

 take itself arose from careful study and great knowl- 

 edge of the elements which they experimented 

 upon. If those who hold that the variables that 

 make the different kinds in the organic kingdom 

 are of such a nature that we can regard these kinds 

 all as modifications of one original simple form — if 

 those who hold this view should In the end find 

 that their theory Is as unfounded as that of the old 

 Alchemists proved to be, we can yet see that this 

 mistake, if mistake It proves to be, has arisen from 

 a most intimate acquaintance with the objects treat- 

 ed of; and we shall be as thankful to them for their 

 great contributions to science directly and indirectly 

 as we are to the Alchemists for the acids and other 



