OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS. 233 



infinitely small,, for they possess a weight, and are 

 capable of arranging themselves in the most various 

 ways, and of thus forming innumerable compound 

 atoms. The properties of these compound atoms 

 differ in organic nature, not only according to the 

 form, but also in many instances according to the 

 direction and place, which the simple atoms take 

 in the compound molecules. 



When we compare the composition of organic 

 compounds with inorganic, we are quite amazed at 

 the existence of combinations, in one single mole- 

 cule of which, ninety or several hundred atoms or 

 equivalents are united. Thus, the compound atom 

 of an organic acid of very simple composition, 

 acetic acid for example, contains twelve equivalents 

 of simple elements ; one atom of kinovic acid con- 

 tains 33, 1 of sugar 36, 1 of amygdalin 90, and 1 

 of stearic acid 138 equivalents. The component 

 parts of animal bodies are infinitely more complex 

 even than these. 



Inorganic compounds differ from organic in as 

 great a degree in their other characters as in their 

 simplicity of constitution. Thus, the decomposition 

 of a compound atom of sulphate of potash is 

 aided by numerous causes, such as the power of 

 cohesion, or the capability of its constituents to 

 form solid, insoluble, or at certain temperatures 

 volatile compounds with the body brought into con- 

 tact with it, and nevertheless a vast number of other 

 substances produce in it not the slightest change- 



