72 "Scientific Levity". 



might be " any day realized in the laboratory ; " 

 and that there was "no chemical peculiarity for- 

 bidding" that realization. In those thirty-five 

 years scientific chemistry has advanced, with 

 colossal strides, at a rate of progress previcusly 

 unknown and unimagined. Its triumphs are 

 attested by the number and character of its 

 investigations, its improved methods, its en- 

 larged nomenclature, its ever-increasing wealth 

 of results. Its history during the present cen- 

 tury presents a continuous series of remarkable 

 discoveries : the number of non-metallic ele- 

 ments has been increased by the addition of 

 iodine, bromine, and selenium ; that of the 

 metals has been nearly doubled ; the carefully 

 examined compounds have increased a hundred- 

 fold ; "a vast array of substances" has been 

 compounded or decompounded ; but, towards 

 that border-land which separates the organic 

 from the inorganic if such a border-land there 

 be this triumphant chemistry has not advanced 

 one single step. " Chemists/' we are told, " do 

 not doubt their ability " to do that which has 

 hitherto mocked all their efforts. Thirty-five 

 years ago they were equally untroubled by 

 doubt, and equally destitute of achievement. 

 They then believed the great desideratum 

 might be " any day realized in the laboratory." 



