458 MODERN CHEMISTRY. 



organised tissue, or the substances, albumen, fibrine, gelatine, 

 &c., out of which such tissues are formed. Further, it must 

 be stated that the products thus artificially obtained are not 

 derived directly from the simple inorganic elements, as we 

 know to happen in the original processes of nature, but are 

 formed by change and new combination from other organic 

 compounds. The distinction is obviously an important 

 one, though it may be that the progress of science will 

 hereafter lessen its value, and bring organic and inorganic 

 chemistry into still closer union than they have yet attained. 

 We are here^ however, approaching the margin of that gulf 

 which separates physical facts from the proper phenomena of 

 life ; and it is possible that the intervention of vitality as an 

 element of action may arrest all ulterior progress in this 

 direction. Though it would be rash to draw the line of de- 

 marcation too closely around us, the limit must somewhere 

 exist ; and even should synthetical chemistry succeed in pro- 

 ducing the materials of organised tissues directly from their 

 elements, we have reason to believe that here its power will 

 stop. The actual formation of these tissues is doubtless 

 due to the intervention of that higher generative process, 

 the operations of which we see and designate by name, but 

 cannot hope to reach or imitate.* 



The outline we have given of Organic Chemistry can afford 



* As connected with, the subject of this paragraph, we may notice the striking 

 discovery of M. Berthelot, made known after the first edition of this volume 

 was published. A beautiful method of experiment enabled him to obtain one 

 of the hydro-carbonous compounds, by direct Union of its two elements, the 

 electric current between the carbon poles being made to pass through an atmo- 

 sphere of very pure hydrogen, and the union taking place in the space thus 

 intensely heated. To the chemist this result is one of great interest. Acetylene, 

 the product obtained, consists of four atoms of carbon with two of hydrogen ; 

 and is one of the simplest of a series of compounds, on which the processes of 

 Chemistry are continually engaged. Olefiant gas is easily derived from it ; and 

 this again yields alcohol to a further operation; the whole illustrating 

 admirably those subtle researches through which science is now exploring all 

 the phenomena of the material world. 



