34 OF THE ATOMIC THEORY. 



sake of these advantages, which I consider as 

 considerable, I have been induced to introduce 

 half atoms in certain cases. But I would not 

 be understood to support the abstract idea of the 

 possibility of the existence of half atoms ; but to 

 have been actuated by the arithmetical facilities 

 derived from the method which I have adopted. 

 Those who prefer theoretical considerations to 

 all such facilities, have only to double the atomic 

 weight of all bodies containing half atoms, and 

 they will get rid of the anomaly. The substances 

 containing a half atom of oxygen do not 

 amount to more than 7- A few occur contain- 

 ing half an atom of sulphur, and a few contain- 

 ing half an atom of acid. 



Though the word atom, according to etymo- 

 logy, and indeed according to its usual accepta- 

 tion, implies a particle incapable of farther 

 diminution or division, I have been induced, for 

 the sake of shortness, to apply it in the following 

 pages with more latitude. When it is applied 

 to the ultimate particles of simple bodies, it is 

 taken in its usual and strict acceptation ; but 

 when it is applied to a compound body, it is to 

 be understood as synonymous with integrant 

 particle. Thus, an atom of iron, may be con- 

 sidered as implying an ultimate particle of that 

 metal ; but an atom of protoxide of iron means 

 merely an integrant particle of protoxide of iron, 

 which is a compound of 1 atom of iron and 1 



