Adipocelluloste and Cutocelluloses 241 



entire group of products under consideration is extremely 

 ill-defined, and requires to be much more exhaustively in- 

 vestigated to establish definite relationships with the carbo- 

 hydrates from which they result. 



Reverting to the aspect of their natural history, it is clear 

 that the functions of this diversified group are completed in a 

 very remarkable way by this property of carbon condensation. 

 In proportion as they are attacked by destructive agencies, the 

 residue tends to constitute itself into a complex of increasing 

 resistance ; and so the chemistry of the vegetable world, which 

 depends in its proximate relationships upon the properties of 

 polyhydroxy derivatives of the C 6 unit, is ultimately a most 

 striking manifestation of the properties of the carbon atom 

 itself. 



