TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 31 



and the physical unit of matter. In the mean time it is onlj- by the most cumhrona 

 and improbable assumptions that the existing atomic theoiy can be made to fit in 

 with the facts which chemistry has recently discovered, and of these the theory of 

 atomicity is one which can scarcely be connected with it at all. In point of fact 

 tliat theory is a merely temporary hypothesis, constructed to keep before our eyes 

 the tendency which substances have to form compounds of certain definite forms, 

 under special circumstances ; and it is scarcely possible to doubt, that in twenty or 

 tliirtv years it will have passed away and have been replaced by something- of a 

 more satisfactory character. ^Meanwhile its important influence ou the recent pro- 

 gress of chemistiT is too obvious to be disputed. It is only to be regretted that so 

 many conflicting "modes of considering the atomicities of the elements should have 

 been introduced by different vniters. 



Info tlie consideration of this matter I should have been glad to have entered at 

 some length, but I feel that I have already detained you too long from the actual 

 business of tlie Section, and no doubt opportunities will arise in the course of the 

 business for individuals expressing their opinions on this and other subjects. 

 Among these the mode of expressing the sjTubols of chemical compounds, which 

 was objected to long since by Sir John Herschel, and has been again brought into 

 liromiuence by the publication of Sir B. Brodie's paper, merits attention. The 

 present vmsettled state of chemical nomenclature, so inconvenient to the teacher, 

 ought also to he discussed, and it might even be well to consider whether a com- 

 mittee should not be appointed to ascertain how far it might be possible to adopt 

 a uniform system. Nor do I think we ought to separate without recording our 

 opinion on "the subject of better and more extendjed scientific education. The 

 events of the Paris Exhibition have brought our deficiencies in this respect very 

 conspicuously before us, and show, us how much we have yet to do. That we 

 have made progress in this respect is not to be doubted, for science is much more 

 cultivated now than formerly, and is becoming more and more a branch of general 

 education. J.luch, however, still remains to be done in this direction, especially in 

 Scotland, and it will no doubt surprise many of my audience to hear that chemistry 

 and natiu'al history are still excluded from the course of study for degrees in arts 

 in the Scotch miiversities. Of late years the study of these and other departments 

 of natural science has been introduced to some extent in schools both in England 

 and Scotland ; but, so far as my experience goes, vrithout having as yet produced 

 results of much importance. The difficulty, I think, lies in the kind of instruction 

 offered ; the usual practice having been to give lectures from which the discussion 

 of principles and of everything which exercises and devqlopes the mind, is elimi- 

 nated, and only that which it is supposed will entertain or sui-prise is retained, and 

 boys are thus led to look upon science merely as a pastime. They are slirewd 

 enough to see the difference between this and the closer and more severe system 

 of study pursued in the other departments of their education, and they are apt 

 either to avoid work altogether, or to acquire their knowledge in a superficial 

 manner. The whole sj-stem of teaching science to school-boys is a subject which 

 merits far more attention tlian it has yet received, and the success of the move- 

 ment must gi'eatly depend on an efficient method of teaching being adopted. All 

 these, however, are subjects the discussion of which would carry me far beyond 

 the limits of tliose introductory observations with which it has been customary to 

 open the business of the Section. It must be left for its members to bring forward 

 their own views on these and kmdred questions. 



On an Aijparatus for indicating the Pressure and Amount of Firedamp in 



Mines. By Gr. Ansell. 



On a Method of Becoverimi Sulplmr and Oxide of Manr/anese used at Dieuze, 

 near Nancy, France. Bif 1. Lowthian Bell. 



JlemarJiS on the Calculus of Chemical Operations. By Dr. A. Crtjm Brown. 



After observing that, as wo liave only the first part of Sir Benjamin Brodie's 



paper before us, it is necessary to be cautious in our criticism, the author enume- 



