24 



THE BEGINNINGS OF II FE. 



dude that in each case some slight difference of com- 

 position in these units, leading to some slight difFerence 

 in their mutual play of forces, produces a difFerence in 

 the form which the aggregate of them assumes.' 



Whe 



not voluntarily, but on account 

 of facts otherwise inexplicable— that some such higher 

 combinations arise 'spontaneously' amongst the mole- 

 cules of organic matter contained within hermetically 

 sealed flasks, it must not be 



thought that 



we are 



unrecognized. On the contrary, chemists are perfectly 

 familiar with such <■ spontaneous ' combinations taking 



plac 



molecules 



stances. And^ occasionally, these changes result in the 



somen 



^_ 



previously in existence by reason of their greater mole- 

 cular complexity, just as <^ physiological units ' are sup- 

 posed to difFer from the higher colloid molecules. As 



may call attention 

 to the following well-known facts. Cyanate of ammonia 

 (C N2 H* O) in aqueous solution is converted by the aid 

 of heat, or <■ spontaneously ' when left to evaporate at 



^02). Cyanic 



spontaneously 

 Cyanimide 



N2H 



acid 



NH 



converted into cyanelide (CNH 



3N6H 



50 



is converted into cyanuramide 



(C2H 



solution, with a mere trace of oil of vitriol, is changed 

 into an oily aldehyde (C^His QS). Anhydrous sulphuric 



r# 



3h 



[ 





? 



\ tie f^"" 



i.C^H-0 



state 



i 



#e 



of certain 



appealing to processes which are new and previously tsl pH^^ into 



mical constitut 

 of benzo; 



i(;-e;)0,orbenzoa 

 i«,totliesereactioi 

 in which two or 

 -as ffhen two oxid 



t 



5 &C.J U 



orifa, doubl 



e 



I 



cyan 

 '« are also knov 



'^'^on compound: 



\ combin 



) 



to 



f,^ 



gous 



yield gly 



in 



prope 



\ 



are 



asked 



tc 



^WS ta. . 





!d< 



