Geology and Mineralogy. 



Keku 



mixed types, and the controversy between the champion 

 typical theory, being the subjects most prominently taken up. 

 The typical theory contributed, according to the view of the au- 

 thor, very little toward the advancement of our theoretic knowl- 

 edge of the copulated sulphur compounds!. It failed signally to 

 throw light upon the peculiar nature of the sulpho-acids, it proved 

 itself to be utterly unable, as the interpretations of Carius's inves- 

 tigations abundantly show, to explain any difference of constitu- 

 tion between the sulpho-acids and the inetameric hypothetical 

 primary ethers of sulphurous acid, while the adoption of complex 

 multiple and mixed types showed the fruitlessness of all at- 

 tempts to refer compounds capable of undergoing manifold reac- 

 tions to any typical bodies. Hut an atomistic explanation of the 

 copulated sulphur compounds presented peculiar difficulties to the 

 disciples of the typical school, as ir necessitated the acceptance of 

 a higher atomicity of the sulphur atom, and accordingly it was 

 not until the discovery of the true primary ethers of sulphurous 

 acid, and of the isomeric pbenole sulplm-acids, and furthermore of 

 the difference in constitution of these acids from the primary acid 

 ethers, that the typicists adopted an atomistic conception of coin- 

 After sketching the gradual development of atomistic and 

 structural views by the former tvpicists, as shown most promi- 

 nently in the attempts of Kekule to derive the copulated sulphur 



Erlenmeyer of a for S, the author goes on to 



compare the views held at present with those advanced by Kolbe, 

 endeavoring to show that the explanations of the chemical deport- 

 ment of the sulpho-eompounds now given are essentially the same 

 as those given by K.dbe, s.unetw. ntv vears ago, that these chemists 

 ditie-r however tn x ion of the consti- 



tution of a body, and in their views as to the manner in which the 

 k-atorn is combined \\ ith t In organic radical. The latter difference 

 of opinion is, ace, . -.-ntial one, and he 



although assenting to Kolbe's general views as to the chemical 

 constitution of a "body, does not hesitate to accept Butlerow's 

 definition of the sulpho-eompounds, i. e. as compounds ot a sexi- 

 \alent S, i n w } u , • . . 

 organic body. 



II. Geology and Mlnebalogy. 

 I. Note on the Age of the Crystalline Rocks of Wisconsin; 

 J Ror.A^D Irving. (Communicated.) —In a note on the " Huroman 

 • r December last, Mr. A. R. 

 <^. oelwvm, cat i. . v's reference of the Canada, 



Wisconsin, and Michigan Huronian to the Lower Silurian, uses 

 »ie words: -' If, however, it is an established fact that in Minne- 

 8 °ta (Michigan?) and Wisconsin the same Huronian rocks are 

 ^conformably covered by the Potsdam sandstone .... buch 



