328 C. G. Williams on Organic Substances, 
was then shown that in organic chemistry the molecules ar 
too complex to be put together so easily; and this statement 
was proved by reference to the constitution of methylamine, 
the simplest of the organic alkaloids. 
The speaker then went somewhat fully into the question of 
the propriety of the use of the terms “‘ organic” and “inor 
ganic.” He shewed also that all the attempts hitherto made at 
‘separating chemistry into two distinct branches had failed. 
Liebig’s definition of organic chemistry as the “ chemistry of 
compound radicals” being obviously inadequate, inasmuch as 
some compound radicals (such as sulphury] and phosphoryl) are 
certainly inorganic. ye 
aurent’s definition, “chemistry of carbon,” is equally in- 
sufficient, inasmuch as carbonic anhydrid and carbonic tetri- 
chlorid are as clearly inorganic as sulphuric anhydrid or sodie 
chlorid. He then proceeded to argue that chemistry was “ one 
and indivisible,” and stated that one of the chief aims of his 
discourse was 0 prove that assertion. 
It was shown that until within the last few years, all the 
specific attempts made to break the apparently natural barmers 
tween organic and inorganic chemistry had proved failures. 
It was true that in the course of innumerable researches and 
experiments made by chemists, one or two of the simple orgamie 
bodies had presented themselves; but, like urea and cyanoge? 
they were substances which, as it were, hovered on the confines 
of inorganic chemistry, and would have been called imorganit 
had they not contained carbon. ts 
rand problem, which consisted in taking the ae 
themselves, and building them up gradatim into the proxuma 
mate principles of animals and. sonra to eh ey” 
time supposed that the laws which regulate combination Wa 
i 
e 
