Numerics of the Elements. 157 



in II. are equidistantly imitated by CI, K, Ca, analogous 

 elements in Group III. 



Of periodicity with regard to p only, we have the interesting 

 set of instances : — 



= 3 



6 



9 



CI 



Br 



I 



K 



Rb 



' Cs 



S 



Se 



Te 



Of diagonal periodicity (p + t= const.) several instances 

 may be observed by a glance at the table. Other periodic 

 relations may he worked out, or suggested, with the help of 

 this table. 



Evenness. — The physical relations of seriated carbon com- 

 pounds are differently expressed according to evenness ; *. e. 

 according as the coefficient of C in their formula is even or 

 odd. I have thought it worth while to examine the numerics 

 of the elements with respect to the evenness of p and t. As 

 regards the evenness of p, 42 numerics occur in evenly num- 

 bered groups, and only 26 in the odd groups ; here the even- 

 ness is significant. As regards the evenness of t, there are 32 

 odd and 32 even occurrences, exclusive of 3 zero values ; here 

 nothing depends upon evenness. 



Frequency. — In addition to the remarks in the last paragraph 

 it may be observed that 45 numerics have their positions in 

 the first eight groups, the remaining 23 occurring in the last 

 eight groups. Thus it is about two to one that a numeric 

 will occur in an early and in an even group. 



It follows from the equations given in this memoir, that the 

 number of the elements may be infinite. The genetic method 

 of classification is the only one hitherto adduced that includes 

 this possibility, and comprises, without exception, all known 

 elements. But the number of experimental methods is not 

 infinite ; and the history of past discovery has convinced me 

 that few, if any, elements are now likely to be discovered, 

 unless by a new method or by a new combination of existing 

 methods. 



According to the Herakleitic seer, the All surceased and 

 the world is One ; it was born from fire and will again be 

 burned up — period after period, in alternate phases, through 

 all duration ; and this takes place in terms of a rigorous law. 

 The fundamental view of this memoir has an antiquity of at 

 least two thousand three hundred years. 



Glasgow, Jan. 13, 1886. 



