332 Mr Connell on the Action of 



In none of these experiments, therefore, was there the least 

 appearance of those indications which led to the conclusion of 

 the existence of water in alcohol ; and it would appear, that, if 

 the results were sufficient in the one case to warrant that conclu- 

 sion, the experiments with ether equally justify the contrary in- 

 ference, that water does not enter into the constitution of the 

 latter fluid. If water existed as such in ether, I have little 

 doubt, from the example of alcohol, that it would have yielded 

 to the decomposing influence of the pile, and that we should 

 have observed the evolution of at least one of its constituents ; 

 but in none of the analogous circumstances was such an indica- 

 tion observed. 



III. Some general considerations on the intimate Constitution of 



Alcohol and Ether. 



Every one knows that the elements of alcohol are in such 

 proportions, that, when taken in conjunction with the specific 

 gravity of its vapour, it may be represented by one volume of 

 olefiant gas and one volume of the vapour of water condensed 

 into one volume ; and in like manner, that ether may be repre- 

 sented by two volumes of olefiant gas and one volume of aqueous 

 vapour condensed into one volume. But it is one thing to say 

 that these fluids may be thus represented, and another and a 

 very different thing to hold that olefiant gas and water actually 

 enter into their constitutions as such in these proportions. We 

 at present know so little of the manner in which the ultimate 

 elements of those substances which occur in or result from or- 

 ganic nature are united, that it is only with great caution that 

 special views of their mode of combination should be received. 

 Of late a great disposition has been manifested, particularly on 

 the Continent, to adopt such particular views, and to express the 

 constitution of those substances more closely allied to organic 



