OBITUARY. 
47 
Thus, sulphur, mercury, copper, etc. become sulphine, mercurine, cuprine, etc. The 
name of every compound is then constructed out of the names of the elements it con¬ 
tains. To express the relative proportions of the elements in a compound the vowels 
are employed, giving to them the signification of numbers. Thus, a:=l, e = 2 , i = 3 , 
0 = 4, u = 5. When two vowels are placed together they signify the sum of the two— 
ua = 6 . Two vowels with an m between represent the products of the two vowels mul¬ 
tiplied together—ume = 5 x 2 = 10. By this and similar means almost any number may 
be expressed. To name a compound, we take the names of the elements it contains, cut 
off the termination ine, place in its stead the vowel or combinations of vowels to indicate 
the number of atoms present, and add a final n to the whole. Thus, HCl contains one 
of Hydrine and one of Chlorine ; cut off the ines and put an a in the place of each, add a 
final n, and “ Hydrachloran ” is obtained as the name of the compound. HsN contains 
three of Hydrine and one of Nitrine ; in place of the first ine put an i, and of the second 
an a, add final n, and “ Hydrinitran ” is the result. Following out this system we get 
such names as Hydretoxan for Water (H 2 O), Carbehydruatoxan for Alcohol (CgHgO), 
Hydresulphatoxon for Sulphuric Acid (H 2 SO 4 ), Hydronitrachlorau for Sal Ammoniac 
(H 4 NCI), Kalacarbanitran for Cyanide of Potassium (KCN), etc. 
This method of using vowels to represent numbers is not, as Mr. Hamilton states, en¬ 
tirely new. It has been long used as a system of artificial memory. It was proposed 
and successfully employed by Laurent in naming the numerous chlorinated derivatives 
of naphthaline. Moreover, it was also adopted by the late Mr. Mansfield in naming 
compounds according to his “ Theory of Saltsand many of his names closely resemble 
those now suggested. 
But in the first page of his book Mr. Hamilton lays down, in eight propositions, the 
principles upon which he considers a perfect system of nomenclature should be based. 
The second of these propositions is as follows :— 
“No names should be used involving hypothetical views of the constitution, relations, 
or functions of the things named.” 
Do Mr. Hamilton’s names comply with this condition? The name for water is 
hydretoxan, which implies that it is a compound of two atoms or equivalents of hydrine 
and one of oxine. The name depends, therefore, on the proportional number of oxygen, 
being 16. Is not this “ involving a hypothetical view of the relation of things” ? There 
are even yet some men of note who assign a different value to oxygen, and consequently 
a different constitution to water. Alumina is named by Mr. Hamilton “ Alumotoxin” = 
AI4O3. This involves a constitution for the compound which modern writers do not 
assign to it. Most chemists would now call it Alumetoxin = AL 03 , A1 being 27‘5. 
We abolished the prefixes bi, proto, etc. in our old system of nomenclature for such 
compounds as the chlorides of mercury, because they led to the inconvenient expression 
of theoretical views which Avere constantly changing. Mr. Hamilton’s system would 
revive in full force those very difficulties. If the author wrote “ Mercurachloran,” would 
he mean calomel or corrosive sublimate? We could not answer the question without 
knowing the wmight he assigns to the atom of mercury. 
Professor Hamilton’s scheme is only good so long as the table of combining propor¬ 
tions remains unchanged, and the formulse of bodies continue constant. But the former 
are always liable to alteration, and we can never hope for perfect accordance regarding 
the latter. We want names which shall serve to identify substances. These sugges¬ 
tions give us in fact nothing more than a concise method for translating symbolic 
formulae into language. 
©bituarg. 
Died, June 9 th, aged thirty-eight, Mr. John Handley, Pharmaceutical Chemist, 
Wakefield. 
We regret to announce the death of Mr. Alexander tire, surgeon to St. Mary’s 
Hospital. About three years ago Mr. Ure met with a heavy fall from a horse while 
attending on the field as surgeon to the Scottish volunteers, since which time he has 
rapidly declined. He had a rare knowledge of the chemical and therapeutical depart¬ 
ments of Materia Medica. Mr. Ure was an Honorary Member of the Pharmaceutical 
Society, and a contributor to this Journal. 
