116 REFUTATION OP THE SALT RADICAL THEORY. 
salt radicals, as stated by Gregory in his edition of Turner's 
Chemistry, 572. 
38. The objection, that not being electrolytes the relation 
of acids and bases to the voltaic electrodes cannot be disco- 
vered, is easily remedied; since, on the union of a common 
ingredient with an anion and a cathion, there cannot be any 
doubt that the resulting compounds will have the same 
electro-chemical relation as their respective heterogeneous 
ingredients; so that, with the anion, an acid or electro-ne- 
gative body will be formed ; with the cathion, a base or 
electro-positive body. Moreover, as respects organic com- 
pounds which cannot be subjected to the electrolytic test, 
whatever saturates an inorganic acid must be a base, and 
whatever saturates an inorganic base must be an acid. 
39. The word salt, I have shown, is almost destitute of 
utility, from the impossibility of denning it, and the ampli- 
tude of its meaning. A word that means every thing, is 
nearly as useless as that which means nothing. 
( To be continued.) 
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