ON AQUA REGIA. 
265 
with a more energetic acid, even if the latter body be of the 
most powerful oxidating agents. In this manner, owing to a 
material change, by nitric acid, two acids are produced from 
indigo, in which the presence of nitric acid seems probable, 
and by a change similar to that which naphthalin undergoes 
when treated with this acid, a double acid is formed — 
(C I6 H 6 5 +N)-f2H. 
It is owing to the same cause that, by the direct action of nitric 
acid on wood spirit, the oxide of methyl, without being altered, 
may combine with this acid, whereas the base of alcohol, being 
less stable, reduces the nitrous acid to the stage of a less 
powerful oxidating agent to that of nitrous acid (21,) which 
may combine with another portion of the oxide of ethyl, that 
which has not been destroyed. 
33. We have hitherto met with no difficulties regarding the 
explanation of the phenomena generally perceived by the re- 
action of either nitric or hyponitric acid on organic bodies. 
The reason of this is, that we admitted as correct Berzelius's 
hypothesis, according to which the organic combinations con- 
taining oxygen, consist of the latter metalloid, and a radical. 
This hypothesis, however, is far from being opposed to facts, 
with which organic chemistry has been endowed in latter days ; 
it is rather confirmed by the constitution and properties of the 
products formed by the action of several oxidising agents on a 
great number of hydro-carbonaceous substances ; by the con- 
stitution of ethereal combinations, and others analogous to the 
latter ; by the various stages of oxidation of acethyl, formyl, 
&c. ; by the circumstances under which the artificial valerianic 
acid is formed ; by the analogy of the constitution of margary- 
lic or hypo-margarylic acid ; by that of the protein, and of the 
two higher stages of oxidation, serving to regenerate the latter 
substances ; by that of the oenanthic and azoleinic acid ; by 
that of the bitter almond oil, and that of the sulpho-pioramyls; 
by the constitution and properties of xanth-oxide and uric acid, 
and by the circumstances under which these bodies are pro- 
24 
