hed in the case of compound substances by chemical analysis.showing the identity of their constituent parts. In the case of metals itcan be proved by the comparison of the properties of isometric bodies withthe properties of metals, in order to discover whether they have any commoncharacteristics. Such experiments, he continued, had been conducted by M.Dumas, with the result the isometric substances were to be found to haveequal equivalents, or equivalents which were exact multiples of one another. This characteristic is also a feature of metals. Gold and osmium haveidentical equivalents, as have platinum and iridium. The equivalent ofcobalt is almost the same as that of nickel, and the semi-equivalent of tinis equal to the equivalent of the two preceding metals. M. Dumas. speaking before the British Association, had shown that whenthree simple bodies displayed great analogies in their properties, such aschlorine, bromide, and iodine, barium, strontium, and calcium, the chemicalequivalent of the intermediate body is represented by the arithmetical meanbetween the equivalents of the other two. Such a statement well showed theisomerism of elementary substances, and proved that metals, howeverdissimilar in outward appearance, were composed of the same matterdifferently arranged and proportioned. This theory successfully demolishesthe difficulties in the way of transmutation. Again, Dr. Prout says thatthe chemical equivalents of nearly all elemental substances are themultiples of one among them. Thus, if the equivalent of hydrogen be takenfor the unit, the equivalent of every other substance will be an exactmultiple of it - carbon will be represented by six, axote by fourteen,oxygen by sixteen, zink by thirty-two. But, pointed out M. Figuier'sfriend, if the molecular masses in compound substances have so simple aconnection, does it not go to prove the all natural bodies are formed ofone principle, differently arranged and condensed...
