which is
ethyl-ethoxol. Acetone would admit of a similar explanation.

Finally the assumption of dissimilarity in character of the hydrogen
atoms in the water molecule possibly may lead to the discovery of a
number of unlocked for isomerides.

Thus, by appropriate methods, it ought to become possible to introduce
the alkyl groups solely into the hydroxyl group (instead of into the
place of the loosely attached H-atom). In that case chemists might
arrive at an isomeride of methyl alcohol of the formula H.(OCH_{3}),
or at methoxyl hydride, a compound not alcoholic in character, or at a
nitroxyl hydride, H(ONO_{2}), not of an acidic nature. Oxychlorides
would be classed with this latter category, that is, they would be
looked on as water in which the free hydrogen atom has been
substituted by the metal, and the hydrogen atom of the hydroxyl by
chlorine. This example, indeed, furnishes a most characteristic
illustration of our theory. In the case just now assumed we arrive at
the oxychloride; when, however, the metal and chlorine change places
in the water molecule, the isomeric hypochlorous salts are the result.
It is true that such cases of isomerism are as yet unknown, but we do
know that certain metals, in our present state of knowledge, yield
oxychlorides only, while others only form hypochlorous salts. This
condition also explains why hypochlorites still possesses the
bleaching power of chlorine, while the same is not true of
oxychlorides. However, it seems needless to multiply examples in
further illustration of the theory.

* * * * *

THE FORMATION OF STARCH IN LEAVES.

In 1750, Bonnet, a Genevese naturalist, remarked that leaves immersed
in water became covered in the sun with small bubbles of a gas that he
compared to small pearls. In 1772, Priestley, after discovering that
the sojourn of animals in a confined atmosphere renders it
irrespirable, investigated the influence of plants placed in the same
conditions, and he relates, in these words, the discovery that he made
on the subject:

"I put a sprig of mint in a quantity of air in which a candle had
ceased to burn, and I found that, ten days later, another candle was
able to burn therein perfectly well." It is to him, therefore, that is
due the honor of having ascertained that plants exert an action upon
the atmosphere contrary to that exerted by animals. Priestley,
however, was not completely master of his fine ex