Elements
of matter, the simple substances of which all the matter in the universe is composed. Eighty-three such substances have thus far been dis- covered and considerations of a scientific nature derived from the study of certain relationships found to exist among the elements themselves, lead to the belief that the total number will ultimately be found to be ninety-two. It was formerly supposed that the several elements were entirely distinct and independent, but more recent studies have proved them to be bound in certain r one another. In the so-called periodic classification they are all brought into one complete system, in which they are found to fall regularly into series in respect to atomic weights, valences, and cation, although still imperfect, has had many striking confirmations. Mendeleeff and others have been able through its means to predict the discovery of relationships with EMBALMING several new elements, together with their properties and those of their compounds. The elements as we know them are not necessarily ultimate in structure.
Especially in the case of those having high atomic weights (e. g. radium), a EMBALMING disintegration of atoms is known to be taking place at the present time, and disintegration by artificial means has also been accomplished in the case of at least one element, tungsten. (See TRANSMUTATION OF ELEMENTS.) TABLE OF ELEMENTS International Atomic Weights, 1922 Elements Atomic Weights Aluminium (Al) 27.0 Molybdenum (Mo) 96.0 Antimony (Sb). 120.2 Neodymium (Nd) 144.3 Argon (A) 39.9.
Neon (Ne). 20.2 Arsenic (As) 74.96 Nickel (Ni). 58.68 Barium (Ba) 137.37 Niton (Nt). 222.4 Bismuth (Bi) 209.0 Nitrogen (N) 14.008 Boron (B) 10.9 Osmium (Os) 190.9 Bromine (Br) 79.92 Oxygen (0) 16.0 Cadmium (Cd) 112.40 Palladium (Pd) 106.7 Caesium (Cs) 132.81 Phosphorus (P). 31.04 Calcium (Ca) 40.07 Platimum (Pt) 195.2 Carbon (C) 12.005 Potassium (K) 39.10 Cerium (Ce) 140.25 Praseodymium (Pr) 140.9 Chlorine (CI) 35.46 Radium (Ra). 226.0 Chromium (Cr) 52.0 Rhodium (Rh) 102.9 Cobalt (Co) 58.97 Rubidium (Rb) 85.45 Columbium (Cb) 93.1 Ruthenium (Ru) 101.7 Copper (Cu) 63.57 Samarium (Sa) 150.4 Dysprosium (Dy) 162.5 Scandium (Sc) 45.1 Erbium (Er) 167.7 Selenium (Se) 79.2 Europium (Eu) 152.0 Silicon (Si) 28.1 Fluorine (F) 19.0 Silver (Ag) 107.88 Gadolinium (Gd) 157.3 Sodium (Na) 23.0 Gallium (Ga) 70.1 Strontium (Sr) 87.63 Germanium (Ge) 72.5 Sulphur (S). 32.06 Glucinum (G1) 9.1 Tantalum (Ta) 181.5 Gold (Au) 197.2 Tellurium (Te) 127.5 Helium (He) 4.0 Terbium (Tb) 159.2 Holmium (Ho) 163.5 Thallium (T1) 204.0 Hydrogen (H) 1.008 Thorium (Th) 232.15 Indium (In) 114.8 Thulium (Tm). 169.9 Iodine (I).. 126.92 Tin (Sn) 118.7 Iridium (Ir) 193.1 Titanium (Ti) 48.1 Iron (Fe) 55.84 Tungsten (W) .184.0 Krypton (Kr) 82.92 Uranium (U). 238.2 Lanthanum (La) 139.0 Vanadium (V) 51.0 Lead (Pb). 207.20 Xenon (Xe) 130.2 Lithium (Li). 6.94 Ytterbium (Yb) 173.5 Lutecium (Lu) 175.0 Yttrium (Y) 89.33 Magnesium (Mg) 24.32 Zinc (Zn). 65.37 Manganese (Mn) 54.93 Zirconium (Zr) 90.6 Mercury (Hg) 200.6 ..
EMBALMING. The practice of embalming the dead was probably associated among all ancient peoples with religious beliefs in a future life, namely, an expected rehabitation of the body by the soul after a certain period of separation. The practice, however, was not confined to any one cult, but in time became mere custom, as it is related in the Book of Genesis that Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father, and they embalmed Israel.
It was in Egypt that the art of embalming reached its highest perfection. There mummies have been found of kings whose reigns date back to 4000 years before Christ, so that the art was at least of that antiquity. Egyptian methods of embalming are minutely described by Herodotus (fifth century, B. C.) in his account of Egypt. In general, the brain and viscera were removed either directly or after dissolution in drugs and the interior of the body was cleaned and filled with myrrh, cassia, and other spices intended to prepare it to resist putrefaction. The whole was then covered up in natron for seventy days and afterwards washed and wrapped in fine linen cut into bands and smeared with gums. Among the poorer classes, the process was simpler or involved cheaper materials, but embalming of some sort was practiced by all. The effectiveness ENGLAND of the more complete methods is evidenced by modern discoveries of numerous mummies known to be two or three thousand years old and so well preserved that the skin in some cases is still soft and elastic and certain defects due to disease in life are still visible. The practice of embalming seems to have been continued with some regularity to about the seventh century, A. D., although with lessened religious meaning. Other peoples as widely separated separated from Egypt as the ancient Peruvians also practiced mummification. (See article MUMMY, Vol. VI.) In modern times, emblaming was revived through the work of numerous anatomists, physiologists, and physicians from the eighteenth century on. In general the methods include the injection of cleansing and dissolving chemical fluids into the arteries and main cavities of the body.
ENGLAND: General Elections of 1922. (See GREAT BRITAIN.)