The system selected for initial study was that involving tetramethylmethane and tetrachloromethane.

Oh, I'm up a tree again. I see I don't even know the A B C of this business.

Another is the paleologism of pars pro toto in which a part of an organ or function can symbolize the whole organ or concept; eg, the stomach may be the locus of difficulty with a patient with a history of frustrated dependency needs because of its association with the process of being fed and loved by the mother.

an abortive attempt