130 M. Berzelius on the existence of 



acetic acid, unless it be supposed that it is with respect to 

 acetic acid, what sulphovinic acid is with respect to sulphuric 

 acid; and that even on this supposition it ought to be consi- 

 dered as a peculiar acid. 



I then employed tartaric acid to precipitate the alkali ; and 

 after having separated, by means of carbonate of lead, all the 

 acids contained in the alcoholic solution, except the lactic acid, 

 I precipitated the lead by sulphuretted hydrogen. The alcohol 

 having been evaporated, and the solution decolorized by pure 

 animal charcoal, I precipitated the lactic acid from it by di- 

 gesting in it an excess of hydrate of tin. After having washed 

 the precipitate and decomposed it in water by sulphuretted 

 hydrogen, I obtained the acid in a much greater degree of 

 purity. 



The first article of the first volume of M. Liebig' s Annalen 

 der Pharmacie, 1832, is an extract from the above memoir. 

 M. Mitscherlich discovered afterwards, inl834, that the lactate 

 of zinc is a slightly soluble salt, which crystallizes readily, and 

 from which lactic acid may be obtained in a state of perfect 

 purity. 



During these discussions on lactic acid, which continued 

 for several years, a scientific renown was acquired, founded on 

 numerous brilliant discoveries, which was not slow in indi- 

 cating that it would attain celebrity, — it was that of M. Liebig. 

 In 1842 M. Liebig* openly proclaimed that he combined in 

 his person so great an extent of knowledge acquired by innu- 

 merable experiments and practical results, that no person 

 could in future, probably, amass so much (vvie sie sich viel- 

 leicht nie in einem Individuum wieder vereinigen durften); and 

 he undertook to initiate the human race in the chemical phe- 

 nomena of living nature. This essay was entirely premature; 

 science did not then, nor does it yet possess, sufficient positive 

 knowledge to lead to results worthy of reliance. 



Since 1821 I have been called upon, in consequence of the 

 duty which devolves upon me on account of the station which 

 I occupy in the Academy of Sciences at Stockholm, to make 

 an annual report respecting all the branches of chemistry, 

 and I considered it as my duty to use every effort to exercise 

 a sound and rigorous judgement. I have shown that in this 

 essay M. Liebig stated probabilities, and often even some 

 things which could not be so estimated, as demonstrated and 

 incontestable truths. I therefore put myself in opposition to 

 this unrestrained chemical authority. Considering the height to 

 which M. Liebig thought himself raised, an apology would 

 have been superfluous ; any one who had the audacity to dare 

 * Ann. der Chem. und Pharm., xli. 373. 



