JUSTUS VON LIEBIG. 66^ 



of warmest affection. While in me the predominating inclina- 

 tion was to seek out the points of resemblance in the behavior 

 of bodies or their compounds, he possessed an unparalleled fac- 

 ulty of perceiving their differences. A keenness of observation 

 was combined in him with an artistic dexterity, and an ingeni- 

 ousness in discovering new means and methods of research or 

 analysis such as few men possess. The achievement of our joint 

 work upon uric acid and oil of bitter almonds has frequently 

 been praised; it was his work. I can not sufficiently highly 

 estimate the advantage which the association with Wohler 

 brought to me in the attainment of my own as well as our 

 mutual aims, for by that association were united the peculiari- 

 ties of two schools — the good that was in each became effective 

 by co-operation. Without envy and without jealousy, hand in 

 hand, we pursued our way ; when the one needed help the other 

 was ready. Some idea of this relationship will be obtained if 

 I mention that many of our smaller pieces of work which bear 

 our joint names were done by one alone ; they were charming 

 little gifts which one presented to the other. 



After sixteen years of the most laborious activity I collected 

 the results gained, so far as they related to plants and animals, in 

 my Chemistry applied to Agriculture and Physiology, two years 

 later in my Animal Chemistry, and the researches made in other 

 directions in my Chemical Letters. The last-mentioned was gen- 

 erally received as a popular work, which, to those who study it 

 more closely, it really is not, or was not at the time when it ap- 

 peared. Mistakes were made, not in the facts, but in the de- 

 ductions about organic reactions ; we were the first pioneers in 

 unknown regions, and the difficulties in the way of keeping on 

 the right path were sometimes insuperable. Now, when the paths 

 of research are beaten roads, it is a much easier matter ; but all 

 the wonderful discoveries which recent times have brought forth 

 were then our own dreams, whose realization we surely and with- 

 out doubt anticipated. 



Here the manuscript ends, and it is to be hoped that more of it will yet be 

 found. 



Liebig's reference to Wohler is very touching, and shows a side of his character 

 which all his pupils knew well ; they tell many genial stories illustrating his un- 

 selfishness and kindness of heart. One could have wished that he had not con- 

 sidered the stories "bordering on the fabulous," of how he "found favor in the 

 siiiht of numboldt, Gay-Lussac, and Thenard, out of place here." They would 

 have been far from out of place. Mr. Mu^pratt supplies one of these stories as he 

 heard it from Liebig's own lips, in tlie Munich Laboratory, as follows : 



Liebig frequently spoke in most grateful terms of the kind 

 manner in which he — a youth barely eighteen — was received by 

 Gay-Lussac, Thenard, and other eminent chemists, in Paris. 



