162 Biographical Account of [Skpt. 



which at that time could scarcely be said to exist any where ; for 

 chemistry had not yet been reduced to a science, and the method of 

 investigating the chemical properties of bodies, and still more of 

 analysing them, was almost quite unknown. He used to repeat 

 experiments in the night-time out of Neuman and Kunkel, and 

 ascertained several facts which, though previously known to others, 

 were new to him. Thus he found that oil of cloves was set on fire 

 by concentrated nitric acid. On one occasion, while he was engaged 

 in the preparation of pyrophorus, another apprentice, witbout his 

 knowledge, put some fulminating powder into the mixture. The 

 consequence was a violent explosion ; and as the accident happened 

 in the night-time, the family were alarmed, and our young chemist 

 severely reprimanded. 



But such accidents rather served to stimulate his zeal for experi- 

 menting. His whole soul was devoted to the study of chemistry, 

 and his every thought turned with the most unwearied industry 

 towards its improvement. In short, when he left Gottenburgh, he 

 was probably the best practical chemist of his time. 



From Gottenburgh he went to Malmo, to the house of Mr. 

 Kalstrom, an apothecary there. Here he continued two years; and 

 in 17*>7 vvent to Stockholm, where he superintended the apothecary's 

 shop of Mr. Seharenberg. In 1773 he exchanged this situation for 

 a similar one in Upsala, in the house of Mr. Loock. He was pro- 

 bably induced to take this step in consequence of the reputation of 

 Bergman as a chemist, and his desire of cultivating his friendship. 

 He bad written a dissertation on tartaric acid, containing a great 

 deal of new and curious matter, and he had sent a copy of the 

 manuscript to Bergman. Bergman, totally unacquainted with the 

 name and merit of Scbeele, merely looked at the title ; and know- 

 ing that Margraaf had lately written upon the same subject, and 

 taking it for granted that the manuscript would contain nothing 

 new, he never gave himself the trouble to read it, but returned it 

 "to the author without any remark. Scbeele, nettled at this treat- 

 ment, which be considered as contemptuous, sent a copy of the 

 paper to Retzius, Professor at Lund ; and Retzius published it in 

 the Stockholm Transactions for 177^> without any mention of 

 Scheele's name. 



Scheele's first introduction to Bergman was produced in the fol- 

 lowing manner: — The celebrated Assessor John Gottlieb Gabn was- 

 at that time a student in the University of Upsala, and was greatly 

 distinguished for his abilities and bis chemical knowledge. Going 

 one day into Mr. Loock's shop, the master of the shop acquainted 

 him with a circumstance which had occurred to him some days 

 before, and which be could not explain. He had accidentally 

 observed that if vinegar be poured upon nitre that lias been exposed 

 to a red heat, fumes of nitrous acid are driven vff. Gabn was not 

 able to account tor this phenomenon, which appeared inconsistent 

 with the known laws of chemical affinity, but promised to consult 

 Beigman on the subject. Bergman was equally at a loss to explain 



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