l68 ABSOLUTE ATOMIC WEIGHT. 



By his density determinations, Leduc is compelled to 

 take N= 14.005. 



In this condition Leduc says (1. c., p. 300) : 



" But, according to Stass, we ought to have N = 14.044 

 " together with 1 = 35.457 and Ag= 107.929.'* 



" The difference of our two numbers is enormous : ^itf! 

 " I have, however, succeeded to explain this, -without putting 

 " in doubt the excellency universally recognized of the experi- 

 " ments of Stass. " 



This " success " is the raising of the atomic weight of 

 chlorine by 0.013 and the lowering of that of silver as much. 

 Of course, that will not affect the weight of silver chloride. 



What a havoc this little change would play all round the 

 mystic circle or Stas' values, Leduc has not the remotest 

 idea of. He is as innocent of this entire subject as a new 

 born babe. That makes his reconciliation of Stas with 

 truth so funny. 



As stated, we suppose that in the physical laboratory of 

 Prof. Lippmann measuring and weighing of gases is done 

 accurately although the understanding of the rudiments of 

 general chemistry is palpably lacking. 



At all events, the weighings of Lord RayJeigh do not 

 need any confirmation, so far as we are concerned; there- 

 fore, I was much in doubt whether I should introduce the 

 weighings of Leduc at all. 



I beg again to state that it is merely his weight of a liter 

 of pure oxygen and pure nitrogen for which we here intro- 

 duce Leduc as a witness. 



But an experimentor who takes data so readily, though 

 he states they are not true, makes a pitiful witness even as 

 to his statements of weight and measure. 



What causes or compels working scientists in some of 

 the great laboratories of Paris to make such exhibitions of 

 either lack of general scientific training or servile obeisance 

 to authority? 



The above examples are really the most disgraceful exhi- 

 bitions of that kind I have ever seen. 



In the words of Hamlet, " there is something rotten in 

 the State of Denmark." 



