BARIUM. 235 



(e) This is the kernel of the whole matter; Clarke con- 

 demns himself most unequivocally. 



This is the absolute condemnation of the entire Clarke 

 system of combining all observations by estimating accuracy 

 (weight of observations) by minuteness of probable errors; 

 see p. 18 and many other places. 



This whole system being, in the above words of Clarke, 

 known to himself as false and without reason, before that 

 book of his was published at the expense of the Smithsonian 

 Fund for the increase and diffusion or knowledge u per 

 orbem " every intelligent citizen of this country must ask 

 the Chief Chemist Clarke this question : 



(t If you knew your entire system was false in principle, 

 " how did you dare issue it and disgrace American Science 

 "before the world?" 



" Did you suppose your control of the American Chem- 

 " ical Society would allow you to ' bluff ' all efforts possible 

 l< of any chemist daring to expose your fraud?" 



Ba=137. BARIUM. 



Barium Sulphate, Ba O4 S = 233 and Barium Chloride, 

 Ba Ch 208, the latter obtained by careful heating of the 

 crystallized compound, are probably the most stable and 

 fixed compounds of barium. The next in order is Barium 

 Nitrate, Ba (Oa N)2=26i, which crystallizes beautifully, 

 without water of crystallization. Lastly we have the crys- 

 tallized chloride, Ba Ch -j- 2 Ha O = 244, also a fine, very 

 permanent compound. 



These four compounds have been used by eminent 

 chemists, from Berzelius and Turner to Struve and Marignac, 

 for dry way work in atomic weight determinations. 



The results are not close, and new determinations, care- 

 fully made, are very desirable. 



The reactions are not the best dry way processes, either ; 

 but the methods of procedure may be improved. 



The following is the record of work done: 



Ba O* S : Ba Cl2 = 233 : 208 = 1.12 019. 



Turner, 1829, 170 high; Berzelius, 156 high. 



Struve, 1831, 2 Det. 091 096. Mean 75 high. 



Marignac, 1858, 3 Det. ; 032 995 ; 37. " 8 low. 



