82 LIFE AND EXPERIENCES CHAP. 



our apparatus in order at once, by help of a telescope, to read 

 off the presence of all these bodies by a simple observation. 

 Certain of these reactions are of a marvellous degree of 

 delicacy ; thus, for example, one can detect y^Vrr P art f a 

 milligram of lithium with the greatest ease. I have myself 

 observed the presence of this body in almost all specimens 

 of potash. 



Your 



R. W. BUNSEN. 



The following letters describe two most unfortunate 

 events. The first refers to an explosion by which 

 Bunsen was seriously burnt ; the second gives an 

 account of a singular incident which befell him, 

 reminding one of the well-known accident which 

 happened to Isaac Newton, only in this case it was 

 the sun's rays shining through a globular water-bottle 

 instead of the dog Diamond that brought it about. 

 The first accident was the occasion of a remarkable 

 outburst of enthusiasm on the part of the Heidelberg 

 students. It was reported that Bunsen had lost his 

 eyesight. Next morning the whole of the Wrede 

 Platz in front of the house of their beloved teacher 

 was crammed with an anxious crowd awaiting the 

 report of the doctor, and when he appeared on the 

 balcony and stated that no serious damage had been 

 done, the shout of joy which rent the air was one not 

 to be forgotten. In the evening the "boys" gave 

 Bunsen a " Fackel-Zug " and sang " Gaudeamus 

 Igitur " under his window. 



HEIDELBERG, 



May 2^th, 1869. 

 MY DEAR ROSCOE, 



It is still rather difficult for me to write as my hands 

 are not quite healed, but I cannot delay any longer my 

 answer to your friendly sympathetic letter, as I do not 

 wish you to be uneasy about me. The cause of the ex- 

 plosion is to me still quite inexplicable. I had prepared 



