32 CONSEQUENCES OF A DUEL. 



copper precipitates I tried also to precipitate other 

 metals in the same way, but only with moderate success 

 owing to my limited means and apparatus. 



My studies were interrupted by an event, which 

 in its consequences had an important influence on 

 my future career. The frequent squabbles in the 

 smaller garrison towns between the members of different 



o 



branches of the service had led to a duel between an 

 infantry officer and an artillery officer with whom I 

 was on friendly terms. I had to act as the latter" s 

 second. Although the duel terminated with only an 



insignificant wound sustained by the infantry officer, 



o / t/ 



it came for certain reasons to be taken notice of and 

 to be dealt with by a court-martial. The statutory 

 punishments for duelling in Prussia were at that time 

 Draconian in their severity, but precisely on that 

 account were almost always mitigated by an early 

 pardon. In fact by the court-martial held in Magde- 

 burg the principals were condemned to ten and the 

 seconds to five years imprisonment in the fortress. 



I was condemned to confinement in the citadel 

 of Magdeburg and had to report myself there on the 

 confirmation of the sentence. The prospect of being 

 shut up for at least half a year without occupation was 

 not pleasant, but 1 consoled myself with the thought 

 that I should have a good deal of leisure time for 

 my studies. In order to make good use of this time 

 I searched out a chemist's shop on my way to the 

 citadel, and provided myself with the necessary means 

 for pursuing my experiments in electrolysis. A friendly 



