44 GRAHAM LUSK 



In the closing words of this masterpiece the authors write : 



We are far from concluding that our work presents a complete study of 

 respiration. We consider ourselves happy if we have established the principal 

 facts and if our methods are useful to physiologists who, through their special 

 learning, may be able to extend them. 



The animals were never inconvenienced in any way in the apparatus. 

 Though single animals were often used in many experiments, there was 

 never any deleterious effect upon their health. 



It will be noticed that there are two regrettable omissions in our work, ex- 

 periments on the respiration of fish and of man. We have not made experiments 

 on fish because we knew that Valenciennes was doing this. Regarding the res- 

 piration of man it was our intention to accomplish this in a special research. 

 We proposed to study not only healthy men under various conditions of diet 

 and at rest or at work, but also patients affected with different diseases and we 

 hoped to associate ourselves in this important work with one of the skilled physi- 

 cians of the large Paris hospitals. Unfortunately, the new apparatus which was 

 to have served for this investigation, on account of the special conditions it had 

 to satisfy, cost more money than we had at our disposal and we had to renounce 

 our project. 



The study of the respiration in man in its various pathological phases ap- 

 pears to us to be one of the most important subjects that could occupy those 

 who follow the art of healing the sick ; it can give a precious means of diagnosis 

 in a great number of diseases and render more evident the transformations 

 which take place in the organism. . . . Our desires will be fulfilled if our work 

 provokes study that will be of such great importance to humanity. 



The Rise of German Science 



Justus von Liebig (1803-1873). It has already been stated that 

 Liebig was in Paris during the greatest period of French scientific achieve- 

 ment. Liebig had been a dunce at school and was laughed, at by his 

 teacher when, as a boy, he expressed his determination to become a 

 chemist. Liebig attended the university of Erlangen, where he was duly 

 educated in the spirit of the phlogiston hypothesis. He heard with im- 

 patience the lectures of the renowned philosopher Schelling, and found 

 no satisfaction until, in the autumn of 1822, he went to study in Paris 

 (see p. 36). Both Liebig and Dumas were introduced into the scientific 

 circles of Paris by Alexander von Humboldt. Liebig, dedicating a French 

 edition of one of his books to Thenard, a former master, thus expresses 

 his appreciation: 



"To Monsieur le Baron Thenard, 



Member of the Academic des Sciences. 

 Monsieur : 



"In 1823 when you presided over the Academie des Sciences a young foreign 

 student came to you and begged you to advise him concerning the fulminates 

 which he was then investigating. 



