EXTRACTS FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. 365 



^searches in that department, from that date to the present time. 

 3;rmit me briefly to allude to the more important of these, con- 

 f ing myself, however, chiefly to the subject of general organic 

 teraistry. The services which Liebig has rendered to agricultu- 

 T. and physiological chemistry will, I doubt not, receive due 

 ■8 ention from other speakers. The researches of Liebig, then, em- 

 hce, among numerous original discoveries of new compounds, 

 t3se of hippuric, onauthic, and amygdalmic acids ; of chloral and 

 alehyde ; of melon, melane, and a host of allied compounds, in- 

 culing two artificial alkalies, melamine and ammeline ; and in 

 tnnection with his illustrious fellow-laborer, Wohler, that of the 

 ^)nderful and interesting series of compounds derived from uric 

 ^id. In addition, however, to his actual discoveries of new com- 

 junds, Liebig has made vast contributions to our knowledge of 

 t)se previously described. Thus, he has studied with the most 

 1; lliant success, all the important organic acids, as well as the in- 

 t esting class of organic alkalies^ he has developed the true nature 

 ( alcohol and of ether, and of the important process of acetifica- 

 tn, or the making of vinegar ; he has given us much new and 

 iluable information on the different kinds of sugar ; he has done 

 iDre than any other chemist to extend our knowledge of the 

 t nnpounds of cyanogen ; and has cleared up the theory of the 

 uy important manufacture of prussiate of potash, and placed 

 t s branch of industry on a much improved and secure founda- 

 t n. Along with Wohler, he has, I might almost say, exhausted 

 t3 extensive subject of uric acid; he has clearly developed the 

 iture and relations of these three isomeric bodies — cyanic, ful- 

 mic, and cyanuric acids ; and, by the demonstration of the exist- 

 ice and chemical relations of benzoyle, established the doctrine 

 T compound radicals, the most valuable and fruitful additions yet 

 ude to the theory of organic chemistry. This may appear, to 

 liny of those whom I address, merely a catalogue of names, but 

 te chemist will fully appreciate their value ; he will remember 

 lit there is not one of the discoveries I have enumerated which 

 Is not exerted a beneficial influence on the progress of science, 

 id that in them is often to be found the germ of those beautiful 

 Teas, the successful application of which to practical purposes, in 

 triculture and physiology, has made us feel it a duty to assemble 

 ire this day, in order to express our admiration and our grati- 

 1de. But the labors of our val\ied guest have led to many other 

 jactical improvements; as, for example, in the preparation of 

 tying oil for the painter ; in the manufacture of vinegar, of 

 ■Jussiate of potash, of soap, of beer, and, what I am sure 

 ^u will rejoice to hear, of wine ; in the preparation of lactic 

 lalic, and formic acids, with many others ; not to speak here of 

 1e immense benefit which agriculture and physiology are daily 

 ^ riving from the application of his views. In organic chemistry-. 



