8 HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. 



endeavoured to give Chemistry a mathematical 

 form. He examined the phenomenon observed 

 by Wenzel, and explained it in the same way. 

 He endeavoured to determine the relative capa- 

 city of saturation of the acids and bases, and 

 attached a number to each, indicating this capa- 

 city. The following table exhibits these num- 

 bers. 



Richter's labours in this important field pro- 

 duced as little attention as those of Wenzel. 

 Berzelius ascribes this to two causes. 1. The 

 great inaccuracy of Richter's experiments, 

 which indeed cannot for a moment be put in 

 competition with those of Wenzel. 2. The vio- 

 lent discussion between the antiphlogistic and 

 phlogistic system, which had originated about 

 the year 1787> and had not completely subsided 

 at the time of Richter's death. The last of these 



