Obituary of Gerhardt: 103 
not yet forgoiten. hese discussions more than once occasioned for him 
His first work was a note upon silicates, soon followed by another on the 
essential oil of eleeampane (Helenium), containing extraordinary numbers 
and formule, which afterwards he himse 
After he had learned with Bacon that in experimental science, experi- 
. . ment before everything else must. decide, his synthetic and sagacious 
mind was of great service to him. At the occurrence of some ideas on 
: whiak 4 ‘ 
Gerhardt was then twenty-five years old. Having quarreled with his 
father when he decided to devote himself to science by entering 3 
ted, 
But if being a traveling clerk was ed to scientific speculation, 
military aries was sly ee so. His father yielded, bought him off, 
Persuaded that after this lesson the son w But the voca- 
tion of the oung man was determined, and the promises he had made 
and the remonstrances of his father were alike powerless before his irre- 
Sistible passion. for science. ae : Je 
The y ear after Gerhardt was at Paris, having previously passed some 
months in Liebig’s Jaboratory at Giessen. Without position or money 
