226 George Frederic Barker. 



intensely absorbing was the lectnre and its experiments tliat at 

 its conclusion it was difficult for him to realize that he had 

 actually sat tliere more than an hour. 



Dr. Bai-ker was nnich esteemed in the comimmity where he 

 lived by persons of all ranks. For a number of years he served 

 on the Board of Education in the city of Philadelphia, and 

 there exerted an inliuence which was entirely for the good, 

 and never to be forgotten. His contributions to mxmicipal 

 interests included studies of the local water supply, of the qual- 

 ity of illuminating gas, and of the means for protecting public 

 buildings fi'om lightning. At various times he appeared as an 

 expert in seientitic matters, and in this Held further demon- 

 strated his spirit of careful investigation and absolute integrity 

 and loyalty, as well as ability to be just and fair to all. Many 

 of the cases called for the highest scientific knowledge and 

 accuracy, which were abundantly supplied by him. 



By his colleagues on the teaching staff of the University of 

 Pennsylvania he was most highly vsilued. His services were 

 constantly engaged upon committees, and those who worked 

 with him in such duties entertained but one impression, to wit, 

 that he was capable of handling the most intricate and perplex- 

 ing problems with fairness, calmness, and the best judgment. 

 Indeed, it was a pleasure to be associated with him in work of 

 this description ; his hearty cooperation and his many helpful 

 suggestions in the solution of university problems were appre- 

 ciated by all his colleagues. 



Dr. Barker's early academic training was received in the 

 Boston Public Schools, and at the academy in South Berwick, 

 Maine. He further served an apprenticeship with Joseph 

 Weightman. a maker of scientific instruments, going thence to 

 the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University, where he 

 received the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy in the year 1858. 

 He was deeply attached to his Alma Mater, and invariably 

 spoke in terms of the highest praise and affection of his early 

 teachers. His serious student days had, however, a bit of the 

 modern in them, for if the writer remembers correctly, he was 

 a member of the Varsity crew in the year of liis graduation. 

 Some years later, in the autumn of 1869, he became professor 

 of Physiological Chemistry and Toxicology in the Yale Med- 

 ical School, a chair created for him. During this period he 

 served as expert for the State in several poison cases, the most 

 noted being the Lydia Sherman case in New Haven. 



His active scientific career may be said to have commenced 

 about this time. Thus this Journal in 1867 ( (2), xliii, 252) con- 

 tains a brief article " Upon the Silvering of Glass,*' which is a 

 modificationof a suggestion of Bottger, consisting in adding to a 

 boiling solution of liochelle salt a solution of argentic nitrate, 



