409 



Observations on Organic Chemistry and its relations to Physiology. By 

 Justus Liebig, M.D., Ph.D. 



[Professor Liebig has requested us to state that his remarks upon 

 physiologists and pathologists in this paper are intended to apply to 

 those of Germany, and not to the physiologists and pathologists of this 

 country. The criticisms upon his works which have appeared in Eng- 

 land, at least such of them as have reached him, do not appear to re- 

 quire any animadversions on his part. But since the reviews of Schulz, 

 Henle, and others have been recently reprinted in the English journals, 

 Professor Liebig has thought proper to republish his answer to them in 

 The Lancet, in order to enable the English readers of those articles to 

 form a just opinion of their true value. If there be any passage in Pro- 

 fessor Liebig's reply not very agreeable to the taste of his adversaries, 

 they must remember that there has been much in their attacks not very 

 palatable to him, and, moreover, that he was not the aggressor, but he 

 was compelled, in the interest of science, to stand upon his own de- 

 fence.] Lancet, Jan. 1844. 



The appearance of my work on " Chemistry, in its applications to 

 Agriculture and Physiology," gave rise to criticisms from men from 

 whom I should rather have expected aid in my endeavours to advance 

 the science than opposition, characterised by intemperance and passion, 

 rather than by candour and that liberal spirit which ought to guide us 

 in our judgment on the labours of others. Many of these attacks were 

 directed against persons whose friendship I value most highly, rather 

 than against myself personally, or my book, and I, therefore, felt it my 

 duty to defend my views, and to refute the objections advanced, in the 

 manner they deserved. It was a different matter with respect to the ob- 

 jections made, and the difficulties involved in my statements, pointed 

 out by Schleiden and Mohl ; in them, under rather a repulsive husk, I 

 could discern the true kernel of the love of science ; I have, therefore, 

 not replied to their writings, because instead of entering with them up- 

 on a mere war of words, I hoped to reconcile these gentlemen by my ac- 

 tions, convinced that we should at lengh agree. Those parts of my 

 works which were opposed to their better experience, and which they 

 particularly objected to, I have altogether left out of my 5th edition 

 (3d English) ; other points, concerning the correctness of which I was 

 too well assured to doubt, from any assertion of theirs, I retained, al- 

 though these also might have been omitted without affecting the real 

 value of the work. 



