410 Observations on Organic Chemistry 



The corrections which their remarks suggested were apart from the 

 main purpose of my labours, and I have nothing to regret, save that 

 the difference in the direction of our inquiries has deprived me of an 

 opportunity of expressing how highly 1 appreciate the results of their 

 great and comprehensive labours in vegetable physiology. In such ho- 

 nest and energetic endeavours as theirs for the advancement of science, 

 there is so much devotedness and self-sacrifice, that even the merited 

 approbation of an individual, although of no great value in comparison 

 with the appreciation of the public, may, nevertheless, not be altogether 

 unwelcome. 



The publication of my " Animal Chemistry" placed me in the same 

 awkward position with many physiologists. Schulz, Henle, and others 

 appear to derive gratification in detaching sentences of my writings from 

 their connection, and making them the object of severe criticism, by 

 which the true relation of chemistry to physiology were made much 

 more manifest to me than before. Such mistakes, either involuntary or 

 intentional, I could not have supposed possible. I had really thought 

 that the ordinary studies of the physiologist and the physician would 

 enable them to form, at least, some judgment respecting the questions 

 which I discussed. But from the attacks and objections which were made 

 to my views I could immediately perceive that they emanated from per- 

 sons who had never occupied themselves with physics or chemistry, and 

 who were altogether unacquainted with the principles and true spirit of 

 these sciences. This induced me to make very light of such opposition ; 

 I could confidently leave the decision to the future. 



The ranks of my opponents, however, have been strengthened by. the 

 accessiou of an individual upon whose approbation and applause I was 

 accustomed to reckon for many years, and who, by his great experience 

 and labours, has acquired a well-founded right to pronounce a judgment 

 upon questions connected with these sciences. 



Immediately after the appearance of my first work on Agricultural 

 Chemistry, Berzelius communicated to me, by letter, many objections 

 to my views, and declared to me openly, and without reserve, how lit- 

 tle his own experience agreed with my observations. These objections 

 induced me to submit all the points at issue between us again to the 

 test of a strict and minute examination, the results of which only tend- 

 ed to strengthen my conviction of the truth of my first impressions, and 

 determined me to persevere in the direction I had taken. 



I thought I had succeeded in removing all his doubts in the course of 

 our correspondence, and I, therefore, was very much astonished to find 

 all his objections re-appear in his " Twenty-first Annual Report of the 



