206 Biogv<<i>lni of Berzelius. 



and to prepare the most important acids himself, or to purify 

 those which could be bought. , urf 



But it seems as if it was precisely those obstacles which 

 would have discouraged and overcome any ordinary mind, that 

 urged him on more perseveringly in his course. This is, more- 

 over, a circumstance which has often occurred, and especially 

 in Sweden. 1 need only call to mind Scheele, who almost 

 made impossibilities possible. 



Berzelius, in the first place, altered the methods of Kla- 

 proth, which at that time were the best, in so far especially 

 that he employed considerably smaller quantities. The 

 usual quantity operated upon by Klaproth and other che- 

 mists was rather more than five grammes ; Berzelius never 

 took more than two or three grammes, generally less, deter- 

 mining this quantity, of course, according to the nature of 

 the constituents of the body to be examined. By employing 

 more delicate balances, which Berzelius first introduced into 

 use in chemistry, and by adequate care, results are obtained 

 with a small quantity, which are at least quite as accurate, 

 while they are obtained in much shorter time. 



The spirit-lamp, with double draught, was likewise intro- 

 duced into use by Berzelius. Formerly the ignition even of 

 the smallest quantities of a substance was effected over a 

 charcoal fire. He was also the first to make use of the 

 small platinum crucible in which substances could be both 

 ignited and weighed, and by the use of which considerably 

 greater accuracy was insured, and the absorption of moisture 

 as far as possible prevented. The filter containing the preci- 

 pitate was always burnt when possible, and the ignited sub- 

 stance weighed together with the ash of the paper ; a saving 

 of time and trouble for which we are indebted to Mr d'Ohsson, 

 who worked in Berzelius' laboratory. It was on this account 

 that a paper was employed which left after combustion 

 but a very minute quantity of ash, and which was made of 

 excellent quality in Sweden, because there are springs there 

 rising through granite, the water of which is almost free 

 from fixed substances. The general introduction of this 

 Swedish paper, to the manufacture of which Berzelius paid 

 great attention, is also owing to him. 



