Biography of Berzelius. 207 



The use of appropriate funnels, &c, as well as an immense 

 number of other convenient applications originating with 

 him, have contributed to render the results of analyses much 

 more exact, and have much simplified the methods them- 

 selves. 



Berzelius had moreover — and it is no slight merit — trans- 

 ferred chemical investigations in which charcoal fires were 

 not necessary, from the damp kitchen, or cellar-like cold 

 laboratory, into the comfortable dwelling-room. The present 

 generation have scarcely an idea of the discomforts which 

 were then connected with chemical researches. It certainly 

 required no little scientific enthusiasm, during the severe 

 winters of our northern climate, to remain in a place where 

 there was the greatest absence of comfort, and which was 

 even prejudicial to the health. But it was at that time 

 thought that a laboratory with a stone floor was indispen- 

 sably necessary even for trifling chemical operations. 



The small caoutchouc tubes, by means of which experi- 

 ments with gases may be so easily and safely conducted, and 

 which, indeed, alone render many inquiries possible, were 

 early employed by Berzelius in his investigations. Whoever 

 has in former times conducted the disengagement of a gas will 

 remember the unpleasantness of working with brittle glass 

 tubes, and how easily an experiment miscarried from the 

 slightest want of care. It was Berzelius who first rendered 

 glass tubes, as it were, flexible, and they could then be em- 

 ployed in constructing the most complicated apparatus. 



Possessing only the most scanty means, he was led to all 

 those improvements by actual necessity. He took advantage 

 of every opportunity to perfect himself in mechanical art. 

 He was master of glass-blowing, which he learnt from a 

 travelling Italian ; he was familiar with turning, glass-grind- 

 ing, &c. He made the greater part of his own instruments ; 

 and notwithstanding the isolated position of his native 

 country, was thus enabled to construct those ingenious 

 forms of apparatus by means of which he so infinitely ad- 

 vanced the study of chemistry. 



I had the good fortune during my youth to assist the meri- 

 torious Klaproth in his chemical investigations, certainly only 



p2 



