4 Biography of Berzelius. 



from the constituents that all the characteristic properties 

 of the compound result, but also from the mode and action of 

 their combination, which is frequently indicated by the form. 

 Taking all this into consideration, it appears probable that 

 dolomite is more closely related to calcareous spar than 

 arragonite, and even that tinstone is nearer to rutile than 

 anatase and Brookite. 



Since the external characters of minerals are determined, 

 as well by their constituents as by the mode in which these 

 are combined with each other, it follows that that chemical 

 system of mineralogy which approaches most closely to the 

 natural systems, or which even corresponds with them, must 

 be the most perfect. 



Some time after the appearance of the mineral system, 

 Berzelius published his work " Ueber die Auwendung des 

 Lothrohrs in der Chemie und Mineralogies He had, in 

 Fahlun, under the guidance of his older friend Gahn, a pupil 

 of Torbern Bergman, acquired an uncommon dexterity in the 

 use of the blow-pipe, enriched this special part of chemistry 

 with a number of original investigations, and brought it to a 

 high degree of perfection. In the above-mentioned work he 

 makes known everything connected with the subject, as well 

 what he learned from Gahn as what he had himself dis- 

 covered. 



It is rarely that a work has been welcomed by chemists as 

 this was ; but it is also seldom possible at once to recognise 

 the practical value of a work, as in the case of this. It was 

 immediately translated into most European languages ; and 

 in some, especially the German, passed through several edi- 

 tions. Everywhere it met with merited appreciation ; and 

 Mr Children alone, the editor of the English edition, allowed 

 himself to add remarks as superfluous as ill-natured. 



Besides the behaviour of the most important chemical 

 compounds, all metallic oxides, acids, and their salts, sul- 

 phurets, &c, before the blow-pipe, Berzelius described the 

 behaviour of all minerals which he could obtain, and which 

 were so much the more readily placed at his disposal, as he 

 required only very small quantities for these experiments. 

 He entered upon this investigation with untiring industry, 



