New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-17

AT GOttngen.
Or. Robert Wilhelm Eberhard Bunseu born
on March g. 1911. at Gottingen. where his father
/ was professor OF theology He graduated
from G6ttngen while yet in his and CON
| tnued his studies in the physical and natural
sciences at Paris Berlin and Vienna. At the age OF
twenty-five he became a privat-docent AT the uni
verslty in his native town. and in 1896 became pro-
7 fessor OF chemistry at the Polytechnic School at
Cassel In 1898 he was appointed TO the chair OF
chemistry IN the University OF Marburg where he
remained thirteen years. Then after year at
Breslau he removed to Heidelberg. where he was
! professor OF chemistry until his death.
The value OF life devoted TO original scientific
| work Is measured by the paths and new fields
/ which each work opens up. In this respect the
labors OF Robert Wilhelm Bunsen stands second 70
those Of no chemist Of his time. He was eminently
| a soldier OF science; his devotion To his flag
unwavering and lifelong and his whole life was a
noble struggle for the mastery or natures secrets
| While yet student in G0ttingen he made dis
covery OF permanent importance He showed that
/ moist freshly preclptated ferric hydoxide acts as
a certain antidote in arsenic poisoning This rem
edy Is well known and valued in Germany. In 1885
Bunsen described singular compounds which
the double cyanides form with ammonia. He
showed that ammonium ferrocyanide is formed by
digesting lead ferrocyanide with ammonium car
Donate He also measured the angles OF crystals or
many OF the double cyandes.
EARLY AND IMPORTANT RESEARCHES.
In 1897 he began OF his most important in
vestigations the examination OF Cadets Tuning ar
senical liquid These results he published in series
| OF memoirs which have become classical and Which
| extended over many years and placed It's compost
ton in a true light thus giving 10 the world the
now well known family OF the organo-metallic bod
les. Bunsen showed that Cadets liquid il. as he
termed IT, "a true organic metal" He succeeded
in isolating this body, and this discovery formed
not only the starting point for the preparation OK
hundreds OF other similar bodies. but also contrib
ued largely to the development OF one OF the most
! important OF chemical theories that OF compound
/ radicals. In Analysing cyanide of cacodyl (as Bun
| sen called this foul-smelling and poisonous sub
! stance) the combustion tube exploded and ne lost
the sight OF an eye. and for weeks lay between
! life and death owing 10 the combined effect or
| the explosion and the poisonous nature OF the
/ vapor.
His next important Investigations we're concerned
with the examination OF the chemical changes
which occur in the blast furnace. In 1885 ne proved
by analysis OF the gases escaping that at least y
per cent OF the heat from the fuel is lost and that
in view OF the ease with which such combustiole
gases Gang be collected and led off to distance for
subsequent use a and important source OF
economy in iron manufacture IL rendered possible
These researches not only pointed the way for more
economical iron working but also were the hrst
experiments IN which accurate methods OF gas
analysis were employed. Simplicity and accuracy
constituted the rare methods Of his gaseous anal
The general dddpLaDlllty anu the MAI VENUS
accuracy OF his system can only be learned by
reference 10 his "Ciasometric Methods
Next in order QsH) comes the invention or the
Bunsen battery an Invention wnicH mas pJar "
form used ali over the world. not only as sciens
tidc instrument but for the telegraph. The chief
point in this invention consisted in the employment
of carbon as the negative pole in place OF copper
or platinum.
VISIT TO ICELAND.
,rb,,sbsd sayeraI memoirs on the chemical and
physical phenomena observed from an analyss OF
the volcanic rocks o. different ages on tnat isand
on these he founded general theory OF volcanic
action which has proved apRc Snn 10 sIyS tf
ferent origin both as regards, tine and The
One OF his favorte ana IruiF az Tarer metals
preparation BY eectrolysls OF Iue tI,,t,11 III
He produced metallic magnesium cnroinIufn, adq
OF the cerium group. These experiments had a
practical result and were FOLLOWED oy me c ia
o ~ tbs I service Of inorganic chemistry but with
its helm clear light was thrown upon the consttu-
ton OK organic bodies. The researches OF Kobe on
aids were INSPIRED BY Bunsen The labors OF Kobe
and FARMLAND on the isolation " me prsSIc
chemical Investigations none show more clearly
fertility OF mis- experimental anlhIy man ' Id
one in which he describes the ice calorlnleter snq
another devoted TO an explanation OF new method
OF determining vapor densltles. ..., .,ho,,,s.r,,
included a series referring to the law OF ABSORB
on Of ssss IN O Mat aPDcaona
In gasometrlc analysis; on the paa,,,-o -
the ignition OF gases Mention should also be made
. of his Investigations on the measurement oI the
Tn he departent Of analytical chemistry Bun
sens contribution included acucrate nle.n J 81
siIcate analysis mineral water analysis ana Volu-
VoSern chemists can scarcely carry on single
experiment without using the "Bunsen gas lamp,
5urnar which ia also used in every household and
a u1anv factories To him chemists are also in
aahIad Tor the apparatus for accelerating ultra
ton, the "Bunsen pump ge-y i,borstorv But
, Bunsen is perhaps best known In the sclen,nc
world for having laid the foundation OF the science
means Of the two alksli metals, cassum and ~.
bidum These DISCOVERIES were 6r coeague
II The 'q lais Profes ~S" K 2if
HONoRED BY SCIENTIFIC BODIES
The University Of Leyden conferred, upon Pro Pro
s;S- Rgnsen the or deKss 0
the twer y-hfth anniversary OF his election 70 the
pointed one OF the eight foreign associates OF me
French Academy OF Sciences. Last year me BrlIlsl
sociatv ~ Arts made him the recipient or It's an
nual Albert Medal His contrbutions to science ae
were thus summed up ny the couhcI u the S'1'e''
80" Amonp the numerous and important scientific
discoveries which have rendered the name OF Bun
So Ser1ous wherever science Is valued. perhaps the
,onst strkne is the one in which he was associated
%Ien ms snertEum analysis discovery which has
she'd new and unexpected light on the compost
obtain a distinct knowiedge Of the chemical com
position OF sun and stars The s
and physics 10 the arts and manufac ares are or
su-aS nv two out OF many instances. The Bun
sen battery was. until the introduction OF me p syn
amo the cheapest source OF electricity the Bun
sen eas burner by which non-uminous smoke
less hut highly heated fame Is obtained IS now nov
oniv INDISPENSABLE IN all laboratory work: but Is
used FOR heating purposes In thousands OF houses
and ms nufsctorles and for illuminauon oy Ine IN
candesrent system. In millions OF lamps. Beyonii
these Bunsen's contributions 10 the sciences OF
chemistry and physics have been or me nsnest m
/, nortance: but perhaps the greatest beneht Whlch
he has conferred through long life devoted 20 me
, / adj ancement Of science. has been the nnuehce
/ / which he ha exerted a teacneI
! CAPTAIN WILLIAM p. LYON.
, Cantain William F. Lyon. a member Of the Lyon
family ~ the town OF Rye died az his home Lyon