[Letters to Editor]

Abstract

The foregoing letter may create the impression that Del Rio only “temporarily” abandoned his claim to the discovery of erythronium, misled by “Descotils' error” and Humboldt's persuasion. This, however, is not the story he himself tells in his last contribution to the subject¹. In discussing the chemical composition of the Zimapan lead ore, he not only stresses the point that it contains no other element than the lead chromates, but ascribes to himself the merit of this ‘discovery‘. He states that he had published the correct analysis one year before Descotils, and attacks Humboldt for intentionally suppressing this fact and giving credit to a French chemist out of spite against the Spanish. Not a single word is said about the old erythronium claim, which he seems very anxious to consign to oblivion.