Curiosities of toil and other papers / by Dr. Wynter.

  • Andrew Wynter
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Curiosities of toil and other papers / by Dr. Wynter. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    are removed by vast distances, by oceans and deserts, from bis reacb, tbey are to bim practically waste sub- stances. It is no consolation to a starving people to say tbat sucb supplies are not really squandered: to tbem tbey are as useless as tbougb tbey bad never existed. Man tbat lives from day to day must be able to realise tbe gifts of Nature, otberwise be perisbes. If be cannot avail bimself of tbe abundant table sbe spreads wbere tbere are no guests to partake of ber bounty, be can humbly and at a great distance imitate ber actions and copy ber tbriftiness. Tbe science of cbemistry bas put into bis bands tbe key by which many of ber secret recesses can be reacbed; and step by step, like a timorous cbild, be is beginning to wander into tbe land of wonders tbat is opened unto bim. As yet be is only on tbe tbresbold of tbese bidden recesses; but day by day be advances witb steps more assured, and is beginning to see tbat, witb mucb scientific labour, be can accomplisb some tbings wbicb Nature is always accomplisbing, apparently witbout effort, by tbe action of ber eternal laws. Many costly products of distant lands be now procures at borne from tbe most unlikely sources. Scientific investigation bas made Arabian airs from the most offensive refuse, and calls forth splendid dyes from substances pitchy black. In this way our stores are replenished, and it often happens that dearth, by the energy it gives to human research, is turned into plenty. But there are thousands of materials which have long been subservient to mean purposes, and
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