Volume 1

Observations and experiments for investigating the chymical history of the tepid springs of Buxton : together with an account of some newly-discovered, or little known properties of substances relating to several branches of chymistry, and animal and vegetable life; to which are prefixed, a chronological relation of the use of Buxton-water ... intended for the improvement of natural science and the art of physic; in two volumes / by George Pearson.

  • George Pearson
Date:
1784
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations and experiments for investigating the chymical history of the tepid springs of Buxton : together with an account of some newly-discovered, or little known properties of substances relating to several branches of chymistry, and animal and vegetable life; to which are prefixed, a chronological relation of the use of Buxton-water ... intended for the improvement of natural science and the art of physic; in two volumes / by George Pearson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    [ *» ] Foundation or' the Refult of the above FxperL ments, that the Atmofphere here is, as far as de- pends upon living Plants, lefs pure than the ad- jacent and lefs eminent Countries; becaufe Vege- tables are here lefs abundant, and grow lefs luxu- riantly than in fuch lefs elevated and neighbour- ing Regions. Moreover, the Quantity of Solar Light being much lefs, in this mountainous Tradt of Country, than in moft other Parts of England this Circumftance furnifhes another Ground for concluding, that the Vegetable Creation have here lefs EfFedt in purifying the Atmofphere, by the Addition of pure Air, and Abjorption of Im- purities, than in other Regions where the Quan- tity of Solar Light is much greater (Q. Ire (<?) My Readers wifi perceive, I have above delivered arr Explanation of the Manner in which Vegetables purify the Atmofphere, which is very different from that commonly re- ceived ; and it therefore appears incumbent upon me, to State the Grounds for my rejecting the Opinion ufually adopted on this Subject, and the Reafons that have obliged! me to embrace the Theory above propofed. Since the Publication of Dr. Prieftley’s Experiments on Air, and other permanent Vapours, the moft prevailing, or only Opinion, concerning the Influence of Vegetation on1 the Atmofphere has been, that Plants purified impure Air by abforbing the noxious Part of it, which was commonly fup- pofed to be phlogiftic Matter; or by decompofing it when it' was unfit for fupportingLife and Flame, by being combined, as was fuppofed, with Phlogiflon, (Pr. Vol.I.p. 49, 52, 87, 83, 137» 14G 1792 and other Parts of this Philofopher’s px- pen.inen.ts!
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