A series of anatomical plates : with references and physiological comments, illustrating the structure of the different parts of the human body / by Jones Quain and W.J.E. Wilson.

  • Jones Quain
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A series of anatomical plates : with references and physiological comments, illustrating the structure of the different parts of the human body / by Jones Quain and W.J.E. Wilson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHEMISTRY. NOW READY, NO. 1, PRICE 25 CENTS, OF THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHEMISTKY, THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL; PRESENTING A COMPLETE AND EXTENDED VIEW OF THE PRESENT STATE OF v CHEMICAL SCIENCE, WITH ITS NUMEROUS AND IMPORTANT APPLICATIONS TO MEDICAL SCIENCE, AGRICULTURE, THE ARTS AND MANUFACTURES. BASED UPON THE PLAN OF THE DICTIONARY OF CHEMISTRY, BY DR. URE, AND THE DICTIONARY OF THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY, NOW PUBLISHING BY LIEBIG, POGGENDORF, WOHLER, &c. BY JAMES C. BOOTH, Member of the Am. Philosophical Society, and of the Academy of Nat. Sciences, Professor of Technical Chemistry in the Franklin Institute, and of Elementary Chemistry in the Philada. High School. The facility for easy reference offered by the Dictionary (rendering that form preferable to any other for works on Science and the Arts) has induced the author to adopt it in the publication of an ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL CHEMISTRY, which, while it will embrace all the latest discoveries in the pure science of chemistry, shall at the same time exhibit the manifold applications of chemical principles ami theories to every department of the useful arts. The rapid advancement of chemical science in the path of discovery within a few years, has created a demand for treatises upon this subject which has not been fully answered by the several elementary works lately issued from the English press. While these works must be mentioned with unqualified praise as text books for the student of chemistry, it must at the same time be acknowledged that since they offer little more than an outline of the science, they cannot satisfy the thirst for more extended treatises, which may be employed as valuable works of reference by the advanced scholar, while their practical tendency shall enable the uninitiated to enter actively into the vast field of research. The wonderful developments in the CHEMISTRY OF ORGANIZED BEINGS AND ORGANIC MATTER during the la6t few years, now renders it imperative on the physician and student of medicine to be thoroughly conversant with these discoveries, whether with the view of understanding the great principles of life in a state of healtk or disease, or of administering with greater accuracy and precision the remedies required to sustain nature or restore a more healthy action. If we glance at the state of medical science previous to the rise of chemistry, we are forcibly struck with the crude and incongruous mixtures designed to sustain the delicate assemblage of organized materials in the human frame, and the no less absurd ideas respecting the sources of vital energy. The researches of chemical philosophers are gradually removing the veil involving these subjects in mystery, until, within a short space of time, the province of organic chemistry received an astonishing impetus, which is still cau-ying it forward, and will not cease until the many and varied operations of animal life shall be brought within the sphere of pure chemical action, of fixed and definite laws. Time has been when the processes of the manufacturer coisisted of receipts, transmitted from father to son, through successive generations, the result of accidental expe- rience, accumulated through ages, and receiving now and then an occasional impulse from some happy accident. Fortunately that period has passed, and now nearly all the improvements in the ©u\ ]<DM, ra©©[ ©W TCHII fcRTi may be traced to the laboratory of the chemical philosopher. The definite laws which govern the union of bodies, are now brought to bear on the processes designed to form the numberless products of the arts; and as a necessary consequence, we have established more economy in these processes, and greater precision and certainty in their results. Time has been when the manufacturer decried the study of theory with reference to its application to practical utility, but happily that time is rapidly passing away. In nearly all the great and flourishing establishments in Europe we find that the chemist is not omitted, if his science can be of the least utility; and even in the smaller, some leading operator, if not the proprietor, is required to possess a full share of theoretic knowledge. The improvements which we daily witness in the useful arts bear too indelibly the seal of chemistry, are too intimately blended with chemical theory to admit of ignorance of these principles in any artisan whose operations are in tin- slightest degree tinctured with chemical changes. A knowledge of the science of Chemistry can no longer be regarded as an accomplishment by the artisan, but as an essential branch of his education. IN AGRICULTURE, THE ANALYSIS OF SOILS, OF MANURES, AND OF PLANTS themselves, the study of the chemical changes produced during the growth of the plant, and the means of operating chemically with the view of obtaining the highest state of luxuriance and the greatest profitable yield, are all of tooevident advantage to be overlooked by the skilful Farmer. The operations of the DYER and CALICO PRINTER bdng almost exclusively dependent on the laws of chemical combination and decomposition, must he studied as much from theory as from practice, in order to the successfulprosecution of these several important arts. Moreover, if we desire to improve and extend them, are we to proceed from a blind practice, and not rather from a knowledge of the action of the various bodies upon each other, in accordance v\ ith the known laws of chemical affinity > Some of the most important improvements in the various depigments of Dyeing and Colour Printing have originated from the experimental researches of the theoretic Why is it that numberless attempts in the reduction of MErALS FROM THEIR ORES, and in the subsequent processes of refining and reconverting them into new compounds, have so signally failed? It would seem almost impracticable to extract certain metals, such as Gold, Silver, Copper. Lead, Sec. from their ores, in the United States, with profit, unless these ores are far richer in yield th;«i similar mineral substances in Europe; and even in many of Ihpse which arc wrought with advantage, such as lead, iron, &c, the slags and other residues which our metalhrgists reject as useless, would often meet with successful treatment in the hands of a chemist who posse knowledge of theory with his practice. , ...... In the practical operations of the GLASS MAKER we arcalready pretty well skilled, and yet it is not long since the introduction of soda in connection with potash was found to be of advantage, both in respect of the quality of glass, and of economy in working it, although theoretic chemistrj h pointed it out. But even in this manufacture much remains to be done in regard to the quality of the»material, in economy in its production, and in its various colours. Nor'does the Potter, the maker of brick and earthen-ware, require less knowledge of theoretic chemistry than any other artisan, since the character of the clay and flint of the glazing and his colours have been more fully developed and improved by chemical science. The oft repeated and long continued experiments to establish the fabrication of the finer kinds of Pottery, including Porcelain, would have been less frequently repeated, and proved more successful, had extended chemical knowledge been applied to them.