Chemistry In America; Chapters From The History Of The Science In The United States

PREFACE The writer has lectured for several years to his grad- uate students on the development of Chemistry in the United States. A mass of material has been collected, most of which is not only interesting but valuable. Re- peated requests have been made for the publication of these facts as a history of chemistry in the United States. To the writers mind the information in his possession is not sufficiently complete to warrant such an important undertaking. The earliest endeavors of our countrys scientists require even more careful and extended search- ing out. Three addresses, delivered before the Chemical Society of Philadelphia, are included in the material collected by the author. These exhibit an earnest interest in chemis- try in the early days of the Republic, and show, also, that despite unfavorable conditions our forefathers were eager to cultivate the science that promised so much for their country. Another proof of the genuine appreciation of the value of chemistry is evidenced by the founding of two Chemical Societies before a similar movement had been initiated anywhere else in the world. Minutes of these organizations have not been discovered. If found, they would surely contain most valuable information. Other papers, written during these early years, are even now most difficult to procure, and as time passes will become more inaccessible. These Chapters are submitted, then, that chemists of to-daymay have, in easily accessible form, copies, at least, of some of the real treasures of our science, and with the hope that through them they may be stimulated to search for other, still hidden, documents of equal or of greater value. And, as incentives to the highestendeavors, there have been included brief sketches of the life histories of such men as Wolcott Gibbs, F. A. Genth, J. Lawrence Smith, Lea, Cooke, Willard Gibbs and others who have enriched the science of chemistry in this country, and whose names are still familiar to the student. This compilation of chemical achievement in the United States has brought to the writer great joy, and a fund of helpful information, which he earnestly wishes may be shared by all who chance to read these pages. In conclusion, the authors sincere thanks are extended to all persons and societies whose letters, books and docu- ments have been drawn upon and used in this labor of love. He also gratefully acknowledges his indebtedness to his colleague Professor Walter T. Taggart for pre- paring the illustrations, which have been so successfully copied from old prints and photographs. viu CONTENTS CHAPTER I CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICANS TO CHEMISTRY. Early Papers by de Normandie by J. Madison by MCaus- lin . PAGES . . . . . . . 1-11 CHAPTER II THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY OF PHILADELPHIA. Its Formation. Thomas P. Smiths Oration before the Society in 1798 A Sketch of the Revolutions in Chemistry. Women Participators in Chemistry. Columbian Mineral. Obituary of Thomas P. Smith ..... 12-43 CHAPTER III THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY OF PHILADELPHIA, CONTINUED. Of- ficers of the Society. Advertisements of the Society. Oration by Pascalis in 1802 . 44-75 CHAPTER IV JAMES WOODHOUSE. Woodhouses Chemical Catechism. The Young Chemists Pocket Companion 1797. Pages from the Same. Woodhouses Answer to Priest- leys Arguments against the Antiphlogistic System of Chemistry Calcination of Metals in Air Fixed Air ix