THE HISTORY OF CHEMISTRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1923, Page 3

THE HISTORY OF CHEMISTRY.

Tiie Livingstone Lectures for 1922 "ere delivered at Camden College by Professor John Read, of the 'University of Sydney, and have been published in booklet form under the title of "A Study in Historical Chemistry” so that a larger audience trill have an opportunity of enjoying his thesis. Professor Read points out that in these days of crowded curricula and specialisation certain aspects of various subjects are perforce neglect eft. This is particularly true oi the history of chemistry, although its study is by no means without value. Chemistry as an exact science is little more than a century old, but chemical research of a sort goes hack to remote antiquity, and we can learn much from the tentative groping* of past ages ; indeed, quite apart from the intrinsic interest attaching to the personalities and achievements of tliesc o!d investigators, it is difficult to understand the lines of development followed l>y the science unless we know what they were aiming at. From the earliest times people had an empirical knowledge of chemistry. The Chaldeans, for instance, were conversant with the chemical properties of numerous organic substances, and carried on a brisk trade with the Hast in medicaments, spices, and dyes. Rut Egypt was par excellence the home of chemistry: indeed, it-, original name', Kltcm (the land oi the dark soil) christened the science. One need only refer to the ancient Egpytians' skill as ombahners and to their lives, which retain their pristine brilliance after thousands of years. The Egyptians bequeathed much of their love to the Creeks, with whom we approach more nearly to modern scientitic method. The Hellenic age was one of speculation. Chemist iy becomes a department oi philosophy. Inquirer* attempt to establish first principles and to determine the nature oi mat-

ter. Also thov recognise the importance of classification. The Romans were accurate recorders, hut did little to advance the science of chemistry. (Vii the decline of the lloman Empire the Arabs carry on the loivh. In their hands chemistry makes substantial progress, hut, on ihe tail ot the Caliphate, i! travels Wesi again and pa -i es into the keeping oi the medieval alchemists. Much Inis been written ot these gentry, ami not much that is complimentary. No doubt they were chielly •oiieernod with the quest of tli* philosopher's stone, the elixir oi hie. and similar vanities, lint they were not all mystics or quacks or menena l ies. Some of them, at least, had glimpses of the truth. Such a one was Roger Baron, who flourished in the thirteenth century. Ho lived before his time, and in the popular mind hi- achievements are wrongly attributed to Erancis Bacon, Shakespeare's contemporary. But it was linger Bacon who laid the lotimlalions upon which later investigators built, and lie, rather than his namesake, deserves the title of ‘Thither of Experimental Philosophy." Aid so down the teats, with Boyle, (birstlcy, Catetiilish. Lavoisier, and many another earnest- worker, each adding Ids contribution to the store, until we reach our own times. We, the heirs to all the ages, may seem to have accumulated a vast mass of knowledge. But, a.-- Sir ,1. .1. Thomson ha- well said : "We conquer peak after peak but, we do not see our goal, wo do not sec the horizon ; in the di-i:mre tower still higher peaks which will yield to those who ascend them -till wider prospects."