On three important chemical discoveries from the Exhibition of 1851 : A. Mercer's contraction of cotton by alkalies. B. Young's paraffine and mineral oil from coal. C. Schrötter's amorphous phosphorus / Lyon Playfair.

  • Playfair, Lyon, Baron, 1818-1898.
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On three important chemical discoveries from the Exhibition of 1851 : A. Mercer's contraction of cotton by alkalies. B. Young's paraffine and mineral oil from coal. C. Schrötter's amorphous phosphorus / Lyon Playfair. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    [for the use of members.] Bopal Slngtttuttou of dBtoat ^antatn* 1852. -S3. WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, Friday, February 27. The Duke of Northumberland, F.R.S. President, in the Chair. Dr. Lyon Playfair, C.B., F.R.S. j* On three important Chemical Discoveries from the Exhibition of 1851,— A. Mercers Contraction of Cotton by Alkalies; — B. Young's Paraffine and Mineral Oil from Coal; — C. Schrotter’s Amorphous Phosphorus. [The following statements and arguments were supplied by Dr. Lyon Playfair as embodying considerations which he desired to impress on the attention of the Members of the Royal Institution.] It is incumbent on those who, like myself, have been connected with the Great Exhibition, to inculcate its teachings in order that it may influence the future, by being a starting point for industry. Unless it imparts new life to productive industry, it has failed in the attain- ment of its object, and will, in history, degenerate into the record of a gigantic show, fitted only to pander to an idle curiosity. All of us have, no doubt, examined it with a higher object, and have derived lessons varying in character and amount according to the opportunities which we enjoyed in their acquisition. Those who have attended to its teachings with regard to the comparative progress of manufactures in different countries, owe it as a public duty to announce their con- victions on a subject of such large social importance. My official connection with the Exhibition has enabled me to give more attention to it than most of those whom I have the honour to address, and convictions unfavourable to our position, as an industrial nation, have impressed themselves with such force upon my mind, that you will not be surprised that I seize every opportunity of directing public attention to them. I have already done so in a formal manner, on two previous occasions, and I rather depart from the custom of bringing before you subjects of original research at these evening meetings, in order that I may advocate the necessity of a more intimate union between science and practice in this country, at an Institution, whose proudest boast it is to have largely advanced the discovery of abstract truths, while it has always encouraged, at the same time, their applications to the increase of human resources and enjoyments. In this lecture, however, I shall rather urge this point as a natural No. 9. L