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The Scientific Work of Benjamin Franklin. 



The scientific labors of Franklin were not limited to any- 

 particular period nor any special field. Various branches of 

 natural philosophy, in almost every year of his middle life, 

 ■were illuminated by his discoveries, inventions and specula- 

 tions. As an editor and man of business, science occupied 

 part of his leisure, and in later life, when engrossed with public 

 affairs, he sighed for opportunity to follow these favorite 

 pursuits. 



In presenting a sketch of these varied and fruitful labors, 

 chronological arrangement will not serve so well as one based 

 upon their general character. Looked at in this way his prin- 

 cipal works are seen to fall into a few groups such as labors in 

 sanitary science, in the art of navigation, in meteorology, and 

 in electricity. It will be readily conceded that in the limits 

 allotted this subject, it would be vain to attempt an extended 

 analysis of all the philosophical productions of his fertile genius. 

 It is possible, however, to give some impression of their variety 

 and utility. 



The science of maintaining health is rightly regarded as of 

 very modern growth and even now its importance though 

 constantly insisted on by its votaries is far from being generally 

 recognized. The sound judgment of Franklin led him to con- 

 sider it as a weighty matter whether it involved smoky chim- 

 neys or the water supply of a great city. His sanitary labors 

 pertain to the person, to the house, and to the city. About 

 that very common disturbance of health usually called "catch- 

 ing a cold," many fallacies still linger though Franklin did 

 some forcible writing to remove the popular errors. He per- 

 ceived what doctors nowadays all recognize that while among 

 the causes of acute catarrh, exposure to cold was one, the most 



