190 O.J Pottery and Phunbism. 399 



WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, 

 Friday, May 4, 1900. 



Sir William Crook.es, F.R.S., Honorary Secretary and 

 Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Professor T. E. Thorpe, Ph.D. LL.D. D.Sc. F.R.S. M.B.L 



Pottery and Plumb ism. 



When I came in here this afternoon to see to the arrangement of the 

 specimens with which I wish to illustrate what I have to bring before 

 you to-night, I was so forcibly impressed with the unwonted appear- 

 ance of this table — an appearance, it seemed to me, of domesticity 

 bordering on the commonplace, that I feel that something almost in 

 the nature of an apology is due to you. I venture, however, to 

 remind you that the subject of my discourse is precisely of that 

 character which the eminent founder of this Institution had in view 

 when he established it. Count Rumford created the Royal Institution 

 with the object " of diffusing a knowledge and facilitating the general 

 introduction of useful mechanical inventions and improvements ; and 

 for teaching, by courses of philosophical lectures and experiments, the 

 application of science to the common purposes of life." 



I need hardly tell you that the craft of the potter largely depends 

 upon the intelligent application of scientific principles. Whether, 

 however, science has entered into it to the extent that might be 

 desired is, perhaps, open to question. At all events, I shall have 

 failed in my object to-night if I do not succeed in showing you that 

 the application of simple chemical principles may largely obviate one 

 of the evils with which that craft, as practised in this country, is 

 attended. 



Many in this room are, no doubt, aware that within recent times 

 public attention has been pointedly drawn to the serious amount of 

 lead poisoning which follows the use of compounds of lead in various 

 operations in the manufacture of pottery. This lead poisoning is 

 mainly to be attributed to the solubility of these compounds in the 

 secretions of the body, as in the saliva, mucus, and especially in the 

 gastric juice. The lead may be introduced into the system in a 

 variety of ways — thus, it may be breathed as dust derived from the 

 dried and finely-divided glazing material, or from pigments used in 

 decoration ; or it may be conveyed to the mouth by eating food with im- 

 perfectly washed hands, and in other ways which I need not particu- 

 larise. It is not necessary to trouble you with any account of the 



