M and tester Mevioirs, Vol. Ivii. (19 13), No. IIK 



XIX. Contributions to the History of Science 



(Period of Priestley— Lavoisier— Dalton), 



based on autograph documents. 



By Kurt Loewenfeld, Ph.D. 



iRead October 2gth, igi3, and November sblh, igip. Received for 

 ptibliaition Decciiiber loih, igi2. ) 



I. Dalton and his Contemporaries. 



It is an obvious fact that the history of science is a 

 subject to which at present comparatively few turn their 

 attention. Considering the many intellects which we find 

 devoted to the advancement of science in every depart- 

 ment, it is certain that lack of workmen cannot be the 

 reason. 



It might be suggested that in a time like ours, when 

 new inventions and discoveries are made daily, it would 

 be much more tempting to direct the searching e}'es only 

 into the future and to leave the past, which appears to the 

 casual inquirer merely a land of obsolete facts and ex])loded 

 theories, to its dusty existence in rarely opened folios. 



When we hear how a great invention or an important 

 discovery was made, our passing interest is aroused, but 

 that good men should tarry and dig around the foundations 

 of that most marvellous building of human science, instead 

 of helping to raise its lofty towers, remains in the eyes of 

 the majority waste of otherwise more useful energy. 

 Nevertheless, is it really^ a waste ? Is the history of science 

 not a most important factor ? 



Every age has presented its own problems and has 

 formed its own more or less true solutions. Methods have 



November 2gth^ 1913- 



