186 PROF. H. E. ROSCOE ON METALLIC NIOBIUM 



attendants might be heated to a temperature presumably- 

 sufficient to destroy or paralyze the vitality of any spores 

 which might be adhering to them, and where the knives 

 and other appliances used might be previously heated, 

 and where water to be used in washing the wounds might 

 be heated under pressure. With such an arrangement 

 at an hospital it seems to me that one interesting mode of 

 investigation into some most important subjects might be 

 commenced. 



XXIV. Note on Metallic Niobium and a new Niobium 

 Chloride. By Professor H. E. Roscoe, F.R.S. &c. 



Kead December nth, 1877. 



The history of the investigation of the two closely related 

 metals Niobium and Tantalum is of interest as showing 

 hoWj step by step , the difficulties and uncertainties which 

 surround the examination of analogous and rare substances 

 such as these are overcome ; and I may therefore be allowed 

 shortly to state the growth of our knowledge on this 

 subject. 



In the year 1801 Hatchett discovered a new metal in the 

 mineral columbite from Massachusetts ; and to this he gave 

 the name of Columbium. Ekeberg, a year later, found a 

 similar new metal in a rare Swedish mineral; and to it he 

 gave the name Tantalum. Wollaston, in 1 809, came to the 

 conclusion that these two metals were identical. Berzelius 

 next examined the metal contained in the Swedish tanta- 



