228 Chronicles of Science. [April, 
light a mixture of equal volumes of chlorine and carbonic oxide, 
and found condensation to one volume take place. This mduced 
him to make a complete examination of the new compound, an 
account of which is published in the ‘ Philosophical Transactions’ 
for 1812. It was followed in a short time by two other , papers, 
one “On the Compounds of Chlorine with the Metals,” and another 
“On Certain Compounds of Fluoric Acid.” These papers exhibit 
great diligence in research, and are marked by great accuracy in 
the analyses. 
Here, we regret to say, Dr. Davy’s career as a chemist may be 
said to have almost closed. He resolved upon the study of medi- 
cine, and proceeded to Edinburgh for the purpose. After taking 
his degree, he returned to London in 1814, and held for a short 
time the lectureship on chemistry at Windmill Street School of 
Medicine, vacated by Mr. Brande, who had been appointed Sir 
Humphry’s successor at the Royal Institution. He delivered 
only one course of lectures, and we do not find any record of 
original research during this time. 
Early in 1815, Dr. Davy entered the medical service of the 
army, and served as hospital assistant in the Waterloo campaign. 
He was afterwards sent to Ceylon, and served with Sir R. Brownrigge 
during the rebellion. The ‘ History of Ceylon,’ which he published 
in 1819, is still referred to as authoritative. 
Dr. Davy left Ceylon in 1820, and in the years which followed was 
employed in various parts of the world as staff army surgeon. He 
was doing duty in this capacity at Malta, when he was summoned 
to attend his brother in his last illness, which ended at Geneva. 
Wherever he was, Dr. Davy was never idle. While a student 
at Edinburgh, he had commenced researches on the blood, which 
he continued at every possible opportunity. While at Malta, he 
was also engaged in some anatomical investigations, and made some 
experiments with the torpedo, in which he obtained some new 
results, showing the identity of the effects of its electrical organ 
with other forms of electricity. Nor was chemistry altogether 
neglected. At this time he examined the compounds of ammonia 
and carbonic acid, and made experiments on the oxidation of phos- 
phorus. The results obtained were published in Jameson’s ‘ Kdin- 
burgh Philosophical Journal, which also contains a short paper, 
written about the same time, on silicated fluoric acid. 
From 1835 to 1839 Dr. Davy was principal medical officer at 
Fort Pitt, Chatham, and then found time to write the ‘ Life of Sir 
Humphry,’ published in two volumes. This work was called mto 
existence by the appearance of another biography of the great 
chemist, “not gentlemanly done,” as Sir Walter Scott said. The 
work referred to is now forgotten, and it is well to say that a very 
full biography of Sir Humphry Davy is to be found in the smaller 
