M. Arago's Biographical Memoir of James Watt. 277 



near Bristol, an institution, known under the name of the Pneu- 

 matic Institution, where the remedial properties of the gases 

 generally might be carefully studied. This establishment, 

 for a time, was more immediately superintended by Humphry 

 Davy, then a young man just beginning his brilliant career. 

 It was also honoured with the name of Watt as one of its 

 founders ; and the celebrated engineer did more, for he planned, 

 described, and constructed, in the manufactory of Soho, the 

 apparatus which was employed in preparing the different 

 gases, and in administering them to the patients. I find that 

 many editions of his Directions were required, and were pub- 

 lished in the years 1794, 1795, and 1796. 



The thoughts of our associate were directed to this inte- 

 resting subject, from the circumstance that many of his con- 

 nections and friends were cut down in early life, by diseases 

 of the chest ; and he imagined that it was in this class of 

 complaints that the spe'cific propertied of the new gases would 

 be most strikingly manifested. He also anticipated some be- 

 nefit would be derived from the iron and zinc, which hydrogen 

 contains in impalpable molecules, when prepared by certain 

 processes. I shall add, in conclusion, that among the nume- 

 rous notes supplied by physicians, and published by Dr Bed- 

 does, announcing results more or less favourable, there is 

 one, signed John Carmichael, respecting the complete cure of 

 one of his servants, named Eichard Newberry, to whom Watt 

 had himself administered, from time to time, by way of respi- 

 ration, a mixture of steam and carbonic acid. Though per- 

 fectly aware of my incapacity to come to any satisfactory 

 conclusion on a matter of this sort, I must take the liberty of 

 expressing my regret that a plan of treatment which numbered 

 Watt and Jenner among its adherents, should be at present 

 entirely abandoned, and this without there being adduced any 

 connected series of experiments in manifest opposition to those 

 of the Clifton Pneumatic Institution.'' 



* Twenty years previous to the existence of the Pneumatic Institution 

 Watt liad applied his chemical and mincralogical knowledge to the im' 

 provement of a pottery which, along with some friends, he had establislied 

 at Glasgow, and of which he continued a partner to the close of his life. 



