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REVIEWS. 
METALLURGY.* 
In all probability, the art of reducing Metals from their ores dates 
amongst the very earliest of the evidences, which we possess, of the 
exercise of human reason, in the infancy of mankind, upon the crude 
natural products of the Earth. The poets have imagined the discovery 
of the metals to have been accidental. 
* When shady woods, on lofty mountains grown, 
Felt scorching fires, whether from thunder thrown, 
Or else by man’s design the flames arose,— 
Whatever ’twas that gave these flames their birth, 
Which burnt the towering trees and scorched the earth ; 
Hot streams of silver, gold, and lead and brass ; 
As Nature gave a hollow proper place, 
Descended down and formed a glittering mass.” + 
Accidents do not strictly belong to the advances of science. The 
same phenomenon may occur unnoticed for ages; but, eventually, a 
mind prepared to receive the truth, seizes the indication and gives it 
a practical value. Many strong objections could be urged to the 
poet’s view; but since the story of Metallurgy is lost to history, 
the above tradition is as worthy of reception as any other. 
The oldest records inform us that a considerable degree of perfec- 
tion in the working of Metals had been acquired ere yet History had 
begun to keep her record. Job and Jeremiah use the refining of 
silver as symbolic of the condition of the people, by whom they were, 
each in his respective age, surrounded. Hesiod and Homer describe 
the precious metals, and especially notice the valuable applications of 
Bronze and Iron. Archeologists have, as it appears to us, somewhat 
hastily, made the divisions of a Stone age, a Bronze age, and an Iron 
age, to represent certain steps in the upward march of our race. That 
the use of Bronze should have preceded the use of Iron is not pro- 
bable. That they were used at the same period, in the early days, 
is certain, since we have examples from Assyria of Bronze being cast 
upon cores of Iron. 
Tubal Cain, “the instructor of every artificer in brass and iron,” 
is curiously repeated by every nation as the one originator of these 
arts. The name varies with the people; but whether it be the Tubal 
of the Hebrews, or the Voeliind of the Scandinavians—the “ Master 
Smith ” is the one man who is worthy of “ worship and honour.” 
* ‘Metallurgy : The Art of Extracting Metals from their Ores, and adapting 
them to various Purposes of Manufacture.’ By John Percy, M.D., F.R.S. 
‘Fuel, Fire-clays, Copper, Zinc, Brass. &c.,’ vol. i. 
‘Tron and Steel,’ vol. ii. Murray, London, 
+ ‘Hesiod.’ See ‘Watson’s Chemical Essays,’ 
2n2 
