CHAPTER V 



THOMSON AND TAIT 



"T AND T"' OR THOMSON AND TAIT'S NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. 



THE publication of Thomson and Tail's Natural Philosophy was an 

 event of the first importance in the history of physical science. No more 

 momentous work had been given to the world since the days of the brilliant 

 French mathematicians, Laplace, Lagrange, and Fourier. Thoroughly 

 familiar with the mathematical methods invented and developed by these 

 great writers, Thomson and Tait conceived the project of an all-embracing 

 treatise on Natural Philosophy, in which physical conceptions and mathematical 

 analysis would be rationally blended in an harmonious interpretation of 

 the phenomena of Nature. The intention, it is true, was realised only 

 in part. The first volume appeared in 1867, and a second edition greatly 

 enlarged was issued, Part I in 1879, Part II in 1883. But in the Preface 

 to Part II the authors announced that "the intention of proceeding with 

 the other volumes is now definitely abandoned." No reasons were given; 

 simply the fact was stated. 



Fortunately there was no longer the same necessity for a continuation 

 of the work on the extensive scale originally imagined. Since the 

 appearance of the first edition, other important works had been published 

 covering a large part of the domain of Natural Philosophy. Clerk Maxwell's 

 Electricity and Magnetism and Lord Rayleigh's Theory of Sound were 

 the most conspicuous of these ; and Thomson's own Reprint of Papers 

 on Electrostatics and Magnetism supplemented in a striking manner the 

 doctrines inculcated in the Natural Philosophy. In all treatises published 

 since its appearance the impress of " Thomson and Tait " is clearly 

 seen. Nevertheless, the world of science must ever lament that the two 

 Scottish Professors did not put in type the sections on Properties of 

 Matter, frequently mentioned in the first edition, and usually with reference 

 to a particularly attractive part of the subject. 



