CONTENTS. 



LETTER I. 



The Subject proposed. Materials employed for Chemical Apparatus : - 

 GLASS CAOUTCHOUC CORK PLATINUM. THE BALANCE. The 

 "Elements" of the Ancients, represent the forms of matter. Lavoi- 

 sier and his successors. Study of the materials composing the Earth. 

 Synthetic production of Minerals LAPIS LAZULI. Organic chemistry. 5 



LETTER II. 



Changes of FORM which every kind of Matter undergoes. Conversion 

 of Gases into Liquids and Solids. Carbonic Acid its curious proper- 

 ties in a solid state. Condensation of Gases by porous bodies. By 

 Spongy Platinum. Importance of this property in Nature 7 



LETTER III. 



The Manufacture of Soda from Culinary Salt; its importance in the Arts 

 and in Commerce. Glass Soap Sulphuric Acid. Silver Refining. 

 Bleaching. TRADE IN SULPHUR - ? : - - 10 



LETTER IY. 



Connection of Theory with Practice. Employment of MAGNETISM as a 

 moving power its impracticability. Relation of Coals and Zinc as 

 economic sources of Force. Manufacture of Beet-root Sugar its im- 

 policy. GAS for illumination - - 13 



LETTER Y. 



ISOMERISM, or Identity of composition in bodies with different chemical 

 and physical properties. CRYSTALLIZATION. AMORPHISM. ISOMOR- 

 PHISM, or similarity of properties in bodies totally different in com- 

 position *.;. - .* - -. * ; V ^ ; - 16 



LETTER VI. 



ALLIANCE OP CHEMISTRY WITH PHYSIOLOGY. Division of FOOD into 

 nourishment, and materials for combustion. Effects of Atmospheric 

 Oxygen. Balance of CARBON and OXYGEN - - - - - 18 



LETTER VII. 



ANIMAL HEAT, its laws and influence on the Animal Functions. Loss 

 and SUPPLY. Influence of Climate. Fuel of Animal Heat. Agency 

 of Oxygen in disease. Respiration <~ - ' *~ - 20 



LETTER VIII. 



ALIMENTS. Constituents of the Blood. Fibrine, Albumen. Inorganic 

 Substances. Isomerism of Fibrine, Albumen, and elements of nutrition. 

 Relation of animal and vegetable organisms - - 24 



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