12 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLIV. No. 1123 



In a latter part of a lecture Dr. Aigster 

 says that while the history of chemistry in 

 America is short, it contains a few names 

 which would do honor to the proudest na- 

 tions of the ancient world. He mentions 

 the names of Dr. Benjamin Rush, of Phila- 

 delphia, Dr. Samuel L. Mitchill, of New 

 York, Dr. Woodhouse, of Philadelphia, Dr. 

 M 'Clean, of Princeton, Professor Silliman, 

 of New Haven, Dr. I. Redman Coxe, of 

 Philadelphia, Joseph Priestley, and Mr. 

 Thomas Cooper, who he states was his suc- 

 cessor as professor of chemistry at Dickin- 

 son College. 



Following the discourse is a syllabus on 

 chemistry which is divided into three sec- 

 tions : 



1. General forces productive of chemical 



phenomena. 



2. Of the general properties and relations 



of individual substances. 



3. Chemical examinations of organized 



nature. 

 That Dr. Aigster was interested in the 

 practicable application of some of his 

 theories will be seen from the following 

 note in the Pittsburgh Magazine Almanack 

 for 1812 : 



Proposals for the formation of a company for 

 the purpose of establishing a combined manufac- 

 tory of sulphurick acid (oil of vitriol), of nitrick 

 acid (aqua fortis) and of allum have been lately 

 issued by Dr. Aigster, formerly professor of chem- 

 istry in Dickinson College, Carlisle, now resident 

 in Pittsburgh. 



The note then goes on to outline the proc- 

 ess and the prospects for success. 



In the Directory of Pittsburgh for 1815, 

 which was the first directory, Dr. Aigster 's 

 Christian name is given as Frederick, his 

 residence "in the Diamond" and his pro- 

 fession as "physician and chymist. " 



Sarah Killikelly, in her history of Pitts- 

 burgh, says that perhaps out of the series 

 of lectures by Dr. Aigster grew the Pitts- 



burgh Chemical and Physiological Society. 1 

 This is no doubt true, as Dr. Aigster 's name 

 appears in the list of honorary members of 

 the Columbian Chemical Society of Phila- 

 delphia, which was founded in 1811, and 

 the Pittsburgh Society appears to have 

 been modeled very closely after the Phila- 

 delphia Society. 



At all events, a notice appeared in one 

 of the weeklies requesting persons interested 

 to "meet at A. M. Bolton's Academy Hall, 

 Market Street, on Friday evening October 

 twenty-ninth, 1813, at 6 o'clock, for the 

 purpose of organizing the Institution and 

 electing officers." 



At the next meeting, on November 12, 

 the following officers were elected : 



President, Dr. B. Troost. 



Secretary, J. B. Trevor. 



Treasurer, 8. Pettigrew. 



Lecturer, Dr. E. Ramsey. 



Librarian, A. M. Bolton. 



Annual Orator, Eev. D. Graham. 



At the time of the organization of this 

 Chemical Society, the population of these 

 United States was about 7,000,000 and of 

 the borough of Pittsburgh about 7,000. 

 Some of the advertisements which appeared 

 in the papers at that time will give an idea 

 as to why, with so small a population, there 

 was a live interest in chemistry. 



PAPER MAKERS WANTED 



Two paper makers, one who is competent to 

 superintend a paper mill and is well acquainted 

 with the whole art and mystery of paper making, 

 the other to work as a journeyman. 



The highest price in cash will be given for a 

 quantity of merchantable potash. Apply to 

 Anthony Beelen. 



GLASS BLOWING 



Wanted, two or three sober lads, fourteen to 

 sixteen years of age, as apprentices to above busi- 

 ness. 



i Killikelly, Sarah H., ' ' History of Pittsburgh. ' ' 

 B. C. and Gordon Montgomery Company, Pitts- 

 burgh, 1906. 



