Statistics. 



415 



performing chemical experiments, and that nothing should be em 

 ployed in these experiments which was not easily procurable 

 by every person. A bit of glass, such as glaziers throw away, 

 a piece of charcoal, and a blow-pipe, would be instruments 

 enough with which to make thousands of experiments, and these 

 would illustrate the essential operations of chemistry. By this 

 means much knowledge would be obtained, and also the mode 

 of conducting an examination on a small scale might be taught 

 with facility. Dr Reid then illustrated the manner in which 

 the experiments were performed in two classes, in one of which 

 100 mechanics operated at the same time, and in the other 40 

 young persons. In the first class, the pupils arranged themselves 

 along five ranges of gas-lamps, supported on a narrow board, 

 one being placed alternately on either side. Each was supplied 

 with slips of flat glass, test paper, filtering paper, a test tube, 

 charcoal, and a blowpipe. Materials for each successive expe- 

 riment were placed at the extremity of each range, and expla- 

 nations were given during the whole time that the operations 

 were carried on. Until the use of the slips of glass occurred to 

 him, Dr Reid had been unable to introduce, to any extent, the 

 study of practical chemistry in junior schools and mechanics'' 

 institutions ; but with these, properly selected, the student would 

 effect solutions, evaporate, boil, filter, crystallize, carry on defla- 

 grating experiments, and illustrate practically a wide range of 

 furnace processes, operating on a very small scale, and with a 

 common lamp. Dr Reid then performed a number of experi- 

 ments with the slips of glass, and stated, that he considered the 

 use of this simple apparatus of great value, not merely in ena- 

 bling many to become acquainted with chemical science, who 

 might not otherwise have thought of it ; but also as affording 

 the means by which the professional student might be enabled 

 to repeat again, and again on a small scale, at home, at the most 

 trifling expense, the greater number of the experiments which 

 he sees while attending an extended course of lectures, or which 

 he may conduct on the larger scale in the practical course given 

 to professional chemists. From calculations made in different 

 places, he found that from L.2 to L.5 would provide apparatus 

 and materials sufficient to show many thousand experiments. 



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