INTRODUCTORY LECTURE. 
7 
ciple, and every detail which may be connected with the 
chemical properties of matter, organic or inorganic; the rela- 
tions of its ultimate elements; the mutual action or reaction of 
them, the effect of their new combinations; and the study of 
the laws according to which the imponderable agents mani- 
fest their influence and exert their power. 
This definition gives an increased sphere to the operations, 
and a vast limit to the extent of General Chemistry; so great, 
indeed, as almost entirely to preclude its accurate and com- 
plete grasp by any one mind. Its division or classification, there- 
fore, has been found necessary ; and the various departments 
into which it has been divided (already announced) have en- 
listed in their support and prosecution, votaries who pursue 
the objects of the particular branch to which taste or profes- 
sional duties may have assigned them. In the latter condi- 
tion do I find you now before me, who, to fulfil the requi- 
sites demanded by a thorough knowledge of your profession, 
and imposed upon those who aspire to the honors of this Col- 
lege, present yourselves to acquire the elements of Pharma- 
ceutic Chemistry. A daughter of the general science, devoted 
expressly to the preparation of medicines, as exclusively as 
her sisters are occupied with the arts, with agriculture, and 
organic structure. In the study of each of these, a knowledge 
of the elements of General Chemistry is essential, and he who 
would teach either must commence his instruction^with the 
study of these, if he hope to make the particular division at 
all intelligible. These are the fundamental principles upon 
which all chemical science is based, and an intimate acquaint- 
ance with them, therefore, is imperiously demanded. With- 
out them your Pharmaceutic Chemistry would have none of 
the characteristics of a science, but would be mere empiri- 
cism; a catalogue of crude, unarranged facts; ill assorted, un- 
classified experience. Therefore it is, that you are required to 
have a knowledge of General Chemistry, its constituents, its 
laws, its objects. 
The principles of General Chemistry, proposed to be taught 
here, are precisely the same as those usually introduced into 
a course of lectures on that subject. They embrace some 
