The Letters contained in this little Volume embrace some of the mostimportant points of the science of Chemistry, in their applicationto Natural Philosophy, Physiology, Agriculture, and Commerce. Someof them treat of subjects which have already been, or will hereafterbe, more fully discussed in my larger works. They were intended tobe mere sketches, and were written for the especial purpose ofexciting the attention of governments, and an enlightened public, tothe necessity of establishing Schools of Chemistry, and ofpromoting, by every means, the study of a science so intimatelyconnected with the arts, pursuits, and social well-being of moderncivilised nations.
For my own part I do not scruple to avow the conviction, that erelong, a knowledge of the principal truths of Chemistry will beexpected in every educated man, and that it will be as necessary tothe Statesman, the Political Economist, and the PracticalAgriculturist, as it is already indispensable to the Physician, andthe Manufacturer.
In Germany, such of these Letters as have been already published,have not failed to produce some of the results anticipated. Newprofessorships have been established in the Universities ofGoettingen and Wuertzburg, for the express purpose of facilitatingthe application of chemical truths to the practical arts of life,and of following up the new line of investigation and research—thebearing of Chemistry upon Physiology, Medicine, and Agriculture,—whichmay be said to be only just begun.
My friend, Dr. Ernest Dieffenbach, one of my first pupils, who iswell acquainted with all the branches of Chemistry, Physics, NaturalHistory, and Medicine, suggested to me that a collection of theseLetters would be acceptable to the English public, which has sofavourably received my former works.
I readily acquiesced in the publication of an English edition, andundertook to write a few additional Letters, which should embracesome conclusions I have arrived at, in my recent investigations, inconnection with the application of chemical science to thephysiology of plants and agriculture.
My esteemed friend, Dr. Gardner, has had the kindness to revise themanuscript and the proof sheets for publication, for which I cannotrefrain expressing my best thanks.
It only remains for me to add a hope, that this little offering mayserve to make new friends to our beautiful and useful science, andbe a remembrancer to those old friends who have, for many yearspast, taken a lively interest in all my labours.
JUSTUS LIEBIG
Giessen, Aug. 1843.
The Subject proposed. Materials employed for Chemical Apparatus:—GLASS—CAOUTCHOUC—CORK—