all metal claces and is present in air and water [58]. He was still, however, convinced of the existence of phlogiston as a component in light [59]. In 1798 he
published a short textbook, Inledning til chemien (Introduction to Chemistry) based
on Fourcroy’s
5 book Philosophie Chemique, where he totally accepted the theories
of Lavoisier. This is generally regarded as the first original textbook on antiphlogisic chemisty in Swedish, but a less well-known book which also treats
antiphlogisic chemistry, Inledning til kunskapen om de jordiske kropparne (Introduction to the Knowledge of the Earthly Bodies) was published by Julius Segerstedt
the same year. Fourcroy’s Philosophie Chemique, had been translated to Swedish
by Linnaean apostle Anders Sparrman in 1795. Of these book’s, Gadolin’s was by
far the most influential.
Gadolin retired in 1822 and died on August 15, 1850. Born in the Swedish
province Finland, he died in Russian Grand Duchy of Finland, as Sweden had lost
the Finish war against the Russian Empire in 1809.
11.4.19 Pehr von Afzelius
Pehr Afzelius [60] (Fig. 11.8) was the younger brother of Bergman’s student Johan
Afzelius, born on December 14, 1760. Like Bergman and his older brother, he
studied at Skara Gymnasium before enrolling at Uppsala University in October
1777. He defended his pro exercitio thesis, In anervismata femoris observationes,
under the presidium of physician and professor of anatomy Adolph Murray (1751–
1803). His master thesis, which constitutes the second part of Bergman’s historical
treatment of chemistry (Sect. 9.3) and covers the period between the eighth and
seventeenth century, was defended in 1782. In 1784, finally, he presented his thesis
Historiæ morborum, observationibus practicis illustratæ for his M.D. degree under
the presidium of Jonas Sidrén (1723–1799), professor of medicine. He was awarded
the M.D. degree in 1785 and after travelling through Europe he held several
medical positions before becoming professor of medicine in Uppsala in 1799.
Afzelius also held many important official positions and was ennobled in 1815.
While in Paris in 1785, Afzelius acquainted several of the prominent French
chemists including Lavoisier and Fourcroy, leaders of the chemical revolution.
Thus, he was likely more initiated in the new chemical theories than his older
brother, Johan, the professor of chemistry. After returning to Sweden he would,
however, mainly work in the medical field with one important exception. In 1795
he published an anonymous text, An attempt to a Swedish Nomenclature in
Chemistry, written together with chemist Anders Gustaf Ekeberg (1767–1813).
Ekeberg was Johan Afzelius’ assistant, and unlike Johan Afzelius, Ekeberg carried
out chemical research and is best remembered for his discovery of tantalum in 1802.
The text that Afzelius and Ekeberg wrote introduced the Swedish words for oxygen
(syre), nitrogen (kväve) and hydrogen (väte) still used today, and took a clear stand
for the antiphlogistic chemistry. Thus, he made a more lasting impression on
5
Antoine Françoise de Fourcroy (1755–1829); French chemist.
182
11 Bergman as a Teacher
published a short textbook, Inledning til chemien (Introduction to Chemistry) based
on Fourcroy’s
5 book Philosophie Chemique, where he totally accepted the theories
of Lavoisier. This is generally regarded as the first original textbook on antiphlogisic chemisty in Swedish, but a less well-known book which also treats
antiphlogisic chemistry, Inledning til kunskapen om de jordiske kropparne (Introduction to the Knowledge of the Earthly Bodies) was published by Julius Segerstedt
the same year. Fourcroy’s Philosophie Chemique, had been translated to Swedish
by Linnaean apostle Anders Sparrman in 1795. Of these book’s, Gadolin’s was by
far the most influential.
Gadolin retired in 1822 and died on August 15, 1850. Born in the Swedish
province Finland, he died in Russian Grand Duchy of Finland, as Sweden had lost
the Finish war against the Russian Empire in 1809.
11.4.19 Pehr von Afzelius
Pehr Afzelius [60] (Fig. 11.8) was the younger brother of Bergman’s student Johan
Afzelius, born on December 14, 1760. Like Bergman and his older brother, he
studied at Skara Gymnasium before enrolling at Uppsala University in October
1777. He defended his pro exercitio thesis, In anervismata femoris observationes,
under the presidium of physician and professor of anatomy Adolph Murray (1751–
1803). His master thesis, which constitutes the second part of Bergman’s historical
treatment of chemistry (Sect. 9.3) and covers the period between the eighth and
seventeenth century, was defended in 1782. In 1784, finally, he presented his thesis
Historiæ morborum, observationibus practicis illustratæ for his M.D. degree under
the presidium of Jonas Sidrén (1723–1799), professor of medicine. He was awarded
the M.D. degree in 1785 and after travelling through Europe he held several
medical positions before becoming professor of medicine in Uppsala in 1799.
Afzelius also held many important official positions and was ennobled in 1815.
While in Paris in 1785, Afzelius acquainted several of the prominent French
chemists including Lavoisier and Fourcroy, leaders of the chemical revolution.
Thus, he was likely more initiated in the new chemical theories than his older
brother, Johan, the professor of chemistry. After returning to Sweden he would,
however, mainly work in the medical field with one important exception. In 1795
he published an anonymous text, An attempt to a Swedish Nomenclature in
Chemistry, written together with chemist Anders Gustaf Ekeberg (1767–1813).
Ekeberg was Johan Afzelius’ assistant, and unlike Johan Afzelius, Ekeberg carried
out chemical research and is best remembered for his discovery of tantalum in 1802.
The text that Afzelius and Ekeberg wrote introduced the Swedish words for oxygen
(syre), nitrogen (kväve) and hydrogen (väte) still used today, and took a clear stand
for the antiphlogistic chemistry. Thus, he made a more lasting impression on
5
Antoine Françoise de Fourcroy (1755–1829); French chemist.
182
11 Bergman as a Teacher