[chemistry]. The latter is despised by a W., a v.E. and other, who do not understand
it” [29]. Bergman is of course referring to Wallerius and von Engeström.
The first section of Scheele’s book is an introduction to the study of chemistry in
general, and is followed by a single section on the general properties of air.
Sections 8–29 describe Scheele’s discovery of oxygen (fire air) and nitrogen (foul
air), and the role of oxygen in combustion; §30 describes Scheele’s methods
for manipulating gases. Sections 31–58 treat the properties of heat and Scheele’s
attempts to prove that heat is a compound of oxygen and phlogiston.
Sections 59–70 are devoted to the properties of light and are followed by a number
of sections on phlogiston, fire, pyrophore, fulminating gold and the physiological
actions of oxygen. The two last sections treat hydrogen and hydrogen sulphide,
respectively. A detailed description of the contents of Scheele’s book, section by
section, is found elsewhere [30].
21.4 New Editions and Translations of Scheele’s Book
In October 1780 [31], an English translation of Chemische Abhandlung appeared
on the market [32]. The translation was made by John-Reinhold Forster
4 on initiative by Priestley [33]. The book is dedicated by Forster to Priestley. The English
edition was expanded by a 55-page essay by Kirwan, possibly written on Priestley’s
initiative. Both Kirwan and Priestley had rather different views on phlogiston than
Scheele, and the tone of Kirwan’s essay is very negative. He more or less accused
Scheele of copying Priestley’s results. Two illustrative examples of Kirwan’s style
of writing are “Dephlogisticated Air [oxygen] and its properties were first discovered by Dr. Priestley […]” [34] and “With regard to Air, (the knowledge of
which indeed was not his principal object) he [i.e. Scheele] has done little, else than
repeat, with some variation, in the manner, the Experiments published some years
before his Treatise, by Dr. Priestley […]” [35] When Scheele had arrived at different results compared to Priestley, Kirwan favoured Priestley’s views. The essay
was followed by a nine-page letter from Priestley to Kirwan, where he thanked
Kirwan, but disagreed on some points. Priestley never accused Scheele for copying
his results, but assumed that Scheele had worked independently of him.
A French translation followed in 1781. It was made by Baron Philippe Fréderich
de Dietrich (1748–1793). On a meeting in the Académie des Sciences on May 19,
1781, Dietrich asked for assistance with the review of the translation and the
Academy appointed Lavoisier and Berthollet as reviewers [36]. The French
translation includes translations of Scheele’s paper “On the amount of pure air, that
is daily present in our atmosphere” [37] from 1779, Kirwan’s essay and Priestley’s
answer to Kirwan.
4
John-Reinhold Forster (1729–1798). Forster started his career as a Calvinist preacher before he
became professor in natural history in Warrington and Halle. Forster took part in Cook’s second
expedition.
288
21 The Discovery of Oxygen
it” [29]. Bergman is of course referring to Wallerius and von Engeström.
The first section of Scheele’s book is an introduction to the study of chemistry in
general, and is followed by a single section on the general properties of air.
Sections 8–29 describe Scheele’s discovery of oxygen (fire air) and nitrogen (foul
air), and the role of oxygen in combustion; §30 describes Scheele’s methods
for manipulating gases. Sections 31–58 treat the properties of heat and Scheele’s
attempts to prove that heat is a compound of oxygen and phlogiston.
Sections 59–70 are devoted to the properties of light and are followed by a number
of sections on phlogiston, fire, pyrophore, fulminating gold and the physiological
actions of oxygen. The two last sections treat hydrogen and hydrogen sulphide,
respectively. A detailed description of the contents of Scheele’s book, section by
section, is found elsewhere [30].
21.4 New Editions and Translations of Scheele’s Book
In October 1780 [31], an English translation of Chemische Abhandlung appeared
on the market [32]. The translation was made by John-Reinhold Forster
4 on initiative by Priestley [33]. The book is dedicated by Forster to Priestley. The English
edition was expanded by a 55-page essay by Kirwan, possibly written on Priestley’s
initiative. Both Kirwan and Priestley had rather different views on phlogiston than
Scheele, and the tone of Kirwan’s essay is very negative. He more or less accused
Scheele of copying Priestley’s results. Two illustrative examples of Kirwan’s style
of writing are “Dephlogisticated Air [oxygen] and its properties were first discovered by Dr. Priestley […]” [34] and “With regard to Air, (the knowledge of
which indeed was not his principal object) he [i.e. Scheele] has done little, else than
repeat, with some variation, in the manner, the Experiments published some years
before his Treatise, by Dr. Priestley […]” [35] When Scheele had arrived at different results compared to Priestley, Kirwan favoured Priestley’s views. The essay
was followed by a nine-page letter from Priestley to Kirwan, where he thanked
Kirwan, but disagreed on some points. Priestley never accused Scheele for copying
his results, but assumed that Scheele had worked independently of him.
A French translation followed in 1781. It was made by Baron Philippe Fréderich
de Dietrich (1748–1793). On a meeting in the Académie des Sciences on May 19,
1781, Dietrich asked for assistance with the review of the translation and the
Academy appointed Lavoisier and Berthollet as reviewers [36]. The French
translation includes translations of Scheele’s paper “On the amount of pure air, that
is daily present in our atmosphere” [37] from 1779, Kirwan’s essay and Priestley’s
answer to Kirwan.
4
John-Reinhold Forster (1729–1798). Forster started his career as a Calvinist preacher before he
became professor in natural history in Warrington and Halle. Forster took part in Cook’s second
expedition.
288
21 The Discovery of Oxygen