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Dr Alexander Scott's correspondence and letters
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Dr Alexander Scott's correspondence and letters

  • MS 55
  • Collection
  • 1851-1935
A collection of letters and correspondence, both to and from Dr Scott, as well as other prominent scientists of the period.

Dr Alexander Scott

Letter from Henry E. Roscoe, London to Dr William J. Russell, Queen's College, Manchester

Gives news of London and the College. The "subject of the Exhibition is very stale here". Richard Potter, juror in optical instruments 'in nearly every lecture talks vaguely about that Crystal place where gentlemen are waiting for him to inspect air pumps and microscopes'. Mr Watts "has come to the conclusion that it [Potter] is an ass". Williamson, Brodie and others think that a lecture by Faraday on 'Schonbein's Ozone' is "arrant humbug". 'It seems evident that it is in many cases Nitric Oxide which acts as Ozone'.

Letter from H.E. Armstrong [Central Technical College] to Russell

Remarks on the teaching of chemistry to medical students. Some subjects could be dropped and others previously neglected given greater importance. The student "should have opportunity to acquire some practice in quantitative analysis". Gives some specific examples. Considers that prospective medical students should gain some knowledge of chemistry at school.

Letter from F.A. Abel, London to William J. Russell, St. Barthomolew's Hospital

Encloses a letter [MS 55/1(11a)] A.M.V. Hoffman, 9 February 1891 declining an invitation to Cadogan Place and offering to send a heliograph of a portrait recently purchased by the National Gallery. Abel has received no reply from Armstrong regarding his request for an invitation for Heidemann, the German explosives expert.

Letter from Henry E. Roscoe, Birkbeck Laboratory to Dr William J. Russell

Commiserates on Russell's recent illness. Criticises the "lazy" atmosphere at Birkbeck. Considers Williamson's lectures at the Royal Institute to be unprepared and unsatisfactory. Commends Hoffman's course in organic chemistry. Enquires about Russell's successor. Russell will "soon receive a visit from 'the Monks of Old' alias little Hunt". Anticipates that "we will have jolly fun when we get to Heidelberg".

Letter from E.O. Atkinson, Oxford to Dr William J. Russell

Refers to his recent move to Oxford. He and Mrs B.C. Brodie, his assistant, are in temporary laboratory accommodation while a new laboratory is being built in connection with the Ashmolean Museum. Cartwell, his predecessor, has gone to Manchester, "tired of waiting at the door of the temple" and is gone "to sit at the table of the ungodly". Describes his domestic situation; suggests that Russell should pay him a visit. Mentions that Roscoe "is pursuing a round of giddy dissipation in London". Enquires about the 'Franklandsch' apparatus and Russell's work on gas measurement.

Letter from Henry E. Roscoe, Heidelberg to Dr William J. Russell

Asks Russell to bring a few seeds for "Old Bunsen's garden". Gives a cryptic account of some people and events probably connected with the laboratory at Heidelberg, names include: Leap, Lowndes, Bunsen, "Faulein A...a", Matthiessen, Meyer, Quincke and Dexter. Advises Russell to travel to Germany via Paris as coming by the Rhine is very slow.

Letter from A.W. Miles, Wolverhampton to Dr William J. Russell

Gives details of Miles' work on potassium iodide including diagram of crystals. "Should you come into contact with any manufacturer of the substance, pray don't mention this, as it is the result of many tedious experiments only". He is also "fagging at Pepsin or Artificial Gastric Juice, newly proposed as a valuable remedy for Dyspepsia etc. - also at Amylene - which is proposed as an anaesthetic agent - a rival to Chloroform". He is overworked but cannot find suitable assistance.

Letter from William A. Tilden, Mason College, Birmingham to Russell

Remarks on the teaching of chemistry to medical students. The present knowledge required is inadequate and practically useless. Inorganic chemistry should be taught in the first year and organic chemistry in the second. Botany and the natural history part of Materia Medica should be dropped; the selection of pharmaceutical preparations should be left to specialists in that field.

Letter from W.J. Pope, Cambridge to Scott

Pope remarks on his Presidential Address to the Chemical Society in which he called for closer co-operation between the Societies representing the different interests of Chemists. Recent events have brought these questions much to the fore and "established a general conviction that the needs mentioned have impeded the progress of Chemistry and made it impossible for chemists to exert their full powers in the service of the nation". Invites Scott to meet at the Chemical Society Rooms with a few representative men for the purpose of discussing the question.

Letter from Serge Clausen, London to Scott

Encloses ticket for unspecified function; (not included). Thanks Scott for information on vermilion which he knows "has always been considered one of the doubtful colours". Mentions that some of the early Italians have used it successfully and that "Sargent used it as his principal red in flesh".
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