Elements of physics, or, Natural philosophy : general and medical, written for universal use, in plain or non-technical language, and containing new disquisitions and practical suggestions / by Neil Arnott.

  • Arnott, Neil, 1788-1874.
Date:
1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elements of physics, or, Natural philosophy : general and medical, written for universal use, in plain or non-technical language, and containing new disquisitions and practical suggestions / by Neil Arnott. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    tinent of Europe, during the same period, a corresponding constellation of genius lias shone; and Laplace was lately the bright star shining between the future and the past. But there is a chanoe poinec on in the world, connected closely with the progress of science, yet distinct from it, and more important than a great part of the scientific dis- coveries ;—it is the difftision of existing knowledge among the mass of mankind. Formerly knowledge was shut up in convents and universities, and in books written in the dead languages —or in books which, if in the living lan- guages, were so abstruse and artificial, that only a few persons had access to their meaning; and thus, the human race being considered as one great intellectual creature, a small fraction only of its intellect was allowed to come into contact with science, and therefore into activity. The pro- gress of science in those times was correspondingly slow, and the evils of general ignorance prevailed. Now, how- ever, the strong barriers which confined the stores of wis- dom have been thrown down, and a flood is overspreading the earth; old establishments are adapting themselves to the spirit of the age; new establishments are arising ; the inferior schools are introducing improved systems of in- struction ; and good books are rendering every man''s fire- side a school. From all these causes thei'e is growing up an enlightened public opinion, which quickens and directs the progress of every art and science, and through the medium of a free press, although overlooked by many, is now rapidly becoming the governing influence in all the affairs of man. In Great Britain, partly perhaps as a con- sequence of its insular situation, which lessened among its inhabitants the dread of hostile invasion, and sooner formed them into a united and compact people, the progress of enlightened public opinion had been more decided than in any other state. The early consequences were more free political institutions; and these gradually led to greater and