Biography of Dr. Sheridan Muspratt / [Richard Brinsley Knowles].

  • Knowles, Richard Brinsley, 1820-1882.
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Biography of Dr. Sheridan Muspratt / [Richard Brinsley Knowles]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    bucli. In the second, Dr. Muspratt showed the groundless¬ ness of the assertion of a French chemist (Gerhardt) that Valerianic Acid is produced when Hydrate of Potash and Indigo are fused together. Dr. Muspratt knew well how to deal with this statement; he showed first, upon theoretical grounds, that such a metamorphosis was in a high degree improbable, and subsequently proved, after a close investi¬ gation, that the presumed Valerianic Acid was no other than Acetic. In some later investigations, new processes in which Aniline is formed; upon Toluidine a new organic base, &c., which were conducted by Dr. Muspratt and my¬ self, I had repeatedly the opportunity of witnessing the assiduity and perseverance, and also the remarkable care and accuracy which characterised his labors in the course of these researches.” Let us pause a moment to admire the energy which had exhausted the instruction of three Universities—Glasgow, London, and Giessen, and achieved an European fame before twenty-four years of age ! In 1845 Dr. Muspratt left Giessen; and in the following two years visited various parts of Germany, in order to become personally acquainted with her distinguished men. This tour alone would have rewarded him amply for all the labors of his study; since everywhere he received the most flattering welcome from men of rank and learning. Rose, of Berlin, assured him, on his presenting his letter of introduction, that “ Sulphite Muspratt needed no intro¬ duction.” In 1847 he again visited Giessen and spent four months in its Laboratory, discovering several remarkable bodies produced from the Sulphocyanides of Ethyle and Methyle. A paper on this subject was printed in Liebig’s Annalen, as well as in the Chemical Society’s Transactions. In 1848 lie gave a paper on the Selenites ; in 1849 he proved the