The London, Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, London, printed by Richard Taylor, volume IV, January-June 1834. The entire volume offered: 8vo, vii, 432pp. Bound in full calf, with raised bands, and with red and black spine labels; the covers are impressed in gilt with the arms of the "Society of Writers to the Signet". Very nice copy. Very Good condition. $350
W.G. Horner, "On the Properties of the Daedaleum, a New Instrument of Optical Illusion", pp 36-41. "In 1834, William George Horner proposed a more convenient device based on Plateau’s Phenakistoscope which eliminated the need for a mirror and allowed several people to view the device at one time. Horner’s idea was to take shape in the form of drum with an open top into which was placed a hand drawn sequence of pictures on a strip of paper. The pictures were placed around the inside of the edge of the drum and could be viewed through slots in the outside of the drum. The images gave the illusion of movement as the drum was spun. Horner referred to his device as his Daedalum. Strangely the Dadalum was almost forgotten for over thirty years until 1887, at which point it was patented almost simultaneously by William F. Lincoln in America who gave it the name Zoetrope, and in England by M. Bradley."--Oldcinema dot com
William Henry Fox Talbot, “Facts relating to Optical Science. No. I. Communicated by Mr. H. F. Talbot", on pp 112-115. Of great interest here is the article by one of the early and great leaders in the history of photography, William Henry Fox Talbot (1800-1877), writing on the meaning of the lines in spectroscopy, assert[ing] that the dark lines observed by David Brewster in the spectrum of light shining through nitrous acid vapors are caused by the absoprtion of light by those vapors,,,Talbot also distinguishes lithium from strontium through spectroscopy"--Claire Parkinson, Breakthroughs, a Chronology of Great Achievements in Science and Mathematics, pg 300.
“The early nineteenth century witnessed the adoption and modification of new theoretical frameworks in chemistry and optics. The discovery of many new substances stimulated increasing concern with chemical composition and structure, while the wave theory of light posed problems with dispersion, absorption, photochemical reaction, and other forms of light-matter interaction. Although Talbot counted Wheatstone, Brewster, and Babbage among his scientific friends, he most closely followed the ideas of his friend John Herschel on light. Adopting the wave theory of light and a kinetic interpretation of light, heat, and matter, he pursued the problem of light-matter interaction through the study of optics, crystallography, and spectra. Intrigued by the similar optical characteristics of light and radiant heat as demonstrated by Melloni and Forbes, he sought to show the unity of the chemical rays with visible rays and heat rays. He also sought to use light and optical properties as analytical tools in order to determine the nature and structure of matter and to develop methods of chemical identification. Utilizing the vibratory theory of molecular behavior in gases, he suggested in 1835 a connection between spectral lines and chemical composition.”--Dictionary of Scientific Biography
Other papers of interest in this volume include:
“Rev.W. Whewell's Remarks on a recent Statement by Berzelius respecting the Use of Chemical Formulae” 9-11;
“Rev. W. Ritchie on the Reduction of Mr. Faraday's Discoveries in Magneto-Electric Induction to a general Law. ...” 11-13
"Mr. T. Graham's Reply to Mr. R. Phillips's Observations on the Use of Chemical Symbols”, 106-107;
“Sir David Brewster's Observations on the supposed Vision of the Blood-vessels of the Eye”, 115-120;
“Sir David Brewster on the Influence of successive Impulses of Light upon the Retina”, 241-245;
“M. Cauchy on the Undulatory Theory of Light”, 396-7.
Comments