The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-31
Tho Franklin Course Of Leetsres.
PROFESSOR YouxASs ON CHEMISTRY.


This gentleman delivered Q lecture on Monday
evening last, at the Broadway Tabernacle, on the
subject of Chemistry, inreston to the atmosphere
and the living world" The chapel was nearly crowd
ed by an audience which, we should suppose, were
not disappointed. The lecturer commenced by re-
marking that those who attended to the previous
series had taken tour of observation through the
heavens but we now propose to return to the earth
and contemplate what is going on around US.
From the contemplation of the huge orbs and
vast scheme of the heavens, we naturally passed
to the opposite extreme of beng-to the mpercepti-
BILE atoms of which all matter was composed. It
was fit and appropriate to consider astronomy first
it was the Arst Of the sciences besides, we there
consider matter in masses which is fitted powerfully
to impress the senses, while the consideration Of
subtler and less obvious agencies belong to later
period of mental developement. The lecturer re-
ferred to the history of electrical science in conrma
ton OF thisidea The ancients knew but two facts
concerning electricity that amber possessed, mys
terious property Of attracting light substances and
that the magnet would attract iron. This was all
that was known for 5000 years It was only in the
ceived decided impulse forward. Du Fay published
the results OF his researches in 1897 In l746, the
Leyden jar was invented. In 1747, Franklins atten
ton was drawn to the subject and in FIVE years from
boldest of all scientific experiments with the kite In
1870, we have the discovery of galvansm In 1900
the invention of the galvanc battery In 1917, the
electro-chemical theory of Davy. In 1920, Gers
tecd discovered electro-m magnetism and in 1887
just one hundred years from the publication of Du
Fays discovery, we have Morses electro-magne-
tic telegraph. Such was the superiority Of the
modern methods Of inquiry over the ancient. And
as it was with this, SO with chemistry. As to
breathing and organizations, the solution of these
problems among the last victories Of science. The
lecturer then called attention to the constituents Of
the atmosphere, remarking that in studying the ve
getable and animal kingdoms, we were constantly
dealing with the same elements which we found in
the atmosphere. He exhibited nitrogen gas, and
alluded to its feeble and nconstant nature and the
instability Of the compounds which it forms. 1t is an
element Of gunpowder and other explosive COM
pounds, and also of many principles of food and the
tissues Of the animal body, which very change
able He then proceeded to demonstrate the proper
ties of oxygen gas, and showed that it was the great
destroyer upon the gl0be-the foe of all organize.
tiOn and life. It burns the fuel under the steam boil
er, and thus generates mechanical power. Taken
into the animal system, it also constantly destroys
the elements of the fabric and thus produced animal
power The earth, he said, If left to this agent
alone would be reduced to desolaton and ashes
The force that antagonzes it would be the subject Of
future lecture. Mr.. Youmans was listened to with
the utmost attention. and interrupted by frequent ap
pause The next lecture Of this series will be given
by Mr.. Youmans next Monday evening, at the Ia
bernacle, upon The compound constituents of the
atmosphere, and their action in reducing rocks to
the condition Of sol"