New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-09-12
SCIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE.

One of the most striking illustrations OF the
progressive nature of man is seen in the fact
. that the science Of Chemistry, which hardly hal
an existence hundred years ago, ID nOw recog'
rized ss one Of the most important subjects Of
buman inquiry, and more intimately connected
perhaps than any other with the material de-
velOpment and prosperity of sOci-ty. Existing
fIst as alchemy, an embodiment of the igno-
rance credulity, infat1ation aud intellectual rest.
lessness Of ages. it has grown almost within the
lifetime of man into perfected aud symmetri
cal science adapted to discipline and educate the
f.cuties of the mind in its acquisition and de-
msudiBg the prOfoundest intellectual sagacity
forts expansion revelatOr of the innermost ni-
ture Of matter, alaw-giyer of industry, and right
ann Of national power. Among the subjects which
ought to interest the popular mind this ranks
preeminent. Such are the beauty and simplicity
Of its principles and the readiness with which
they mey be tested aud exhibted-sueh the ex.
tent of ts practical applications and the intimacy
Of it's relationship to the physical life Of each in
diyidual as to place beyond question its claims to
popular attention. And yet there is probably no
subject with which people generally are more
entirely uBacquanted than this snd none concern
ing which lack of kno Wedge produces 80 much
loss aud suffering. The instances that might be
cited in proof of this statement are nunberes,;
we will glance at two or three.
OF the extent to which articles Of manufacture
Of universal use and necessity are adulterated
and faliifed, the mass of the people never dream.
From the groceries which we daily consume to
the medicines which we employ more rarely;
fIom the apparel with which we cover our
bodies to the paint with which we cover our
houses, we are constantly enbroiled in a net
work OF frauds, such that our whole commercial
experience Ia little else than series Of impo-
sltlons. If any suspect that this is al exag
eerated assertion, let them glacne into any one
Of the numerous treatises upon the subject.
Mitchell on the fAlsifeation Of Foods-Aecum on
Culinary Poisons-or Normandy's Hand Book of
Commercial AdulteratOns and their doubts will
vanish. Now, as Chemistry treats Of the inner
psture Of matter, those occult properties which
are beyond the reach Of the senses we see how il
bas almost exclusive charge of this business. II
is BY the aid Of Chemistry that most Of those
frsuis are perpetrated, and the practical chemist
Is admitted to be the man to detect them
knowledge is power, undoubtedly; bat il be-
cones power over man only because ignorance is
weakness. Chemistry puts power to cheat the
community into Il e hands of the dishonest msuu-
facturer only because the community is ignorant,
and therefore weak and capable of self.defense.
Now, experience proves that statutes upon this
subject are dead letter; they cannot protect
the ignorant because in the very nature Of thiags
they do net know when they are imposed upon
And this matter is growing daily and hourly worse
forevery enlargement Of the bounds of the science
furnishes the intelligent rascal with more faeili.
ties for swndliDg abelieving and thoughtless pub.
lie. Let not the mischief in this case be charged
upon Chemistry as the handmade or ally of fraud
If che imparts to the cunning manufacturer and
interruptions desler tie means Of deception. she