Huntsville gazette., 1886-12-25

perhaps the Independent discovery OF
the laws of refraction; certainly the
correction of one of Ptolemy's errors.
The particulars of astronomical refrac-
ton he also definitely and clearly
stated, and for this deserves
much of the praise bestowed on
him, though the ground had already
been trodden by Ptolemy. Beyond
this work of Ell Hazen the Arabians do
not seem to have contributed to the
science of optics, though there was
great need of further practical
knowledge of the use of lenses. Be
fore they were through with science,
and as early as the thirteenth century,
we have found an Englishman, Roger
Bacon, busying himself with lenses,
and insisting on the Importance OF
optical improvements for the further
ance of astronomical observations.
1t is in alchemy more than anywhere
else that the Arabians have the credit
Of new discoveries. But it is univer-
sally conceded that in their hands it
never attained to the dignity Of q
science. In their eager search for the
elixir of life and the philosopher 5
stone, they were stimulated to the
preparation of new compounds, some
Of which have proved of great utility
in the arts and as instruments OF sci
ence, but there was no approach TO a
scientific handling of facts. They are
the reputed discoverers of nitric and
sulphuric acid; they prepared absolute
alcohol and phosphorus; they put sal
ammoniac to nitric acid and dissolved
gold; but they did not know the com-
position OF the acids which they dis
covered, nor was there any system
which could connect the facts. They
worked away with retort and furnace
and reagent through five hundred
years, but alchemy was still a chaos.
1t is hard to understand how so learned
a writer as Dr. John William Draper
can declare, on the ground OF Geber's
discovery OF nitric acid, that his name
marks an epoch in chemistry equal
in Importance to that of Priestley
and Layoisier. What scientific result,
it may be asked, followed the discov-
cry of nitric acid, valuable as that re-
agent is? The discovery of oxygen by
Priestley, and the decomposition of
water by Cavcndish, and the promul-
CATION of the oxygen theory by La
voisier. revolutionized chemistry. In
like manner. when the same authority
declares of Geber's theory-which
makes all metals to be compounded of
sulphur, mercury and arsenic-that,
though erroneous, lit is not without q
scientific value" we can only accept
the statement under narrow liInita-
tionS.
The experience of the Arabians in
philosophy repeats that which is illus
trated in the natural sciences and in
mathematics. IN the school of logic
and speculation they were learners,
not originators. They devoted them
selves to these studies with ardor and
perseverance; they became voluminouc
writers. But in the whole line of phi
losophers, from FL Kendi down to Ibn
Roschd or Averroes, including FL Fa-
rabi, Ell Gazali, Ibn Badia and Ibn
TOTAL, no one is looked back to by
modern students as an authority.
There was no Arabian Plato or Aris-
totle. The Mohammedan philosophers
are chiefly celebrated for their com
mentaries on their Greek master, whom
they blindly followed. Ibn Roschd,
The greatest amongst them and the last
who attained distinction. is quoted as
saying that since Aristotle no one had
added any thing Of consequence to
logic, physics or metaphysics, thus
denying any originality to the specu-
lative writers Of his own faith. Ed
vard HatngerforG. tu Atiantic Monthly