PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ESSAYS: Translated from the Original Latin by Edmund Cullen, M.D.To which are added Notes and Illustrations, by the Translator. BERGMAN, Sir Torbern. tick

FIRST ENGLISH EDITION 1784. A translation of Opuscula physica et chemica'. 2 volumes, 8vo, approximately 220 x 130 mm, 8½ x 5¼ inches, 2 folding tables and 4 folding engraved plates, pages: xl, 1-464; xv, [1], 1-518, bound in modern full calf, decorative blind panelling to covers, gilt raised bands to spine, gilt rules and gilt decoration in compartments, contrasting gilt lettered labels (Physical misspelt Phisical), new marbled endpapers. Faint browning to edges of title pages, small light ink smudge to 2 pages, otherwise text clean throughout, light browning to 1 folding table, 2 plates faintly browned, 1 with brown staining on upper half of all 3 panels, 1 slightly misfolded (see attached images). A very good set of the first edition apart from the plate affected by browning. Chapters include: aerial acid, analysis of waters, the waters of Upsal, the acidulous spring in the parish of Denmark, sea-water, the artificial preparation of cold and of hot medicated waters, the acid of sugar, the preparation of alum, antimoniated tartar, magnesia, the forms of crystals, particularly spathaceous, siliceous earth, the hydrophanous stone, the earth of gems, the turmalin stone, fulminating calx of gold, platina, the white ores of iron, nickel, arsenic, the ores of zinc, metallic precipitates, the art of assaying in the humid way, the blow-pipe and its use. A third volume was published in Edinburgh in 1791 by G. Mudie & J. & J. Fairbairn. The 3 volumes are seldom found together as first editions. Torbern Bergman (1735-1784) was a Swedish chemist who is most notably recognized for his 1775 Dissertation on Elective Attractions, containing the largest chemical affinity tables ever published. He was a prolific scientist, working in physics, mathematics, and physical geography as well as chemistry. After graduating with a master's degree in 1758, he became professor of mathematics at Uppsala in 1761 and later was a professor of chemistry as well as pharmacology. See: John Ferguson, Bibliotheca Chemica, Volume 1, pages 98-99; A Catalogue of Printed Books in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library, Volume 2, page 149; The Haskell F. Norman Library of Science and Medicine, Volume 1, page 72, No. 193; ESTC N12248. MORE IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS LISTING, ALL ZOOMABLE. FURTHER IMAGES ON REQUEST. POSTAGE AT COST.