 | A catalogue of the officers and students of the University of Virginia |  |
SCHOOL OF ANALYTICAL, AGRICULTURAL AND
INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY.
Prof. Mallet.
This School having been created with a view to the growing
and to the development of the natural resources of the country, the
endeavor is made to render the teachings of the Chair as practical as
possible, while basing them upon sound principles of general science;
thus presenting the opportunity of preparation for such positions as
those of the miner and metallurgist, the chemical manufacturer, the
farmer, the dyer, bleacher, tanner, analytical chemist, &c.
The system of instruction consists of a course of Lectures upon
Technical Chemistry, and a course of Practical Work in the Chemical
Laboratory, either of which may be attended separately.
Lectures.
In connection with this course there is but one class, the students
attending which hear three lectures each week throughout the
session.
Amongst the more prominent subjects discussed are: The production
of Materials of very general application, including the Metallurgy
of Iron, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Tin, Silver, Gold, &c., the preparation
and properties of Alloys, and the processes of Electro-Metallurgy,
the manufacture upon the large scale of Acids, Alkalies, Salts, Glass
and Porcelain; the production and preservation of Food, including
the Chemistry of Agriculture, the processes of Bread Making, Wine
Making, Brewing and Distilling, the Manufacture of Sugar and
Vinegar, the curing of Meat, the examination of Potable Water, &c.;
Chemical Arts relating to Clothing, such as Bleaching, Dyeing, Calico
Printing, Tanning, and the preparation of India Rubber; the Chemistry
of those arts which afford us Shelter, embracing the examination
of Building Materials, Lime Burning, the manufacture of Mortar and
Cements, the Explosive Agents used in blasting, as Gunpowder, Gun
Cotton, Nitro-Glycerine, &c., Paints and Varnishes, Disinfecting
Materials, &c.; Heating and Ventilation, the different kinds of Fuel
and modes of burning them; Illumination by artificial means,
Candles, Lamps, the preparation of Petroleum, the manufacture of
Illuminating Gas, Matches; the Chemistry of Washing, the preparation
of Soap, Starch and Perfumes; the Chemical relations of
Printing and Writing, the manufacture of Paper, Ink, Artists' Colors,
Photographic Materials, &c.
The lectures are illustrated by suitable experiments, and by such
specimens, models, drawings, &c., as the various subjects require.
Amongst books which can be usefully referred to in connection with
as Applied to Arts and Manufactures; Richardson and Watts —
Chemical Technology; Ure — Dictionary of Arts and Manufactures;
Dumas — Traité de Chimie Appliquée aux Arts; Wagner — Die chemische
Technologie; Johnston — Agricultural Chemistry; R. Hoffman
— Theoretisch-pracktische Ackerbauchemie.
The subjects germane to Agriculture are treated of at different
periods of the lecture course, and cannot well be brought together
with a due regard to system, but the discussion more particularly of
soils, manures, &c., will be brought forward in January or February
(this year in February), with a view to the convenience of farmers or
others, not regular students of the University, who may desire to attend
this portion of the course separately. Such persons are freely
invited to thus temporarily join the class for the purpose in question.
Laboratory Course.
This is arranged for three classes:
1. The First Class meets twice each week during the session, on
each occasion spending from two to four hours in practical experiment
in the Laboratory. A regularly arranged course of practice in
Chemical Manipulation is first pursued; Qualitative Analysis is then
taken up, and the means of detecting the most important chemical
substances having been learned, students are required to find out for
themselves, by analysis, the constituents of unknown materials presented
to them. Special attention is given to substances having useful
applications in the Arts or connected with Agriculture. Towards
the close of the session the elements of Quantitative Analysis are
taught, so far as the limitation of time will permit.
2. The Laboratory will be open to the Second Class on five days of
each week during the whole of the working hours of each day. A
full course of instruction in Practical Chemistry, including the Qualitative
and Quantitative Analysis of Ores, Soils, Manures, Technical
Products, &c., will be given; and students will be assisted and
encouraged to undertake original research.
3. The Third Class is one specially intended for students of Medicine,
and will meet for lessons of two hours each once in the week
for four months of the session. To this class the practical applications
of Chemistry to Medicine will be taught — the detection of Poisons,
chemical and microscopical examination of Animal Products, urine,
blood, &c.
Amongst the works recommended to laboratory students are
Fresenius — Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis; H. Rose — Hand
buch der analytischen Chemie (also in French translation); Greville
Williams — Handbook of Chemical Manipulation; Wöhler — Examples
for Practice in Chemical Analysis; Bolley — Handbuch der technisch
chemischen Untersuchungen; Odling — Practical Chemistry for Medical
Students; A. H. Church — Laboratory Guide for Agricultural Students.
The Diploma of Graduate in this School will be conferred upon
such students as attend with diligence the Course of Lectures and
the Second Class of Laboratory Instruction, and give evidence on
examination of satisfactory attainments in the same. For the requirements
in this school for the degrees in Mining and Civil Engineering,
&c., reference is made to the general notice of Degrees.
Very liberal provision has been made by the Board of Visitors for
the material means of illustration of the teachings of this Chair. A
new Laboratory building of ample size, specially designed for the
purposes of working students, has been erected, containing all necessary
rooms, fitted with double windows for the preservation of
uniform temperature, and amply supplied with gas, water and all
proper laboratory fixtures. All needful apparatus, chemicals, minerals,
models, &c., and an unusually fine collection of specimens
illustrating the various arts and manufactures as practised on the
great scale, have been procured from England, France, and Germany
It may safely be said that the University of Virginia is in this
department inferior in material preparation for instruction to no
institution of learning in America, and in some respects is probably
superior to any.
Miller Agricultural Scholarships.
With a portion of the means supplied by the donation of the late
Mr. Samuel Miller of Lynchburg, the Board of Visitors of the University
have established in connection with the Agricultural Department
two scholarships, each of five hundred dollars per annum, and
tenable for two years (one to be filled and one vacated in each
year), to be competed for at a special examination upon the whole of
the subjects taught in the department to be held near the close of
each session — candidates for this examination to be already graduates
in the studies of the department. Scholars thus elected will be
expected to continue their studies during the term of their scholarships,
and to render such assistance in the minor duties of instruction,
of them. It is hoped that thus the opportunity may be afforded in
this school to such students of becoming thoroughly competent
chemists, worthy of public confidence in regard to all the purposes
which their special knowledge may subserve, and that even during
their tenure of the scholarships in question they may be able to
render useful service in the examination and analysis of agricultural
and other materials of general interest. They will be subject to no
charge for tuition during the two years, but will be expected to defray
the expense of material they may consume in the Laboratory.
| A catalogue of the officers and students of the University of Virginia | |