 | Catalogue of the University of Virginia |  |
CHEMISTRY.
This subject, included in the medical as well as the general
academic course, and forming a department of the School of
Chemistry and Materia Medica, may be studied separately, or in
conjunction with the latter.
The Lectures, which are delivered twice a week throughout
the session, embrace a very full illustration of all the topics of
theoretical or practical importance in the science, and in its applications
and Physiology.
Beginning with an account of the phenomena and laws of Heat,
Light, and Electricity, Mechanical and Voltaic, the course next
takes up the doctrines of chemical reaction, presenting a full and
minute view of the principles of definite combination, with their
hypothetical expression in the form of the atomic theory, and
illustrating these doctrines by numerous experiments and drawings.
To this succeeds Pneumatic Chemistry, in which are discussed
the preparations, properties, and applications of the various gaseous
bodies and their compounds.
This is followed by the detailed account of the metals, their
oxides, chlorides, and other compounds, connecting with each
metal the chemical history of its important salts. A résumé is
now given, accompanied by illustrations of the various processes
of analysis deduced from the preceding facts.
Organic Chemistry is next taken up, embracing an account of
all the more important organic acids, alkaloids, and neutral principles,
together with a view of the alcoholic, aceteous, and other
fermentations; the Chemistry of nutrition, growth, respiration,
&c. , in the vegetable and animal economy; and that of soils and
manures, as connected with agriculture.
In connection with these topics, experimental illustrations are
given of all the valuable processes for detecting poisons, and for
counteracting their effects. The more important operations of
analysis, as applied to ores, marls, manures, gases, mineral
waters, &c. , are also described and exemplified.
Throughout the course, use is constantly made of ample diagrams
illustrating the chemical reactions, according to the method
of equivalents; and the bearings of the recent generalizations of
Dumas, Leibig, Kane, Graham, and others, are particularly referred
to. Text-Books—Rogers' Turner, Fownes' or Gregory's
Outlines.
| Catalogue of the University of Virginia | |