Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 24.djvu/855

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SKETCH OF AUGUST WILHELM HOFMANN.
835

try," and since 1874 has also been one of the editors of the "Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie," established by Liebig.

A portion of the course of lectures upon inorganic chemistry, which he had delivered so acceptably before the Royal College of Chemistry in London, was published in book form in 1866, under the title of "Lectures on Chemistry." It was soon after translated into German, and has passed through several editions under the more appropriate title of an "Introduction to Modern Chemistry." We know of no other book in any language on this trite subject that exhibits so much originality of treatment, or that is more pleasing in style, convincing in its demonstrations, and logical in method. Taken in connection with the ingenious apparatus therein described, it has had avery beneficial effect upon the methods of teaching chemistry.

The substance of his lectures upon organic chemistry was published in 1872 by one of his former assistants, Dr. A. Pinner, and during the past year it has been translated into English by Professor P. T. Austen, one of his American pupils.

Hofmann's "Life-Work of Liebig" is a worthy monument to the great chemist; while his biography of the great French chemist, Jean Baptiste Andre Dumas, in the "Nature" series of scientific worthies, is a charming specimen of English composition. His memorials of deceased scientists are worthy of more than passing mention. Among those whose memories have been perpetuated by his pen are Thomas Graham, Gustav Magnus, and last of all Friedrich Wohler.

Several of his addresses delivered upon special occasions have been published, among which are two academical orations delivered recently in Berlin, which have appeared under the title of "Chemische Erinnerungen aus der Berliner Vergangenheit." His inaugural address upon assuming the rectorship of the Berlin University has provoked some discussion, owing to the position taken in regard to classical studies, and has already been referred to in our pages. His largest and most important work is his "Report on the Development of Chemical Industries," which first appeared in 1875-'76.