[Transcriber’s Note:
Typographical errors are listed at the end of the file. Misspelled Greek
names were treated as errors; others are noted but not changed.]

* * * * *

President’s Opening Address to Chemical Section.

ON THE ANTIQUITY
OF
THE CHEMICAL ART.

By JAMES MACTEAR, F.C.S., F.C.I.




THE PRESIDENT’S OPENING ADDRESS TO THE CHEMICAL SECTION.

_On the Antiquity of the Chemical Art._ By JAMES MACTEAR,
F.C.S., F.C.I., Member of the International Jury,
Paris, 1878, and Medalist of the Society of Arts.

[Read before the Section, December 8th, 1879.]


The study of the History of Chemistry as an art, or as a science, is one
which possesses peculiar fascination for its votaries. It has been the
subject of deep research and much discussion, much has been written upon
the subject, and many theories have been broached to account for its