Case of the Poisonous Socks: Tales from Chemistry - Softcover

Brock, William H

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1849733244 ISBN 13: 9781849733243

Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2011

Synopsis

In 1868, The Times reported that poisons contained in dyes were affecting the public's health. A doctor informed a London magistrate that brilliantly coloured socks had caused severe "constitutional and local complaint" to several of his patients. In one case, a patient's foot had become so swollen that his boots had to be cut off. Respected chemist, William Crookes, offered to identify the poison if doctors would send him samples of the deadly socks. The story of how he solved the mystery gives this book its title and forms the basis of the first chapter. Written by a respected science historian and established author, this collection of essays contains 42 tales of chemists and their discoveries from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Other topics covered include: the quirky beliefs of American philanthropist, George Hodgkins; the development of the chemical laboratory since the 1830s, and the career of C.P. Snow before he became a novelist. Its broad coverage and modern approach makes it of interest to chemists, teachers, historians and laypeople with an interest in science. Written with a light style and presented in a series of unconnected vignettes the book is easy to dip into at leisure.

About this title

Book Description

Written by a respected science historian and established author, this collection of essays touches on all aspects of chemistry. It contains 42 tales about chemists and their discoveries from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The title is taken from the lead chapter which describes how respected chemist, William Crookes, solved a mystery from the 1860s of how brilliantly coloured socks were causing the feet of unfortunate wearers to swell. Other topics covered include: the quirky beliefs of American philanthropist, George Hodgkins; the development of the chemical laboratory since the 1830s, and the career of C.P. Snow before he became a novelist. Light in style, and presented as a series of unconnected vignettes, the book will interest chemists, teachers, historians and lay people with an interest in science.

About the Author

William H. Brock is a retired Professor of the History of Science. He read Chemistry at UCL before studying the History of Science at the University of Leicester where he later became a lecturer then a professor. He has published many papers and books including The Fontana History of Chemistry.

Edition details

• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1849733244
• ISBN 13: 9781849733243
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 362