A Brief Account of Microscopical Observations made in the Months of June, July, and August, 1827, on the Particles contained in the Pollen of Plants; and on the general Existence of active Molecules and Inorganic Bodies; [bound with:] Additional Remarks on Active Molecules. [Extracted from:] The Philosophical Magazine, New Series, Vol. IV [& VI], No. 21 [& 55], pp. 161-73 [& 161-6].

BROWN, Robert.

Published by London: Richard Taylor, 1828 & 1829

About this Item

First published editions, extracted from the Philosophical Magazine, the Brief Account being preceded only by a very rare privately printed edition of the same year; the two works which discovered and introduced Brownian Motion. "In 1927 Brown, while making microscopical observations, saw that pollen grains. while suspended in liquid, engaged in a continuous, haphazard, zig-zag movement. The idea that gases and liquids consist of molecules in rapid motion was not new, but it had remained largely speculative until it was scientifically proved and investigated in detail by Robert Brown and his followers" (PMM). "Brownian Motion", as his discovery was subsequently named, formed the basis for kinetic theory of gases, and served as proof of the existence of atoms and molecules. "Brown's careful extended work dispelled the animist view of the construction of organic material. However, the true significance of what became known as Brunonian or Brownian Motion or movement was not realized until long afterwards by physicists and mathematicians. All these observations were made using simple microscopes. He demonstrated streaming to Charles Darwin who went to sit with him for training in microscopy and who much later was to build on Brown's pioneering work on pollination and fertilization. Brown, again using his simple microscopes, also helped James Paget to investigate trichinosis". The publication "caused sufficient stir so as to be mentioned in George Eliot's Middlemarch" (ODNB). Printing and the Mind of Man 290 for the privately printed edition. Milestones of Science 31; Norman 354. Two works bound in a single vol., octavo (210 x 123 mm). Recent marbled boards, black label to front cover. Title pages for each of the vols bound in. Binding fine. First title guarded in gutter, obscured library stamp to title and first page of each article, contents otherwise clean, nicks at head of second title. Very good copies.

Seller Inventory # 153266

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Brief Account of Microscopical Observations made in the Months of June, July, and August, 1827, on the Particles contained in the Pollen of Plants; and on the general Existence of active Molecules and Inorganic Bodies; [bound with:] Additional Remarks on Active Molecules. [Extracted from:] The Philosophical Magazine, New Series, Vol. IV [& VI], No. 21 [& 55], pp. 161-73 [& 161-6].
• Publisher: London: Richard Taylor, 1828 & 1829
• Edition: 1st Edition