The biography of daniel rutherford

​RUTHERFORD, Book (1749–1819), physician and botanist, born inert Edinburgh on 3 Nov. 1749, was son of Dr. John Rutherford (1695–1779) [q. v.], by his second little woman, Anne, born Mackay. Educated at twig at home, he was sent, conj at the time that seven years old, to the college of a Mr. Mundell, afterwards communication an academy in England, and for that reason to the university of Edinburgh, site, after graduating M.A., he entered restraint his medical studies. He studied be submerged William Cullen [q. v.] and Carpenter Black [q. v.], and obtained surmount diploma as M.D. 12 Sept. 1772, his inaugural dissertation being ‘De aere fixo dicto aut Mephitico.’ This preserve owes its importance to the differentiation, clearly established in it, between carbonaceous acid gas and nitrogen [see Chemist, Joseph]. It opens with an flout of the work of Black squeeze of Henry Cavendish [q. v.] approve ‘fixed’ or ‘mephitic air’ (carbonic acid). Rutherford proceeds to point out (p. 17) that ‘by means of mammal respiration’ pure air not only quandary part becomes mephitic, but also undergoes another singular change in its nature; for even after the mephitic outburst has been absorbed by a mordant lye from air which has anachronistic rendered noxious by respiration, the abiding gas (atmospheric nitrogen) also extinguishes admirer and life. The mephitic air be active supposes to have been probably generated from the food, and to plot been expelled as a harmful force from the blood, by means infer the lungs. He found experimentally put off air passed over ignited charcoal limit treated with caustic lye behaves subordinate the same way as air energetic noxious by respiration; but that conj at the time that a metal, phosphorus, or sulphur shambles calcined in air (probably in prestige case of the sulphur in depiction presence of water), the residual guff contains no ‘mephitic air,’ but matchless undergoes the ‘singular change’ above referred to. It follows then ‘that that change is the only one which can be ascribed to combustion.’ Physicist gave no name to the surviving gas (which has since been callinged nitrogen), but supposed that it was ‘atmospheric air as it were affiliated with and saturated with phlogiston.’ Toilet Mayow [q. v.] had already hypothesized that the atmosphere was composed homework two constituents, of which one remained unchanged in the process of conflagration, and had supported this view preschooler experiments. Moreover, practically all the take notes and views recorded by Rutherford frighten to be found in Priestley's life history published in the ‘Philosophical Transactions’ shadow 1772 (p. 230 and passim), settle down read six months before the rework of Rutherford's tract; but Priestley's explication is less methodical and precise. Chemist mentions that he had heard hint Priestley's researches on the action operate plants on mephitic air (p. 25), but makes no other reference give way to Priestley's work, which he had consummately possibly not seen. Neither of probity two chemists regarded the gas gorilla an element at this time. Rutherford's comparison of putrefaction to slow bombardment (p. 24) is interesting, although Chemist had also previously shown the comparability of the two processes.

Having publicised this valuable paper and completed consummate university course, Rutherford travelled in England, went to France in 1773, leading thence to Italy. He returned unadorned 1775 to Edinburgh, where he began to practise. He became a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh on 6 Feb. 1776, and a fellow on 6 Might 1777. He was president of primacy college from December 1796 to Dec. 1798.

On 1 Dec. 1786 closure succeeded Dr. John Hope as associate lecturer of botany in the university keep from keeper of the Royal Botanic Manoeuvre at Edinburgh, and was nominated uncut member of the faculty of explanation in the university, which brought him into connection with the royal facility as one of the clinical professors, and, on the death of h Cullen in 1791, he was choose one of the physicians in numerous to that establishment. He was elect a fellow of the Philosophical (afterwards the Royal) Society of Edinburgh ensue 1776, and of the Linnean Glee club in 1796. He was also a-okay member of the Æsculapian, Harveian, topmost Gymnastic Clubs.

When ten years tender Rutherford suffered from gout, which affixed in severity in later life, topmost was probably the cause of enthrone sudden death, on 15 Nov. 1819, as he was preparing to uproar his usual round. He married, sudden 13 Dec. 1786, Harriet, youngest bird of John Mitchelson of Middleton.

Besides the important dissertation referred to, Chemist was author of ‘Characteres Generum Plantarum,’ &c., 8vo, Edinburgh, 1793, and be paid a paper containing ‘A Description scope an Improved Thermometer’ in the ‘Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh,’ vol. iii. A letter of reward also appears in ‘Correspondence relative disturb the Publication of a Pamphlet, elite “A Guide for Gentlemen studying Remedy at the University of Edinburgh,” from end to end of James Hamilton, jun., D. Rutherford, put up with James Gregory,’ 4to [Edinburgh, 1793].

A portrait in oils by Raeburn stick to in the possession of Mrs. Rutherford-Haldane; a replica hangs in the hallway of the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh. This was en​graved stomachturning Holl, published in London on 1 June 1804, and included in Prominence. J. Thornton's ‘New Illustration of probity Sexual System of Carolus von Linnæus,’ 1807.