Technikatörténeti szemle 19. (1992)

KÖNYVISMERTETÉS - Papers of the First „MINERALKONTOR” International Conference on the History of Chemistry and Chemical Industry (Veszprém, 12-16 August, 1991)

of the mineral cabinet still five years. In 1823 after a long competition Gadolins disciple Pehr Adolf v. Bonsdorff (1791—1839) was appointed professor in chemistry. As co-worker of Berzelius in 1821 and through large journeys v. Bonsdorff made contacts with the most prominent chemists. He continued the mineral chemistry traditions of Gadolin and teached yearly 20—30 students in the spirit of the time. Lauri Niinisto has given in the present symposium an excellent presentation of the life and work of v. Bonsdorff. I refer to his presentation for more information. The 4th and 5th September 1827 a great fire destroyed nearly whole Turku. Also the Academy with all its collections and libraries perished in the flames. The new czar Nicolaus I. caused a second adversity. He ordained by a decree the Academy to move to the new capital, Helsinki (Helsingfors). Here the supervision of the spirit of the university could be more forceful. The teaching intended to begin in Helsinki in 1829. The blow was very hard and it took several decades to repair the material and spiritual damages. The Imperial Alexander University of Helsinki In the beginning the working conditions of the university in Helsinki were very modest. Especially chemistry got very unsatisfactory laboratories, but later more suitable localities were given in the university main building. The spiritual climate was also harsh. A typical pecualiarity of the time was that the Cancellor of the university was a member of the ruling house. From 1821 onwards for 50 years the Vice-Cancellor was a general who worked only in political questions and the control of the students and teachers. Adolf v. Bonsdorff continued his research in his private laboratory and the teaching in the very limited spaces at the university. His sudden death in 1839 was hard blow for the chemical research. As also the very able associate professor Victor Hartwall had resigned in 1834 the development was badly disturbed. Associate professor Adolf Moberg, later appointed professor in physics conducted the teaching. During his time in the beginning of the forties the system of qualitative analysis of Fresenius and the teaching of preparation of organic compounds were introduced. In 1842 the chemical laboratory got at last new and efficient working facilities in the present institution for pharmacy, next to university main building. In 1847 after a competition where Berzelius recommended Adolf Erik Arppe (1818—1890, professor 1847—1869) instead of Moberg to the chair, the former was elected professor. Arppes thesis for the chair, „De acido pyrotartarico" treated a new branch, organic chemistry. During the end of the century organic chemistry was the main subject of research of the chemical laboratory at the university. Arppe was an able administrator. He was elected rector of the university. During his time in 1869 the chemical institut got the greatest part of a new laboratory building, the Arppeanum. Chemistry shared it with mineralogy, geology and physics. There was in all places for 60 students in chemistry. The acts of 1827 decreed that the professor should teach in addition to chemistry also mineralogy, general technology and metallurgy and especially farmacy. Also the medical students got their chemical education in the laboratory. In the