The discussion of the origin of air interested me the most in this talk. I like the tactic of stripping everything you know about something to the basics to discover more about it. I found it interesting how Priestly’s entire life was guided by his Tuberculosis. If he did not have tuberculosis, he would most likely be more religious and less concerned with air, which would diminish the progress in the discovery of air. Pneumatic is the study of air and its relation to other things. I never knew that there was an actual study of air but I am glad I learned about it. I also like how he unintentionally found “good” and “bad” air without realizing what it meant. Although, it was the concentration of oxygen in the region, he saw that the presence of plants and animals heightened the “good” air present. Also, he had a similar unintentional cure by preposing that carbonated water would cure scurvy but in reality, the Vitamin C in the citrus flavorings proved the medicinal effect. He unintentionally, second-handedly made two discoveries that advanced our knowledge of the subject at that time and I am just in awe that someone is capable of doing that.
Yes, sometimes when you look back at the past, Alicia, it is hard not to find yourself in awe of some individuals who made more than their share of discoveries. It makes one wonder if there simply was just a lot more to discover then compared to today. Today a lot more is known, maybe because these simpler truths were easier to find…or is it that these individuals were just so bright and driven that they were destined to make these discoveries, despite lacking much of the advanced technology that is available to us now?