Robert Kennedy DUNCAN (1868-1914), Canadian-born American ch - Lot 130

Lot 130
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600 - 800 EUR
Robert Kennedy DUNCAN (1868-1914), Canadian-born American ch - Lot 130
Robert Kennedy DUNCAN (1868-1914), Canadian-born American chemist, professor at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, D.C.; in 1901, he went to Paris to study radioactivity with Pierre and Marie Curie. 3 typed letters signed to Henri Becquerel. 2 pp. in-8 and 2 pp. in-4, Chemical Laboratory letterheads. Washington, Sept. 1901 - April 1902. In English and French. He has received his two publications and proposes to review them, but will await his agreement. "I am writing to you now to beg your distinguished advice on a meditated research. The study of radioactivity has led me to consider the physical basis of the sense of smell. On this subject, I have read Professor Tyndall's research in which he proves the absorbing power of odoriferous emanations on radiant heat. I also came across an article by Mr. Will. Ramsay in the English "Nature" of June 22, 1882, page 188, in which he suggests that it should be possible to obtain a spectrum from the absorption of heat by odoriferous emanations (heat absorption spectrum). The whole article seems to me to be full of possibilities. Would you be so kind as to tell me whether this idea has been worked on [...]". In a third letter, he sent him a proof of his article on radioactivity and asked for his opinion. "The article will be published in the August number of Harper's Magazine. The subject proved too abstruse for McClure's constituency, but it was gladly accepted by Harper's as a fitting sequel to Prof. J.J. Thomson's article on Cathode Rays [...]".
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