On March 18, 1911, there passed away one of the strongest men of the Victorian era, who had given up the greatest part of his life in improving the profession of pharmacy by his chemical knowledge, and his devotion to the best interests of the sciences which he loved, and of which he was generally acclaimed a master.
ilrhile the name of Michael Carteighe was known in Ainerica to the initiated, the name of Attfield is as familiar to those of the present generation as Proctor, Parrish, or Squibb. It is not the intention to draw comparisons in the careers of Attfield and Cartheighe, two stalwart defenders of the faith; for while both were intellectual giants, who consecrated their lives to the benefit of pharmacy, they were totally different in their personalities and the fields which each had selected for his activities.
H e wrote a book at a time when it was sorely needed, which drove away the mists which had gathered upon the chemical horizon, and pointed a course which led into a cleared atmosphere. The first edition of this book was instantly successful, and the English edition was proliably no less successful than the one published in America. It has passed through nineteen editions. But even a brief review of his life is wanting if the publica?ion of this book is given the greatest prominence.
H e was born in 1835, at Rarnet, and the Rev. Alexander Stuart was his school teacher. Although he was destined to become a great teacher in chemistry, at the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to W. F. Smith, Ph. C., of Walworth, with whom he remained five years. He was sent to Bloomsbury Square, London, to enter the School of Pharmacy of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, and in 1854 was awarded the medals in chemistry, pharmacy, and in botany and materia medica.
Dr. Stenhouse, professor of chemistry in the school of medicine at Saint Gartholomew's Hospital, appointed John Attfield junior assistant. Among the other candidates for this position were Crookes, Mathieson, and Henry Watts, editor of \Vatts' Dictionary. Dr. Edward Frankland succeeded Dr. Stenhouse, and Attfield remained with him as demonstrator, and assistant in many of his researches.
At the age of twenty-seven, John Attfield was appointed director of the 1,aboratory at the Society's School, and he afterwards became professor of practical chemistry, when Professor Theophilus Redwood gave up a part of his work.
John Attfield was a great educator.
Attfield was learned, resolute, brave and persistent.