DUMAS, Leçons sur la Philosophie Chimique, 1878

Jean-Baptiste Dumas (1800-1884), professor at the Collège de France, was a leading French chemist and politician, known for his contributions to organic chemistry and the design of the metric system. His Leçons sur la Philosophie Chimique (Lessons on Chemical Philosophy), collected by M. Bineau, is a series of lectures that explore the fundamental concepts and general principles underlying chemistry of his time. This work is important for understanding the evolution of chemical thought in the 19th century, debates on the nature of elements, the classification of compounds, and scientific methodology in chemistry. It testifies to Dumas' reflective approach to his discipline.