Edinburgh, Scotland/edinburgh096
Previous | Home | NextA century later, Edgar presented his map of 1742, only a decade before Black performed his work. The detail is worse than Rothiemay's map of the previous century, but reputedly is more accurate. Cowgate, the Old College, College Wynd, and the Gardens are as in Rothiemay's map. In November 1724, the College of Physicians -- Drs. John Rutherford (who happened to be the father of Daniel Rutherford), Andrew Sinclair, Andrew Plummer, and John Innes -- set up a chemical laboratory in the garden in order to supply the apothecaries with drugs. The location of this Medical laboratory has been described to be at the eastern end of the Gardens, next to the Royal Infirmary. Joseph Black as a student conducted his researches on fixed air and magnesium probably at this laboratory. Furthermore, when Daniel Rutherford wrote his medical dissertation, working with Joseph Black, announcing the discovery of nitrogen ("dephlogisticated air"), it also was probably in this laboratory.
