化學分原及其底本：清末分析化學之開始

Abstract

1871年出版的《化學分原》是近現代中國第一本分析化學書籍。它的西文原著，過去一直被認為是包曼(John Eddowes Bowman)在1866 年美國發行的第4 版的An Introduction to Practical Chemistry, Including Analysis, 經過我們重新考證，發現作者雖是包曼，但卻是1866年在英國出版的第5版。《化學分原》共有8卷，包括有定性(qualitative analysis)與定量分析(quantitative analysis)內容。身為一本入門分析實驗書籍，《化學分原》除了介紹了實驗室的藥劑整理分類，器具保持清潔乾淨等方法外，最重要的是，它還鼓勵讀者，即使只有最簡陋的實驗器具，應該還是保持無畏困境依然進行實驗的精神。另外，在這本書中，還包括了自製玻璃實驗器具，自製藥品及檢驗試劑之純度，實驗室必備的試劑等章節，這對於毫無化學實驗概念及經驗的中國人而言，《化學分原》無非提供最基本的又完整的分析實驗教材。

Huaxue Fenyuan, the earliest book of analytical chemistry translated in China, was first published in 1871. Since that time, many have assumed that the original version for this book was taken from John Eddowes Bowman` An Introduction to Practical Chemistry, Including Analysis (Fourth Version) - published in Philadelphia in 1866. However, as our research has discovered, Bowman`s Fifth Version had already been published in London as early as 1866. There are eight volumes in Huaxue Fenyuan, including qualitative and quantitative analysis. As an introductory book on analytical chemistry Huaxue Fenyuan provides information on a range of rudimentary basics, including such things as conducting analytical experiments, classifying chemical agents in the laboratory, and even how maintain the cleanliness of lab equipment. Moreover, it also encourages the reader to be bold in their attempts at experimentation, providing chapters on how to assemble glass-making equipment, how to maintain the purity of diagnostic agents, and the required agents needed for laboratory experiments. For the Chinese of the time, who were largely ignorant of such chemical experimentation, this book, and the foundational teaching material it contained, no doubt provided them with a most fundamental and comprehensive survey on the subject analytical chemistry. It was just the beginning.