Rare Science Book: Metcalf Samuel Lytler; A New Theory of Terrestrial Magnetism. (Read before the New York Lyceum of Natural History.) 1833

Metcalf Samuel Lytler; A New Theory of Terrestrial Magnetism. (Read before the New York Lyceum of Natural History.) New York: G. & C. & H. Carvill, 1833. Octavo (233 x 135 mm), pp. 8,  vi, v, 158.

The work is complete and in the original brown cloth with a later paper spine title label. The binding is tight, scuffing to boards and spine. The text is clean with an penned inscription to the New York Lyceum from the author on the title page and their small library stamp followed by the N.Y. Academy of Sciences stamp and book plate. Later owners small book plate below NYAS book plate. The ownership of the book is provided from its presentation by the author to the present. In very good condition.

Metcalf (1798-1856) was an American chemist, geologist and physician who attempted to account for all natural phenomena in terms of caloric rather then interms of conservation of energy which was just starting to appear. His caloric arguments followed those of Black, Lavoisier and Dalton. The theory proposed by Metcalf  is that "caloric" is the cause of atmospheric electricity, gravitation, magnetic polarity, etc. 
Metcalf went to school at Transylvania, and went to England to continue his studies in chemistry and geology. In addition to his works on caloric, he published the Kentucky Harmonist and the rare work Collection of...Narratives of the Indian Warfare. He practiced medicine in New Albany, Indiana and on the Mississippi.