From medicine to natural philosophy: Francis Hauksbee's way to the air-pump

Abstract

Francis Hauksbee (1660–1713) is well known for his double-barrelled air-pump. However, the origin of this pump, and Hauksbee's background, are often described as a mystery. This text seeks to dispel the riddle. It is argued that Hauksbee's competence as an exceptional maker of air-pumps was developed between 1699 and 1703 as a result of his experiences with the construction, manufacturing and sale of cupping-glasses. His cupping utensils embodied a new design, where syringes were used to evacuate the glasses, instead of the traditional way by fire or mouth suction. These syringes, which in fact were small air-pumps, were perfected between 1699 and 1701. A larger syringe, introduced in 1701, served as a transition from the cupping-syringe to his first air-pump for use in natural philosophy. This syringe was described as a ‘combined engine’, which could serve as an air-pump, a condensing engine and a syringe for injecting air, wax or mercury into pathological specimens. Hauksbee's first air-pump was a single-barrelled model introduced in 1702, based on the combined engine. Its various features, such as easy and convenient leak-tightening, exact pressure measurements by an in-built barometer and an air-inlet function for readmission of air into the receiver, are discussed. Finally, it is shown that these activities gave Hauksbee the reputation of being an outstanding instrument-maker, years before the double-barrelled air-pump was in sight.

Apparatus and Experimentation Revisited

“…The Steno Museum of Aarhus University combines historic apparatus with modern reconstructions of such apparatus; there is a lot to be learned about the practice of science from such reconstructions. Brundtland's study of the air pump was informed by his skill as an instrument maker (Brundtland 2008). Brenni is in demand for the conservation and also the restoration of historic instruments.…”

Le carrefour thérapeutique : médecine, techniques et pouvoirs dans l’Europe moderne

“…L'instrumentation scientifique de l'époque bénéficie des techniques développées à des fins thérapeutiques. C'est le cas de la toute jeune science expérimentale londonienne dont la pompe à vide repose sur une maîtrise des procédés de verre soufflé pour les ventouses 24 ; les expérimentations pharmaceutiques irriguent l'industrie alimentaire qui émerge en France à la fin du xviii e siècle 25 . Le laboratoire, longtemps pensé comme l'espace scientifique par excellence, apparaît désormais comme le résultat du transfert du matériel et des pratiques pharmaceutiques 26…”

Restoration commerce and the instruments of trust

“… 1. On the cross-fertilization of natural philosophy with political economy more generally, see also: Johnson (1966); Romanell (1984); Vinnicombe and Staveley (2002); Caffentzis (2003); Brundtland (2008); Clément and Desmedt (2009); Anstey (2010). …”