Further to the subject of urine chemistry in the letter from Len Fischer (Chem. Aust. 2008, 75(10), 2), and his reference to Ian Rae's letter on the subject [Chem. Aust. 2008, 75(6), 39), I thought it appropriate to add a reference that illustrates the connections between chemistry and 'uroscopy' as portrayed over the ages in an excellent article by Joachim Schummer and Tami I. Spector - The visual image of chemistry: perspectives from the history of art and science' (http://www.hyle.org/journal/issues/13-1/schummer-spector.htm), which appeared in the International Journal for Philosophy of Chemistry (2007, 13(1), www.hyle.org/journal/issues/13-1/index.html, pp. 3-41). A ready reference is at the website www.hyle.org/journal/ issues/13-1/schummer-spector.htm). When you are next tempted to portray a chemist holding a flask, or a flask containing a fake coloured solution, don't forget the origins of the 'image'.
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