Expertos, química y medicina: Antonio Casares (1812-1888), José Salgado (1811-1890) y la controversia en torno al análisis de las aguas del balneario de Carratraca

Abstract

This article studies a scientific controversy on the chemical analysis of Carratraca Spa water and discusses the shaping of the scientific authority of two mid-19th century Spanish experts in mineral waters: Antonio Casares, professor of chemistry at the University of Santiago, and Jose Salgado, medical director of the Spa. It considers the resources employed by the two experts in the dispute and shows that much of the scientific controversy involved not only technical issues but also numerous economic, social and personal interests of the participants. Besides addressing the role played by both experts in the controversy, the article reports on the participation of other stakeholders with different levels of expertise. Their involvement in the dispute was reflected in specialized media, medical reports, special issues, chemical treatises, and specialized articles as well as in the general press. Finally, the article shows that discussions on analytical methods, instrument use or results interpretation also involved consideration of other issues, such as the training and skills of experts and their privileges, prerogatives and scientific authority, which affected the development and ending of the controversy.