The classic work on the chemistry of cookery with frontispiece and title vignette illustrating stoves and cooking utensils, and introductory chapters on such subjects as "Difference between an epicure and a glutton," "Extraordinarily great eaters, and observations on abstinence," and "Comparative alimentary effects of animal and vegetable foods." The author was of German Jewish origin, born in Bückenburg, the family name changing from Marcus to Accum when his father adopted Christianity. Accum's early chemical training was at the apothecary's shop of Brande in Hanover, he then came to London in 1793 and took up work at the Brande pharmacy in Arlington Street, Brande at that time serving as apothecary to George III as ruler of both Hanover and Great Britain.