ULTRA-VIOLET RAY PIONEER
Shrewsbury Chemist & Scientist T. P. Blunt

   SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

     Mr. T. Blunt published many scientific papers, most of them from his analytical work. There are indications of how far he was in advance of his day when he suggested a colorimetric method for quantitive estimation. He was a Fellow of the institute of Chemistry and a Fellow of the Chemical Society.

He was offered a knighthood for his achievements in research, but humbly declined. His partner in research, Arthur Downes, accepted the title.

Downes A., and Blunt T. P., “Researches on the Effect of Light upon Bacteria and Other Organisms”, Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, 26; 488, 1877.
available here:

A. Downes and T P Blunt “on the influence of light upon protoplasm”
Proc.Roy.Soc. vol. 28 p.199-213 1878 ( scroll to list below for link)

Downes A., and Blunt T. P., “Behaviour of Oxalic Acid and the Oxalates of the Alkalies, and of Potassium Iodide, in Sunlight”, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Volume 29, p 219-221
available here:

'The Influence of Light on bacteria" by Royal Society of Victoria, Melbourne - 1884 - available Here

“The Relation of Certain Bacteria to Agriculture”( ref: original copy: as read to the Caradoc and Severn Valley Field Club )

"The effect of light upon some reagents and chemical compounds" T. P. Blunt M.A. Oxon . F.C.S. ... Royal Society of Chemistry - available Here

Thos.P Blunt,  M.A. Oxon.F.C.S. - was Chemist to the Shropshire Chamber of Agriculture

To see more papers scroll below...

     His famous research which he carried out in conjunction with Dr. Arthur Downes, was published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society No. 184 1877, under the title "Researches on the effect of Light upon Bacteria and other Organisms."

Downes & Blunt were a remarkable union of talent. They found that direct sunlight is quickly fatal to most bacteria and even in a little longer time to spores, while diffused light is less harmful. Many experiments worked out the difference in action between the rays of different wave-lengths in the spectrum; those of the longest wave-length and slowest vibration at the red end, the " heat rays," had no germicidal power; this began at the yellow " light rays " about the sodium line, where the vibration-velocity of the ray was greater, and its wave-length consequently shorter. The changes correspondingly progress through the green, blue and violet, the " chemical or actinic " rays, increasing in germicidal power. The invisible or obscure rays beyond the violet—" the ultra-violet"—were more germicidal still.

They found the blue, violet and ultraviolet rays of sunlight had the greatest bactericidal effects and that heat had no role, and the Germicidal activity of Ultraviolet Rays was discovered.

The following passage is quoted from an authority on ultra-violet radiation - "In 1877 Downes and Blunt proved the bactericidal action of light. Two series of culture tubes were submitted to irradiation; one of the tubes was surrounded by lead-foil which would prevent the action of light, but not that of heat, the other tubes were left uncovered, and it was found that only in the former did the organisms grow. The media in which the bacteria were killed were again inoculated with organisms which developed normally, proving that the light acted on the organs themselves and not on the media, and that the heat had no bactericidal effect." Light as a curative agent has a popular interest just now in view of its use in the King's illness, but the importance of the work done in Shrewsbury in the seventies in this connection is apt to be overlooked or under-estimated.

    A quotation from a standard work of "Heliotherapy" by Dr. A. Rollier, published in 1923:
  "The scientific history (of the bactericidal action of light) really began with the work of Downes and Blunt in 1877.  These researches of Downes and Blunt occupy the same position in the study of the bactericidal action of light as those of Newton do in thc study of radiant energy.

EXAMPLES

 A.  Within the next thirty years it was found that the ultraviolet component of the solar spectrum was effective in killing off a number of micro-organisms, including anthrax, cholera, dysentery, the plague and tuberculosis - the Finsen lamp by Niels Finsen - demonstrated that sunlight therapy could treat diseases of the skin.
    In the presentation speech for Finsen's Nobel Prize in Physiology or medicine, Downes and Blunt are credited with having begun the process:
see: Presentation Speech - 1903

B. In 1911, Dr Auguste Rollier, a Swiss physician, treated 369 cases of tuberculosis by the sun's rays. Of these, 284 were healed, 48 improved, on 21 there was no change, and only 4 percent died.  

Publication ref: Ultra-Violet: The Untold Story by Michael Lofton:
   Downes and Blunt, in 1877, discovered the dramatic ability of sunlight to destroy and provide for an effective means of treating bacterial infections. Another famous practitioner of sun therapy was Auguste Rollier MD, whose clinic was at 5,000 feet above sea level. Dr. Rollier stated that his patients would get the best results if they received the highest amount of ultraviolet light at this altitude. Ultraviolet intensity increases 4% to 5% every 1000 feet ascended. He apparently substantiated incredible results, which were published in his book La Cure de Soleil / Curing with the Sun.

The inaugeration of Radiobiology as a science to Modern methods of solar water disinfection

Several decades after the discovery of microbial inactivation with UV light from the sun by Downes and Blunt in 1877 ...The invention of the mercury arc by Cooper-Hewitt in 1901...and the Quartz-Burner as the first intensive UV source by Mich in 1906...to the first full-scale UV disinfection apparatus by Henri and coworkers in France 1910.
UV enhancement components are once again being utilized for water purification.

APPRECIATION of the work of T. P. Blunt

In the course of an appreciation, written to Miss M.E.. Blunt (daughter) by an old medical friend, occur the phrases:-

  "I always feel that recognition for his early work, and even fame, came to him while he was yet alive and able to appreciate the honour in which his name was held. It was certainly long overdue. Even yet in his own country, that work is too little known ; but it was true pioneer work and all the wonderful modern developments of treatment by Finsen light, ultra-violet rays, carbon arc lamps, etc., date back to it and are founded on his discoveries. Possibly even His Majesty the King, owes his recoveries to these agencies. If so, he owes it directly to your father's work."

He was a nephew of Henry Blunt, the noted Shrewsbury artist.

     Among his friends he numbered Samuel Butler, English composer, novelist, & satiric author, and he also had associations with Charles Darwin, and Dr. Darwin his father.

quoted from obit transcription

Chemistry/Natural Science, BA Oxford 1864
Royal Pharmeceutical Society Exam 1867
Registered as Chemist & Druggist 1868
County Analyst for Shropshire, Montgomery, Merioneth
  and the borough of Wenlock
Official Agricultural Analyst for Shropshire
Gas Examiner for Shrewsbury until 1919
Responsible for Botanical Collection / Shropshire museum

T. P. Blunt Links:

Please excuse any links that do not work, I try to keep up with
the changes made to sites and urls, so please inform me. email

1. Open University database

2. The Scientific Articles Collected by Ian Fleming /Lilly Library

3. Finsen's Nobel Prize in Physiology or medicine
    Presentation Speech - 1903 / Pioneers Blunt & Downes

4. The Darwin Correspondence Online Database, congratulatory
    correspondence to Thos. Blunt Sr. regarding Thomas Blunt Jr.

5. In 1877, Downes and Blunt found that sunlight was able to kill
    bacteria and in 1892, Marshall Ward furthered this research.
    R.U.G. Library - PDF Page 24

6. Please see the newspaper articles under "What did the Authorities     do to combat Cholera?" from: Shropshire Routes to Roots

7. Bactericidal Radiation / Rife / Credit Blunt & Downes

8. Basis of Radiotherapy / Treatment of Cancer

9. Stages of medicine / Defeated Diseases/ Credit Blunt & Downes

10. Chemical News and Journal of Industrial Science

1875 Notes on the analysis of minium ( or red lead) vol xxx2/3
1876 Oct 20 p.171 correspondence in responce to:
Rose colour observed in the manufacture of Chlorate of Potash

11. Published in the Journal of The Chemical society of London

1865 Notes on Phosphide of Magnesium by Thomas P. Blunt journal3 p.106-108
1886 Specific Gravity of Crystalline Strychnine by Thomas P. Blunt
(Pharm. J. Trans. [3], 17, 62)

A Simple Nitrometer T. P. Blunt.
(Pharm. Journ.. 3rd series, xvii. 763.)

Preserving of Damsons T. P. Blunt. ( preserving plumbs! ) 1887
(Pharm. Journ.. 3rd series, xviii. 315)

1889 Assay of emetine in wine of ipecac, volumetric, with Mayer's reagent. BLUNT, T. P. (J. Chem. Soc. 58, 310; Rep. de Pharm. 1890, 528. )

1890 Alkalimetric estimation of emetine.
Pharm. J. (3) 20. 809; Jsb. d. Pharm. 1890, 442, Chem. Centrbl. 1890, i, 881.

12. Papers in publication: The Analyst

In 1874 he joined the Society of Public Analysts. The following papers were published.

The Analysis of Commercial Lime ( 51, 625)
Ferrocyanide Test for Zinc v. 9, p. 232)
Permanganate Process for Water (v. 4, p. 94)
The contrary effects of sunlight in relation to certain chemical compounds/
1880 - Effect of Light on some Reagents and Chemical Compounds - April p.79b-81
1881-Notes on: Williams' Nitrogen Process (v.6, p.202)
1882 - Use of Platinic Chloride as an Indicator in Determination of Free Iodine v.7 p.135-136
1888 - Determining the Fixed Acids in Butter and Margarine vol. 13, issue June, p.110-111
1891 - Notes on Tabarie's Process for the Indirect Estimination of Alcohol v.16, .p.221-224
1896 - Note on Ginger ( Dec. v. 21, p.309)
1923 - Notes: author Thos.P. Blunt Separation of Arsenic v. 48, issue 573, p. 596
1926 - Notes by authors S. Herbert & T. .P. Blunt v. 51, issue 609, p. 624


Some full papers can be downloaded here:

13.confirming crime as county analyst

14. In 1879 - merioneth - became analyst for the county Medical Times & Gazzette

15. Published papers in the Publications: “Chemical News & the Pharmaceutical Journal”

April 4 1865 Preparation of Liquor Bismuthi
April 17 1866 Method of recovering Bismuth from solutuion
May 1865 Preparation of Liquor Bismuthi
Dec. 1868 p. 311- Detection of Nitrates in Waters

An Attempt to Determine " Emetine " by Alkalimetric Titration.
T. P. Blunt. (Pharm. Journ., 3rd series, xx. 809.

16. The Theory of Disinfectants ( 1871 )

17. New York Times "scientific gossip" August 29, 1880

18. On the Influence of Light upon Protoplasm (1878)Authors: ARTHUR DOWNES, MD, and THOMAS P. BLUNT, MA Oxon - Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Volume 28, p199- 212

19. Working on the Influence of Light on Bacteria
Nature Publishing Group - 1877 - Science & a followup publication in the Journal of Materia Medica - 1878

20. T.P. Blunt - British Flora - botany

21. Chaired the Caradoc and Severn Valley Field Club

22. N. D. Simpson's Bibliographic Index to the British Flora (1960)
Church Stretton illustrated; E. S. Cobbold 1903*; ii, 1905*; iii, 1908-9; iv, 1911-12*; v, 1916; vi, *; vii, 1933*; viii, 1928;

23. Dictionary of British and Irish Botanists and Horticulturists
Curator, Botanical Section, Shrewsbury Museum & cites publications above
another link to the publication here

23. Report on content of Sutton Spa waters 1893
by T. P. Blunt, M.A., F.I.C., F.C.S.

He and his son * are mentioned in this publication listing Universtity of Oxford Allumni (* Thomas Gaire Rockstro Blunt)

Thomas Blunt Sr.

Was also a chemist in Wyle Cop in business with his brother Henry thenl Joseph Birch Salter, then his son Thomas Porter Blunt. Quote Darwin Correspondence regarding: Thomas Porter's father: "Thomas Blunt (Sr.) Shrewsbury chemist, believed by the Darwins to be the "best chemist in the world"

T. BLUNT The Scientist's Photos

T. BLUNT The Scientist's Bio-Obituary

This site honours Thomas P. Blunt, brilliant scientist, chemist, county analyst and amateur botanist. His co-discovery with Arthur Downes in 1877, of the effect of Light upon Bacteria and other Organisms, pioneered further inventions & related discoveries in this field of science.