T H E JOL7R*Va4LOF IAVDCSTRIAL AhTD E S G I S E E R I - Y G C H E J I I S T R Y .
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1 INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF APPLIED CHEMISTRY 1 The quest of knowledge has always developed friendships among men of different countries, and the mutual interest which exists among scientists has given rise t o stronger bonds of cooperation than those produced by even the languages or political policies. I n the last thirty years a movement, the direct result of the progress which the nineteenth century made in science, unparalleled in the history of the world, has eventuated in the organization of various International Congresses. This movement, really an endeavor to ascertain the most practical and efficient methods of scientific procedure, has fostered a uniform mental attitude which seems t o have developed rapidly throughout the civilized world, and an intellectual union has been the consequence. The natural development of these organizations ‘constitutes in itself a guarantee of solidity and efficacy.
~ V I L L I AHM. SICHOLS. PRESIDENT.
There is to-day no German chemistry, no Russian chemistry, no Japanese chemistry, no American chemistry; there is one Universal chemistry, and in this respect our science differs from sciences in which the spirit is strictly national, as botany, seismology, etc. The psychology of the Orient and Levant may differ materially from that of the Occident, owing to the intellectual and moral differences in the peoples; but the chemistry of India and that of the United States are identical, because they are based upon uniform natural laws. To the chemist belongs the honor of having first effected this great International movement-the convention of scientific men of varied nationalities. The initial international congress of chemistry was held at Carlsruhe in 1860; the meeting was attended
by 140 chemists from all parts of Europe and lasted 3 days. At the Eighth International Congress of Applied Chemistry, 2 500 chemists were present and the proceedings were of ten days’ duration. The purpose of the Carlsruhe congress was the establishment of an international nomenclature. Although this congress was a success, yet more than a quarter century elapsed before the realization of the necessity of a similar convention was expressed. From 1889 on, the periods passing between the congresses of chemistry were of much shorter duration, thus, 1893, 1894, 1896, 1898, 1900, 1903,1906,1909,and 1912. The first International Congress of Applied Chemistry was held a t Brussels in 1894, and was the outcome of a suggestion of Doctor H. W. Wiley. This Congress mas divided into four sections, viz., sugar chemistry, agricultural chemistry, food and public hygiene, and biological chemistry. The Second International Congress of Applied Chemistry convened in Paris in 1896. Committees had been organized in various countries, and through the French Foreign Office all the principal governments were invited to send delegates ; nearly 2 , 0 0 0 members were present, and the necessity of a close alliance between pure and applied science was shown. The Third International Congress of Applied Chemistry, held in Vienna in 1898, was divided into twelve sections; one of the principal questions before this Congress was the adoption of uniform methods of analysis for commercial products and raw materials. The Fourth Congress was held in Paris in 1900 a t the time of the Grand Exposition; the work was divided into ten sections. At the Fifth Congress, in Berlin, 1903, of which there were 2,533 members representing 38 countries, about 5 0 0 papers were presented for discussion. Several German societies held their meetings in conjunction with this Congress, which was the most important and successful of all held up to that time, The Sixth International Congress of Applied Chemistry (Rome, 1906) mas divided into eleven sections; the members numbered z>375 and 6j8 papers were presented. The Seventh Congress (London, I909), of which there were 4,100 members, was a worthy successor to the six preceding; 985 papers were presented in eleven sections and six subsections, and several innovations were arranged and carried out. A characteristic feature of the London Congress was the extension of the idea of the establishment of International commissions to recommend uniform standards of materials and methods of determining them. The Eighth International Congress of Applied Chemistry, the most brilliant assemblage of men eminent in pure and applied chemistry ever brought together on this continent and a worthy successor of the preceding Congresses, officially closed its sessions on September 13, 1912,after ten days of scientific and social enjoyment-days which were replete with opportunities for affording direct interchange of views and during which Americans had the great
Oct., 1912
THE ]OL-R,”\;AL OF I S D U S T R I A L A N D E.VGI.VEERI,VG C H E X I S T R Y .
satisfaction of playing the part of host to those chemists who gathered from all parts of the civilized world. This Congress, of which there were 4500 members, 2 5 0 0 of whom attended the New York sectional sessions, had been a n enormous undertaking and the immense amount of work which its preparation entailed devolved largely upon the President, Secretary and Executive Committee. I t is t o the President, Dr. W. H . Kichols, and to the Secretary, Dr. B. C. Hesse, however, t h a t the greatest amount of credit is due for the splendid organization, elaborate arrangements and successful administration of the plans. The Eighth Congress had been repeatedly brought t o the attention of the chemical world during the past three years, and the plans of the organizers, both tentative and final, had been distributed throughout the world in a most thorough manner. The various Committees in charge of the many arrangements necessary did their work systematically, and earnest cooperation early marked the development of the many fixed rules and novel ideas introduced. It was only t o be expected, therefore, that the Congress would have a number of features. One of the most important and valuable of these was t h a t the bulk o f the accepted papers was printed in advance in twenty-four carefully prepared, well-printed volumes, each devoted t o a section. I n this manner the greater amount of the papers presented were available for perusal and criticism prior to the sectional session openings, a n d
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to unbounded credit and all the peace of mind which goes with a work well done. The success of the Eighth International Congress is a crowning event in the history of Applied Chemistry in America. THE INAUGURAL MEETING AT WASHINGTON.
The official opening of the Eighth International
BERNHARD C. HESSE, SECRETARY.
EDWARD TV. MORLEY. HOXORARY PRESIDEXT
this arrangement not only encouraged attendance but also provided for more thorough discussion. I t has been said that the consciousness of a duty performed gives music a t midnight, and it is agreed by all t h a t the men and women who have worked and cooperated to make this Congress a success are entitled
Congress of Applied Chemistry took place a t Memorial Continental Hall, Washington, D. C., on September 4, 1912, a t 11.00 A.M. The Patron, President W. H. Taft, was unable t o open the Congress personally on account of a sprained ankle, although he had made the trip from his summer home in Beverly, Mass., for the purpose; his regrets were presented by the President of the Congress, Dr. William H. Nichols. Dr. Nichols introduced the Honorary President, Dr. E. W. Morley, who made the following address: “The Eighth International Congress of Applied Chemistry, assembled according t o the invitation of the President of the Tjnited States of America, and by the authority of the Congress of the United States, desires to express its gratitude for this invitation, and further, its especial gratitude for, and high appreciation of, the honor done us, Mr. President, by your consent t o open the deliberations of this Congress. “ I t is my privilege, fellow members of the Congress, to express to you the cordial welcome with which the chemists of the United States receive you to their country. This cordial welcome we gladly offer t o visiting chemists from every country of the whole world. Moreover, both the representatives in this country of applied chemistry, and also the lovers and followers of pure chemistry, take a special pleasure in welcoming chemists from the four nations whose languages are the official languages of this Congress. I t was among these nations that, something like a
