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Every great soldier has realized that an army is limited in size by the difficulty of keeping it free from disease and epidemic in the field. This fact, for ages past, has kept the maximum size of an army down to something of the order of one hundred thousand men. When the resources of preventive medicine were enlisted and properly applied, the unit dimension for an army became a million men. Preventive medicine made it possible to maintain twenty million men under arms and abnormally free from disease, and so provided greater scope for the killing activities of the other powers. A very competent observer gives fifteen millions as the number of combatants who were killed during hostilities in the recent war. hTine-tenths of this achievement is attributable to preventive medicine. Further, the keeping ol these vast armies in the field led to the disorganization of all civilian activities and to the dissemination, consequently, of epidemic disease to noncombatants. A great part of this death roll-a death roll amounting possibly to twenty millions, a death roll which is still being added to-is to be attributed to the operations oE this most powerful of the newer military arms. I merely quote this to show that our philosophy of war has been founded upon an entirely wrong basis up to the present, and that we must enlarge to a very considerable extent our conception of what takes part in military operations. We have not only the actual operations of the soldier himself, but the operations of the medical men who are generally supposed to be purely beneficial agents in connection with the conduct of hostilities, and in diminishing the death rate. It is, to my mind, perfectly clear that the very eminent signatories of that very powerful letter in the London Times were giving vent to a philosophy which was entirely unsound and entirely irrational. In the end, when we consider this whole question fully, it is impossible for us to lay the responsibility of warlike operations merely upon the soldier. We are all of us responsible. The chemist has been largely responsible, the medical man has been responsible; the man who bought the German dyes has been responsible, and the man who contributes to war funds; we are all of us in the same boat, and I hope that, so far as your country and mine are concerned, we shall long remain in the same boat, and that we shall long persist in doing everything that we can to prevent the recurrence of such times as we have passed through during the last seven or eight years. Professor R. F. Ruttan delivered an address on the organization of industrial research in Canada. This contribution is printed below:
A Plan for t h e Development of Industrial Research in Canada By R. F. Ruttan In 1916 the government of Canada by order-in-council established an Advisory Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. This corresponds very closely in organization to the National Research Council of the United States, and was modeled largely on the Advisory Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Great Britain which has now become the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research of the British government. Smong the duties assigned to us as a Council, we were required to ascertain and tabulate the various agencies conducting research in the universities and in the industries, but especially to make ourselves, to quote from the government mandate, “acquainted with the problems of a technical and scientific nature that are met with by our productive and industrial in. terests, and to bring them into contact with the proper research agencies for solving these problems, and thus link up the resources of science with the labor and capital employed in production so as to bring about the best possible economic results.” A s a result of a careful survey of the research carried on in
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Canada and of the scientific organization the industries, we were reluctantly compelled t o recognize the fact that scientific research in Canada was practically confined to the laboratories of two OI three of our universities and one or two departments of the,government. So far from there being any research in the industries, we found the absence of any scientific control t o be the rule rather than the exception. The industries were in the rough, pioneer stage of organization.
PROMOTION OF RESEARCH BY THE COUNCIL By means of lectures, bulletins and addresses before the Canadian Clubs and Boards of Trade throughout the Dominion, and frequent conferences with the branches of the Manufacturers’ Association, we successfully directed attention to the value of scientific method and research. A demand for university trained men in the industries resulted. The Council began a t once t o aid in training men for research by establishing a system of studentships and fellowships to encourage graduates of special ability to enter the field of research, thus providing trained minds for fundamental and technical research. This year we are sending about fifty of the best graduates of our universities into scientific research work in graduate schools. We gave substantial financial assistance to researches, both academic and industrial, on the whole with very satisfactory results. During the summer of 1917 we cast about to find some comprehensive and effecR F RUTTAN tive system by which scientific and industrial research in Canada could be developed. We naturally studied the plans for promoting industrial research under consideration or actually in progress in Great Britain, and in the other dominions of the Empire, as well as in France and Italy. We were kept inEormed by correspondence with the National Research Council of the United States regarding their plans and organization. We were in the fortunate position of having a clean sheet on which to make our plans. Canada had no naiional research institute, no bureau of standards, no national physical laboratory, no privately endowed institutes for research. The technical and scientific laboratories of the various departments of the Federal government were isolated units, each intent on its special work, doing it well but with no coordination or cooperation and not in intimate relations with the industries of the country. The universities were similarly isolated from the industries and, with one or two exceptions, teaching and administration work absorbed all the energies of the staff and all the available resources. Training in research was confined to two or three of our large universities. The difficult task of bridging the gap which separates science from its applications to industries is one which has in recent years called for the closest consideration of the leaders in science in every country. This problem, so vital to the nation, had to be solved by us in a way to give the best results under the conditions as we found them in Canada. We recognized that the liaison between science and its applications could be effected only by organized effort, by bringing about an intimate cooperation between those who could set the industrial problems and those whose training and knowledge would aid in their solution.
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ESTABLISHMEKT OF CENTRAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE We finally decided in 1917 upon the policy of establishing a Central Research Institute for both scientific and industrial research. This general plan for developing research in Canada met with the cordial approval and encouragement of the National Research Council, and the group of representative scientists in Washington during the winter of 1917 to 1018. We had the advantage of several conferences a t Washington with many of the leaders of scientific organization in this country by invitation of Dr. Hale, then president of the National Research Council As finally developed and outlined in Bill 116 of this year’s parliament, the National Canadian Research Institute was practically unanimously approved by the Cabinet and passed the House of Commons without division, but, owing to an unexpected attack of economy on the part of the Senate, the Bill was not confirmed but postponed until next session. Notwithstanding the vote of the Senate, the Cabinet gave us a special grant of $100,000 which will enable us this year to make a small beginning by securing a site and preparing detailed plans of the buildings. The first building will be a fourstory unit, 200 by 60, with a well designed power plant attached, capable of extension and adjustment. It will be erected on a site near Ottawa, sufficiently large to give ample room for expansion, with a flexible organization to enable its activities to be adapted to the varying requirements of a rapidly growing country like Canada. ACTIVITIES OP THE
INSTITUTE
The activities of the Institute may be classified briefly as follows: 1-It will be the Bureau of Standards for Canada and will have charge of the standardization and certification of the scientific and technical apparatus and instruments for the government service and for use in the industries and laboratories of Canada; and the determination of the standards of quality of the materials used in the construction of public works and of the supplies used in the various branches of the public service. As applied t o the industries, it will investigate methods of standardization and measurement generally, the physical and mechanical properties of such materials as are used by a large number of industries. The unification of standards will be carried on in association with the Committee on Engineering Standards now doing excellent work in Canada. 2-Closely associated with its function as a Bureau of Standards, it will carry on fundamental research in chemistry, biology, physics and related fields, investigations similar to those engaging the attention of university professors in scientific laboratories. 3-Investigations in biochemistry and bacteriology, both general and as applied t o such industries as the fisheries and packing industry. 4-Investigations undertaken on recommendation of the Research Council from time to time to promote the utilization of the natural resources and valuable waste materials of the country. ORGANIZATIOK OF THE INSTITUTE The type of research work described under these four heads will be carried on by the permanent staff of the Institute, associated with specialists engaged from time to time. The heads of departments will be chemists, physicists, engineers, and other scientists who have already shown high capacity for investigation and will be allowed the greatest possible opportunity to carry on fundamental research, each along his own line. We do not intend to lose sight of the significance of the individual in research. Cooperation in investigations of national importance requiring the combined efforts of chemists, physicists, and engineers will be planned by the director in council with the heads of departments, when such problems meet with the approval of the Research Council and the director. This group of twelve or fifteen highly qualified investigators will form an advisory body for the industrial specialists who will be
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engaged by the Research Council or paid by the industries “to conduct investigation and standardization a t the request of any group of industries in Canada concerning the materials used by them or of the products of such industries.” They will, from time to time, assist in and act as consultants in researches undertaken with the object of improving the technical processes and methods used in the industries of Canada, and of discovering new processes and methods which may promote the expansion of existing, or the development of new industries. The director, in consultation with the Research Council or a committee of the Council, has the power of deciding on the technical processes and methods which require and would justify investigation and the conditions under which they should be undertaken We are establishing in Canada a number of associations for research in the industries, similar to those in England and the United States. These trade guilds for research, as we call them, will pay their own specialists, the Institute providing the laboratory accommodation and facilities available in its building without rental. A nominal charge only will be made for power and materials. Several are now being organized. Under conditions to be determined in each case, laboratories will be placed at the disposal of individual industrial firms, for study of improvements in processes and utilization of by-products. The length of time these laboratories may be occupied and the conditions of secrecy regarding the work w;ll be similar to the requirements of the Mellon Institute. In this phase of its activities, the Research Institute will parallel the Mellon Institute, with this difference, that instead of being maintained by private endowment it will be endowed by the government of the country. The difficulties in equipping and manning any institute capable of carrying on more than a fraction of the manifold industries of the United States or of Great Britain are almost insuperable. This, %e have concluded, is not the case in Canada. A central research institute, having functions such as described, is applicable to a country like Canada having comparatively few very large industries and a number of unimportant ones scattered over many-thousands of miles. Many of these industries are quite ivolated from sources of information and materials for research. The bill passed by the Cabinet and House of Commons of Canada further provides that, when instructed to do so by the Governor in Council, the Institute should assume a part or all of the research work now carried on in the various departments of the government, or, when found desirable for the sake of efficiency or economy, these investigations should be coordinated and supervised by the Institute, under conditions approved by the Research Council PATENTABLE DISCOVERIES The difficult question of remuneration for valuable and patentable discoveries has been left largely to the discretion of the Research Council. Article 16 dealing with this subject which is of general interest, reads as follows: All discoveries, inventions and improvements in processes, apparatus or machines, made by a member or any number of members of the technical staff of the Institute, shall be vested in the Council and shall be made available to the public under such conditions and payment of fees or royalties or otherwise as the Council may determine, subject to the approval of the Governor in Council. The Council may pay to technical officers of the Institute and to others working under its auspices, who have made valuable discoveries, inventions or improvements in processes, apparatus or machines, such bonuses or royalties as in its opinion may be warranted. The intention of the Council is to give a liberal share in the commercial rights of all such discoveries. Its function is to develop research, not to exploit it.
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To illustrate this policy, all discoveries of commercial value made by persons receiving grants of money from the Council to meet the expense of researches, many of which have industrial applications, are practically the property of the investigator. The discoverer is given the right to patent his results, and, except where the discovery is of national importance, he reaps the whole benefit of his research. The extent t o which he will participate, if he is not given the entire proceeds of his patent, depends largely on the part played by the grant in bringing about a successful result. I n the case of inventions and discoveries made by technologists in the employ of the government or by holders of fellowships, etc., whose whole time is paid for by the government or the Council, the conditions are different; the practice in these cases has hitherto been to allow a half interest in each patent taken out for Canada, the remainder being retained by the government or Council and applied to the advancement of research. The discoverer has been, however, allowed to patent his results in other countries than Canada and to receive the whole of the royalties, etc., resulting. The staff of the Institute will consist of a director and a group of scientific and technical officers appointed by the Research Council, which latter body shall prescribe their remuneration and tenure of office, always subject to the approval of the Governor in Council. The director will be given a very free hand and will receive a salary commensurate with his responsibilities. The act states that he shall control the work of the Institute, report t o the Research Council at intervals, shall have a right to be present at and take part in meetings of the Council while matters affecting the work of the Institute may be under consideration. A good reference library will be provided, the nucleus of which is already in existence. Bulletins and reprints will be regularly issued to keep the general public and the industries in touch with the character and extent of the investigations. The Institute will not be a department of the government, but one of the activities of the Research Council. The Research Council is, by the act, made a body corporate under the Canadian government, with powers to hold lands, receive donative bequests, etc. The Research Council and the government are equally determined to keep the Institute free from political influence and party patronage, hence the powers given the former to make all scientific and technical appointments and to fix salaries. Only clerks and nontechnical employees are to be appointed through the Civil Service Commission of the government. The responsibility for the success or failure of this venture is placed upon the shoulders of the Research Council and the director in charge. RESULTSANTICIPATED FROM THE INSTITUTE We hope that such an Institute will give us the following results: 1-It will bring into harmonious and profitable contact men interested and skilled in fundamental or academic research and those interested in the applications of science to industry. 2-It will offer a career in Canada to the young graduate who has shown capacity as a scientific scout in some field of science. We realize, to quote H. G. Wells, that “to educate without creating opportunity is to set a bonus upon the export of national ability.” It will stimulate and develop the graduate schools in science, and will in turn be a source of supply of men capable of conducting real research for the industries and universities of Canada. 3-It will encourage the organization of industries into guilds for research t o enable each industry, as a whole, to meet competition by providing them with free laboratories. Relieved of the expense of building and maintaining a laboratory, a group of kindred industries could well afford to pay a specialist, or a group of researchers, a salary that would attract an efficient man even from Europe. Obviously, industrial research in the Institute cannot be satisfactorily conducted beyond the labora-
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SIRWILLIAMJ. POPEAND BRIGADIER GENERAL AMOSA. FRIXZS
tory or semicommercial stage. The works themselves must deal with the technical research on a commercial scale. While we are most anxious to have the industries take a great part in the work of the Institute, it is not sufficient for Canada to provide only for these guilds for research and individual investigations; industries work for the profit of to-day, the Institute must also look to the preservation of the national wealth of the future. 4-It appeals to the Research Council especially on the grounds of economy of administration and ease of research control. It is obvious that there are many cases in which the functions of the Institute outlined above will overlap, which in scientific work is by no means an unmixed evil. Overlap is the bogey of the official mind. The whole plan makes no claim t o logical completion; it is rather the beginning of an organization to develop industrial research in Canada, which should in time become more compact and efficient. I think I may claim for it that it is facing in the right direction.
The meeting adjourned upon the conclusion of Prof. Ruttan’s address.
*...........
SYMPOSIUMS AND SPECIAL ORDERS I N DIVISIONAL
MEETINGS A glance a t the list of papers in the official program under the various section and division headings will convince anyone of the tremendous growth of chemistry and chemical ill also indicate the inresearch in the United States. It w creasing tendency toward specialisation in the various branches of chemistry. An outgrowth of this specialization is the grouping of papers related to the same phase of one particular chemical specialty. Symposiums are therefore growing in connection with the divisional meetings. The Division of Biological Chemistry conducted a symposium on vitamines which proved to be of great interest. It was brought out that important strides have been made in the study of these food accessories. Their relation to health and nutrition is receiving attention on the part of biologists and medical scientists, but the chemist is delving into the composition of these complex bodies with the desire
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to split them into their ultimate constituents and possibly attendance a t the three sessions held, this Section will soon find ways and means of preparing them without the aid of become an important factor in the work of the SOCIBTY. nature. The papers read at this symposium were the sub- The first meeting, held Wednesday afternoon at 2 P.M., was ject of most earnest discussion on the part of the active work- so well attended that it was necessary to move to larger ers in this field, and led to practical results in the appoint- quarters for the two remaining sessions. Indeed, one might have called the roll of the American universities and colleges ment of a committee to stimulate further research. The Division of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry where chemistry is taught, and found a comprehensive repreheld symposiums on three subjects, filtration, chemistry of sentation. Industrial men likewise showed by their interest gases and fuel, and metric standardization. The first sub- that they appreciated the significance of these sessions. The meetings of the fifteen divisions and sections extended ject was handled by a group of speakers whose experience covered practically every type of filtering process, and the over Wednesday afternoon, Thursday morning, and the enpapers presented will appear in the November issue of THIS tire day on Friday. Full reports of these meetings will be of this issue. JOURNAL. The symposium on the chemistry of gases and found on pages 956 to 960 ............ fuels included a general discussion of chemical problems and SOCIALFEATURES chemical achievements in the field of gases, coking, and fuels. A t 4 P.M. on Wednesday afternoon a reception and lawn It is more fully reported on page 956. The Committee on the Metric System of the -4MERICAN party was given by Columbia University on the University CHEMICALSOCIETYhas become very active in behalf of Green. This occasion offered one of the few opportunities world standardization on a metric basis, since E. C. Bingham throughout the busy week for renewing acquaintance with has become its chairman. The conference held in connection regular attendants at the meetings of the SOCIETYand for with the meeting of the Division of Industrial and Engineer- meeting newcomers. Band music enlivened the occasion ing Chemistry was attended by men from the industries, and a buffet luncheon was one of the enjoyable features. The big get-together feature of the social program for the college men, officials from the Bureau of Standards, and men was the smoker given in the ballroom of the Waldorfothers. Dr. Bingham opened the conference by reading a paper Astoria Hotel. British and Canadian visitors occupied the on the “Adoption by the Colleges of Standard Metric Units.” boxes. A pleasant evening of fun, smoke, and good cheer (This paper will be published in the November number of was provided. Songs by the audience, as well as by proTHISJOURNAL.) Dr. Bingham brought out that practically fessional artists, several vaudeville numbers, cartoons of all institutions, from which responses had been received to prominent members thrown on the screen, and a play entitled a request that they order chemicals and other supplies in “What is a Chemist?” written and staged by Ellwood Henmetric units, had agreed to comply with this request. This drick, constituted the program. The play was a clever takehas brought about some changes in the attitude of supply off on the relation of chemists to big business men before and houses, most of which now furnish chemicals and other after the slump in business. Mr. Hendrick himself played materials both in metric units and in the present trade units. the leading role. About 500 members and guests attended the formal banThe ease with which the metric system can be made to quet in the ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria on Thursday fit industrial processes and the advantages of its general, evening. Dr. John E. Teeple was the toastmaster. Referring universal application were brought out by various speakers. t o the American, British, and Canadian flags above the The discussion was participated in by W. A. Noyes, H. D. speakers’ table, he proposed a hearty toast to the President, Hubbard, W. D. Collins, Charles L. Parsons, and many one to the King, and one to our guests. Among those who others. Hearings are shortly to be held on the Bill now later responded in characteristic vein to the toastmaster’s before Congress, H. R. 10, providing for the introduction of call were Sir William Pope, Dr. G . 8.Whitby representing the metric system as the national system of weights and Dr. Ruttan, General Fries, Dr. Rmith, and Dr. Bancroft. measures, within ten years of its enactment. The Advisory ............ Committee of the AMERICANCHEMICALSOCIETYwas rePUBLICMEETING quested to consider the advisability of endorsing this measure A large audience assembled in the Gymnasium of Columand reiterating its stand in favor of the adoption of the bia University, Friday evening, September 9, a t 8 P.M., to metric system in the United States. hear President Smith’s lecture on “Progress in Chemistry.” I n the Petroleum Section a group of papers arranged under A t Dr. Smith’s request Sir William J. Pope assumed the the subject of emulsification problems aroused interest not chair. Sir William first introduced Dr. C. A. Browne, chaironly among the oil chemists, but among manufacturers whose man of the SOCIETY’S Priestley Memorial Committee, who plants discharge emulsified oil into tidewaters. The papers presented a portrait of Priestley copied from an original brought out some points which it is felt will have important Stuart. This portrait is to be hung in the National Museum bearing on the solution of this difficult problem of handling a t Washington, D. C. I n making the presentation Dr. wastes containing oil emulsions and will be treated in the Browne delivered the following address: November number of THISJOURNAL. It is perhaps fitting on this occasion to say a few words of Close observers of the growth of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL appreciation about this man whom science has always delighted SOCIETYhave noted with considerable interest the natural t o honor. We chemists remember him as the discoverer of expansion of sections and divisions devoted to specialized oxygen, ammonia, hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide, nitrous subjects. For years teachers of chemistry have been among oxide, and various other gases-as the greatest pioneer, so to the most prominent members of the SOCIETY and have con- speak, in that branch of our science known as pneumatic chemistributed largely to its programs, as well as taking an active try. Yet Priestley was more than a chemist. If a clergyman part in its management. But it was not until the Rochester were asked, he might say, according to his school of belief, that Meeting last spring that any keen desire was manifested on Joseph Priestley was either a great heretic, or a great teacher of the part of teachers of chemistry to get together and discuss liberal religion. A student of politics might state that Priestley their problems in a separate section. Dr. Edgar F. Smith, is to be remembered for his part in the great democratic movewho is naturally interested in matters of education, with the ment which reached its climax in the American and French Revohelp of a few kindred spirits arranged for a Section of Chemi- lutions. An inventor might tell you that Priestley’s fame rests cal Education at the New York Meeting and, judged by the chiefly upon his invention of soda water, for which he won the
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Liebig, one of the founders of modern chemistry, who was born Copley medal. A philanthropist might add that Priestley, from thereforms which he initiated in education and in the laws govern- the year before Priestley died. Priestley, the last defender of phlogiston, was born the year antedating the death of Stahl, ing dissenters, was a great humanitarian. Similarly a plant physiologist, an historian of science, a student of letters and a sociol- the originator of phlogiston. These three lives, Liebig, Priestley and Stahl, carry US back from the present age to the time of ogist might each claim Joseph Priestley as his own. Judged by the titles of his one hundred fifty books and pamphlets, Priestley’s Robert Boyle and the alchemists. Probably no chemist ever had so many tricks played upon him interests were devoted about fifty per cent to theology, twenty by Dame Fortune as Joseph Priestley. His habit of stammering per cent to chemistry, and ten per cent each to philosophy, politics, and education. Theology was his vocation and chemis- forced him for a time to abandon the ministry for teaching, and his chance acquaintance, while a teacher, with Benjamin Franklin try only a major avocation. What this versatile genius might have accomplished, had he devoted all his energies to chemistry, in 1766, led him to take up experimenting. Franklin, whom Matthew Arnold once called our greatest American, exercised is difficult to imagine. Prtestley believed the frequent change from one occupation to another to be beneficial, and it is signifi- a powerful influence upon Priestley and it is remarkable how much the latter resembled Franklin not only in love for experimental cant that other great men, who have been distinguished for their science, hut in versatility and in liberality of opinions. versatility, have expressed a similar opinion. But it is for his work in chemistry that we, of this SOCIETY, Accident was a determining factor not only in Priestlep’s life but also in his experimental work. While Aug. 1, 1774, is given honor Joseph Priestley, and it will be interesting to measure him as the date of Priestley’s discovery of oxygen, he had already with other noted chemists of the past. Some twenty years prepared this element three years ago, Prof. Cattell, the editor of before without knowing it. He SCIENCE, published a list of the isolated chlorine without realizthousand most famous men aring its importance. Priestley’s ranged in the order of their emimethod of experimenting was nence, as determined by comparing like that of an angler who, followthe average length of their bioing a crooked path, throws his graphical sketches in different line haphazard into every pool American and European encyand stream. As Sir William clopedias. According to this esRamsay once remarked, “He timate, the most famous chemist fished everywhere and caught is Sir Humphry Davy; then follow many large fish” This random in order Gay-Lussac, Faraday, method of angling and adherence Priestley, Boyle, Liebig, Lavoisier, to one crooked path caused Berzelius, Paracelsus, and RumPriestley, however, to miss catchford. This classification, aling many fish equally large. though imperfect and subject to He had the law of multiple h t e r revision, yet has a signifiproportions and other important cance. Joseph Priestley is fourth deductions on his hook and upon this list, but if we measure let them escape. But many other him by his estimation in Englishnoted experimenters have lacked speaking countries alone, he will the carefully controlled imagieasily rank first. In the public native power which is so necessary library of this city there are two for accurate scientific deduction hundred index card references of Hofmann once said that he would books, tracts and articles about surrender all his discoveries for Priestley to fifty or less for each of the one brilliant idea of Kekul6. the other chemists, while in the Priestley expressed no such vain English “Dictionary of National regrets. He was aware of his Biography” there are twenty limitations as a theorist and was pages about Priestley to twelve or content to be known as an exless about Davy, Faraday, or perimenter. “It is not my opinBoyle. The hold of Priestley upP O R T R A I T OF J~ O S E P H P R I E S T L E Y ions,” he once wrote, “on which on the thoughts of English-speak1 lay stress. Let the new facts, from which I deduce them, be ing people is tremendous and it is destined to endure as long as considered as my discoveries and let other persons draw better the English language is spoken. He is one of those common possessions, which, belonging to England and America alike, inferences if they can.” Priestley’s mind, to employ a chemical term, was intensely work for unity of thought and feeling. Rumford, the founder catalytic. He had the faculty of setting men’s intellects into a of the Royal Institution and of the Rumford Professorship a t Harvard, is another such common possession. Unjust sus- ferment of activity, and this was as true in America as it was in England. Read Prof. Smith’s little book, “Priestley in America,” picions and threats of violence forced Rumford to seek refuge and see how constantly he was occupied the last ten years of his in England; religious and political persecutions forced Priestley to find an asylum in America. Althoygh forcibly accomplished, life, Everyone came t o feel the influence of his personality from Presidents Washington, Adams and Jefferson down to his neighi t was our first exchange of scientists. We do things better in bors in Northumberland. He argued with our clergymen, he these days. What good relationships were cemented between debated with our scientists, he disputed with our politicians. Canada, the United States and England by that eminent scientist, Our great lexicographer, Noah Webster, absorbed as he was in Sir William Osler, a t the universities of McGill, Pennsylvania, his dictionary, laid aside his work to have a brush with Dr. Johns Hopkins, and Oxford. Priestley. Priestley was said by Pattison Muir to be an alchemist and Yet it must not be inferred that Priestley was naturally pernot a chemist. We should qualify this view perhaps by saying verse or quarrelsome. He was exactly the opposite. His simple that he was the connecting link between the old order and the new. Some of the members of this audience may have seen truth-loving nature made him the perfect expression of amiability.
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He paid smiling attention to the arguments of his opponents and
so it happened that those who differed most from his opinions were often his strongest friends. The noted hymn-writer, Toplady, although of opposite religious convictions, said this of Priestley, “I love a man whom I can hold up like a piece of crystal and look through.” Nothing better can be said, for it explains the secret of Joseph Priestley’s greatness. At a memorial meeting in honor of Leo Tolstoy not long ago, there were shown as part of the exercises moving pictures of the great Russian writer. This Memorial Committee wjshes it might show you such moving pictures of Joseph Priestley. Views of the old doctor working in his Northumberland laboratory or planting his garden or playing chess with Mrs. Priestley would be well worth seeing. But the chairman of our Committee, President Smith, with all his love and veneration for Priestley, could not accomplish the impossible. He has, however, out of the one hundred or more paintings, engravings, casts, medallions, and busts which have been made of the famous philosopher, selected the one likeness which Dr. Priestley’s family always considered to be the best and has had it reproduced. And this is the picture, a faithful copy of the famous Stuart painting. I t is to hang in the National Museum with the portraits of Franklin, Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and the other great men of our country whom Priestley knew and inspired. May we and the future generations of chemists, who look upon this likeness, receive a share of the same inspiring influence.
The task of the president of the SOCIETY in addressing the public meetings held in connection with the semi-annual conventions is difficult. His audience is composed of laymen
Underwood and Underwood
GROUPAT
THE
CHEMISTS’ CLUB
MRS. KENDALL, DRS. PARSONS, SMITH,JORDAN,NICHOLS, ZANETTI, TBEPLB,MACKBNZIB, MOODY,ROSENOARTEN, MRS. HESSE
who are not necessarily grounded in the principles of science, as well as members of the SOCIETY. The president must have a message of interest to both groups and he has a splendid opportunity for further emphasizing the importance of chemistry to all hnmanity, its historic background, its rapid advancement, and its continued search for new fields of service. No one who had the privilege of listening to Dr. Smith’s address a t the Public Meeting can help but feel that he rose to the occasion beautifully. His treatment of the progress of chemistry revealed the historian of American chemistry a t his best. His loyalty to the science which he has taught thousands of young men, many of whom are leaders in industry and education to-day, and his keen desire for progress in both pure and applied
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chemistry stand out in the following words which are q u o t d from the address: The burden of my desire is that the youth of the land, entering our science, shall be broadly and fundamentally trained in its principles and in its achievements. That, while they may glory in their own particular successes,,mental and material, they shall constantly say to themselves, W h a t have we done for our country?” until the time comes that they may have the happiness of thinking that they have contributed in some way to the progress and to the good of humanity. They should in all sincerity believe that “Chemistry is most honorably, when she is most usefully employed; and is equally in her own proper element when analyzing the diamond with Davy; and when descending, with humble industry, to the assistance of the manufacturer a t his loom, or the dyer over his vat.” My desire would have no East, West, North or South in chemistry, but one united body from all sections, eager to carry the science into every walk of life-even into the halls of government that their occupants may understand how intimately chemistry is interwoven with the laws and welfare of the land.
International Meeting The Great Hall of the College of the City of New York was filled to capacity when President Smith opened the International Meeting on Thursday, September 8, a t 2 : 30 P.M. An organ recital by Prof. Samuel A. Baldwin, head of the Department of Music of the College, immediately preceded the meeting and was greatly appreciated by those in attendance. The numbers were well selected and beautifully rendered and the audience did not hesitate in expressing its warm approval of this splendid preliminary feature to a momentous meeting. After a few words of praise for the spirit which had prompted this gathering of the chemists of English-speaking nations and the efforts which had been expended by the committee on arrangements, President Smith introduced Prof. Charles Baskerville, head of the Department of Chemistry of the College of the City of New York, who welcomed the gathering on behalf of the Trustees and Faculty of the College and delivered the first of the eight addresses on the general theme “Chemistry and Civilization.” Dr. Baskerville’s address was entitled: “Science and Civilization: The Role of Chemistry.” He spoke, in part, as follows: An inventory shows that more changes and greater changes have taken place in civilization during the past one hundred and fifty yeais than in all the preceding centuries of recorded history. It staggers the intellect to contemplate the stupendous list of material facts and scientific conceptions that have become ours in that sesquicentennium. Practically all the chemical elements have become known since 1772; all we know about electricity and communicating with one another through space; ideas of dynamics; the steam and gas engines involving transportation by land, water, and air; ability to see the invisible; X-rays, and the remarkable phenomena of radioactivity ; bacteria and immunology and serum therapy; organisms held in suspended animation caused to function again. Many of the miracles of the New Testament are everyday acts of master surgeons to-day. All these things, their correlations, their permutations, their coordinations, adjustments and applications have brought the individual into touch or into communication with all other individuals of our world. Thus science has made human history a t overwhelming speed.
The speaker then dwelt a t length upon the misuse of scientific achievements for war purposes by our enemies in the World War and referred to the need for recovering from this tendency, in the following words: The situation thus is such now that man must solve the dual problem not only of regaining the position of dignity which distinguishes him from animals of a lower order, but of establishing himself upon the plane we think worthy of the noblest development of nature, the study of which we call Science.
