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JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
DECEMBER, 1930
here, and is still an important local industry. Again, every one remembers Simpson's dramatic discovery of the use of chloroform as an anesthetic, but few realize the skill and enterprise of the Edinburgh manufacturers who prepared the chloroform for the first experiments, and have since been among the principal manufacturers and distributors of the material. And now in conclusion let me ask: What lesson can we draw from a mere recital of all that this little land has given to our science? We must believe that there is a national aptitude for certain forms of thought, and with this unbroken line of great men behind us, we must feel that i t is part of our inheritance to possess some power to advance the subject of chemistry and to leave our imprints on its records. The men whose names have passed in review before us enjoyed no greater privileges and facilities than we do ourselves. Their characteristics, with few exceptions, were those which are typical of our race. Industry and enthusiasm, Scotch caution and philosophic daring, dogged perseverance and a certain disregard of public opinion, combined to bring them to their triumphs. This record of Scotland has to be maintained; men must be found who can take the place of Ramsay, Playfair, Graham, and James Young. The responsibility must inspire us in our work to know that our race does possess the peculiar talent which marks the leader of scientific thought. It is well to keep this before us, for the world often forms narrow judgments. Listen to what Liebig said after his famous journey to Britain: "I have traveled through England, Scotland, and Ireland, seeing much, but learning little. England is not a scientific country." How premature and inaccurate was that opinion, uttered in 1837, yon will gather when you remember that Davy was but lately dead, Dalton was still alive, Graham was in Glasgow, Playfair was studying a t St. Andrews, Williamson, Couper, and Young were boys a t school. Think of the verdict of another philosopher in summarizing the "History of European Thought in the Nineteenth Century." I quote from Merz, who says: "The largest number of scientific publications, perfect in form, classical for all time, probably belongs to France: the greatest bulk of scientific work to Germany; but of the new ideas, which during the century have fructified science, the larger share belongs to England." I t has been my endeavor to associate Scotland with England in this expression of well-earned praise.
"FEEDING T m FAMILY," BY MARY SWART2 ROSE. CORRECTION On page 2753 of the November issue of the JOURNAL oa CHEMICAL EDUCATION the author of the b w k "Feeding the Family," published by The Macmillan Company, was erroneously given as MARY SWARTZ. The name should have read MARY SWARTZ ROSE.
