CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACY. 49 



that it is rather the study of chemical action than the particular study 

 of this or that substance as such that tends to improve the method of 

 work. In this way many obscure substances have contributed largely 

 to the improvement of chemistry, and consequently to the improve- 

 ment of pharmacy. There is a not uncommon feeling that it is a 

 waste of time to work for years endeavoring to unravel the secrets of 

 some apparently insignificant substance. If the substance itself can 

 not be used, and there is no prospect that it ever can be used, then, it 

 is argued, it can not be important. To you, gentlemen, who have been 

 under especially good instruction in these matters, this argument will 

 not appear to be of much weight, but permit me to turn my attention 

 for a moment to the larger audience before us, and to say a word in 

 defense of those who spend their lives in what are commonly looked 

 upon as unprofitable investigations. 



Not long ago I heard this story, which may serve as a sort of 

 overture to what I want to say : An excellent gentleman, on being 

 informed that a certain scientific man was engaged in work upon frogs, 

 replied, " Why spend his time in such trivial work, when there is the 

 human soul to investigate ? " The feeling which actuated the speaker 

 is one which I repeat is not uncommon, and I may add it is quite 

 natural, but it is certainly wrong in principle. If we analyze the 

 underlying thought of those who cavil at ordinary scientific investiga- 

 tion, we shall find that there are two distinct ideas contained in it: 

 First, that, in order that any investigation shall be of value or of im- 

 portance, it must bear direct fruit. The substance discovered must be 

 useful for some " practical " purpose, either as a medicine or as a dye- 

 stuff, an explosive or a poison no matter what, so that it can be used 

 for something. A second idea is that, in order to solve the problems 

 of nature, only those of the most evident importance should be at- 

 tacked. Such questions as What is life? What is electricity? What 

 is the attraction of gravitation ? What is force ? What is matter ? 

 these are the ones which, in the opinion of many, should occupy in- 

 vestigators, to the exclusion of the less important. 



As regards the latter idea, it may be said that there are a great 

 many very strongly fortified citadels in nature. Scientific investi- 

 gators have attacked these from time to time and have been repulsed. 

 A good commander, having discovered that a stronghold is invulner- 

 able from a given point, does not continue to attempt its capture from 

 that side, but looks around him for other means of approach; he 

 strengthens his forces, he collects more ammunition, and endeavors to 

 keep his army in general in good condition, studying the surrounding 

 country, and awaiting new revelations. There is, further, a great 

 deal of insignificant camp-work to be done, and, if this is neglected, 

 ultimate success can not be hoped for. 



So, too, the scientific investigator finding that a certain problem 

 of paramount importance can not be solved, turns his attention to 



VOL. XXIII. 



