Jan., 191SJ The Rchilion of War to Chemistry 75 



failure by undue publicity giving premature capitalistic con- 

 fidence in them and it is with profound regret that we see the 

 passing for the time at least of such things as toluol from 

 petroleum, which more attention to study may still make 

 useful in war emergency at least. 



These are outlines of some of the evil influences due to or 

 accentuated by war. They are in part of such a technical 

 or professional nature that they should not be imposed 

 upon your attention unless it were to protect you against 

 misunderstanding the just criticism of the results of these evils 

 and to emphasize that we do not consider war an unmitigated 

 blessing if we should appear enthusiastic about the progress 

 that has been made in war time. Then too, we should always 

 ponder more over our lapses. The successes can take care of 

 themselves. 



PROGRESS IN APPLIED CHEMISTRY IN WAR TIME. 



There is indeed another side than the evil we have been 

 discussing. There has been much real progress. The evils 

 mentioned are largely growing pains. Engineering and its 

 services to mankind have been long appreciated to some extent 

 at least. Chemistry is less easily understood. The everywhere 

 present applications of chemistry pass unnoticed for the most 

 part in everyday life. Probably the greatest contribution to 

 science, therefore, of the present war, is the awakening of the 

 average mind to the power and value to mankind of that group 

 of phenomena which we study as chemistry. This is probably 

 because we most easily grasp and appreciate applications 

 rather than generalizations, and the use of chemistry in war has 

 been a revelation to the general public. 



In other ways also this war has affected a development in 

 chemistry and its applications which has outstripped any 

 influence since the modern foundations of the science were laid 

 over a century ago. It will be many years before the influence 

 will mature and become apparent or measurable. Neverthe- 

 less, we do not crave progress or development at such a price 

 as war. 



We must recognize, however, that severe disturbances are 

 very effective in dislocating fetishes, for instance. So, one of the 

 phases of this struggle which is noteworthy is the public awak- 

 ening to consciousness of the power of chemistry and the 



