78 Biological Section, American Chemical Society [Oct 



biochemistry. Though the net result of their work made decidedly 

 for progress, only too often it created confusion and artificial diffi- 

 ciilties. Even the best biochemists of those days make us wonder 

 why they did not pursiie their chemical investigations as far as the 

 chemical methods of that day would permit. The answer is, I 

 think, in many cases, that they were not real chemists but physiolo- 

 gists with a chemical veneer. Fortunately, this has been changing 

 during the past decade, largely owing to the work of Emil Fischer. 

 While we recognize in him a master of chemical technique, we may 

 be certain that in a measure, at any rate, the preeminent position 

 which he occupies among the chemists of his time is due to his clear 

 conception of the really most important work in organic chemistry 

 along biochemical lines. Fortunately, more and more organic 

 chemists are following in his footsteps, and are devoting their at- 

 tention to substances which occur in living things. 



I wish here to make a plea for more of this sort of work in 

 America. I believe that the rewards and recognition for knowledge 

 of chemistry applied in biochemistry are great, because the work of 

 the biochemist will be applauded not merely by chemists, but also by 

 zoologists, botanists and physicians. A biochemist has a wider 

 audience because his work presents a more general appeal than the 

 work of organic chemists upon such subjects as dye-stufifs and 

 the like. 



Further, I wish to point out the value of Instruction in allied 

 subjects. Not every organic chemist can successfully attack all 

 biochemical problems. Besides his organic chemistr}^ other expe- 

 rience in physiology and, above all, experience in dealing with 

 substances which do not crystallize, is necessary. In many cases 

 it is difificult to conduct biochemical research because the bio- 

 chemist must very frequently begin with the smears which the 

 organic chemist consigns preferably to the slop jar. While the 

 things which will not crystallize interest less the organic chemist, 

 they are the very classes of substances with which the biochemist 

 must deal. Great care, great patience and a knowledge of colloids 

 are required of the organic chemist who wishes to work in biochem- 

 istry, but I feel confident that the reward for such men is great, 

 not merely in pure science, but also in industries and in the arts. 



