1913] Carl L. Aisher g 79 



The history of biochemistry in America is similar to that abroad. 

 In America it developed first in the seventies and eighties in the 

 medical schools of the country; and, at that time, it was controlled 

 by physicians and physiologists abroad. The subject was narrowed 

 to the consideration of biochemistry as affecting the Hfe of man; 

 that is to say, the chemical side of physiological processes of the 

 human body together with such considerations of bacteriological 

 chemistry as affect man in health and in disease. This phase of 

 biochemistry is cared for very adequately and acceptably by the 

 American Society of Biological Chemists, the first biochemical 

 Society to be formed in America. 



The phases of biochemistry which the American Chemical Soci- 

 ety can very naturally expect to encourage are quite distinct f rom the 

 aims of the American Society of Biological Chemists. Our useful- 

 ness will include the biochemistry affecting agriculture, phytochem- 

 istry, in particular, and such industrial processes as are based upon 

 biochemical reactions; for example, the more exact study of the 

 chemical composition of fruits, grains, and food products. It 

 must be admitted that, at present, we know only those chemical 

 substances occurring in considerable amounts in such important 

 grains as wheat and corn. The minor constituents in grains of 

 much importance have not been identified with exactness. If we 

 consider grains of less importance, even this degree of knowledge 

 can not be claimed. 



Some of our most important modern industries, like those deal- 

 ing with starch, artificial fabrics, leather, tanning materials, glue 

 and gelatin, meat packing and the flour milling industry require 

 biochemists, and we are now training men to deal with such practical 

 Problems. 



If our Society confines itself to the activities already mentioned, 

 there still remains a wide field of biochemistry uncared for: the 

 biochemistry of the lower animals. This part of the biochemical 

 work will become a part of the work in the zoological societies of 

 the country. 



My view is that three societies of biological chemistry can well 

 exist in America without competing in any way, and each one car- 

 ing for a specific need. These would include the biochemistry of 



