1912] Editoriais 5^3 



ciation for the Advancement of Science, and was appointed Chair- 

 man of a committee of the American Biochemical Society to con- 

 sider and report on the nomenclature and Classification of the fats 

 and fat-like substances. One of his last scientific Statements was 

 a formal expression of his conviction that protagon, by whatever 

 process it may be made, is a mechanical mixttire of at least three 

 substances and that " the term protagon cannot therefore be said to 

 have any chemical significance."^ 



Dr. Wiley's resignation has been received with almost universal 

 regret.^ The public has had unlimited confidence in Dr. Wiley, 

 personally as well as in his capacity effectively to serve it profession- 

 Tke resignation of ally. The people believe that Dr. Wiley's official 

 Dr. Wiley acts were above any suspicion of self-interest or 



of unfaithfulness to duty. His success has occasioned very general 

 gratification.^ 



A number of biological chemists have derided Dr. Wiley's pro- 

 fessional ability, and have openly expressed doubt of his sincerity 

 and integrity. Eminent men of science have contended that Dr. 

 Wiley was unfit, as a man and as a chemist, to direct the great work 

 of the Bureau of which he was chief. The tempermental qualities 

 which have helped to carry Dr. Wiley very far in public approval 

 have stamped him as a charlatan in the minds of some who have 

 evidently tried to understand him and to correctly estimate his 

 work.^ 



The public has sized up Dr. Wiley through a telescope, so to 

 speak, — and has seen the best of him ! Some " experts," on the 

 other hand, have sized him down through a microscope and, in 

 aiming to get a " better definition," appear to have suffered severely 

 from eye strain. 



It is impossible for the writer (not an expert) to believe that 

 the general public estimate of Dr. Wiley is incorrect. It has been 

 conclusively demonstrated that during his long term of Service, Dr. 



^ Koch : Proceedings of the American Society of Biological Chemists 

 (December, 1911), 1912, ii, p. 74; Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1912, xi, p. xl. 



^ See page 391. 



^ See page 394 for a Statement of prevailing medical opinion of Dr. Wiley 

 and his work. 



*Lusk: Medical Record, 1911, Ixxx, p. 1184 (Dec. 9). 



