CHAPTER II 



FACTS AND FINDINGS 



With the approaching centenary of the first successful 

 attempt at manufacturing an organic product in the labo- 

 ratory, it is but fitting that the eyes of scientific men 

 should scan the century, take pride in the marvelous 

 progress of the biological sciences, search for the causes 

 of failure, and evaluate experimental evidence and philo- 

 sophical interpretations. It is further fitting that we 

 should know what the contributions of men of all lands 

 have been, lest we fall into the common error of non- 

 scientific men — that of assuming that because a problem, 

 a fellow worker, an emphasis, or a philosophy of life is 

 close at hand, and thus considered important by friends 

 and coworkers, it therefore takes precedence over all the 

 remaining universe. 



The history of science during the nineteenth century 

 has been written so well by those who have preceded us 

 that it would be presumptuous on my part to try to im- 

 prove upon it. Little, however, has been written regard- 

 ing our own generation, or the work of contemporary 

 men. Consequently, this lecture will be confined to a 

 statement of what the ablest workers in the biological 

 sciences believe to be important and well worth while. 



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