FACTS AND FINDINGS 21 



Yet, here again, the field has become so vast, the work 

 so varied, and the contributions so numerous, that one 

 may well throw up one's hands in dismay, especially when 

 it is noted that the editors of Biological Abstracts have 

 listed forty-seven major subjects under which to classify 

 the work of biologists.^ And each of these forty-seven 

 major subjects has usually at least one or more subhead- 

 ings of branches of biology in which men are specializing. 



If Johannes Miiller, as it is often stated, broke down, 

 mentally, trying to keep abreast of the literature on 

 physiology about the year 1857, when physiology had just 

 come into existence during his lifetime, how can any one 

 person, now, when thousands upon thousands of papers 

 are being published annually, even approach success in 

 such a plan ? 



I do not believe that anyone can do so successfully, nor 

 do these lectures make any claims toward furnishing 

 even an approxim.ately complete answer. We can but 

 attempt to form a nucleus which may be of service to 

 others interested in the pathway biology is now following. 

 It will be a starting point that will give the future his- 

 torian of biology some threads with which to weave his 

 tapestry, which threads the ablest present-day biologists 

 consider of exceptional import. 



These same distinguished scientists, leaders in their 

 respective branches of biology from every country of the 

 world where even a single university has been established, 

 will, however, speak for themselves. I shall not evaluate. 



