154 



THE ALUMNI JOURNAL. 



science consists simply in accurate measurement, 

 and we have just had a most interesting illustra- 

 tion of the value and importance of accurate 

 measurement. You have all read of the great dis- 

 covery of Lord Raleigh of the constituent of the 

 atmosphere which had hitherto escaped detec- 

 tion. Lord Raleigh was engaged in a very care- 

 ful investigation of gases, and among other 

 things, he determined with the utmost accuracy 

 the specific gravity or measurement of these 

 different gases, and he noticed that when he 

 discovered the specific gravity of the nitrogen 

 gas which he extracted from the atmosphere, it 

 was heavier than the nitrogen which he ex- 

 tracted from chemical compounds, and although 

 he tried it several times, there was invariably 

 this difference. The accuracy of his experi- 

 ments made him feel certain that it must be 

 due to a character in the gases, and applying 

 the most laborious methods of modern science, 

 he was able to discover that the nitrogen ex- 

 tracted from the atmosphere contained an ele- 

 ment that had up to this time, escaped detec- 

 tion, although many of the most distinguished 

 chemists that had ever lived had failed to dis- 

 cover it. Cavendish, one hundred years ago> 

 had this very gas under observation, but had 

 not detected it ; and more recently, chemists 

 conducting the experiments in Washington, had 

 not recognized it ; but the extreme accuracy of 

 the experiments of Lord Raleigh enabled him to 

 make what is regarded as one of the most bril. 

 liant discoveries of recent times. Columbia 

 College has decided to award to Lord Raleigh the 

 Barnard medal tor the most important discov- 

 ery in physical science made within the last 

 five years. The $10,000 Hodgson prize is also 

 to be given as a tribute to the value and im- 

 portance of accuracy in scientific work which 

 has never been equaled, and, speaking again of 

 science and of the benefit which these young 

 men must have derived from this two year's 

 thorough training in scientific observation, I 

 may say that a few days since, at a public 

 gathering in Paris, Barphalous, the famous 

 chemist, observed that scientific method is at 

 present, and in fact always has been, the main 

 if not the only source of both moral and mater- 

 ial progress of mankind. 



I might enlarge, if I desired to occupy more 

 than my share of the time devoted to our Com- 

 mencement Exercises, upon the benefit to the 

 community of educating thoroughly, the phar- 

 macists graduating year after year — one hundred 

 young men thoroughly trained in everything 

 that relates to the science and practice of phar- 



macy. Think of the satisfaction it must be to 

 the physician to know that when at the bed- 

 side of his patient, he writes the prescription, 

 that that prescription will be honestly and in- 

 telligently prepared by the pharmacist ; that he 

 can rely upon whatever is sent out by the 

 pharmacist in response to those hieroglyphics 

 in doctors' latin, which he sends to him — and' 

 think of the benefit to the patient of always re- 

 ceiving exactly what the medical attendant 

 deems necessary for his recovery ; and again, 

 the benefit of the example to the community of 

 men who prepare themselves for their calling . 

 men who devote years of precious time to pre- 

 paring themselves for the special occupation to 

 which they intend to devote their lives. 



There is one word that I wish to say before I 

 sit down, in this connection. You are probably 

 aware that Boards of Pharmacy have been es- 

 tablished in many of the States, and in this 

 State, and that before a pharmacist can practice 

 his profession in a community, he must go be- 

 fore that Board of Pharmacy, and pass an ex- 

 amination. I wish to take this public oppor- 

 tunity to make a statement that I hope that in 

 the future, these Boards of Pharmacy which are 

 established in this and other States, will insist 

 upon it that every candidate who comes before 

 them must come provided with a diploma from 

 some well organized and reliable institution, to 

 show that the young man who presents it has 

 really devoted a reasonable amount of time to 

 acquiring the knowledge and experience which 

 fits him for the calling. We all know what 

 can be accomplished by cramming for ex- 

 aminations, and the mere passing of an ex- 

 amination is not in itself sufficient evidence of 

 the qualifications of a pharmacist. 



The Roll of Graduates (see page 168) was 

 then read by the Secretary of the College, Mr. 

 J. Niven Hegeman, and Prof. Chandler in con- 

 ferring the degree of Graduate of Pharmacy, 

 said : I alluded once or twice to the fact 

 that we had 105 young men about to 

 graduate. I should have said more properly, 

 one young lady and 104 young men. The truth 

 of the matter is, the young lady has been so 

 successful, and has stood so high in all her 

 studies that I think we were rather loath to 

 have to confess that she did not belong to our 

 sex, and we have counted her as one of the 

 boys. 



In accordance with the charter of our college 

 and by virtue of the authority vested in me as your 

 acting President, I now confer upon you the 



