NOTES 663 



the desired knowledge ; he will appeal to the authority of the text-book rather 

 than to the method of experiment. There is much work in science which must be 

 taught didactically, but that does not render less imperative the need to treat 

 heuristically those parts of the subject which are eminently suitable for such 

 treatment. 



The Indian Science Congress (Charles Stanley Gibson, M.A., B.Sc, M.Sc., 

 Professor of Chemistry in H.H. The Maharaja's College, Trivandrum, 

 Travancore, S. India ; on War Service, Cambridge.) 



Compared with that of similar workers in Western countries, the position of 

 the scientific investigator in India has many drawbacks. Apart from the fact that, 

 at present, very few institutions are adequately equipped for modern research both 

 as regards laboratories and libraries, the difficulties of obtaining requisite materials 

 quickly, of having to work under atmospheric conditions which are not only try- 

 ing to him personally, but which often cause unforeseen troubles with the material 

 on which he is working and with the instruments he is using, can only be realised 

 by experience. But probably the most serious disadvantage under which he 

 labours is that of having little or no opportunity of discussion with others of 

 similar interests ; and this " scientific " loneliness may prove a serious obstacle to 

 the progress of an investigation. 



In these circumstances, the formation of an Indian Association for the Ad- 

 vancement of Science with aims similar to those of the British Association seemed 

 most desirable. Perhaps those immediately interested in the scheme were 

 reluctant to adopt the full title, or perhaps they wished the new institution to 

 prove itself worthy before claiming relationship with the British Association, or 

 perhaps the word "Congress" is specially Indian. Whatever the reasons for 

 adopting the title, Dr. J. L. Simonsen, Professor of Chemistry in the Presidency 

 College, Madras, and Mr. P. S. MacMahon, M.Sc, B.Sc, Professor of Chemistry 

 in Canning College, Lucknow, did a most useful service to scientific research in 

 India in bringing about the formation of "The Indian Science Congress" some 

 four or five years ago. The Congress has been successful in the highest degree, 

 and it is justified in claiming recognition as a most important factor in the develop- 

 ment of science in India. 



The formation and running of such an institution in India is attended with 

 exceptional difficulties. An annual meeting is necessary, and immediately the 

 geographical difficulty is realised. Although the Science Congress at once 

 received support from all parts of India and Ceylon, and the annual subscription 

 of five rupees was small enough to exclude but very few, yet it was realised that 

 the huge distances to be travelled by members would probably prohibit large 

 attendances at the meetings. Fortunately, the recognition of the Congress (with 

 the consequent payment of the travelling expenses, especially of those reading 

 papers in some section of the Congress) by the Government of British India and 

 to some extent by the Governments of Native States, togteher with facilities 

 offered by some of the railway companies, have very largely reduced the cost of 

 attendance on the part of members. The majority of the members are on the 

 staff of educational institutions or in other branches of Government service, and 

 it is often difficult or highly inconvenient for an officer to be away from his 

 "station" for any long period at a particular time. For a meeting lasting four 

 days it may easily be necessary for a member attending the Congress to be away 

 for three weeks, even if the effects of such long and continuous railway journeys 



