KLUYVER S CONTRIBUTIONS TO MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 



But in later years a considerable proportion of Kluyver's time was 

 occupied by numerous official functions, many of which required the 

 preparation of special reports and lectures. Thus, in spite of the fact 

 that he rigorously adhered to his arduous schedule of work, from 9 a.m. 

 till midnight and after, not excluding Sundays, the time he could 

 spend on the supervision and guidance of the work in his institute 

 was severely curtailed. A compensating feature of Kluyver's activities 

 during these later years is, however, that they resulted in the pub- 

 lication of many lectures of great general importance, and one can- 

 not but be grateful for the painstaking efforts and profound thought 

 that went into their preparation. Some of these lectures are re- 

 printed in this volume ; they show an increasing preoccupation with 

 the fundamental problems that humanity is facing, and wisdom in the 

 formulation of specific solutions. Thus they are apt to contribute to 

 the development of those attitudes that are so desperately needed in 

 order that we may eventually witness the fulfilment of the ardent wish 

 that Kluyver expressed in the final sentence of the lecture he delivered 

 before the combined sections of the 'Koninklijke Nederlandse Akade- 

 mie van Wetenschappen' under the title 'Microbe and Life', a lecture 

 to which he was wont to refer as his 'swan song' : 



'Heavy is the responsibility that rests on mankind; 

 may we succeed in finding the right way'. 



C. B. v. JV. 



*55 



