MICROBIOLOGY AND INDUSTRY 



merit none was more valuable to me than your brief announcement 

 that it caused you satisfaction that I had been selected as your suc- 

 cessor. 



Not yet a year ago authorities whose opinion is of significance also 

 to you have honoured you, 'anerkannten Meister der mikrobiologi- 

 schen Wissenschaft', as Lindner said, and have attempted to do hom- 

 age to your merits in connexion with the exemplary and dedicated 

 manner in which you have served this science. A feeble reiteration of 

 such praise from my side cannot be agreeable to you. But here I will 

 proclaim my deep recognition that the occupancy of this chair implies 

 also that at least part of that which your genius and unremitting en- 

 deavour has created is now entrusted to my care. 



It would be fruitless for me to attempt to maintain the lustre that 

 your institute has acquired by virtue of your work. But to contribute 

 to making this golden quarter century of Dutch microbiology some- 

 thing that will continue to live in the minds of a new generation, that 

 is within my power. 



Professors of the Technological University, 

 On entering upon my duties I wish to assure my colleagues at the 

 Technological University that I greatly appreciate being included in 

 their community. I hope that on occasion I may be permitted to 

 appeal to you for assistance. This applies particularly to the members 

 of the Department of Chemical Technology, amongst whom I may greet 

 many of my former teachers. Although the isolation of micro-organ- 

 isms may be an important aspect of my future endeavour, isolation of 

 microbiology will never be its aim. I am far too much aware of the 

 fact that our separate fields interpenetrate than that I would not at- 

 tach great importance to a close co-operation. Allow me to benefit 

 from your wide knowledge and mature experience. 



Xot in the last place do I think in this connexion of you, dear 

 Boeseken. My remarks may have suggested a certain competitiveness 

 between purely chemical and biochemical procedures in industry; but 

 this does not imply a lack of realisation that biochemical problems 

 can be solved only with the aid of organic chemistry. Although some- 

 thing may have been added to our previous relationship of teacher and 

 pupil, I wish nevertheless that in many respects this relationship may 

 be perpetuated. 



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