THE CHEMICAL PROBLEMS OF TO-DAY. 375 



May it some day be granted to chemistry through such a discovery 

 to inaugurate a golden age for humanity. 



I have tried to give a review of the most important problems which 

 are set before chemical science. I have mentioned a goodly number, 

 but the short time of one hour permits me to touch but slightly upon 

 the greater ones. There are so many problems before us, which await 

 an immediate solution as to justify what I said in the beginning; that 

 to day the chemist has no time to complain because the epoch of a 

 mathematical treatment of his science has not yet arrived. 



Nevertheless, the brilliant successes which have been gained, the 

 wonderful results which are immediately within our reach, have not 

 the power to turn our eyes from this final iiroblem. 



The Newton prophesied to Chemistry by Emil du Bois Reymond, 

 may he appear at a later period; until he comes, may many a genera- 

 tion honorably plow on in the sweat of its brow ! We must remember 

 that nature is not understood by us until we are able to reduce its phe- 

 nomena to simple movements, mathematically traceable. 



The time will come, even for chemistry, when this highest kind of 

 treatment will prevail. The epoch in which the foremost impulse of 

 its research was a serenely creative imagination will then have passed; 

 the joys, but also the pangs and struggles, peculiar to youth, will have 

 been overcome. 



Re-united to Physics, her sister science, from whom her ways at 

 present are separated, Chemistry will run her course with firm and 

 unfaltering steps. 



