230 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1952 



As the physiology of the cell becomes better known, and the relation 

 of chemical structure to cell and tissue is revealed, chemically induced 

 mutation of cells may become possible. Certain hormones and other 

 drugs are now known which affect the physical being as well as the 

 mental attitude of an individual. The future may bring to us a series 

 of drugs that will permit deliberate molding of a person, mentally and 

 physically. When this day arrives the problems of control of such 

 chemicals will be of concern to all. They would present dire potential- 

 ities in the hands of an unscrupulous dictator. 



What may we expect from atomic energy and radioactive sub- 

 stances ? The ores of uranium and thorium are found in only limited 

 quantities on this earth. The industrial applications of atomic energy 

 are, therefore, likely to be limited to special situations, such as sub- 

 marine propulsion or power units to be used in isolated spots, inacces- 

 sible to the ordinary energy-bearing materials. Radioactive sub- 

 stances will continue to find more and more utilization in elucidation 

 of organic and physiological reactions, particularly metabolic degra- 

 dations and transformations. Whereas biochemical studies will prob- 

 ably lead to compounds which may go far toward the prevention of 

 cancer, the newer a-, /?-, and y-radiations from radioisotopes are likely 

 to be found more effective for reducing or arresting growth of certain 

 types of tumors than the older radium radiation. Promising results 

 have been obtained by introducing such a substance as radioactive gold 

 directly by mechanical means into certain tumors. In the diagnostic 

 field many applications of radioactive substances may be anticipated. 

 Thus it is now possible to demonstrate the presence of a tumor in the 

 brain, and even to localize it accurately from outside the skull by 

 means of certain radioactive iodine-tagged chemicals. 



In 1780, Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to Joseph Priestley, wrote 

 as follows : 



The rapid progress true science now makes, occasions my regretting sometimes 

 that I was born so soon. It is impossible to imagine the height to which may 

 be carried, in a thousand years, the power of man over matter. We may perhaps 

 learn to deprive large masses of their gravity, and give them absolute levity, for 

 the sake of easy transport. Agriculture may diminish its labor and double its 

 produce; all diseases may be by sure means prevented or cured, not excepting 

 even that of age, and our lives lengthened at pleasure even beyond the antedilu- 

 vian standard. O that moral science were in a fair way of improvement, that 

 men would cease to be wolves to one another, and that human beings would at 

 length learn what they now improperly call humanity. 



Let us see what has happened during the 170 years since this was 

 written. We do not know yet how to eliminate gravity so as to facili- 

 tate transport. In agriculture, however, Franklin's predictions have 

 already come true. When this country was founded, it took nine 

 people on the farm to feed themselves plus one city dweller. Today, 



