1915] Cooperation in Matters Chemical 73 



men to both classes and therein lies a strong bond of sympa- 

 thy and basis of cooperation. 



If that cooperation is not complete, how can the situation 

 be improved ? May I be permitted here to make a few sug- 

 gestions, or rather, let me ask a few questions ? 



Speaking to the men of the universities I would ask : 



First, of each individual head of a university chemical 

 laboratory : What is your personal conception of the relation 

 of your laboratory to industrial life ? Do you feel that the 

 problems in this field are fully worthy of your time and 

 tireless thought ? Do you find inspiration in the hope that 

 your work may result directly in the transformation of some 

 crude or now worthless natural product into a form of higher 

 value to all, or that waste in some of its many forms shall be 

 diminished, or that forces now acting dis jointly may be so 

 correlated that new blessings for mankind may result ? 



If such questions find ready affirmative, the spirit of co- 

 operation is abroad and must make itself felt. 



Second: Do we have the men of the industries often 

 enough before our university classes ? 



I do not mean for the purpose of delivering formal lect- 

 tures, knowing full well their aversion to the preparation and 

 delivery of such; but surely each of these men has in his 

 every-day life abundant experience and difficulties, the pre- 

 sentation of which would give sounder conceptions, broader 

 understanding, and more intelligent grasp of conditions to 

 be met in the work-a-day world ahead. 



TJiird: Are we sure that we give our lectures on in- 

 dustrial chemistry, especially to undergraduates, from the 

 best point of view ? 



A recent experience may be worth recording here. For 

 several years I followed the lines usually adopted in stand- 

 ard texts, but the division into inorganic and organic tech- 

 nology seemed artificial, in view of the preachments on 

 that subject during the previous course in general chem- 

 istry; the usual grouping of topics seemed to be very 

 loosely connected; in fact, the course lacked unity of 



