xxxviii. Chemical Section. [April 30th, 1920. 



quest as did the alchemists of the west. However, the studies 

 of the Chinese alchemists led to discoveries of practical impor- 

 tance in metallurgy, mineralogy and botairy. China abounds 

 in natural wealth and the Chinese have not been slow to avail 

 themselves of this and to use it to their own advantage. The 

 Chinese show great skill in metallurgy and in the manufacture 

 of pigments, lacquers, poreclain, paper, etc. They very early 

 discovered the explosive properties of gunpowder and made use 

 of it in their wars. 



The great mineral and vegetable wealth of China gives 

 promise of a great chemical industry in the future. Methods at 

 present in use are primitive, but modern methods and 

 machinery are beginning to be employed and one can confi- 

 dently look forward to the time when the latest methods will 

 be used in the exploitation of the vast deposits of coal, iron 

 and other metallic ores, and in the production of oils, essential 

 oils and medicinal substances from vegetable sources. 



