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TRANSACTIONS OF THE i qem:2, 
AN INTERNATIONAL INDEX TO CHEMICAL 
LITERATURE.* 
By H. Carrineton Bouton. 
During one of my bibliographical tours in Europe, an eminent 
librarian of a German University remarked: ‘‘ You Americans 
are doing more and better work in bibliography than all the 
nations of Europe taken together.” And this he said not in 
flattery, but as the expression of an earnest conviction. Later 
I expressed surprise that Germans with such splendid collec- 
tions of books and other advantages should leave it to Ameri- 
cans to cross the Atlantic and wrest from Europe materials for 
general and special bibliographies. ‘To this he promptly replied: 
“ Ach, mein Freund, das Geld fehlt.” 
I shall not attempt to demonstrate the accuracy of the gentle- 
man’s statements, as it would involve comparisons, and these 
are said to be odious. A basis for his enthusiasm is, however, 
found in such monumental works as Poole’s Index, Fletcher’s 
Index, Billings’ Index-Catalogue of the Medical Library of the 
Surgeon General’s Office, the Index-Medicus edited by Dr. 
Robert Fletcher, the Catalogue of the Boston Athenzum, as 
well as the bibliographies of science published by the Smith- 
sonian Institution, by the United States Department of Agri- 
culture, and in independent journals. Many other notable 
works will suggest themselves to the chemists present who will 
understand that this is only a passing reference. 
The production of special and general bibliographies in the 
United States goes forward with the multiplication of public 
and endowed libraries, now increasing in number and value with 
gratifying rapidity throughout the land. Some of these are 
publishing bibliographies of specific subjects in addition to their 
Library-Catalogues; in this direction Harvard University takes 
the lead. 
Unfortunately much good work done by institutions does not 
get beyond the manuscript stage, as for example the Subject- 
Index in preparation at the Scientific Library of the United 
States Patent Office; and the chemical bibliographies compiled 
by the students of the University of Michigan, as appendages 
to theses in science. 
There are at least three organizations in the United States, 
which promote the preparation of bibliographies ; these are the 
*Opening Address to the Section of Bibliography, Congress on Chemistry 
held at Chicago, August 21-26, 1893. 
