42 



a chlorine survey of the natural waters of the streams and springs of the State. 

 A knowledge of the local normal chlorine in the natural waters of the State is 

 almost a necessity, if outbreaks of disease are to be anticipated. Any sudden in- 

 crease in the amount of chlorine in a given locality, would give warning of possible 

 danger and serve to give direction to the efforts of health officers in averting 

 disease from their districts. A chlorine map of the State is a necessity for its 

 proper sanitary cotitrol and this work can only be done satisfactorily and rapidly by 

 the concerted work of an organization, such as this Academy. After the establish- 

 ment of this chlorine base line there would still be necessary the regular examina- 

 tion of water supplies for purposes of comparison, which could be done in almost 

 every case by the local health officer. Without this base line chemical analyses of 

 water lose much of their meaning. 



Correlated naturally with this would be the general examination of water in 

 epidemic districts, the immediate benefits of which are self-evident. 



The mineral waters of the State open another field of chemical research work, 

 attractive and of evident value. It is manifest that in the working out of prob- 

 lems, such as these, covering the whole area of the State, there should be the 

 most careful co-ordination, the most perfect division of labor. It does not seem 

 to me that such work is beyond the province of the Academj"^, indeed it seems ta 

 be its supreme province so far as its relation to the State is concerned. 



Since I am speaking of chemical research, .a-How me to suggest that much yet 

 remains to be known of the chemistry of the soils and rocks of the State, much 

 that must be known if in the near future we reach the apotheosis of usefulness, 

 which some one says consists of making two blades of grass grow where one had 

 grown before. 



The plant world also offers to chemistry opportunities for investigation in 

 lines not merely of theoretical interest, but of high practical value. The exami- 

 nation of vegetable products — for example, of plants producing sugar, tannin,^ 

 medicinal properties, etc. How much of unutilized wealth is at our feet, bound 

 up in plants, only waiting the word of science for its release. It is said that one 

 of our smart weeds (Polygonum amphibirem) , a common plant in marsh regions, 

 contains 18 percent., by weight, of tannin^, an amount sufficient, if the statement 

 is true, to justify at least an attempt to utilize it for commercial purposes. This 

 is but an illustration of scores of cases which might be cited to show the possibili- 

 ties of this form of work. 



It is strange when we consider the length of time scientists have been at work 

 in the state, that there is so little of actual knowledge concerning its topographical 



»Bot. Gaz., vol. i, p.20. 



