THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS — RAMSAY. 197 



gas engines; and distributing the electrical energy to where it is 

 wanted. The use of gas engines may, if desired, be accompanied by 

 the production of half-distilled coal, a fuel which burns nearly without 

 smoke, and one which is suitable for domestic fires, if it is found too 

 difficult to displace them and to induce our population to adopt the 

 more efficient and economical systems of domestic heating which are 

 used in America and on the Continent. The increasing use of gas for 

 factory, metallurgical, and chemical purposes points to the gradual 

 concentration of works near the coal mines, in order that the laying 

 down of expensive piping may be avoided. 



An invention which would enable us to convert the energy of coal 

 directly into electrical energy would revolutionize our ideas and 

 methods, yet it is not unthinkable. The nearest practical approach 

 to this is the Mond gas battery, which, however, has not succeeded, 

 owing to the imperfection of the machine. 



In conclusion, 1 would put in a plea for the study of pure science, 

 without regard to its applications. The discovery of radium and 

 similar radioactive substances has widened the bounds of thought. 

 While themselves, in all probability, incapable of industrial applica- 

 tion, save in the domain of medicine, their study has shown us to what 

 enormous advances in the concentration of energy it is permissible to 

 look forward, with the hope of applying the knowledge thereby gained 

 to the betterment of the whole human race. As charity begins at 

 home, however, and as I am speaking to the British Association for 

 the Advancement of Science, I would urge that our first duty is to 

 strive for all which makes for the permanence of the British com- 

 monweal and which will enable us to transmit to our posterity a 

 heritage not unworthy to be added to that which we have received 

 from those who have gone before. 



