14 PRESIDENT'S ADDRKSS. 



before, to a much higher position. High explosives and poison 

 gas have played a great part in the contest, far more than in 

 any previous war; and were it not for our chemists the latter 

 fiendish invention of the Germans might have overcome us. 

 Even now the Germans have many dye works and other 

 factories which were used for producing both these substances 

 and could at very short notice be again diverted from their 

 normal manufacture in the same way, whereas I believe that we 

 are very deficient in such advantages, and should have to 

 organize special factories for such a purpose. The employ- 

 ment of scientific chemists (this name of "chemist" has unfortun- 

 ately been perverted and used for people who keep shops and 

 make up medicines, but who mostly know but little of the 

 science of chemistry) has been much urged upon manufactur- 

 ing chemists and others, and would undoubtedly be a most 

 valuable aid to real progress and improvements in their pro- 

 ductions. Germany was able to produce its own nitrogen 

 from the atmosphere during the war; and there seems some 

 hope that plant for this purpose will be established in England, 

 where it is much wanted. A Committee was appointed in 

 1916 to consider this question, and has lately issued its report. 

 In regard to the large number of synthetic drugs which used 

 to be made in Germany and imported here before the war, 

 the National Health Insurance Commission reported that 16, 

 in which Germany had had a virtual monopoly, were now 

 made here, and that many others seemed unnecessary and 

 might be dispensed with. Synthetic rubber was made in 

 Germany during the war, as the natural product was unobtain- 

 able; but as it is far more expensive, it is not likely to be con- 

 tinued. The gas, helium, which was originally detected in the 

 sun, and afterwards found on the earth, is now produced 

 commercially and used for filling balloons and airships on 

 account of its lightness and non-explosiveness. It is present to 

 the extent of from 6 to 10 per cent, in the gases given off from 

 springs in the Cote d'Or in France. Other formerly rare gases 

 are utilized, such as argon for electric lighting purposes. 

 Lead is a substance of which I believe there exist no less than 



