66o SCIENCE PROGRESS 



in urine in fluctuating proportions are far the more important 

 — as they are often of diagnostic value. 



If those to whom I am addressing m3'self scarcely grasp 

 the force of this argument, they will nevertheless see, assuming 

 my contention to be correct, that the suggestion that chemistry 

 is taught in medical schools in an unsympathetic manner cannot 

 be so far from the truth after all ! 



Dr. Wade altogether objects to the proposition that we 

 might well give some consideration in the first instance to 

 complex cases, such as the processes of digestion, for example. 

 From the objection he makes, it is clear that he in no way 

 appreciates the marvellous advance made in this field of late 

 years. Knowing as we do now the fundamental importance 

 of enz3'mic action both in up-grade and down-grade processes, 

 it is clearly our duty to make this a primary subject of study. 

 Colloid substances also invite special attention and such simple 

 substances as water, which now is scarcely considered, although 

 physiologically perhaps the most important constituent of the 

 body ; what is taught about it — its composition, etc. — is worth- 

 less for all practical purposes. 



According to Dr. Wade, present-day examinations in 

 science are ver}^ different from and better than those held 

 when I taught medical students. They are absolutely- the 

 same, except — and the improvement is a real one — that simple 

 quantitative exercises have been introduced into the practical 

 chemistry examinations. When I contrast the questions set 

 last year with those set twenty-five years ago, I find no 

 difference : the same stock academic riddles are propounded 

 year after year. At no time have the questions had any real 

 bearing on the problems which face the medical man ; those 

 set during the past year or two are as futile as those which I 

 assisted in setting in the early 'nineties, although meanwhile, 

 as already pointed out, there has been a vast development of 

 knowledge. 



The main lines on which chemical change proceeds having 

 been made clear to us, there is no question that it is now 

 possible to teach a chemistr}- which should give e3-es to the 

 medical man and enable him graduall}' to pierce the gloom 

 which still enshrouds the subtler changes : I therefore contend 

 that we are much behind the times. 



Dr. Wade not onl}' sa3's that chemistr}- is now taught (in 



