36 CHEMICAL DISCOVERY AND INVENTION 



treatment. Much is already known about the relation of matter 

 to the Protean energy which quickens the universe, but far more 

 remains undiscovered. To a part in this discovery, which gives 

 high hope for the future, the Wolcott Gibbs Memorial Laboratory 

 is dedicated." 



The building of which an account has just been given repre- 

 sents a departure from the usual type of university buildings 

 inasmuch as it is dedicated exclusively to research, which can 

 of course be undertaken only by those who have passed through 

 the introductory studies leading to graduation. 



In such establishments as those at South Kensington, Lon- 

 don, and at Urbana, Illinois, research is carried on, but it is 

 at these places associated more closely with the teaching which 

 goes on under the same roof. A great deal of discussion on this 

 point has taken place in the past. Undoubtedly it is important 

 to instil into the minds of students that what they are then 

 learning is not the last word that can be said on the subject. 

 They should as early as possible be led to realise tfiat as more 

 knowledge is accumulated new views will arise, and they should 

 be encouraged to enquire into the methods by which this new 

 knowledge is acquired. Accordingly in many institutions re- 

 searches are carried on not only in the presence of students, 

 but with the active participation of some of them in the 

 work. 



The fertility of many of the German laboratories in the pro- 

 duction of new results, especially in the department of organic 

 chemistry, is largely due to the system of requiring every student 

 who has got past the preliminary stages of practice, to under- 

 take the manufacture of materials and examination of their 

 properties in connection with a subject which is a mere fragment 

 of a large question in which the professor is himself interested. 

 This is perfectly legitimate and, as far as it goes, is for the benefit 

 of the student, but it does not usually carry him very far as he 

 is chiefly interested in satisfying his teacher and so securing his 

 degree. The best way to arouse a real interest in such work is 

 to let the student undertake a piece of independent research 

 selected, if possible, by himself. 



The Gibbs laboratory, however, provides for a very different 

 kind of work which can with difficulty be carried on in the 

 presence or by the aid of ordinary students. Here we may 

 expect to find a body of mature specialists engaged in extending 



