ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 469 



the chemists of the future to calculate in advance what will be 

 the colour and crystalline form of any compound it is proposed 

 to make, .what its physiological properties will be, and therefore 

 its use, if any, as a medicine. Some few steps have already been 

 taken in this direction, but there is need for a much larger body 

 of workers properly qualified not only by the possession of 

 theoretical knowledge, but by sufficient laboratory experience 

 to give any results they may arrive at the indispensable quality 

 of being trustworthy. And something further is eminently 

 desirable, and that is some organisation of the resources which 

 are available for the collection of facts, and for performing the 

 large amount of routine work necessary in providing data which 

 may be made stepping-stones to further advances. There is 

 frequent reference to State assistance in research. This is a 

 difficult question. While there would be practical unanimity 

 in the feeling that State assistance should be given in the form 

 of money, there would probably be much difference of opinion 

 as to the way in which it should be applied. State-aided or 

 controlled institutions are apt to fall under the wheels of routine, 

 and epoch-making discoveries are not likely to proceed from 

 such establishments, but on this very ground they would be 

 well fitted to carry out efficiently experimental work which has 

 for its object the determination of physical constants and the 

 provision of data of all kinds derived from exact observation. 



The conduct of research into questions connected with special 

 processes, materials, or patents connected with industry must 

 be left to the manufacturers. So also must the question how far 

 industrial research can be carried on in colleges and universities. 

 The association of research with the teaching of advanced chemis- 

 try is a matter which concerns the professors. And it is to be 

 hoped that in future the governors of these institutions will see 

 to it that there is perpetual evidence of activity in this direction, 

 though of the results of the work done or discoveries made they 

 may not be qualified to act as judges. 



Lastly, there is the real heaven-sent researcher endowed with 

 that kind of inspired curiosity which drives him to labour for 

 the mere love of it, provided only that it takes the form of put- 

 ting questions to nature. All that can be hoped for is that he 

 will not be hindered by artificial obstacles created by official 

 stupidity, and that such assistance as money can give will not 

 be beyond his reach. For it cannot be too often repeated that 



