562 



NATURE 



[February 23, 191 1 



occurring in nature, but can bring forth a whole series of 

 similar substances. You will therefore not be surprised 

 when I show you other rubber-like substances which have 

 been prepared, not from isoprene, but from similar liquids, 

 such as dimethylbutadiene. Such products are termed 

 homologues. They possess properties closely resembling 

 those of indiai-ubber, but differ slightly in chemical con- 

 stitution. It is, as yet, not decided which of these synthe- 

 tical substances forms the most suitable substitute for 

 indiarubber. The same applies to the far more important 

 question of cost of production. But when one considers 

 the fate of natural indigo, of madder, and of other natural 

 products, one may hope to see synthetical indiarubber 

 gradually enter into successful competition with the 

 naturally occurring commodity. 



Camphor, which may be placed in the same chemical 

 category as indiarubber, is also prepared artificially on a 

 large" scale. The first firm to manufacture synthetical 

 camphor was the Chemische Fabrik auf Aktien (formerly 

 Schering), of Berlin, but other firms are now following 

 suit. By this, the camphor monopoly, which the Japanese 

 Government was able to establish after the annexation of 

 Formosa, was broken down. 



Here you see an artificial resin which closely resembles 

 amber in its external characteristics, and which, as these 

 necklaces, combs, cigar-holders, &c., show, can be 

 employed as a substitute therefor. These articles have 

 been placed at my disposal by the Bakelite Companv of 

 this city, Bakelite being the trade name of this substance. 

 It is prepared from constituents of coal-tar by a process 

 which, although long known, has been technically worked 

 out by the American chemist Baekeland.^ 



Synthetic chemistry, in close association with medicine, 

 is actively engaged in pursuit of the discovery of new 

 medicaments. The great amplitude of this subject again 

 compelsme to mention only a few instances. 



In this bottle you see a white powder — veronal — which 

 is a hypnotic largely employed at the present day. It is 

 in no way connected with the older vegetable narcotics — 

 opium, &c. — but is entirely a synthetical product. One- 

 tenth of this quantity would suffice to send this entire 

 gathering into a peaceful slumber. But should the mere 

 demonstration of this soporific— coupled with this lecture 

 of mine — take effect on any susceptible persons present, 

 there is no better remedy than the cup of tea which we 

 are_ to enjoy later, for tea contains a chemical substance 

 which s.Imulates the heart and nervous system. This is 

 also present in coffee, in which it was discovered ninety 

 years ago by Runge in this country. The humorously 

 mclined discoverer gave to it the name of " Kaffeebase,'' 

 which, however, was afterwards changed to the more 

 aristocratic " caffein." It is an odd coincidence that 

 caffein was first synthesised in the laboratory of the Uni- 

 versity of Berlin exactly fifteen years ago. This synthesis 

 has led to its manufacture on a large scale. In this bottle 

 you see a specimen of synthetical caffein, manufactured by 

 the firm of Messrs. C. F. Bohringer and Sons, in Mann- 

 heim. It is prepared in large quantity from uric acid, a 

 constituent of guano, but has undergone such a complete 

 chemical transformation and purification that it no longer 

 FKjssesses the unpleasant characteristics of the raw material 

 from which it is manufactured. The chemist may there- 

 fore apply to such substances the remark made by the 

 Emperor Vespasian concerning the tax-money which came 

 to him from an unclean source : non olet (it does not 

 smell). 



Pure caffein is at present employed only as a medica- 

 ment, though, indeed, in considerable quantity. But it 

 finds, of course, a far greater application in the form of 

 the active principle in tea, coffee, kola, and Paraguay tea 

 (mat^), so chat after alcohol it is certainly the most widely 

 employed stimulant. So soon as organic chemistry 

 succeeds in the entirely possible task of synthetically re- 

 producing the aroma of tea and coffee, ' there will be 

 nothing to hinder the' artificial preparation of these 

 beverages ; and when the Minister of Education invites to 

 teaa gathering to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the 

 Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gesellschaft, the repast, I hope, will 

 consist of synthetical tea. 



Organic synthesis is not limited to vegetable products 



1 A ••imilar process for the manufacture of this substance was independently 

 developed and patenteH in England hy .«tory (Brit. Pat., igoj, 8875) — Tr. 



NO. 2156, VOL. 85] 



only, but embraces equally fearlessly substances of anim.r 

 origin. An instructive example of this may be found in 

 remarkable compound (adrenalin) which is formed in om 

 own bodies in the suprarenal glands, and which plays an 

 important part in the regulation of the blood pressure. 

 Shortly after its isolation in a pure condition from these 

 glands. Dr. F. Stolz, chemist to the dye factory at Hochsi, 

 was able to synthesise it from constituents of coal-tar. 

 This synthetical product has now been placed on the- 

 market by the Hochst firm under the name of " Supra- 

 renin." A very dilute solution of this substance causes a 

 powerful contraction of the blood vessels, and consequent 

 dispersal of blood from the tissues. A skin surface well 

 charged with blood — as, for instance, a red nose — is 

 instantly rendered quite pale on painting it with such a 

 solution. Unfortunately, the colour is not evenly dis- 

 charged, owing to the varying permeability of th» 

 epidermis, and as the action of the drug soon ceases, with 

 return of the original redness, adrenalin is not suitable a- 

 a cosmetic. On the other hand, it finds most useful 

 application in surgery, as by its means certain incisions 

 can be made without loss of blood ; this is found particu- 

 larly convenient for operations on the eye, mouth, and 

 nose. 



The factory in Hochst, which has placed at my disposa 

 this preparation in the numerous forms which you see 

 before you, has also contributed several samples of the 

 new arsenical remedy originally known as " Ehrlich- 

 Hata," but now as " Salvarsan." If you are desirous of 

 knowing more about it, I must refer you to the more 

 authoritative knowledge of the discoverer, Prof. Ehrlich, 

 who is at present in our midst. , 



Flora's fairest children, the sweet-scented flowers, mus: 

 also submit to competition with synthetic chemistry. The 

 scent industry has received a powerful impetus from 

 synthesis, and yearly turns out in Germany alone goods 

 of the value of more than two million pounds. I shall 

 here show you only a few of the numerous products. This 

 bottle contains ionone, an artificial violet-scent discovered 

 in the laboratory of this University by the late Prof. F. 

 Tiemann, and manufactured by Messrs. Haarmann and 

 Reimer in Holzminden. The contents of this bottle would 

 be sufficient to envelop, not only the Ministry of Education, 

 but the entire avenue " Unter den Linden " in an atmo- 

 sphere of violet perfume, for the osmophoric value of these 

 substances is extraordinarily high. 



In contradistinction to the simple ionone, the majority ot 

 the natural odours of flowers are due to complex mixture? 

 of different scents. These, nevertheless, have been 

 successfully reproduced. Among the scents here displayed 

 are lily-of-the-valley, mock-orange, lilac, tuberose, and, 

 finally, the greatest achievement, synthetical attar of roses. 

 Although the natural oil from roses contains about twenty 

 different odorous substances, the chemists of the scent 

 factories at Leipzig (Heine and Co., Schimmel and Co.) 

 have succeeded after laborious research in isolating all 

 the components, Synthesising these, or preparing them 

 from less costly oils, and then reuniting them in the proper 

 proportions. It now requires a most sensitive nose indeed 

 to distinguish the synthetical attar of roses from the 

 natural product. 



I only hope that the noble patroness of roses, her 

 Majesty the Empress, will not take amiss this intrusion 

 of chemical synthesis upon the monopoly hitherto held by 

 her favourite flowers. Perhaps she will regard it more 

 favourably if your Majesty will be so kind as to present 

 this synthetical product to her Majesty as a humble offer- 

 ing from chemical industry. 



These examples show the success which has followed the 

 encroachment of synthetic organic chemistry in nature's 

 domain. What I have already said is sufficient to prove 

 that chemistry, as well as all natural sciences, is the true 

 field of unlimited possibility. The Kaiser-Wilhelm insti- 

 tutes are henceforth to take part in the expansion of this 

 field and the appropriation of the treasures hidden therein. 



It is, of course, not to be expected that they will entirely 

 supplant all the older scientific institutions. We of the 

 older institutions do not feel by any means so weak as 

 willingly to allow such an event to occur. On the con- 

 trary, we shall exert our best energies to maintain a keen 

 competition with the younger institutes. This will serve 

 to keep both sides fresh and active. 



