322 



electrodes, if the process be stopped before the decomposition of 

 the substance present is completed, and an excess of one of the 

 optically active components of the ether might be found in the 

 product finally obtained. 



Experiments of this kind, especially with ferric salts of organic 

 acids, were already started, but they could not be continued because 

 of the unfavourable circumstances during the war, so that no definite 

 results were hitherto obtained. We intend to recommence these 

 investigations as soon as possible. 



14. Our ideas concerning the problem of asymmetrical syn- 

 thesis in nature, have been much changed during the last decades. 



Continual research leads us to believe that the hope need not 

 be given up of overcoming within a not too distant future all 

 experimental difficulties, and that the dynamics of the asymmetrical 

 synthesis will then be as accessible to us, as those of our common 

 laboratory-processes. 



If these experiments should some day have a real positive result, 

 we shall then have completely solved one of the most fundamental 

 riddles in the chemical and biological sciences, and we shall once more 

 effectually have contributed to the final understanding of one of the 

 most important phenomena, which have puzzled scientists ever 

 since they have been able to think of problems on this level. 



At the same time then we shall have gained a clearer insight into 

 the true significance and the value, which the principle of symmetry 

 has for the scientific description of the living and inanimate 

 worlds, thus contributing most effectually to the never ceasing 

 efforts of our race to increase our knowledge of the wonderful and 

 mysterious ways of that greatest of artists: Nature. 



