December io, 19 14] 



NATURE 



411 



As to fine chemicals for analysis and for research, 

 there are no figures available, but it may safely be 

 said that there has been no appreciable production of 

 these things in this country. 



If we are ever to be in a position to supply our- 

 selves and our Dependencies with the dyes, the drugs, 

 and the rest of the fine chemicals required in our 

 work, it will only be achieved after a careful review of 

 the circumstances which led to the removal of the 

 industries from this the country in which many of 

 therri originated, together with a determination to 

 take to heart the lessons of the past. 



After a review of these circumstances in which it 

 is shown that it has not been due to inactivity on the 

 part of scientific chemists, but to the ignorance and 

 neglect of British manufacturers down to quite recent 

 times, the author considered what ought to be done 

 and what it is possible to do in this country to remove 

 reproach from British chemical industrj-, and to render 

 the Empire independent of supplies from foreign 

 sources. 



We need many first-rate chemists, a few engineers, 

 plenty of capital, and some good men of business. 

 .\ combination of these elements in due proportion 

 is certain of success, and the time, though so unhappy 

 for the world, is favourable for this enterprise. 



Inasmuch as the functions of each and the best way 

 of combining them have already been settled in prac- 

 tice on the Continent, is to be hoped that the ancient 

 precept about being taught by the enemj- — ias est et 

 ab hoste doceri — will not be forgotten. For there can 

 be no doubt that the principle acted on in all German 

 chemical factories, namely, the employment of the 

 best available scientific skill and the constant appeal 

 to scientific research, has been the secret of their 

 success. 



In conclusion, two remarks only require to be 

 made. The establishment of w'hat will be practically 

 a new industry in this country will require considera- 

 tion and assistance from the State, if it is to survive 

 the period of fierce competition which will follow the 

 conclusion of the war. Encouragement is already 

 promised to the dye industry-, in the form of definite 

 financial aid to be given by Government. But remem- 

 bering that the colour-maker is dependent on the 

 production of many chemicals, which represent inter- 

 mediate stages in the processes which lead from the 

 raw materials to the finished product, and that the 

 production of these chemicals is naturally associated 

 with other chemical manufactures, it is to be hoped 

 that the temporary protection will be extended beyond 

 the immediate field of the colour-maker. 



The other remark may raise a smile on the part 

 of those business men who are moved onlv by com- 

 mercial considerations. There will be a great tempta- 

 tion when the war is over to resume former business 

 relations with the enemy. The German chemical 

 manufacturers have a powerful organisation and 

 many years of experience behind them. Let them i 

 keep any markets they can retain outside the British 

 Empire, but ever}' man who cares for his country 

 will surely demand that business at home shall be '. 

 limited to British goods. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



Edinburgh. — The chair of medicine and clinical 

 medicine in the University has become vacant through 

 the retirement of Prof. John Wyllie. With the ex- '. 

 ception of the years 1866 to 1868, when he was house \ 

 physician to the General Hospital in Birmingham, | 

 Prof. Wyllie has lived his professional life in Edin- j 

 burgh, where he filled many important positions as a 1 



NO. 2354, VOL. 94] 



' physician, and attained a high reputation in medical 

 circles. In addition to contributions to medical 

 journals, he is known as the author of a book on 

 "The Disorders of Speech," published in 1894. 



As in all other universities the war has ^seriously 

 depleted the classes in Edinburgh. The diminution is 

 observable in all the faculties, but is particularly 

 noticeable in the later years of the medical curriculum, 

 in the third j-ear of engineering science, and in 

 the law classes. A considerable number of the 

 junior staff of lecturers are also with the colours. To 

 encourage students to offer themselves for service 

 the University authorities have granted important 

 privileges, so that when the war is over the studies 

 may be resumed without serious loss of time. The 

 great majority of the men who are attending classes 

 are being drilled several times a week, and are receiv- 

 ing military instruction. The Indian students are 

 being trained as an ambulance corps. 



London. — A course of nine advanced lectures on 

 certain aspects of British ecology will be given at 

 University College, with the exception of lecture 5, 

 which will be given at the Botany Building, Imperial 

 College of Science, Prince Consort Road, South Ken- 

 sington, S.W., at 5 p.m. on the following dates: — 

 December 10, Dr. E. J. Salisbury, "Woodlands"; 

 December 17, Dr. W. G. Smith, " Grasslands " ; 

 January 14, Dr. C. E. Moss, " Unsolved Problems 

 relating to Calcareous Vegetation"; Januar}- 21, 

 Miss M. C. Rayner, " Some Aspects of Heath Vegeta- 

 tion " ; Januar\' 28, Prof. J. B. Farmer, " Alpines " ; 

 Februar}' 4, Dr. E. J. Salisbury, "Determining Fac- 

 tors in Aquatic Distribution"; February 12, Prof. 

 R. H. Yapp, " Fen Vegetation " ; February 18, Prof. 

 G. S. West, "The Occurrence and Distribution of 

 Fresh-water Algae"; February 25, Mr. A. D. Cotton, 

 "The Algal Vegetation of the Salt-marsh and Sea- 

 shore.!' The lectures are addressed to students of the 

 University and to others interested in the subject. 

 .■\dmission is free, without ticket. 



Sheffield. — Dr. W. Mac.\dam has been appointed 

 to the post of demonstrator in public health, and Mr. 

 T. Chetwood to the post of lecturer on hygiene in the 

 training department. 



Mr. G. S. Yuill, of Yuills, Ltd., a graduate of 

 .■\berdeen University, has made a gift of 4000/. to the 

 L'niversit)-, the interest upon this amount to be applied 

 in furthering the study of chemistr}'. 



It is announced in Science that the United States 

 General Education Board has granted 50,000/. to 

 Goucher College, Baltimore, conditionally upon 

 150,000/. being raised by April i, 1917. From the 

 same source we learn that a fund of 12,000/. has been 

 turned over to Amherst College by the alumni council. 

 The disposal of the income from this sum is to be 

 determined by the trustees and the council. 



We learn from Science that on November 19 the 

 honorary degree of doctor of science was conferred bv 

 Brown University upon Prof. W. H. Bragg, of the 

 University of Leeds, before the corporation and 

 faculty of the L'niversity in special Convocation. 

 Following the conferring of the degree Prof. Bragg 

 delivered the last of four lectures on X-rays and 

 crystals, which he has been giving as the first of the 

 anniversary- lectures to celebrate the one hundred and 

 fiftieth anniversary of Brown University. 



Notice is given by the Institution of Naval Archi- 

 tects that a scholarship, to be known as the " Insti- 

 tution of Naval Architects Scholarship in Naval Archi- 

 tecture," will be offered for competition among 

 students of the institution in 19 15. The scholarship, 

 which is of the annual value of 100/., and tenable for 



