484 



NATURE 



[fFlESRUARY 21, 19 1 8 



PATENTS AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.' 



TO encourag-e soientific iflvestigattoh and to 

 utilise the results of that invest^giltion for the 

 benefit of the community are problems of the 

 deepest concern. As such they are to-day receiv- 

 ing the attention of the keenest of intellects, and 

 herein lies the hope that from the turmoil of the 

 Great War, with the suffering- it has brought in 

 its train, there may emerge a measure of good. 

 Should the present hostilities brings home to the 

 mass of the population a knowledge that with the 

 future of the country is intimately associated the 

 ability to prosecute scientific investigation with 

 diligence, -the mighty struggle in which we are 

 engqg-ed ■^111 not have beein fOUg-ht in vain. 



To 'bring- the abstract ^reaso'ner and the research 

 studertt into 'Closer toiich with -the needs of the 

 moment, £fnd to direct 'their Cttergiies ittto channels 

 •Whilih "shall be productive of the greatest benefit, 

 4s lio -nov^l endeavour, for in the past they have 

 ■b"e«h the Occasion of much deliberation and the 

 •practice of many expedients. Of the numerous 

 'Schemes having these objects in view, softie have 

 •pfOved capable of general application, while others 

 iiave .reflected the special purposes which have 

 called them forth, or the work of the institutions 

 iiiMftied lately interested. No scheme, however, 

 'Wtoich- has been suggested by a reputable body can 

 vbesaid to have been wholly devoid of merit, or to 

 have been incapable of occasional employment. 

 But whether one scheme or the other is preferable 

 in the circumstances of a Special case still remains 

 a matter of Opinion, and one upon which divergent 

 "opinions may rightly be held. 



In scientific investigation, the folloXvIng up of an 

 'iBea to": its logical conclusion, or until definite 

 results are reached, diemands unremitting and often 

 ■exclusive attention, an attention not to be inter- 

 fupted by considerations foreign to the business in 

 hand. The aloofness thus necessarily engendered 

 is reflected in the proverbial inability of the devotee 

 'to protect himself commercially or to secure 

 adequate pecuniary return for prolonged industry. 

 'For the encouragement of research and the freelne 

 of the investigator from the petty tyranny 

 occasioned by the needs of daily living. Prof. T. 

 Brailsford Robertson, professor of biochemistry 

 and pharmacology in the University of California, 

 propounds a scheme which, -while leaving the 

 investigator untrammelled, also relieves him of 

 'ittrich anxiety as regards his physical Welfare. In 

 netting out the scheme Prof. Robertson refers to 

 various projects -which have been out in hand for 

 stiftiuMting research and for bringing the student 

 into closer touch with the utilitarian or business 

 •side of his operations. Thus there are reviewed 

 the action of the Solvav Institute in Brussels, 

 which has set aside certain proceeds from inven- 

 tions for the support of scientific enterprise, and 



1 "The -Utilisation of Patent'? for the Promotion of Research." Bv Prof. 

 "T. Brailsford Robertson, University of California. Pp. 14. (Privately 

 circulated.) 



" A Scheme for the Promotion of Sc-entific Research." By Wa'ter B. 

 Priest. Third edition. Pp. 88. (London : Stevens and Sons, Ltd., rgto.) 



"Observations: an Appendix to the 'Scheme.'" By Walter B. Priest. 

 Pp. 9. (Privately circulated, 1916.) 



NO. 2521, VOL. 100] 



the procedure of Behring and Pavlov, who have 

 handed over profits obtained by the sale of articles 

 manufactured in the laboratory. The ;precedent 

 established by Ehrlich in his disposal of the pro- 

 ceeds of salvarsan forms, in addition, an illustrious 

 example whereby the furtherance of research in a 

 special direction may be assisted. In this instance, 

 however, although it was so highly successful, 

 Prof, Robertson alludes to defects difficult to 

 remove. Notably, the intimate association of an 

 individual investigator with a business enterprise, 

 ahd the absence of supervisory control of the 

 exploitation of a discovery, were felt to be sus- 

 ceptible of improvement. As regards industrial 

 fellowships, which to so many seem to have justi- 

 fied themselves, they have perhaps served to 

 bridge the gap existing between pure science and 

 industrial progress rather than to initiate new 

 developments. 



A:plan of wider scope and capable of Indefinite 

 multiplication occurred to Prof, Robertson, "The 

 scheme is essentially based upon payment by 

 results, the results, however, being in patt due to 

 co-ordinate action by the governing body of a 

 university. Prof. Robertson suggests the Estab- 

 lishment of a trust for the working of such pdftents 

 as have been obtained by the Investlgzlt'or. 'After 

 recouping itself for the expenses of this Working, 

 the governing body is to hand over a certain sum 

 of money, and, out of profits, to grant an annuity 

 continuable after death in favour of the investi- 

 gator's dependents. Unexpended profits are to be 

 pooled In favour of the prosecution Of research 

 work in definite directions. A board of directors 

 under the governing body is to be deputed to super- 

 vise, if desired, the work of research. The scheme 

 •is capable of wide ^application, similar ^arrange- 

 ments for specific purposes being susceptible tif 

 multiplication. Moreover, Prof. Robertson and his 

 governing body have shown their faith in the pro- 

 ject by entering Into an agreement on the subject 

 of the growth-influencing substance " Tethelln," 

 which Prof. Robertson had isolated from the 

 anterior lobe of the pitultai-y body. 



Whether it Is desirable for an educational 

 authority to depart from Its normal functions and 

 to enter Into the bustle and competition Inseparable 

 from commercial undertakings is questionable. 

 That it would be satisfactory to the patentee, 

 engfrossed In his scientific investigation, admits Of 

 little doubt; but hesitancy may well be evinced in 

 assenting to the employment of an academic board 

 In the exploitation of patents. Moreover, although 

 the terms of the Incorporation of the University of 

 California would seemingly permit of the Univer- 

 sity entering into business undertakings, many 

 institutions elsewhere have no such privilege con- 

 ferred by their charters. 



Among the many other proposals for stimulating 

 investigators to further effort is the conferring of 

 rewards in the form of money. This method is of 

 considerable standing and has met with success. 

 But In the opinion of not a few a system is still 

 to be found which Is less open to criticism and 

 more uniform in application. 



