NA TURE 



[December io, 1891 



"however, the value 122 as the atomic weight of antimony, 

 and we strongly protest against the continued use of 

 I97'i8 as the atomic weight of platinum. We are aware 

 of the reasons which have led to the adoption of this value, 

 but not even a " Potash Convention " has the right to play 

 fast and loose with a stoichiometric constant to the extent 

 of nearly 3 units from the truth. Similar tricks were played 

 in the old days with the atomic weights of sodium and man- 

 ganese for commercial purposes. Let the Potash Convention 

 agreeamong themselves to adopt any correction they please 

 on their analytical results with a view of rendering them 

 more accurate ; but they have no right to tamper with an 

 atomic weight in order to compensate for the imperfec- 

 tions of their quantitative methods. For table 22, show- 

 ing the volumes of water at different temperatures, we 

 should have preferred to use the more accurate table of 

 Rossetti, which gives the mean results of the observations 

 ■of Kopp, Pierre, Despretz, Hagen, Matthiessen, Weidner, 

 and Kremers, and thereby tends to eliminate errors due 

 to the employment of a special method, such, for 

 •example, as the dilatometrical method. We may also 

 point out that the table of solubilities of certain gases in 

 water is not based on the most modern data. Bunsen's 

 values for oxygen have been superseded by the more 

 accurate numbers of Winckler, Dittmar, and Roscoe and 

 Lunt, Sonddn and Petterson ; and the original statement, 

 based apparently on the work of Carius, that hydrogen is 

 equally soluble in water at all temperatures between 0° 

 and 20"", has been shown to be erroneous by Bohr and 

 Bock and Timofejew. 



There is a passage in the preface of Prof. Lunge's larger 

 -work which may serve to indicate the difference with 

 which the scientific aspect of his business is regarded by 

 the English and Continental chemical manufacturer. In 

 presenting his book to English manufacturers, Dr. Lunge 

 ventures to express the hope that they will not think it 

 too "scientific." He counsels them not to despise the 

 purely chemical detail which they will find in it. There 

 is, it may be thought, a certain element of humour in 

 these remarks. But Prof Lunge is very much in earnest. 

 He very well knows that we are still ruled by the rule of 

 thumb in these things ; the " practical man " still domi- 

 nates, and nothing but the inevitable adverse dividend 

 •will move him out of the way. To what consequences 

 the neglect of a scientific treatment of a practical subject 

 leads, Prof. Lunge illustrates from his personal ex- 

 perience. He tells us that he left his native country for 

 Great Britain rather more than five-and-twenty years 

 ago, because industrial chemistry was but little developed 

 in Germany : — 



" The manufacture of sulphuric acid, soda-ash, and 

 Weaching-powder was at that time quite insignificant in 

 Germany, and not very considerable in France as com- 

 pared with Great Britain ; nor could the technical appli- 

 ances, the yields, or even the purity of the products in 

 the two former countries vie with those of the latter." 



How different matters are now is notorious : — 



"The manufacture of chemicals has made enormous 

 strides forward, both in quantity and quality, in France, 

 and even more so in Germany. Many of the chemicals 

 of these countries outstrip those of English works in 

 purity ; and their plant and their processes are frequently 

 superior to those used in the majority of English works. 



NO. I 1 54, VOL. 45] 



Everybody knows how this has come about. The foreign 

 chemists and manufacturers have looked all round, not 

 merely in their own countries, but wherever they could 

 find improved methods and apparatus ; and upon the 

 practical knowledge thus gained they have brought to 

 bear the scientific training they had received at their 

 LTniversities and Polytechnic schools. Thus they have 

 already, in many fields formerly remunerative to British 

 manufacturers, distanced the latter, immensely aided 

 though these be by their long occupation of the ground, 

 and by permanent natural advantages, such as cheapness 

 of coal and freight, and their superior command of capital, 

 &c. ; and this is likely to go on to an increasing extent if 

 many British chemical manufacturers decHne to profit 

 from a scientific study of their respective branches." 



No one who has had the opportunity of comparing 

 German chemical works with those of this country can be 

 blind to the truth of these remarks. In certain branches 

 of manufacture we are now absolutely distanced by the 

 Germans, and in branches, too, which by priority of start 

 and by every natural advantage ought to have been our 

 exclusive possession. In the case of some of these we 

 can hardly hope to recover our lost ground. Attempts 

 have not been \yanting, but it has to be admitted that 

 British pluck and British capital have been hopelessly 

 beaten by German energy and German capital plus 

 German foresight and enlightenment. In some of these 

 industries we may still hope to have a part, but it can only 

 be a secondary one ; and if things go on as hitherto, we 

 must be content to be as the hewers of wood and the 

 draweis of water. As we sow so shall we reap ; and as we 

 have sown little, it is but little that we may expect to 

 garner. 



The development of industrial chemistry in Germany 

 during the last twenty years, and especially in those 

 branches which depend upon the higher and more recon- 

 dite branches of the science, has been amazing. In the 

 manufacture of organic products the Germans and Swiss 

 practically command the markets of the world ; nor is 

 there the least indication that their monopoly in the case 

 of such products as demand scientific training and skill 

 will be or can be assailed by us at present. 



Some months ago the writer was required to inspect 

 and report upon the best examples of modern chemical 

 laboratories to be met with on the Continent, with special 

 reference to the work of instruction in chemical research, 

 and in the higher branches of chemical teaching. The 

 advice he received was most significant, and illustrates 

 very strikingly the attitude of the German chemical 

 manufacturer towards the science of his business " If 

 you want to see how organic chemistry should be worked 

 at," said Prof. Kekuld, " go to some of our manufactories : 

 they show us the way now. The men whom we have 

 trained in our academic laboratories have bettered their 

 instruction and teach their teachers." Precisely the same 

 counsel was given by Prof. Victor Meyer : " Uo you wish 

 to see how chemical research can be organized ? Then 

 go to Ludwigshafen." And to Ludwigshafen we went. 

 The mental impression of that spectacle of " organized 

 rfesearch " on the banks of the Rhine will not soon be 

 effaced. The sight, indeed, would constitute a useful 

 object-lesson to the legislators who have sought to grapple 

 with the subject of secondary education by handing it 

 over to the country gentlemen. The very existence of 



