NATURAL HISTORY AT ST ANDREWS 301 



treatment of the subject has been revolutionised to keep pace 

 with the development of the subject and with the increasing 

 demands of practical work and original research. Fifty years 

 ago, only a single theoretical course, which included both 

 inorganic and organic chemistry, was given. At present there 

 are three distinct lecture courses (general, special, and honours) 

 with corresponding practical classes. The spacious practical 

 laboratory, the generous gift of the late Mr Purdie of Castle- 

 cliffe, now affords the student of chemistry in St Andrews facili- 

 ties which are not excelled in other and larger universities. 



A more notable development is the progress made in post- 

 graduate instruction. The successful efforts made by Professor 

 Purdie to induce his best students to undertake research 

 work, culminated recently in the institution of a special 

 research department in chemistry. A new laboratory, specially 

 designed and reserved for research, was presented to the 

 University by Professor Purdie, and opened in 1905. The 

 department is equipped with every facility for original work, 

 and possesses an extensive library of research literature. 

 The cost of special apparatus and chemicals is met out of an 

 endowment fund, so that post-graduate workers are thus able 

 to carry out their investigations without expense. Under 

 these favourable conditions, which are almost unique in this 

 country, a steady succession of the best students of chemistry 

 have, in recent years, taken advantage of the facilities afforded 

 by the laboratory, and taken an active share in the research 

 work of the department. 



While the classes in existence half a century ago have 

 therefore made great advances in every respect, this does not 

 complete the survey. Since 1887 the lectureship in botany 

 with senior and junior courses has come into existence as an 

 offshoot from the natural history class. The first course 

 was given in the winter of 1887 by Dr John H. Wilson, the 

 demonstrator of zoology, and this before any teaching on 

 the subject was instituted in Dundee. Very shortly after- 



