April. -13; 1916] 



NATURE 



149 



for carn-ing' out every class of electrochemical work. 

 Indeed, a marked characteristic of the building is the 

 ample and adequate provision of space for physical 

 chemistry and electrochemistry-. 



The ground floor contains the large chemical lec- 

 ture theatre (with seating accommodation for 240 

 persons), the physical chemistr}' lecture theatre (100 

 persons), the librar}-, and the analytical and inorganic 

 laboratories. There is also a room for metallurgical 

 work, and a store-room. 



The first floor is -devoted entirely to organic chem- 

 istry, and contains a spacious main laboratory, organic 

 chemistry lecture theatre (100 persons), organic chem- 

 ical store, combustion- and furnace-rooms, etc. On 

 this floor is also a room for sf>ectroscopic work. 



The second floor contains the " first year " labora- 

 tor\- (with accommodation for 100 students), the depart- 

 ment of pathological chemistry, and numerous research 



and electrochemistry. There is also a great want of 

 many pieces of apparatus required for advanced study 

 and research in inorganic and organic chemistry. A 

 sum of about 20,000/. is urgently required in order to 

 complete this internal equipment, without which the 

 laboratory will be unable to fulfil its great purpose of 

 training the research chemists of which we stand at 

 present so badly in need. The country cannot afford 

 to lose a moment. In the immediate future thousands 

 of chemists will be required trained in the methods of 

 research. Every well-equipf>ed chemical laboratory is 

 therefore an asset of the highest national importance. 

 Not only power and wealth, and national well-being, 

 are dependent thereon, but our ver\- existence as an 

 independent and civilised community. For if the 

 events of the last two years have shown that war is 

 dependent on chemical science, it is still more true 

 that without it there can be no prosperity and security 



Fig. I. — Laboratory ol j. cLiimcai v>i; 



urns. Next to the provision made for instruction 

 jin engineering and physical chemistr}-, perhaps the 

 :nost marked feature of the building is the accom- 

 dation provided for research work. There are no 

 ■ver than twenty-seven rooms devoted exclusively to 

 post-graduate and research work, providing ample 

 iccommodation for at least sixt\^ research workers, 

 jrhese rooms are suitably distributed throughout the 

 |)uilding. In this respect it will compare favourably 

 kith the largest and most famous laboratories of the 

 pontinent. One may, perhaps, go so far as to state 

 hat when the internal' equipment is complete the labora- 

 pry will surpass any chemical laboratory to be found 

 jn Germany. ," 



^ Unfortunately, the outbreak of war occurred at a 



lime when the internal equipment was incomplete. 



present the laboratory is entirely devoid of electrical 



ichiner\', storage batteries, electrical power wiring 



nd switchboards, and almost, if not entirelv, wanting 



1 instruments and apparatus for physical' chemistry 



NO. 2424, VOL. 97] 





luisiry, V. iii\cr>ay College, London. 



in time of peace. The thorough equipment of our 

 chemical laboratories is therefore not only the best 

 possible investment of national funds, but an indis- 

 pensable condition of national security. 



We notice with verj- great pleasure that Sir Ralph 

 Foster, Bart,, has promised 5000Z. on condition that 

 the remaining 15,000/. is obtained \^-ithin a reasonable 

 period of time. Sir Ralph Foster had already sub- 

 scribed more than 34,000/. to the building fund, so that 

 not only University College, but chemical science in 

 general owe him a deep debt of gratitude. Sir WilHam 

 Ramsay has generously promised 500/. for the pur- 

 chase of books and journals for the library of the new 

 chemical laboratories. It is intended to call the library 

 the ■■ Sir William Ramsay Library-," in commemoration 

 of the great work he has done for chemical science. 

 But in order to make the library worthy of its name 

 another 500/. will be required for the purchase of 

 books and journals, and about 500/. for libran,' 

 fittings. 



