174 SIR WILLIAM EAMSAY 



chemical, and some ten reports were drawn up. In 

 fairness it should be stated that one of the Appendices 

 contained an account of the work " On the Pollution of 

 Estuaries and Tidal Waters," by Dr. W. E. Adeney 

 and Professor Letts, and that Dr. Adeney's original 

 work, done before the Commission came into existence, 

 was of fundamental importance and was only extended 

 and amplified by the investigations made by the Com- 

 mission. Obviously the membership of such a body 

 could be no sinecure, and Ramsay in characteristic 

 manner took a very active part in all the pro- 

 ceedings, which spread, as already indicated, over the 

 long period of 16 to 17 years. He was greatly dis- 

 appointed that no permanent body was established 

 to continue enquiry, supply information, and make 

 regulations bearing on the many important questions 

 involved. 



In 1904 Ramsay became President of the Society of 

 Chemical Industry, a body consisting of about 5000 

 members and having a section established in New York. 

 The opening session of the annual meeting was held on 

 this occasion in the Columbia University, New York, 

 commencing on September 8th, but the president and 

 a large number of members proceeded afterwards to 

 Philadelphia, Washington, Pittsburg, St. Louis (where 

 they visited the exhibition), Chicago, Detroit, Niagara 

 and Buffalo, and finally Boston. On October 5th 

 Ramsay returned to England by the S.S. Baltic. Any 

 one who has had experience of American enthusiasm 



