The Outlook 481 



able viruses, those disease-forming organisms so minute 

 that they can pass through the pores of the finest filters, yet 

 remain to be isolated; the cause of cancer, and many other 

 diseases to be discovered, and the functions of the ductless 

 glands more clearly determined than they are at present. 

 These ^ are a few of the more urgent tasks which the medical 

 biologist has before him today. 



The palaeontologist still has awaiting him untouched areas 

 of the earth's surface, where may lie concealed the key to many 

 a riddle regarding the evolution and relationships of animals 

 and plants, and their distribution in past and present time. 

 The embryologist may aid the palaeontologist in his studies 

 of animal phylogeny by describing the embryology of many 

 of the rarer, and as yet unstudied forms, while the compara- 

 tive anatomist is partner to them both in solving the problems 

 of animal descent. 



Manifold are the unsolved problems relative to the life 

 histories, distribution, and economic relations of animals and 

 plants. Which are our friends, and which our foes, how best 

 can the former be protected and propagated, and the latter 

 exterminated, and what new sources of wealth can biology 

 discover for mankind? 



With such a job on its hands, and the foregoing outline 

 is but a glimpse of its burden, how best can biology "carry 

 on ' ' ? Helpful and encouraging as is the endowment of great 

 institutions such as those founded by a Rockefeller or a 

 Carnegie, the establishment of research chairs, and equipment 

 of laboratories in our universities, and the devotion of govern- 

 ment bureaus to biological research ; nevertheless the hope of 

 biology is in its followers. "God give us men," is now as 

 ever the prayer of progress. The spirit of Agassiz must still 

 fill our laboratories, or their equipment will represent but so 

 much waste of money and of effort. 



But the spirit of investigation .needs both encouragement 

 and guidance. It is indeed true that investigation is its own 

 reward, but in the keenness of the social struggle for existence 

 the young man or young woman of today is not likely to m 

 choose a calling which has glory for its sole reward. He is 

 too likely to recall the words of Gray , anent ' * the paths of 

 glory." If our research institutions are to secure the best 

 men they must offer sufficient inducement to at least provide 

 for the ordinary needs of life and enable the research workers 

 to enjoy some of its pleasures. Herein lies the need for the 

 liberality of wealth toward science. Otherwise science is bound 

 to become commercialized and turned to purely economic ends. 

 Another great need of biology is unification of effort. 

 Co-operation in biology is not lacking today, but co-ordina- 

 tion of effort is conspicuous chiefly by its absence. A dozen 



