NATURE 



[November 14, 1918 



coal-tai products, the noblest spirit would not 

 h.i , e --a\ ed us from destruction. 



When the Germans introduced the use of poison- 

 ous gases into warfare, immediate steps were 

 taken by our military authorities to provide the 

 troops with means oi protection from them, and 

 action was taken later to organise offensive as 

 well as defensive measures. The matter was put 

 into the bands oi men ol si iem 1 , with the result 

 that our gas atta ni more effective than 



those "l our enemies. Sir Douglas Haig said in 

 his despatch at the end Of [916: "The Army owes 

 its thanks to the chemists, physiologists, and 

 physicists of the highest rank, who devoted their 

 energies to enabling us to surpass the enemy in 



the use oi a means of warfare which look the 



civilised world by surprise." 



Science has been successfully called into service 

 in many other directions. The meteorological 

 establishments oi the various countries involved in 

 the war have done their utmost to provide greatly 

 increased knowledge of the physics of the atmo- 

 sphere for the immediate benefit of the armies. 

 Both for naval and military operations, accurate 

 forecasts have been much enhanced in value, and 

 it has been of the highest importance to know the 

 behaviour of the upper atmosphere for the informa- 

 tion of the air services, and the condition of the 

 surface atmosphere in relation to gun-sighting and 

 range-finding. The organisation of the medical 

 services for the prevention of disease, as well as the 

 treatment of wounds, has been a veritable triumph. 

 In consequence, the health of the Army has been 

 better in the field than in peace-time, thanks to 

 preventive inoculation, suitable food, and careful 

 sanitation. Typhoid and paratyphoid fevers have 

 been almost unknown, and tetanus has been under 

 complete control. 'Flic most gratifying aspect of 

 the whole war is that of the efficiency of the 



1 SCI \ il IS. 



Now that the war is practically over, we must 

 prepare to meet other problems. Peace brings 

 with it difficulties to be overcome which rival in 

 magnitude the task of completely vanquishing our 

 enemies. Problems will arise in connection with 

 the health and physique of the nation which will 

 tax tlic resources of the country's medical services 

 to theil Lltmosl limit. The (lash of arms will be 

 succeedi b) in equally strenuous industrial com- 

 petition, and the reconstruction of the appalling 

 devasl m will call for all the resources of men 

 of scien lalified administrators. We arc- 



faced with the neci .it) 1 betti 1 organis ition 

 "I scien 1 ind in lustry, and more efficient methods 

 of product. . ,1 ,i n no( on ly ,,,ir 



posilion in the in. : he world, but also our 



abilin to meet the vasi expen ! ii ire which the war 

 NO. 2559, Vol.. id: 



litis entailed. It is tin dutj 1 'I men "I si ien< e to 

 cm it themselves to the utmost to secure due 

 recognition and participation of science in the 



gigantic problems oi national and international 



readjustment with which we are now confronted. 

 In the United States every natural resource, every 

 industry, and ever) ounce of their great 

 power in money and in men has been made avail- 

 abli for the national service lor the certain com- 

 mercial needs oi peace no less than ha the pur- 

 poses of war. It is essential for us to make like 

 efforts ii we an- to secure improvements in the 

 industrial and commercial methods ol pre-war 

 days. 



Will our people be true to the responsibility 

 placed upon il lor the future? If so, il must look 

 to knowledge lor iis support, and not let itself be 



Cajoled by the platitudes and promises of party 

 politicians. Democracy has hitherto permitted 

 itscll t.i be swayed by eloquence, and litis elected 

 to be governed by men of words rather than by 

 men of knowledge and action. The consequence 

 is that men are entrusted with power, not because 

 of any fitness they have shown for the offices they 

 occupy, but because of their political influence or 

 friendships. Scientific and technical experts have 

 been used, but onlv as hewers of wood and 

 drawers ol water, while the administrative- control 

 has usually been in the hands of officials with no 

 special qualifications for their directorships. 



Much remains to be done by the State and in 

 the city before science and other knowledge are 

 given their full opportunities for increase and 

 service. In originality and capacity of adapting 

 means to ends, the British people is equal to 

 any other in the world, but its attitude towards 

 science is mostly indifferent, and the progress 

 made is nothing compared with what would have 

 been achieved under more stimulating conditions. 

 Winn a new spirit prevails there will be no end 

 to tic- mil gilts which science will pour into the 

 kip of the human race. Then, if men are worthy 

 of the fruits showered upon them, there will be 

 tin end of the night of weeping, and the advent 

 of the morn of song which is Our highest heritage. 

 Let us do what we can to hasten the coming of 

 this time, when men shall stretch out their hands 

 1 another and encircle the world. 



SCIENTIFIC UTILISATION <>/•' COAL. 

 Coal aw./ its Scientific ! si .. By Prof. William A. 

 Pp. xv + 491. (London: Longmans, 



I .1 een, and Co., 1918.) Price 2 I S. net. 



PIUS volume, the latest addition to the already 



-*• vast literature on that protean subject, Coal, 



is on.- i.i particular interest, .is ii i-, written from 



a somewhat novel point o! view, the significance of 



