Notes and Comments. 309 
indefatigable labours of a band of hignly skilled observers, 
and the department of biological chemistry has been established 
on a firm footing through the encouraging results obtained 
within the period under review. Further, within the last few 
years many of our ideas have been subjected to a revolutionary 
change through the study of the radio-active elements, these 
elusive substances which occur in such tantalisingly minute 
quantities, and of which some appear so reluctant to exist 
in a free and independent state that they merge their identity 
in that of another and less retiring relative within an interval 
of time measured by seconds. In truth, if Rip Van Winkle 
among chemists were to awake now after a slumber of thirty 
years, his amazement in coming into centact with the chemistry 
of to-day would be beyond words.’ 
GEOLOGY AND THE WAR. 
In Prof. W. S. Boulton’s presidential address to the Geo- 
logical Section, as well as in several papers discussed in the 
Section, it was shown that geologists, as well as chemists, 
engineers and metallurgists, have become keenly exercised 
as regards the operation of their respective sciences, not only 
to the making of munitions of war, but to the advancement 
of industry after the war. 
THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 
In reference to the poor financial help given to the Geological 
Survey, Prof. Boulton makes some very pointed remarks. He 
says that ‘ Jn any discussion of the present outlook of economic 
ceology in Britain we naturally turn first to the work of the 
Geological Survey. When in 1835 the National Survey was 
founded with De la Beche as its first Director, it was clearly 
realised by the promoters that its great function was to develop 
the mineral resources of the Kingdom, which involved the 
systematic mapping of the rocks, and the collection, classifica- 
tion, and study of the minerals, rocks, and fossils illustrative 
of British Geology. For upw ards of eighty years this work, 
launched by the eo eee and far-sighted genius of De la 
Beche, has been nobly sustained. We eeging es outside the 
Survey are ever willing to testify to the excellence, within the 
Treasury poucscuibed limits, of the published maps and memoirs. 
Indeed, it would be difficult to name a Government service 
in which the officers as a body are more efficient or more en- 
thusiastic in their work. 
FALSE ECONOMY. 
We have ceased to hear rumours of Treasury misgivings 
as to whether the Geological Survey can justify, on financial 
grounds, its continued existence. When we call to mind the 
untold wealth of information and fact in the published maps, 
1916 Oct. 1. 
