212 Nates and Comments. 
iS) 
Rk. Cushny, in dealing with ‘The Analysis of living matter 
through its reactions to poisons,’ refers to the past neglect of 
his special branch of science. He states he wishes to discuss 
an aspect of pharmacological investigation which has not been 
adequately recognised even by the pharmacologists themselves 
and which it is difficult to express in few words. ‘In recent 
years, great advances have been made in the chemical examin- 
ation of the complex, substances which make up the living 
organism, and still greater harvests are promised from these 
analytic methods in the future. But our progress so far shows 
that while general principles may be reached in this way, the 
chemistry of the living organ, like the rainbow’s end, ever 
seems as distant as before. And, indeed, it is apparent that 
the chemistry of each cell, while possessing general resemblances, 
must differ in detail as long as the cell is alive. No c chemistry 
dealing in grammes, nor even microchemistry dealing in 
milligrammes, will help us here. We must devise a tec hnique 
dealing with millionths to advance towards the living organism. 
Here I like to think that our work in pharmacology may per- 
haps contribute its mite ; perhaps the actions of our drugs and 
poisons may be regarded as a sort of qualitative chemistry of 
living matter. For chemical ‘investigation has very often 
started from the observation of some qualitative reactions, 
and not infrequently a good many properties of a new substance 
have been determined long before it has been pessible to 
isolate it completely and to complete its analysis.’ 
BOTANICAL SECTION: 
In his address to the Botanical Secticn, Dr. A. B. Rendle 
pointed out that, in connection with the war, botanists have 
been able to render helpful service on lines more or less directly 
connected with their own science. Even in Botany, a greater 
need for proper scientific training is apparent. © During the 
past vear, there has been considerable activity in the collecting 
of wild speemens of various species of medicinal value, fre- 
quentlv, one tears, involving loss of time and waste of plants 
owing to want of botanical or technical knowledge and lack of 
organisation. In this connection, a useful piece of botanical 
work has been recently carried out by Mr. W. W. Smith, of 
Edinburgh, on the collection of sphagnum for the preparation 
of surgical dressings. The areas within the Edinburgh district 
have been mapped and classified so as to indicate their respective 
values in terms of yield of sphagnum. By the indication of the 
most suitable areas, the suitability depending on extent of area, 
density of growth, freedom of admixture of grass or heather, 
as well as ‘facility of transport and provision of labour, the 
report is of great economic value. The continuity of supply is 
an important question, and one which should be borne in mind 
Naturalist, 

