Section B.—CHEMICAL SCIENCE. 
PRESiDENT OF THE SectIon—Professor H. H. Anmsrrone, Ph.D., F.R.S., Sec.C.S. 
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10. 
The Presrpent delivered the following Address :— 
In the Chemical Section of the British Association for the Advancement of 
Science the advancement of chemistry throughout the British Empire must be a 
subject of commanding interest. Signs of such advancement are not wanting :—the 
rapid establishment of science colleges in one after another of our large towns; the 
establishment of the Society of Chemical Industry, which now, only in the fifth 
year of its existence, numbers over 2,000 members ; the granting of a Royal charter 
to the Institute of Chemistry; the changes introduced at the London University 
in the regulations for the D.Sc. degree; the report of the Royal Commission on 
Technical Education, in which the value to chemical manufacturers of advanced. 
chemical knowledge is so fully recognised; the important conference on education 
held at the Health Exhibition last year; the recent agitation to found a teaching 
university in London with adequate provision for research—surely all these are 
signs that the value of higher education must and will, ere long, be generally re- 
cognised. 
*The neglect of chemical research in our British schools has often been forcibly 
commented upon—of late, especially, by an eminent past-President of this Section, 
Dr. Perkin, whose opinion is of peculiar value, as he is not only world-renowned as 
a chemist, but also as a manufacturer: indeed, as the founder of two distinct im- 
portant chemical industries, There can be no doubt of the fact and of the dire 
consequences to our country of such neglect: how is it, then, that such pronounced 
complaints have been so coldly received ; that hitherto they have produced com- 
paratively so little effect; and that such slight encouragement is being given to 
those who, notwithstanding the many difficulties in their way, have steadfastly de- 
voted themselves to research work? I question whether the value of such work 
has yet been brought home to teachers generally, let alone the public: the ‘cud 
bono?’ cry is almost invariably met by pointing to some discovery of great 
pecuniary value as the outcome of research. This argument educationalists very 
properly refuse to recognise. Too little has been saidas tothe cause of the neglect 
so bitterly and properly complained of. Hence it is that I propose again to take 
up what many may regard as a somewhat threadbare theme. 
Everyone will agree with Professor Sir Henry Roscoe, who in his address last 
year to this Section said ‘that those who are to become either scientific or indus- 
trial chemists should receive as sound and extensive a foundation in the theory and 
practice of chemical science as their time and abilities will allow, rather than they 
should be forced prematurely ’—the italics are mine— into the preparation of a new 
series of homologous compounds, or the investigation of some special reaction, or of 
some possible new colouring matter, though such work might doubtless lead to 
publication” We must also all cordially agree with him that the aim should be, 
as he tells us his has been, ‘to prepare a young man by a careful and fairly complete 
general training to fill with intelligence and success a post either as teacher or 
industrial chemist, rather than to turn out mere specialists, who, placed under 
. 1885. 3P 
