788 



SCIENCE. 



[N.S. Vol. VII. No. 180. 



chemical equilibrium, reaction, velocity, 

 etc. This bath is not used for conductivity 

 measurements, a separate room being pro- 

 vided for that purpose in a quiet part of 

 the building. 



Ostwald lays considerable stress upon a 

 weekly meeting of professors, instructors 

 and students, which he holds for the pur- 

 pose of discussing investigations which are 

 in progress or which have been completed. 

 In this way he thinks the professor will 

 gain a more accurate knowledge of what 

 the student has done that his suggestions 

 will be more adequate to the case, and that 

 the student will acquire a broader view of 

 the problem in his own hands, and a more 

 systematic method of dealing with it. 



One further provision in connection with 

 this part of the laboratory is worthy of 

 note. Physical chemistry involves a good 

 deal of theory, and Ostwald has observed, 

 doubtless, as the result of wide experience, 

 that it gives rise to considerable discussion, 

 especially on the part of beginners. Such 

 discussions, even when purely scientific, 

 naturally interfere also with those who are 

 not taking part in them. He has provided 

 a place in which these discussions can be 

 carried on. The corridor is fitted up with 

 black-boards, crayon and sponges. When 

 the controversy becomes warm, the con- 

 testants can retire to the corridor, near the 

 door, where it is cool, and here settle their 

 differences in the most approved scientific 

 manner. The gain to be derived to pure 

 science from this provision may be consid- 

 erable, especially in that men who are 

 really working will not be disturbed by 

 those who are simply talking. 



The second story is a well equipped gen- 

 eral chemical laboratory and scarcely calls 

 for special comment. They are prepared 

 in the new, as in the old, chemical labora- 

 tory, to give a student a general training in 

 chemistry, which is absolutely essential to 

 a subsequent career in physical chemistry. 



The new laboratory was opened on Janu- 

 ary 3, 1898. There were present all the 

 more prominent physical chemists of Ger- 

 many and a number from outside : Van't 

 HofF, Arrhenius, Landolt, Beckmann, 

 "Waage, Nernst, Le Blanc, Elbs, "Walden, 

 Kiister, and others. In addition to the 

 physical chemists, there were those whose 

 names are household words in other fields 

 of natural science. Wislicenus, "Wiedemann, 

 Pfeffer, Engelmann, Flechsig, Zincke, Dorn, 

 Knorr, and a number of the Leipsic faculty 

 in more remote fields. Ostwald greeted his 

 guests collectively and a number of them 

 individually, and thanked most heartilj', 

 those who had made the new laboratory 

 possible, and his assistants who had aided 

 him in equipping it. He expressed the wish 

 that " the spirit of brotherly frankness and 

 the inspiring love of work, which accom- 

 plished so much in the old laboratory 

 should remain true to the new. Without this 

 ethical content our worh u'ould be as sounding 

 brass or a tinkling cymbal," and then gave way 

 to Beckmann. 



During the past year a circular letter was 

 sent to all who had worked with Ostwald 

 in the old laboratorj^, inviting them to con- 

 tribute to a fund which would be used to se- 

 cure a bust or portrait of their Teacher. This 

 was to be presented to him at the opening 

 of the new laboratory, as a token of the es- 

 teem in which he is held by those who know 

 him best. This met with the heartiest re- 

 sponse, and made it possible not only to 

 secure a bust, but also a number of reliefs 

 for the laboratory, of such men as Scheele, 

 Berthollet, Berzelius, Faraday, Liebig and 

 Bunsen. 



Beckmann made a short address, in 

 which he expressed the love and esteem felt 

 for Ostwald by all who have worked under 

 his guidance, and presented a sketch of 

 him from the hand of the Leipsic artist 

 Sefifners, which is to be placed in Ostwald's 

 home. This was received with that frank- 



