Mat 28, 1909] 



SCIENCE 



849 



the most important practical questions 

 relating to the negro problem have refer- 

 ence to the mulattoes and other mixed 

 bloods — to their physical types, their mental 

 and moral qualities, and their vitality. 

 When the bulky literature of this subject is 

 carefully sifted, little remains that will 

 endure serious .Criticism ; and I do not be- 

 lieve that I claim too much when I say that 

 the whole work on this subject remains to 

 be done. The development of modern 

 methods of research makes it certain that 

 by careful inquiry, definite answers to our 

 problems may be found. Is it not, then, 

 our plain duty to inform ourselves that, 

 so far as that can be done, deliberate con- 

 sideration of observations may take the 

 place of heated discussion of beliefs in 

 matters that concern not only ourselves, 

 but also the welfare of millions of negroes ? 



Facts that could help us to shape our 

 policies in regard to our race problems are 

 almost entirely wanting. It has been my 

 endeavor to show that by proper investi- 

 gations much can be done to clear up these 

 problems, which are of vital importance 

 for the future of our nation. 



Franz Boas 



Columbia Univebsitt 



THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF 

 APPLIED CHEMISTRY 



We take from the London Times some facts 

 in regard to the seventh International Con- 

 gress of Applied Chemistry, which will be 

 opened at the Albert Hall, London, on 

 May 2Y. 



Previous congresses have been held in Brus- 

 sels in 1894, in Paris in 1896 and 1900, in 

 Vienna in 1898, in Berlin in 1903 and in 

 Rome in 1906; this is therefore the first oc- 

 casion on which Great Britain has been vis- 

 ited. The work of the congress has grown 

 steadily, and its importance is realized all 

 over the world. There is ample evidence of 

 the interest taken in Great Britain, where in 

 addition to Eoyal patronage the congress has 

 received the support of several of the heads of 



the government departments who have become 

 honorary vice-presidents. Sir Henry Eoseoe, 

 F.E.S. and Sir William Eamsay, F.R.S., are 

 honorary president and acting president, re- 

 spectively. 



For some considerable time an organizing 

 committee has been making the arrangements 

 for the congress and has had the support, as 

 vice-presidents, of the presidents of the Eoyal 

 Society, the Society of Chemical Industry, the 

 Institute of Chemistry, the Institute of Brew- 

 ing, the Society of Dyers and Colorists, the 

 Pharmaceutical Society, and the Society of 

 Public Analysts, Sir WiUiam Abney, F.E.S., 

 Sir Hugh BeU, Professor P. P. Frankland, 

 Dr. J. Lewkowitsch, Dr. L. Mond, F.E.S., Dr. 

 E. K. Muspratt, Sir Boverton Eedwood, Mr. 

 W. F. Eeid, Mr. A. Gordon Salamon and Pro- 

 fessor W. A. Tilden, F.E.S. The committee 

 is a large one and includes in addition to rep- 

 resentatives of the organizations already 

 named members of the Eoyal Societies of 

 Edinburgh and Dublin, the Eoyal Society of 

 Arts, the Iron and Steel Institute, the Insti- 

 tution of Mining Engineers, the Institu- 

 tion of Mining and Metallurgy, the Inter- 

 national Association of Leather Chemists, the 

 Eoyal Agricultural Society of England, the 

 Lawes Agricultural Trust, the Eoyal Photo- 

 graphic Society, the Faraday Society and the 

 London Chamber of Commerce (Chemical 

 Trade Section), with Mr. William MacNab as 

 honorary secretary. In connection with this 

 committee local committees are formed in the 

 principal centers of the British Isles and for- 

 eign countries and the colonies with a view to 

 furthering the interests of the congress. 



The work of the congress covers a wide field, 

 as is shown by the large number of sections 

 into which it is divided, as follows : (1) Ajialy- 

 tical Chemistry (president. Dr. T. E. Thorpe, 

 C.B., F.E.S.); (2) Inorganic Chemistry and 

 Allied Industries (Dr. Ludwig Mond, F.E.S.) ; 



(3) Metallurgy and Mining. Explosives — 



(a) Metallurgy and Mining (Sir Hugh BeU), 



(b) Explosives (Sir Andrew Noble, F.E.S.); 



(4) Organic Chemistry and Allied Industries 

 —(a) Organic Products (Professor W. H. 

 Perkin, F.E.S.), (&) Coloring Substances and 

 their Uses (Professor Meldola, F.E.S.); (5) 



