jANtTAET 21, 1910] 



SCIENCE 



101 



sucli celebrations is not empty sentimentality, 

 but possesses a practical value. They not only 

 acquaint us with past events, but develop a 

 true appreciation of their historical signifi- 

 cance; and more than that, they stimulate 

 within a finer realization of the actuating mo- 

 tive of sentiment, which is, after all, the basis 

 of sympathy, the torch that leads one along 

 dark passages and warms the heart to the best 

 endeavors. 



On December 10, 1859, appeared the initial 

 number of Volume I. of the Chemical News. 

 This journal, founded, owned and edited by 

 William Crookes, is well known to English 

 reading chemists the world over. However, 

 some of the circumstances of its founding and 

 subsequent development may not be known to 

 all present. I shall, therefore, venture to 

 direct attention to one or two important 

 events in its history. In 1843, William Fran- 

 cis and Henry Croft founded the " Chemical 

 Gazette, or Journal of Practical Chemistry in 

 all its applications to Pharmacy, Arts and 

 Manufactures." This journal was conducted 

 until 1859, when it was followed by the 

 " Chemical News; with which is incorporated 

 the Chemical Gazette: a Journal of Practical 

 Chemistry in all its applications to Pharmacy, 

 Arts and Manufactures." The last-mentioned 

 journal was founded and edited by William 

 Crookes. From Volume III., the title has 

 been the Chemical News and Journal of Phys- 

 ical Science. 



In introducing the Chemical News to the 

 chemical public, it was stated in the first 

 number that " the diffusion of facts which may 

 tend to improve and augment our knowledge 

 of the arts and sciences upon which most of 

 the operations of civilized life are based, must 

 be a pleasing task to those who hold in esteem 

 the welfare of mankind. It is with this feel- 

 ing that the Chemical Neivs is introduced to 

 the world." Further, 



. . . There is no weekly journal in England 

 which has for its aim the publication of those 

 scientific processes and discoveries, the knowledge 

 of which tends so greatly to increase our impor- 

 tance as a nation devoted to improvement, refine- 

 ment and industrial excellence. It is therefore to 

 supply this deficiency that the Chemical Netvs 



is now launched into the stream of scientific lit- 

 erature. 



Although he did not bind himself to an in- 

 flexible rule of action, the plan laid out by 

 the editor was as follows : 



Each number will be divided into several sec- 

 tions, which will have a general but no individual 

 connection with each other. We shall commence 

 with scientific and analytical chemistry, under 

 which head will be given the results of elaborate 

 investigations in the laboratory, by those pioneers 

 of our science who by their labours pave the way 

 for the subjects treated of in our next depart- 

 ment — ^technical chemistry. Here will be described 

 the practical applications of the processes, for- 

 mula or chemical agents, which the labors of the 

 purely scientific chemist have placed at the dis- 

 posal of the manufacturer. In the department of 

 agricultural chemistry especial care will be taken 

 to place before the agriculturalists of the United 

 Kingdom all the most interesting and useful in- 

 formation to be derived from Home or Continental 

 sources, or from the States of America. 



Pharmacy, toxicology, &c., next follow, and the 

 medical profession will here find from time to 

 time everything of interest relating to Pharmacy, 

 Materia Mediea and Toxicology. Discussions upon 

 medical reform and jurisprudence will also be 

 freely admitted into these columns. 



It was also announced that " The proceed- 

 ings of the various learned societies in which 

 the readers may be supposed to take particular 

 interest will be given," as well as notices of 

 books, patents, etc., and chemical notices 

 from foreign sources, scientific notes and 

 queries, laboratory memoranda, and answers 

 to correspondents. 



As the knowledge of chemistry was extended 

 and the publication of other chemical jour- 

 nals devoted to special subjects was begun, the 

 Chemical News has found it advisable to alter 

 its original plan considerably; for instance, 

 after the Journal of the Society of Chemical 

 Industry was founded in 1882, it no longer 

 remained the sole record for those interested 

 in chemical manuf actiires ; and the founding 

 of various English journals on medical and 

 pharmaceutical subjects has rendered the 

 omission of these branches necessary. 



The board of trustees of the Chemists' Club, 

 in recognition of the successful completion of 



