SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXVII. No. ( 



the basis of work done under the direction 

 of, or in connection with, experienced 

 chemists, and in laboratories of known 

 reputation. The fragmentary work of 

 teachers who, immediately after their 

 graduation, are thrown upon their own 

 resources and make occasional investiga- 

 tions or analyses in their spare time, can 

 not be rated in an examination unless its 

 value can be demonstrated by the applicant 

 by means of references to publications or 

 otherwise. Such experience is not to be 

 compared with that of chemists whose 

 entire time is devoted to research or 

 analytical work and whose chief effort is 

 given to the study of new problems, the 

 economy of time, the increase of the volume 

 and accuracy of their work, and the im- 

 provement of their laboratory technique. 



Emphasis is frequently placed on the 

 original contributions applicants have 

 made to scientific literature, which serves 

 as a measure of their ability to meet new 

 conditions and to report the results of their 

 investigations. The evidence they pro- 

 duce of executive ability is rated and their 

 experience in the particular line for which 

 the examination is given. This type of 

 examination gives the most satisfactory re- 

 sults, and is usually given to fill positions 

 paying a salary of $2,000 or more. 



2. Examinations for experienced and 

 sJcilled analysts. In such examination are 

 rated the educational qualifications of the 

 candidates and their experience, particu- 

 larly in analytical chemistry. Education 

 and experience are usually rated together. 



Practical questions are also given in ex- 

 aminations of this type. The questions are 

 chosen with a view to affording a fair test 

 for chemists who have been in practical 

 work for a number of years and to in- 

 clude fundamental principles and methods. 

 The statement is frequently made that 

 examinations place experienced chemists at 

 a disadvantage as compared with recent 



graduates. While this is true, to a certain 

 extent, the questions given in this type of 

 examination call for a familiarity with 

 analytical chemistry which is rarely ac- 

 quired by the student and are of a type 

 that any efficient analytical chemist should 

 be able to answer. Moreover, the emphasis 

 placed on education and experience when 

 rating these papers is sufficient to make it 

 practically impossible for a graduate who 

 has not had analytical experience to obtain 

 an eligible rating. The degree of bachelor 

 of science or its equivalent and post- 

 graduate study or practical experience are 

 usually necessary to obtain eligible rating. 

 A special course, incomplete in itself or 

 not preceded by the full training of the 

 secondary schools, will not answer. A 

 mark of seventy per cent, in education and 

 experience is often required for admission 

 to examinations of this type. In such 

 eases a statement of that fact is made in 

 the published annovincements. Even when 

 such requirement is not made, the rating 

 given for a degree following a course of 

 two or even three years is so low that such 

 an applicant must make an unusual show- 

 ing in his replies to the practical questions 

 to obtain an eligible rating in this examina- 

 tion. An application is useless from one 

 whose only collegiate training was a two or 

 three year course, the entrance require- 

 ments of which are inferior to those of 

 reputable institutions giving the degree of 

 bachelor of science. 



The applicants who stand among the 

 first on the eligible list established by an 

 examination of this type are commonly 

 paid a salary of from $1,400 to $1,800. 

 Other appointments at a lower salary are 

 also frequently made from the same lists. 



3. Examinations to establish an eligible 

 list from which subordinate appointments 

 may be made. These examinations are 

 given for the purpose of affording an op- 

 portunity to recent graduates in chemistry 



