764 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXVIII. No. 987 



confident ttat the reward for sucli men is 

 great, not merely in pure science, but also in 

 industries and in the arts. 



The history of biochemistry in America is 

 similar to that abroad. In America it de- 

 veloped first in the seventies and eighties in 

 the medical schools of the country; and, at 

 that time, it was controlled by physicians and 

 physiologists abroad. The subject was nar- 

 rowed to the consideration of biochemistry as 

 ailecting the life of man. That is to say, the 

 chemical side of physiological processes of 

 the human body together with such consider- 

 ations of bacteriological chemistry as affect 

 man in health and in disease. This phase of 

 biochemistry is cared for very adequately and 

 acceptably by the American Society of Bio- 

 logical Chemists, the first biochemical society 

 to be formed in America. 



The phase of biochemistry which the Amer- 

 ican Chemical Society can very naturally ex- 

 pect to encourage are quite distinct from the 

 aims of the American Society of Biological 

 Chemists. Our usefulness will include the 

 biochemistry affecting agriculture, phytochem- 

 istry in particular, and such industrial proc- 

 esses as are based upon biochemical reactions. 

 For example, the more exact study of the chem- 

 ical composition of fruits, grains and food 

 products. It must be admitted that, at pres- 

 ent, we know only those chemical substances 

 occurring in considerable amounts in such 

 important grains as wheat and corn. The 

 minor constituents in grains of much im- 

 portance have not been identified with exact- 

 ness. If we consider grains of less importance 

 even this degree of knowledge can not be 

 claimed. 



Some of our most important modern indus- 

 tries, like those dealing with starch, artificial 

 fabrics, leather tanning materials, glue and 

 gelatin, meat packing and the fiour-milling 

 industry require biochemists, and we are now 

 training men to deal with such practical 

 problems. 



If our society confines itself to the activities 

 already mentioned, there still remains a wide 

 field of biochemistry uncared for, the bio- 

 chemistry of the lower animals. This part of 



the biochemical work will become a part of the 

 work in the zoological societies of the country. 

 My view is that three societies of biological 

 chemistry can well exist in America without 

 competing in any way and each one caring 

 for a specific need. These would include the 

 biochemistry of the higher animals and its 

 application to medicine; the biochemistry of 

 the lower animals, and biochemistry in its 

 application to plants, agriculture and the in- 

 dustries. 



Carl L. Alsberg 



MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE ON POLICY 



OF TEE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION 



FOB TEE ADVANCEMENT OF 



SCIENCE 



The committee on policy met at the Cosmos 

 Club, Washington, on November 17, 1913, at 

 8 P.M., Chairman Minot presiding. Messrs. 

 Fairchild, Nichols, Humphreys, Cattell and 

 Howard were also present. 



The permanent secretary made an ad interim 

 report of progress, stating that, unexpectedly, 

 news from the Pacific Coast Division had 

 been delayed by reason of floods and that his 

 office was not definitely informed of action 

 taken by that committee. He stated that the 

 committee having power to appoint the tem- 

 porary secretary for the South had selected 

 Dr. Eobert M. Odgen, of the University of 

 Tennessee, and that he had been actively en- 

 gaged in the work since October 1, and a 

 letter which he sent out to southern members 

 was read. The report on membership showed 

 a satisfactory increase. With regard to the 

 Atlanta meeting, the permanent secretary 

 stated that, owing to delay upon the part of 

 the Atlanta local committee, the preliminary 

 announcement was not yet in type but that he 

 expected to be ready to mail it before the end 

 of the month. 



The arrangements for the Atlanta meeting 

 were discussed and it was decided to have two 

 evening lectures, complimentary to the citizens 

 of Atlanta, one by Dr. C. W. Stiles, of the 

 Public Health Service, on the Health of the 

 Mother in the South, and one by Professor 

 Charles E. Munroe, of the George Washing-ton 



