- BACTERIOLOGY AND THE.WAR. - oO 
mately £1,000,000 in successfully solving the problem how 
to make synthetic Indigo on a commercial basis.” * (C.) 
But we are beginning to wake up and. face the facts. 
On the 16th May, 1915, “‘ A deputation from the Royal Society 
and the Chemical Society was received by the Presidents of 
the Boards of Trade and Hducation. The deputation was 
introduced by Sir William Crookes, President of the Royal 
Society, and Professor W. H. Perkin, Sir William Tilden, 
Professor P. Frankland, Professor W. J. Pope. Dr. M. O. 
Forster, who spoke in support of memorials from the two 
societies, indicated the steps which might be taken to improve 
the status and efficiency of the chemical industries and those 
engaging’ in them in the United Kingdom. The speakers 
said that the comparatively backward state of certain industries 
in this country was due to a failure to realise that modern 
industry must be based on scientific research, to the lack of the 
association between modern manufacturers and science, to 
want of scientific knowledge and appreciation of the importance 
of scientific work among the public generally, and to the lack 
of organization among the various chemical and allied industries. 
The memorials submitted by the deputation urged that the 
Government should give more assistance to scientific research 
for industrial purposes, should encourage closer relations 
between the manufacturers and science workers, and should 
establish a National Chemical Advisory Committee for these 
purposes.” 
The President of the Board of Education has recently 
said “the war had brought home to the Government that 
they were far too dependent for many processes upon the 
foreigner, and it was essential, if they were going to maintain 
‘their position in the world, to make better use of their 
scientifically-trained workers. They must increase the number 
of workers, and they must endeavour to secure that industry 
* Badische Soda Fabrik at Ludwigshafen. | 
