410  Resume  of  Recurrent  Topics.  {AmiuJg0uusr{Sra' 
ficially.  It  is  quite  a  simple  process  to  cause  the  animal  ferments  in 
certain  favorable  media,  and,  under  the  influence  of  heat,  to  act 
upon  substance,  and  also  to  change  the  molecular  or  physical  char- 
acter of  such  substance;  but  it  is  a  wide  stretch  of  assertion  to  say 
that  this  altered  condition  is  an  exactly  similar  result  to  that  change 
which  food  undergoes  in  the  animal  alimentary  receptacle.  This 
subject  is,  perhaps,  more  of  a  physiological  than  of  pharmaceutical 
import  ;  but  as  articles  which  come  under  this  category  are  offered 
to  the  public  for  self-use  and  adoption,  the  knowledge  of  the  apothe- 
cary is  often  sought  in  explanation  of  many  things  the  lay  commun- 
ity do  not  understand.  It  never  meets  the  question  of  scientific 
adaptation,  to  merely  say,  "  Oh,  such  articles  are  popular  and  sell 
largely."  We  all  know  how  popularity  may  be  secured  through 
the  free  medium  of  printers'  ink.  If  there  is  that  which  should  be 
or  can  be  understood,  let  us  have  the  true  knowledge  to  either 
guide  our  judgment  or  correct  our  errors. 
Chemistry  as  Applied  to  Industrial  Arts. — The  thought  occurs  that, 
when  knowledge  in  special  branches  of  science  becomes  an  applica- 
tion to  industrial  pursuit  to  art  and  to  trade,  there  should  arise, 
in  this  country,  a  national  spirit  to  foster  and  encourage  technical 
education  in  these  arts,  etc.,  etc.  Take  the  production  of  chemicals 
of  the  synthetical  class,  for  instance,  as  an  applied  industry,  and  also 
consider  the  science  with  non-general  adaptations.  There  must 
exist  a  constant  need  of  educated  knowledge  and  skill  in  the  depart- 
ments of  work  and  labor.  This  want  is  likely  to  increase  by  natural 
growth,  but  could  be  vastly  extended  by  a  systematic  encourage- 
ment. The  pharmaceutical  student  who  imbibes  a  taste  for,  and 
inclination  to  pursue  the  study  of  this  fundamental  rather  than  col- 
lateral branch  of  science,  and  to  make  of  it  a  special  vocation,  has 
very  meagre  stimulus  here.  How  can  we  avoid  seeking  the  neces- 
sary aid  of  foreign  talent  when  we  have,  comparatively  at  least, 
none  of  our  own  ?  We  have  never  promoted  enlarged  and  liberal 
views  on  this  and  many  other  subjects  of  national  economic  import- 
ance. The  student  in  chemistry,  out  of  his  novitiate,  seeking  to 
apply  his  knowledge,  finds  but  limited  opportunity  open,  and  he 
must  search  and  hope  with  discouraging  result.  A  self-constituted 
committee  of  patrons,  or  patronage  composed  of  manufacturers  and 
others  whose  capital  is  embarked  in  the  application  of  chemical 
science,  either  wholly  or  partially  to  the  operations  of  industrial 
