Aljanuai-y  Pi9i8m' )    Exemption  of  Chemists  from  Military  Duty.  43 
been  kept  busy.  Despite  these  activities  along  chemical  and  pharma- 
ceutical lines,  he  has  found  time  to  take  up  the  practical  study  of 
systematic  botany  and  his  recreation  has  been  found  in  numerous 
botanical  excursions  and  as  a  result  he  is  well  informed  upon  the 
local  flora. 
Professor  LaWall  has  devoted  his  energy  largely  to  the  study 
of  practical  assaying,  and  now  enjoys  an  established  reputation  as 
practical  chemist.  In  1903,  he  became  associated  with  Dr.  Henry 
LefTmann  in  analytical  work  in  his  laboratory,  and  has  since  ac- 
quired the  business  and  succeeded  Doctor  LefTmann  in  commercial 
work.  In  August,  1904,  he  was  appointed  chemist  to  the  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture  of  Pennsylvania,  which  position  he  has  since 
continuously  held.  As  a  chemist  for  that  state  he  has  made  numer- 
ous examinations  and  exposed  many  frauds  and  adulterations  in 
foods  and  drugs.  In  April,  1907,  he  was  appointed  as  inspection 
chemist  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  having 
charge  of  the  examinations  of  drugs  coming  into  the  port  of 
Philadelphia. 
In  addition  to  his  many  papers  contributed  to  the  journals,  Pro- 
fessor LaWall  was  associated  with  Doctor  LefTmann  in  the  publica- 
tion of  a  text-book  on  organic  chemistry  which  appeared  in  1905. 
He  received  the  degree  of  Master  in  Pharmacy  in  course  from 
the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy  in  1905,  and  the  same  year, 
was  made  associate  professor  of  theory  and  practice  of  pharmacy 
in  this  college. 
EXEMPTION  OF  CHEMISTS  FROM  MILITARY  DUTY.1 
In  the  inevitable  haste  required  to  organize  the  selection  of  the 
great  army  of  American  youth,  now  in  training,  and  soon  to  be 
found  on  the  firing  line  in  Europe,  we  have  not  adequately  profited 
from  the  experience  of  England  and  France.  There,  also,  in  1914 
was  seen  the  same  hurry  to  bring  together,  with  the  least  possible 
delay,  every  man  capable  or  willing  to  carry  a  rifle.  Ere  long  it 
was  recognized  that  the  engineer,  the  electrician,  the  chemist,  and 
others  of  high  scientific  training  could  render  far  greater  service  to 
the  cause  of  national  defense  at  home  than  in  the  trenches. 
Then  came  the  period,  unfortunately  after  many  had  fallen, 
1  Reprinted  from  The  Chemical  Engineer. 
