THE  AMERICAN 
JOUR 
OF  PHARMACY 
COMPKBH-ENSIVE  PHARMACEUTICAI.  RESEARCH. 
One  of  the  great  lessons  taught  by  the  world  war  was  the  de- 
pendence of  the  industries  upon  the  sciences.  The  tide  of  battle 
was  swayed  by  the  preponderance  of  scientific  knowledge  and  its 
skillful  application  to  the  destruction  of  life  and  property.  The 
destiny  of  nations  was  jeopardized  and  wavered  in  the  balance 
until  this  advantage  of  the  enemy  became  fully  recognized  and 
with  feverish  haste  the  latent  resources,  the  inventive  ingenuity  and 
scientific  knowledge  of  the  allies,  were  mobilized  into  coordinated 
research. 
The  National  Research  Council  was  hastily  organized  in  1916 
for  the  purpose  of  stimulating  and  coordinating  research  necessitated 
by  the  war  problems  and  for  a  period  this  had  the  financial  support 
of  the  National  Government.  In  191 8,  by  executive  order  of  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  it  was  reorganized  as  a  permanent 
body  and  the  secretary  now  states  that  "its  essential  purpose  is 
the  promotion  of  scientific  research  and  of  the  application  and 
dissemination  of  scientific  knowledge  for  the  benefit  of  the  national 
strength  and  well  being." 
While  the  conduct  of  the  war  to  a  favorable  conclusion  was  pend- 
ing as  the  largest  contract  ever  undertaken  by  this  nation,  research 
as  applied  to  the  problems  of  the  war,  necessarily  from  the  very 
urgency,  received  paramount  consideration  and  held  a  prominent 
position  in  the  public  view.  The  value  of  scientific  research  ap- 
peared to  be  indelibly  impressed  upon  government  officials  and  many 
public  spirited  citizens.  Now  that  the  problems  of  war  no  longer 
hold  the  pre-eminent  position  in  the  public  interest,  it  is  in  order  to 
note  how  deep  and  how  lasting  have  been  the  impressions  made 
by  this  great  lesson  growing  out  of  the  exigencies  of  the  war. 
