Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  / 
February,  1921.  ) 
Pharmaceutical  Research. 
135 
Klaproth  is  another  apothecary  whose  early  investigations  of 
the  composition  of  pitchblende  led  him  to  the  discovery  of 'Uranium, 
and  this  was  the  initial  step  that  has  led  up  to  the  discovery  of  that 
remarkable  group,  the  radio-active  elements. 
In  the  field  of  organic  chemistry  important  contributions  to  our 
knowledge  can  be  traced  to  pharmacists,  and  numerous  are  the  illus- 
trations available.  I  must  here  content  myself  with  only  citing  for 
your  attention  the  fundamental  work  of  Sertiirner.  and  of  Pelletier 
and  Caventou  upon  the  alkaloids.  The  galaxy  of  brilliant  investi- 
gations emanating  from  pharmacists  who  have  engaged  in  research 
in  this  interesting  domain  covers  nearly  every  civilized  nation,  and 
these  have  been  of  inestimable  value  in  the  practice  of  medicine. 
Research  is  best  defined  as  a  careful  search  for  the  truth,  and  so 
it  can  be  safely  asserted  that  no  authoritative  work  is  accomplished, 
no  scientific  investigation  or  discovery  is  made,  and  no  theory  that 
is  sound  is  propounded  that  is  not  based  upon  research. 
Research  is  generally  subdivided  into  that  which  is  "pure"  and 
that  which  is  "applied."  The  distinction  is  made  upon  the  basis  of 
the  latter  being  undertaken  with  a  specific  need  in  view  and  that  the 
results  will  be  applicable  to  the  solving  of  some  industrial  and  com- 
mercial problem  usually  of  monetary  advantage.  Practical  applica- 
tion is  commonly  the  reason  that  actuates  the  establishing  of  re- 
search departments  in  most  of  our  large  industries.  Xo  one  can 
take  exception  to  this,  as  eventually  the  discoveries  and  inventions 
made  are  disseminated  to  the  advantage  of  all.  Yet  there  is  a  feel- 
ing held  by  the  real  scientists  that  personal  interest  should  not  blind 
one  to  the  obligation  of  true  citizenship,  to  contribute  his  full  share 
toward  public  welfare  and  scientific  progress. 
Although  the  truly  scientific  and  enthusiastic  research  worker 
engages  in  "pure  research,"  possibly  with  the  thought  of  clearing  up 
some  abstruse  question  that,  while  advancing  our  sum  of  human 
knowledge,  may  at  the  time  have  no  apparent  practical  application, 
it  happens  ofttimes  that  his  work  and  discoveries  become  of  exceed- 
ingly great  value  and  unexpected  important  application.  The  discov- 
erer of  the  Herzian  waves  had  no  thought  of  the  ulitarian  value  of  his 
discovery  and  the  later  application  thereof  to  wireless  telegraphy. 
The  investigation  of  our  own  Professor  John  Uri  Lloyd  on  the  sub- 
ject of  precipitates  in  fluidextracts  was  undertaken  because  the 
question  was  deemed  a  pharmaceutical  problem  of  the  time  demand- 
