The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-29
and Progress" He said in

Investigation and Progress" He said in
part:
AT the weekly services OF many Of our
churches 1t is customary to begin with
the reading OF a verse or two from the
putting. the congregations in the proper
state of mind for the exercises which are
to follow. 1t seems to me we may profit
your attention to article / of the con-
stitudon of the American Association for
the Advancement Of Science. which reads
thus:
The objects OF the association are, by
periodical and migratory meetings, to
promote intercourse between those who
are cnltiyating science In different parts
general impulse and more systematic d.
rection to scientific research and to pro-
cure for the labors of scientific men in
creased facilities and a wider usefulness.
The first object mentioned, you will OBJ
serve. Is to promote intercourse between
those who are cu,tivating science in diff
ferent parts Of America: the second is .'to
tiNe stronger and more generalNimpulse
and more systematic direction to scientific
research; and the third is to procure for
tiles and wider usefulness Those who
are familiar with the history of the asso-
citation are well aware that Il has served
its purposes admirably. and am inclined
habit of attending the meetings will agree
that the object which appeals 10 them
most strongly is the promotion of inter
course between those who are cultivating
science. Given this intercourse and the
other objects will be reached as neces-
gary consequence, for the intercourse slim
ulates thought, and thought leads to work,
and work leads to wider usefulness.
While the alchemists were at work
upon their problems another class OF
chemists were engaged upon problems OF
an entirely different nature. The fact
that substances obtained from various
natural sources and others made in the
laboratory produce effects of various kinds
when taken into the system led to the
thought that these substances might be
useful in the treatment of disease. Then.
further. it was thought that disease itself
as is evident. furnish strong motives for
the investigation of chemical substances,
and the science Of chemistry owes much
10 the work Of those who are guided by
these motives.
And so In each period as a new thought
has served as the guide we find that men
have been actuated by different motives.
and often one and the same worker has
been under the influence Of mixed motives.
Only In a few cases does 1t appear that
the highest motives alone operate. We
must take men as we find them. and We
may be thankful that on the whole there
are so many who are fmpelled by one
motive or another or by mixture OF
motives to take up the WORK ,; 81 in Grsat
progress is being made In consequence,
and almost daily we are called upon 70
wonder at some new and marvellous result
of scientific investigation. 1t Is quite I'M
possible to make predictions of value IN
regard to what Is likely to be revealed 70
US by continued work, but 1t Is safe 70
secrets Of the universe only beginning
has been made.
Although science is not likely. within
periods that We may venture 10 tn cmifiv "a
ting the soil, it is likely to teach US now
to get more out Of the soil than We now
do. and thus put US in a position 70 pro,
vide for the generations that are to follow
u.s. And this carries with 1t the thougnt
that, unless scientific investigation is kept
up. these coming generations VIII be IN
provided fo:.
Another way by which the food supply
OF the world can be increased Is by reliev-
ing tracts of land that are now used for
other nn ast sne
of this kind is that presented by the cul-
tivation Of indigo. There is large de-
mand for this substance, which Is plainly
what rudfmentary kind. Whatever the
cause may be, the demand exists. and Inn
mense tracts OF land have been, and are
still. devoted to the cultivation Of the in
digo plant. Within the past few years
scientific investigation has shown that in
digo can be made In the factory from sub
for the most part involve the cultivation
Of the soil. In 1900. according TO the re-
port OF Doctor Brunck, managing director
OF the BadlScne AMIN ana SOQa-taDr1k,
the quantity Of indigo produced annually
in the factory would require the cultiva-
ton of an area Of more than a quarter Of
a million acres Of land $50 square miles)
IN the home Of the indigo plant Doctor
Brunck adds:
The first impression which this fact
may be likely to produce Is that the manu-
facture Of indigo will cause a terrible
calamity to arise In that country: but, per-
hape not. Il one recalls to mind that In
dta is periodically afflicted with famine.
one ought not. without further consider
alton. to cast aside the hope that 1t might
be good fortune for that country II the
immense areas now devoted to a crop
which is subject to many vcissi.udes and
to violent market changes were at last to
be given over to the raising of breadstuffs
and other food products. For myself
says Doctor Brunck. I do not assume to
nevertheless, venture to express my con-
viction that the Government of India will
be rendering a very great service IL 1t
ehould support and aid the progress. which
impending change in the cultivation of
that country. and would support and direct
Its methodical and rational execution.
The connection between scientific inves-
tigation and health is so frequently the
subject Of discussion that need not dwell
upon II here. The discovery that many
diseases are due primarily to the action of
microscopic organisms that find their way
Into the body and produce the changes
that reveal themselves in definite symp-
toms is direct consequence of the study
OF the phenomenon Of alcoholic fermenta-
ton by Pasteur. Everything that throws
these microscopic organisms is of value
IN dealing with the great problem OF COM
Dating disease. 1t has been established in
number of cases that they cause the for
that the diseases are due TO the action
OF these poisons'