Evening star., 1921-05-10
GOLD MEDAL GIVEN
TO DR.. F. B. POWER
Noted U. S. Chemist Highly
H0nored for Former Serv-
ice in London.

DR.. Frederick Relding Power. dis
tinguished research chemist Of the
Department of Agriculture, was pre-
sented with a gold medal by Henry
S. Welcome of London at exercises
held late yesterday afternoon in the
auditorium of the Cosmos Club. The
medal was given "in recognition of
his distinguished services to science
during eighteen and a half years as
director of the Welcome chemical re-
search laboratories"
DR.. Charles D. Walcott of the Smith
sonia Institution presided. presenting
the medal to DR.. Power on behalf of
Mr.. Welcome, who was suffering
from a throat affection and was un-
able to address the meeting. DR..
Walcott was introduced by DR.. David
Fairchild of the bureau of plant in
dustry.
DR.. Walcott, in his presentation ad-
dress, outlined for the notable gath
ering something of the life and
achievements of DR.. Power, among
chaulmoogra oil. which gives promise
of effecting cure of leprosy.
DIR. Powers Achievements.
I'VE have gathered here this after
noon to do honor to DIR. Frederick
Belding Power. who for fifty years
has spent his thinking hours among
the complicated molecules of organic
compounds: who, because he possesses
that peculiar faculty of eXhausting
each subject which he takes up, has
had the greatest influence both in
America and Great Britain in raising
the standards of our pharmacopoeias;
who has gained distinction by his
most difficult and life-consuming re-
searches into the chemical compost
tion of plant compounds" said Dr.
walcott.
DIR. Power graduated from the
Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in
1874, in the same class with his life
long friend, Mr.. Welcome. who urged
him to pursue his studies in Germany.
He spent the years from 1876 to 1880
in Strassburg, becoming the assist
ent of Flueckiger, one of the great
est pharmacologists of Europe. Re-
turning to America. he spent nine
years in the organizing and building
up of the department and school OF
pharmacy in the University of Wis
consn. four years in researches on
essential oils in a newly organized
chemical works near New York. and
in 1896 Mr. Welcome appointed him
director of his chemical research
laboratories in London.
May Have Leprosy Cure.
For eight and one-half years he
devoted his time exclusively to chemi-
cal research and the direction of
staff of research workers under him.
One hundred and fifty important
scientific memoirs were published
from the Laboratories during this pc.
riod. These covered a wide field OF
investigation. for which material was
obtained from all parts OF the world:
Among these very notaoie ana
complete Study was made OF the East
suited in the discovery Of some
physiologically active acids of an en-
tirely new type These form the basis
of the new treatment Of leprosy.
which gives promise of affecting a
complete cure of one OF the most ter
rible diseases Of mankind.
During these years in London DR..
Power had the opportunity of meet
ing and forming the close friendship
of the foremost scientific men OF
Great Britain. The recognition OF his
work by the leading chemists and
perhaps exemplined in the high trib,
ute paid to him ny the late Lord
Moulton, one Of thE most learned ana
versatile men in Europe. who was
intrusted by kitchener wtn tne Asn sss
the war Shortly before his death, he
chided Dr. Welcome for permitting
DR.. Power (who for family reasons
had returned to America TO leave
Great Britain. for. as he remarked,
.tnere was no OuC III SeAoPS
could fill his place.
Awarded HanbuRy Gold Medal.
in 1908, the University of Wiscon-
sin, commemoratins the twenty.hfth
anniversary of the~formation Of Its
department of pharmacy, conferred
upon Dr. Power. its founder, the de-
gree of LID, and in 1913 the Chemi-
cal, Linnean and Pharmaceutical So
cieties of London awarded him the
Hanbury gold medal. distinction
only once previously bestowed upon
an American. This was followed BY
the presentation Of an illuminated ad-
dress and an album containing the
signatures of contributors from many
parts Of the world"
At this juncture DR.. Walcott turned
toward DR.. Power, and said:
IN recognition OF your disttn-
xuished services to science and In
commemoration of the years which
you spent as director OF laboratory
devoted to chemical research, 1 have
the honor to present to you, DR.. Fred
erick Belding Power, this gold medal
Of appreciation from your lifelong
friend, Mr.. Henry S. Welcome, who.
although with US this afternoon. Is
unfortunately prevented by severe
throat affection from addressing US
himself. He wishes to explain in
~ R0S0EE