INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, THE REPORT OF THE COUNCIL ixn B,kLANCE SHEET FOR 1881, 1'OGE'IHER RIIH J?HE ADDRESS OF THE PBESZDENT, PROFESSOR AKEL, C,B,, F,R.S,, kc. $?nabon : PRTNTED BY ,4. P. BLUNDELL & CO., 26, GAHLICR HILL, E.C. -1883. INSTITUTE OF CHENISTRY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, REPORT OF COUNCIL. THE Council has to congratulate the Members, as on former Anniial General Meetings, on the continued prosperity of the Institute. At the time of the last General Meeting there were on the Register 4f2 Fellows and 51 Associates, whilst at the present time there are 412 Fellows and 47 Associates, besides one Fellow and one Associate who have been recently elected but not yet formally admitted.During the past year we have lost one Member by death,. Nr. A. E. Arnold ; five Associates have become Fellows; and five Fellovs hare resigned. The qualifications required of Candidates for admission to the Institute have been carefully reconsidered, with especial reference to the three years’ training required by the Articles, and it has been decided that after October, 1883, every Candidate Fill be required to produce evidence :-That he has passed satisfactorily through a course of three years’ study in any chartered or incorporated Colleges or Schools previously approved by the Council, in the subjects of Theoretical and Analytical Chemistry, Physics, and Elementary Nathematics. That he has passed such examinations in these subjects at such Colleges and Schools as the Council may from time to time direct, or that he has passed the examinations of the Science and Art Department as prescribed by the Council.If the evidence of training is considered by the Council to be satisfactory, the Candidate will then be admitted to the practical examination conducted by the Examiner appointed for that purpose by the Council. Since the last General Meeting, a Conference has been held ‘‘ On certain points in the Ethics of Professional Chemistry,” the subject being introduced by Professor FRANKLAND,but only a few of the questions raised in the paper were discussed. It is proposed to consider the others at an adjourned meeting. In addition to the Conferences, the Council propose that a series of experimental demonshations should be given, illustrative of modern methods of analysis, and of physical operations more immediately connected with our branch of science.The first of these On Modern Methods of Gas Analysis, and the Apparatus employed therein,” has been undertaken by Mr. ROBERT WARRINGTON,and will shortly be delivered. The Council has most carefully considered as to whether it is advisable in the present state of the Institute to publish a journal which should be sent periodically to the Members. Such a journal might contain : 1. Original articles on subjects of professional interest. 2. Reports of Conferences. 3. Original communications. 4. Short reports of Law Cases in which Professional Chemists are engaged as experts.5. Full reports of new and important Analytical Papers pub- lished in foreign journals. 6. Accounts of new or improved manufacturing processes. 7. Chemical Patents. 8. Correspondence. If the services of a competent Editor could be secured, such a journal might be made very useful to the members, so that the 21 question mainly resolves itself into one of cost. At the lowest estimate, a journal of the kind indicated could not be published quarterly for less than between 2,300 and S400 per annum. The balance of the Society’s income over expenditure is, however, but little more than $400, and, considering how important it is for an Institution like ours to accumulate funds, it would, in the opinion of the Council, be unwise to expend the available income upon publications.Dr. C. MEYMOTTTIDY’Sprize of 325 for the best original investigation on “ Special Reactions of the Alkaloids, and their Separation from Organic Mixtures,” has not yet been awarded, and is still open to competition, not only to Associates, but to all persons, except Fellows of the Institute, who shall before the 31st December next have qualified themselves for the Associateship in all respects short of passing the prescribed practical examination. The Institute is indebted to the President and Council of the Chemical Society for the use. of their rooms during the past year, as on previous occasions. IKSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. STATXHENT OF ACCOUNT ANB BALAhTCE SBEET, FROM TO 31ST DECEMBER,1ST JANUARY 1881.2 s. d. 5 s. d. 52 s. d. Cashin hand, 1 Jan., 1881 .. .. 8 15 5 Printing, Stationery and Postage .. .. .. 83 18 3 Balance in London and Westminster Advertisements .. .. . . .. .. 96 13 2 Bank, 1Jan., 1881 .. .. 535 5 8 Bent, Office, and Miscellaneous Expenses . . 76 10 8 --544 1 1 Examiner’s Fees . . .. . . .. .. 10 10 0 7 Entrance Fees at Five Guineas . . 36 15 0 Salaries and Wages .. .. .. .. .. 153 0 0 1 at Ttvo Guineas .. 2 2 0 Parliamentary Agents .. .. . . . . 3 5 69, 4Life Compositions .. .. .. 105 0 0 Purchase of 2500 301, Consols .. .. .. 601 17 6 143 17 0 Cash in hand 31 Dec., 1881 .. $32 11 0 320 Fellows’ Subscriptions .. .. 672 0 0 Balance in London and Westminster N36 Associates’ ,, .. .. 37 16 0 Bank, 31 Dee., 1881 .. .. 508 8 0 XY --709 16 0 540 19 0 Interest on Consols .. .. .. 55 lo 0 ExaminationFees .. .. .. --10 10 0 --$1,466 14 1 ;E1,466 14 -1 ,2J)aaete. SiabiXifita4 31 December, 1881, Cash in hand .. . . .. 540 19 0 31st December, 1881 .. . . . . . . None. 9) ,, 522,500 3 OJ0 Consols. Audited and found correct, RAPHAEL MELDOLA. Jan. 4th, 1882. CUTHBERT G. NEISON. JOHN M. TROMSON. 23 PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS, The President was accidentally prevented from delivering this Address to the Members on the occasion of the Anniversary Meeting. It has been printed in conformity with a resolution of the Council. ALTHOUGHthe year which has passed since it was last my privilege to address the Members of the Institute on the subject of its affairs has not been a very eventful one in the history of this young society, there are some topics connected with, or bearing upon, the labours of the Council during the last twelve months which should possess special interest for us, and in reference to which I may therefore perhaps usefully offer a few observations supplementary to the stamternen t of facts presented by the Council’s Report.The Institute having entered upon a new stage of its existence shortly before the last anniversary, consequent upon the expira- tion of the term during which Fellows could be admitted into the Society without passing through the preliminary grade of Amociate, the newly-appointed Council deemed it one of its most important duties to reconsider carefully the prescribed qualifica- tions of candidates for adinission to the Institute. Strongly im- pressed with the great advantage which the acquisition of some mathematical knowledge, besides sound preliminary training in physical science a,nd in theoretical as well as practical chemistry, must be to young men embracing chemistry as a profession, the Council considered that particular stress should be laid upon the condition, that the admission of a candidate to the practical ex- amination (prescribed as a qualification for the grade of Associate) must depend upon his producing clearly defined evidence of the desired preliminary training.A careful discussion of this subject by a Committee of the Council led to the conclusion that the best evidence which the candidate could be called upon to furnish of his having satisfactorily passed through such training, would be the production, by him, of proofs to that effect in the shape of 24 certificates from the authorities or professors of Universities, or of incorporated colleges or schools recognised by the Council, or of certificates of the Science and Art Department, relating to particular grades of examinations approved of by the Council. Careful consideration is therefore being given to the preparation of a list of recognised colleges and schools for the, information of candidates, which it is contemplated to make as extensive as is consistent with the necessity for guarding against the existence of any foundation for the possible suggestion that individual in- terests connected with educational establishments are favoured by the Institute, and of securing publicly recognised official guaran- tees of the qualifications of candidates.It is perhaps scarcely to be expected that the number of young men presenting themselves annually for admission into the Institute should, for the present, greatly exceed those of the past two years ; at the same time it is probable that the objects of the Society, and the interests of those who may contemplate devoting themselves to chemistry as a profession, would be pro- moted if colleges and other educational bodies were, in their calendars or similar publications, to direct attention to the require- ments of the Institute, and to the special nature of studies which should be pursued by those preparing for the Associateship. The Mason Science College, of Birmingham, has set a good example in this direction, having published in its calendar for 1881-82 a syllabus of the subjects which have been included in recent examinations in practical chemistry of candidates for admission to the Institute, as well as suggestions with regard to the course of study to be pursued by students of that class. The generally scanty attendances at the Meetings or Con-ferences which have been held for the purpose of discussing subjects of special interest to the profession has led the Council to consider whether other means could be resorted to which might prove more successful in securing occasional numerously-attended meetings of the Society.The suggestion vas made by one of their number that many of UB would be glad to have the oppor- 25 tunitg of attending experimental demonstrations of particular analytical processes, or physical operations, not commonly prac- tised by professional chemists, a practical acquaintance with which might at any time prove useful or necessary. The Council considered the holding of such demonstration to be an experiment well worthy of trial ; they have therefore gladly availed them- selves of the valnable services of Mr. Robert Warington, who has agreed to hold the first of these demonstrations on a subject of very general interest and importance.It is intended that a suitable honorarium should be paid to gentlemen undertaking these demonstrations, and several subjects of interest have suggested themselves, which appear likely to afford matter for instructire meetings. I ventured, in the remarks which I offered at the last Anni-versary Meeting, to suggest, as a question worthy of considera-tion, whether it mould be compatible with the primary objects of the Institute, or conducive to their promotion, for the Council to undertake the publication of a periodical, Some observations, afterwards submitted to the meeting by an exponent of the views of a number of provincial Members, demonstrated the desirable- ness of a thorough examination into the subject, and the results of the Council’s deliberations therein are given in the Report which you have heard read.It will, I conclude, be evident, from the statement submitted, that the Council cannot attempt the periodical issue of a publication of a sufficiently useful and comprehensive nature to be acceptable to the Fellows and worthy to be styled the Journal of the Institute, except at a cost which would absorb almost the entire revenue of the Society. Meanwhile, however, active steps have been taken in another quarter for the publication of a new periodical which bids fair to furnish to professional chemists much of the information which could be embraced in the contents of a Journal of the Institute, as sketched out in the Council’s Beport, and which may also become the vehicle for the publication of original conimunications or of correspondence from Fellows.It may therefore be desirable 26 for your new Couiicil to consider whether it might not be agreeable to the Members of the Institute that arrangements be made for the gratuitous supply to them of the “Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry,” of which the first number will shortly appear, that Society having succeeded in establishing a guarantee fund more than ample to cover the first year’s outlay upon their Journal. There is no doubt that this new periodical will deal very comprehensively with matters of special interest and importance to industrial and professional chemists, and that great pains will be taken to make it in every respect a worthy companion to the matchless Journal of Scientific Chemistry and Cheiiiical Physics, published by the Chemical Society, so that the wants of all branches of the professiou are likely to be completely met by these two periodicals, and any special publication which the Council of the Institute can supply to its Members in addition to the new journal just referred to, if this be determined upon, can only consist of matters relating to the transactions and condition of the Society.The foundation of the Society of Chemical Industry, which, though not yet twelve months old, is already in very active and vigorous operation, may be considered as mainly due to the exertions of a number of Fellows of the Chemical Society and of the Institute of Chemistry who have found that the constitution of neither Society was such as to enable it to supply the growing want felt by men engaged in connesion with the great Chemical and allied Industries of this country, of frequent oppoi%unities to exchange opinions and information with their fellowworkers in different parts of the kingdom, and of a good English publication dealing specially and comprehensively with all that relates to technical chemistry. It would appear, although it is not easy to understand how this should have come about, that some few of our Fellows, who are connected with chemical or allied manufactures, had entertained expectations that the Institute of Chemistry should, to some extent 27 at any rate, have fulfilled those wants, and that its Members should, long ere this, instead of accumulating its resources, have devoted all available income to the distribution of some immediate substantial equivalent for the subscriptions paid.I ask to be allowed to remind those Members that the primary object of the original nimers in the establishment of this Society, as put forth in the original proposal circulated, was ‘Lto ensure that persons adopting the profession of consulting chemists, or acting as analytical chemists for reward, are qualified by study and training for the proper and competent discharge of the duties they under- take ’’ (I quote from the circular), and that this subject was very definitely formulated in our Menlorandurn of Association, the wording of which was most carefully considered, and which has been communicated to all who mere about to become Fellows of the Institute.The objects of the Association, as there laid down, are :-(A) To promote and encourage a thorough study of Chemistry and all branches of Science allied thereto in their application to the Arts, to Agriculture, to Public Health, and to Technical 1ndusLr;l.p. (B) To adopt such measures as may be necessary for the advancement of the Profession of Chemistry, and par- ticularly for t’he maintenance of the Profession of the Consulting and Snalptical Chemist, on a sound and satisfactory basis.It may be well also to remind the Fellows, that the movement which resulted in the establishment of this Institute, arose, on the one hand, out of a yery strong feeling for the necessity of furnish-ing a guarantee to the public, that only properly qualified chemists should practice the profession, and, at the same time, of affording some means of protection to qualified practitioners ; on the other hand, it sprang from a feeling of dissatisfaction, because the only title available as some such guarantee to the public, namely, that of Fellow of Chemical Society, Kas not of necessity any 28 indication whatever of the qualifications of the persons using it. It was because most careful discussions of the subject showed that the constitution of the Chemical Society could not, without modifications very difficult to carry out, admit of its supplying the want which had gradually arisen since the profession of the practising chemist had attained a footing corresponding to that of the medical practitioner, that this Institute was established.When the functions of the Institute were most carefully and elaborately discussed and considered, no question was ever raised as to the desirableness of their including any which would be kindred to those fulfilled by the Chemical Society on the one hand, or which on the other hand the Society of Chemical In- dustry (or of Chemical Engineers, as some would have had the new Society called) bids fair to carry into effect. The ‘‘ doing of all ench other lawful things as are incidental or conducive to the promotion and encouragement of the study of Chemistry and all branches of allied science, and the adoption of such measures as may be necessary for the advancement of the Profession, kc.” (these being the objects towards the fulfilment of which the efforts of the Institute should always tend), nzay include the expenditure of some portion of the Society’s funds upon the occasional pub-lication of matters of special interest to the Profession, and the adoption of any means which appear best calculated to promote good fellowship and concordance of opiuion on matters vital to the interests of the Profession ; but it seems obvious that the true functions of the Society, towards the fulfilment of which each Member should willingly contribute, even if only with the com- parative narrow view of a substantial return hereafter, are : The establishment of thoroughly efficient examinations in London and the Provinces; the public promulgation in all directions of the existence of the Institute, and of‘ the position accorded to it by the profession; and the accumulation of such resources as will allow of all possible steps being taken to promote its public recognition, and as x4l, in course of time, enable the Institute to Secure the permanent and elevated social position xhich shonld be 29 its right as the public representative of the interests of the Chemical Profession.Among the very earliest of our original Members there are many men of high eminence as manufacturing chemists, and it must be believed that their joining this Institute, with the objects of which they were made thoroughly acquainted, afforded strong testimony of the feeling entertained by the industrial section of the profession that the want existed of a proper guarantee that its younger Members, who entered upon employment in manu- factories, had received the preliminary training essential to their competence, and that the practising Chemists, whose services it might from time to time be necessary to secure, were duly qualified by experience, knowledge, and character, to fulfil the trust which it was necessary to place in their powers and integrity.These guarantees the Institute now furnishes, and each suc-ceeding year of its existence adds to the importance attained by the qualifications which its Fellowship and Associateship impose and ensure.Each successive year of its existence wili see the prime objects of its promoters more firmly established, and more fully developed arid in due course this Association, working steadily, though for a time it may appear but slowly, for the advancement of the welfare, the dignity, and public recognition of the profession, must, if loyally supported, take its place among the important incorporated Professional Institutions of the United Kingdom.