It will be the object of this department to present each month the very latest results of investigations in the pedagogy of chemistry, to bring to the teacher those new and progressive ideas which will enable him to keep abreast of the times. Suggestions and contributions should be sent to A few years ago the public in this country scarcely knew what chemistry or what a chemist was. When this war started, however, a change suddenly took place. The chemist is now one of the most significant

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... iduals in the majority of manufacturing plants, as well as of the most vital importance to the war. In England at Oxford University the study of chemistry used to be known popularly as the^Study of the Stinks,^but now this science at that same university is certainly being shown its due respect. ' I believe that the present opportunity of the chemist may best be pointed out to you by reviewing briefly the chemical development made in this country by the American chemists since the summer of 1914. It is needless to mention what a monopoly Germany had on chemicals before the war started, a monopoly not only in organic chemicals, but to a considerable extent in inorganic chemicals. As soon as the supply was cut off it was not a difficult matter for American manufacturers to increase the output of most of those substances which had already been manufactured, and develop the processes for other inorganic chemicals of a similar nature, so that within a year most of the inorganic substances purchasable before the war could be procured in this country. It was more difficult, however, to fill address delivered before the High School Conference at the University of Illinois, November 23, 1917. r. Adams has taken a prominent part in the effort to meet the American demand for organic chemicals whose supply has been cut off by the war. He has entire charge of the commercial manufacture of organic chemicals at the University of Illinois and is a member of a committee appointed by the American Chemical Society to arrange for cooperation among the large institutions in supplying organic compounds to educational and technical laboratories. He is also a mem'ber of a committee authorized by the National Council of Defense to consider problems in connection with organic chemicals and synthetic drugs.