CHEMISTRY RESEARCH

Evening Star, Issue 23094, 21 October 1938, Page 15

CHEMISTRY RESEARCH

ITS PLAGE IN FIELD OF SCIENCE ADDRESS BY DR SOPER An interesting address, touching upon the remarkable strides made by chemistry in the fields of biology and medicine was delivered by Dr F. G. Soper, professor of chemistry, University of Otago, at the annual meeting of the Dunedin branch of the Plunket Society yesterday afternoon. Professor Soper said there had not been such a momentous time in science as the present since the sixteenth century. To-day, chemistry, with its accumulated experience and increased skill, was beginning to unravel the complicated nature of the many .substances which are produced by living organisms and which are necessary tor their correct functioning. The work of Sir F. G. Hopkins from 1906 to 1912 was largely responsible for the recognition of vitamins, whilst the chemist, Professor J. W. Cook, in collaboration' with Dr Kennaway, had been jointly responsible for the major contribution in recent years in the field of cancer research. More efficient substances for use in medicine were being prepared, but until about 1910 the efforts of chemistry were mainly towards the production of substances which controlled symptoms, bji allaying pain or promoting sleep. To-day substances were sought which attacked the parasites in the blood which cause disease and aimed at eradicating the cause rather than the control of symptoms. The new substance " sulphanilamido ” was an outstanding example of this Uew type or attack, and had greatly assisted m cases of septicaemia. The work on vitamins had now entered on a third stage. They had been recognised and differentiated, and the lack of each vitamin had been associated with some special disease. The exact nature of five of the vitamins had been determined, in the last few years, and three had been chemically syhthesised. Using these pure vitamins, further wprk was possible into the nature of living processes Reference was made to vitamin D, deficiency of which causes rickets and its dose relation to a group of substances of great physiological importance, the sex hormones, was pointed out. Over-dose of this vitamin prepared by irradiation had undesirable effects. Opinions were quoted emphasising the increasing importance of exact chemical knowledge in medicine,, and the need for students highly qualified in the fun-

damental pure sciences who would wort in this field was stressed. New Zealand was well placed for advances in the field of nutrition. There were several bodies of standing interested in its problems. At the Otago Medical School Dr Malcolm had contributed largely on food values, and Dr Hercus had, m particular, investigated the relation of diet to goitre. The Home Science School and Association for Country Education were also .active. There was, in particular, the Plunket Society, which had had unique experience in infant feeding. V Knowledge is never final," Professor Soper concluded; “ there will bo new discoveries, new techniques in which chpTpistrv is hecninlna increai—ingly powerful. Although much has been done, we are probably only at the. beginning of this complex and important problem of nutrition.” (Applause.) On the motion of the Rev, J. J. Cairney, a vote of thanks to Dr Soper was carried by acclamation.