A list can be given of more than a dozen cases--there may have been many others--in which the Badische-Anilin Fabrik was plaintiff against firms in this country.

The result was to aid the rapid development of the huge works near Mannheim now used to manufacture poisonous gases, while the works in this country were crippled.

Strangely enough, it was an English chemist (Sir W.
Perkin) who made the discoveries which led to the development of this industry; but it is generally possible where competition is keen to take out subsidiary patents for small improvements which really enable the subsequent patentee to command the market.

Sometimes the root invention for some reason cannot be made the subject of a valid patent, or the patent for it expires before its full commercial value has been realised, and the minor improvements give the holder of patents for them a virtual monopoly.
All along the line, too, the big firm is favoured at the expense of the smaller.

The position of the small tradesman is often a very hard one.
The shopkeeper in a village or small town near the metropolis pays heavy rates for the upkeep of roads which are torn to pieces by the heavy motors of the great distributing firms delivering goods to those who would otherwise be his customers, perhaps with petrol specially exempted from taxation.