ABSTRACTS R. A. BAKER,Abstract Editor HOWARD T. BONNET OCTAVIA CHAPIN
F. B. DAINS TENNEYL. DAVIS
J. HOWARD GRAHAM B. CLIFVORD HENDRICKS KATHERINE S. HOLMES J. W. HOWARD
ETHELC. KEESLER D. C. LICHTENWALNER GRETAOPPE
C. M. PRUIT
LEOPOLD SCHEFLAN GEO. W. SEARS B. D. THOMAS E. ROGERWASHBURN
KEEPING UP WITH CHEMISTRY Atomic weights, 1933. C h . - Z t g . , 57, 116 (Feb., 11, 1933).rrsistana to penetration of nlkalinc and alcoholic solutions. The third report of the Atomic Weight Committee of the InterWar im~morerthe permanency of papcr and gives to the product national Union for Chemistry deals with the period from Sep- a hiphx rlwi, b c t t ~ rprinting qualitm, and an npparcnt . ... opacity. ~. tember 30, 1931, t o September 30, 1932. The committee (G. P. J. W . H. Baxter, Mme. P. Curie, 0 . Hanigschmidt, P. Lebeau, R. J. Distribution of molybdenum. H. TRR M E ~ E N .Nature, 130, Meyer) made the following two changes: atomic weight of 966 (Dec. 24.1932).-The author shows that molybdenum occurs iodine from 126.932 to 126.92. and that of lanthanum from in small amounts widely distributed in nature. On the kilo 138.90 t o 138.92. L. S. basis the following amounts were found in mg. Some post-war developments in pure and applied organic chemistry. G. R. CLEXO. Chem. b Ind., 51 1049-52 (Dec., Coal ~ ~ h 4 . 2 1 Beano and pea-3 to 9 23. 1932).-A few of the important develo~mentsdiscussed are: Cereals-4.2 to 0.6 the incr;ased use of urea & a fertilizer, the large-scale manuFertile sail-4.1 t o 0.3 facture of solid C02,the use of Cellophane as a wrapping material, Mineral waters-are1y Mexican "rude oit5.55 the acceptance of W. N. Haworth's 6-membered pyranose ring for glucose, the increased knowledge of the vitamins, insulin, artificial silk, liquid fuels from coal, tetraethyllead, synthetic rubber, lacquers, plastics, internal medicines, and insecticides. E. R.W. Carbon dioxide in industry. C. L. JONES. Chem. El Met. H. Bortels has shorn that a certain microbe, Azotobacter Eng., 40, 76-9 (Feb., 1933).Solid carbon dioxide is now sold chroococcum, which possesses the property of fixing atmospheric m larger toonage than the h q u ~ dproduct, the dally productive nitrogen. is dependent for its healthy mowth on the presence of capacity in the United States being over 700 tons. Ninety F . B. D per cent. of the liquid COz is used by the beverage industry. molybdenum. Chemical warfare in mob and crime control. K. A. KOBE. The new uses listed are for the solid CO?. Among the many Chem. F Met. Eng., 40, 60-2 (Feb., 1933).-Chemical agents listed special emphasis is given to food refrigeration, hardening humane method of handline not onlv cr~minalsbut also alloy steels, chilling golf balls and rubber articles for trimming, offer a.~ by a frangible aid in the grinding and mixing of dyes and gummy products, mobs. Safes can be protected agiinst bur&.rs cold storage for eggs, cleaning water wells, as an explosive in container which is broken to release a volatile chemical agent coal mining, extinguishing fires, and distribution over clouds as a or a mechanical or electrical device which will detonate a grenade t o volatilize a chemical agent by a burning charge. Volatile "rain maker." J. W. H. Celldose fermentation. H. LANDWELL.Chem. 6'Ind.. 51, chemicals used are chloro~icrin,bromoacetone, or some tear 988-94 (Dec. 2. 1932).-An historical survey of the development gas, while a mixture of chloroa&ophenone a d nitrocellulose of cellulose fermentation t o its present state of industrial im- is used in the grenade. Banks are also being protected by "gas portance. Under proper wnditions waste cellulose material locks" on the doors and tubing systems of distributing gases, is caused to ferment, yielding acetic acid, butyric acid, ethyl operated from the teller's cage. Chemical equipment has become an important part of every alwhol, methane, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. The future of the process will depend upon our ability t o collect in the manu- police department. Hand grenades, gas pistols, and riot tubes facturing Center a cheap and abundant supply of raw material. are used. Charges in these may be chloroacetophenane mixed with nitrocellulose for tear purposes, hexachloroethane, zinc E. R.W. powder, and zinc oxide for smoke-screen purposes, or diphenylElectrical factors of colloid stability. E. S. HEDGES. Chem. C+ a "sneeze gas" resulting in vomiting and Ind., 51, 937-9 (Nov. 11, 1932).-Positively charged colloid amin-hloroarsine, particles are coated with an adsorbed layer of cations. A diffuse nausea. Tear gas effects last the shortest time; none of the layer of anions, becoming less dense as the distance from the gases leave permanent effects. For individual protection a fountain-pen type of gas gun has particle increases, surrounds the positively wated particle. The inmost part of this layer of anions probably moves with the been developed. The spread of the gas on discharge gives a J. W. H. partide ar it nio\.es. The clccUml disturbmce caused by the 4-ft. circle a t the maximum range of 15 ft. Nickel and nickel alloys in the chemical field today. H. E. sepxation of the rnobiiu and irnrnobilc parts of the h s c r is rrsoonstblc fur the rlrctrokinrtic ( z e t a , potential which is the SEARLE. Inco. 11, 15-7 (Mar., 1933).-In the neighborhood of m$n electrical factor of colloid &bilk$. The addition of a 20% of the world's production of nickel is used for corrosionnun-elrctrolyte to a rolloldal dnrycrvon u-udly lbe-rrs this resisting purposes. Much of this goes into chemical equipment. potrntial and decreases the stability 01 thc dispersion in the Among the factors, all of which may vary, responsible for corroabsence uf tlcctrolvtcs this lavcr mav br lonntd bv arirnt~tion sion rate are aeration of the corroding solution, the rate of its G l a r &olecules. I n the case of h$drophilic coll&ds the main flow, its temperature, and its concentration. Among the comafactor of stability seems t o he one of hydration rather than of sion-resistina allovs of nickel are: Ni-resist, an alloy of nickel, copper, chromium, carbon, manganese, and silicon with cast E. R. W. electrical nature. iron; 20 to 30% nickel cast iron; Monel metal. Tables of Case for rosin-wax sizes. R. B. LADOO. Chem. b Met. relativ? re.iiqtmcer of these allovs t o corrosion baths of different Eric.. 40. 89-90 (Feb.. 1933).Sizing is practiced by paper, ..--. kinds are given as well as their measured physical constants. ~
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paper io give finish and gloss the surface.. The most important sizing agents are rosin, starch, glue, casein, and waxes, the first being most widely used. Rosinwax dzes wntaining varying proportions of wax are giving uniformly satisfactory results under virtually all paper-mill conditions. Their advantages are better sizing with less material and a t lower wst, absence of foaming, less brittleness. and hetter
Metallic calcium. Ind. BULL of Arthur D . Little, Inc., 74 4 (Feb., 1933).-Metallic calcium has been known since 1808, when Sir Humphry Davy made i t in an impure state by reducing calcium oxide with metallic sodium. Moissan ~roducedi t in a pure state ninety years later by the same proce& but now it is manufactured by electrolysis of calcium chloride. Calcium is harder than tin or lead, almost as hard as aluminum, and consequently has been used in light aluminum alloy3 and in leadbarium-calcium alloys known as Frarv metal. used during the ~~
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World War, when there was a shortage of antimony, for antifriction bearings. Lately calcium has been combined with lead t o make alloys particularly adaptable as sheathing material for electric cable. The principal use for metallic calcium a t present is as a powerful reducing and dehydrating agent and an absorbent for gases. These properties make the metal useful in deoxidizing and desulfuring carbon steels and cast iron. It has been reported to be a useful reagent in the purification of inert gases and in the dehydration of oils and aliohols, as well as in the fixation of nitrogen. The chief barrier in the way of calcium utilization has always been, and still is, the cost of production. The price fifteen years ago was about $20 per It is now - pound. . 51.50. G. 0. The versatility of paper. I d . Bull. of Arthur D . LifUe, Inc., 74, 3 4 (Feb., 1933).-Paper was originally used principally for printing and writing, and t o some extent for wrapping. In the year 1930, however, 40% of the total Paper products produced in the U. S. was in the form of paper boards; 26% was printing paper; 16% was wrapping paper; 5% writing paper; and 4% used in the building trades-leaving 8% '0 over 800,000 tons of other paper products. A considerable proportion of the paper board finds its way into shipping containers for various "s& such as crates far fruit, cartons for ice cream, oysters, etc. Paper
pie-plates have long been used as conveyers, but recently specially treated paper plates have appeared io which the pies are actually baked. The cheapest paper stock is ground wood. Sheets of this can be formed on machines similar t o paper machines and have a wide use as insulating board for buildings Such board can also be molded and many toys are made of it. Fiber conduits for underground cables are also made from it as tmon textiles in wrh well as furniture. Pmer haq ennmrhed ~~~---.-.-.r . . . ....-..-- . ..---produds as table cloths, napkins, towels, handkerchiefs, twine, carpets, collars, belts, and even window shades and umbrellas. Artificial wool has been made from the same fibers as are used in DaDer. Soecial orocessine has nrnrlwrerl nmpr nrnrl,.rts +hot rre r ~-~~ -r..--..-r-r.. cl&e imit'ation of suede and leather. Many products have been made by combining other substances with paper. I n the roofing industry, a paper felt is saturated and coated with asphalt and slate granules. A similar paper without the granules of slate is used as a mulch paper t o keep down weeds in the Hawaiian pineapple plantations. Slippers and shoes have been made from latex-impregnated paper. The fact that special processing can impart entirely new characteristics and produce a wide variety of different materials indicates fiher ~~-that ~ ~oaoer ~ -~ ~..1--.a.-hnse .~ -.. ~ material affords an expanding field in paper manufacturing. G. 0 .
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APPARATUS, DEMONSTRATION S, AND LABORATORY PRACTICE Le Chatelier's principle. G. VANPRAAGH.Sch. SCi. Rm.,14, is placed in a test-tube provided with n thennometrr and stirrer. 201-2 (Dec., 1932).-The reaction NsO1 2N02 is suggested The crystals produccd are very fine and di.;wlve readily whm the for the demonstration of Le Chatelier's principle, the change in tube is withdrawn, so rhr true freezing point un k obtained equilibrium being made evident by change in color. "Nitrogen D. C. 1.. dioxide is passed a t room temperature into a vessel fitted with Freezing-point lowering nomograph. D. S. DAVIS. C l m two taps, until the color is pale orange. The taps are then ~ I n n l y d .22, 8 (Jan.. 1933).-This churt makes po%$ihlea rapld closed. One is connected to t& water pGmp and opehed momen- calculation of the lowering of thr freezing poinr when a given tarily. The color becomes pale yellow, owing to removal of gas by the pump, but within a second or so, i t returns almost t o its original depth, owing t o an increase in concentration of the NOn caused by further dissociation following the reduction in pressure." 0 . R. The formation of sodium formate from sodium hydroxide and carbon monoxide-a lecture experiment. H. RHEINBOLDT. Z. physik. chenz. Unterricht, 46, 1-6 (Jan.-Feb., 1933).-Detailed shnsrl for dircctruns are g n e n and a diagram of tllc appiar:ltui ~i the preparation of sodium furmntc from N;1011 m d CO. T h e C O obtained hy the actim of II?S04on forn~icacid is freed from COXby contact with KOH. The gas is passed through a 50% solution of KOH, then through a dilute solution of indigo, and finally into the reaction vessel This vessel consists of a wide test-tube which is heated electrically with resistance wire and which is charged with NaOH and soda lime. L. S. A stable reagent for detecting nitrites. I. STONE. Chem.. Analyst, 22, 10 (Jan., 1933).-The reagents usually employed solntinn. in the nitrite test are relativelv rare or unstable in ~ - making it necessary to prepare kesh solutions as needed. The reagent here mentioned &prepared from simple chemicals, is very stable, and consists of a single solution. I t is composed of aniline, 1 cc.; phenol, 1 g.; conc. HC1, 15 cc.; distilled water, 150 cc. The solution to be tested should be neutral. Add 0.5 cc. of the reagent and then make alkaline with NaOH. I n the presence of nitrites an intense mlor is formed. If interfering colors are present, the yellow color can be extracted with a little amyl alcohol. A control shake-out should be made without the addition of the test reagent. The sensitivity is about 0.01 mg. of nitrite ion per cc. I n testing for traces allow to stand about one-half minute before making alkaline. D. C. L. Experiments with solutions. R. B. WAILES. Pop. Sci Mo., 122, 48 (Jan., 1933).-A number of experiments usiw solutions number of mols of a substance is dissolved in one of a number are described for the amateur chemist; these involve temperature effects, endothermic and exothermic solutions, crystalliza- of different solvents. The dashed line indicates that 0.3 mol of tion, sublimation, and distillation. A "Jamb's" tube may an unionized solute dissolved in 1 kg. of benzene lowers the freezing point 1.54'C. D. C. L. be made using liquids of varying mlors and densities. --An inexpensive pyrometer for temperatures up to 1000'C. H. -1'.n. Chemicals you can make in your home laboratory. R. B. W. C. STADIEAND S. L.WRIOHT,JR. Science, 77, 172 (Feb. 10, 14 a w e ~ i e c e sof chromel and alumel wire" emh WALES: Pop. .Sci., Mo, 122, 5 6 (Feb., 1933).-The technic 1933).-No. of carrylng out tltrations is desmbed together w ~ t hthe necessary apparatus. A number of salts are listed which can be easily one inch. T h e twisted ends were protecied-from corrosion by means of a small silica test-tube packed with asbestos fiber. made by means of reactions taking place in solution. The free ends were insulated from each other by short lengths of H. T. B. silica tubing sufficient t o brim the wires out of the back of the Determining freezing point and solubility a t low temperatures. oven and wire held in posltton-far enough from the oven t o avoid E. DRIVERAND E. COLTON.Chem.-Analyst, 22.8 (Jan., 1933).To ohtairt trmlxratures lower than E W ~ L ohtairl;d . hy ice-&It being heated by radiation. They were then connected t o copper rnixrurcs, ether is placed in sn unsilvcrcd 1)rwar tubc and a leads, which ran t o a special microvoltmeter. An accuracy of + 10' was secured. little solid CO? is added. This semcs a j a cnolin~h t h to -SuDC. E. C. K. or lower. The liquid whose freezing point is be determined Silk Cellophane for lantern slides. See this title, p. 317.
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SCIENTIFIC REVIEWS AND BIBLIOGRAPHIES; TABULATIONS OF SCIENTIFIC DATA Progress report in the field of organic chemistry. IV. Natural products of most$ unkoown constitution. W. K m ~ n . Z . angeu. C h . , 46, 3 7 4 5 (Jan. 14, 1933).-1. Proteins. 2. Phosphatides, cerebrasides. 3. Sterines and gallic acids. 4.
Saponins. 5. Isoprene derivatives and caratinoids. 6. Other natural products. 7 . Vitamins. 8. Hormones. 138 referL. S. are given'
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL Inventor of methods Wedrich Wilhelm Ostwald]. A. P. SACHS.C h m i ~ t10, , 11-21 (Jan., 1933).-A biography of Friedrich Wilhelm Ostwald (Sept. 2, 1853-April 4, 1932). Ostwald considered that his work on catalysis was his mo4t important independent contribution to chemistry. This work wan for him the Nobel Prize in 1909. "He was a great experimenter, a great generalizer, an inspiring teacher, a wonderful organizer, a philosopher, an internationalist, the prophet of a new day, an artist, a veritable Leonardo da Vinci of science in the versatility and the magnitude of his talents; or perhaps a Goethe of science, for Goethe was his great ideal." He wrote many scienti6c articles, books, and reviews. He, in association with J. H. van't Hoff, established the Zeitschrift fur
physikalische Chemie.
I n the later years of his life be was interested in the developlanguage, He made perhaps his last ment of an contribution to culture in his investigation and and E. R, W, organization of the theory of color. 131, Scientific centenaries in 1933. E,C, 14-5 (Jan 7' 1933)'-Am0ng the names listed' the are of Interest to chemists. Joseph Priestley (1733-1804) was born a t Bristol, Leeds, and died a t Northumberland, Pa. The American Chemical Society was founded August 1, 1874. a t the celebration of the centenary of the discovery of oxygen. Priestley was one of the few English-
men t o be elected a foreign associate of the Institute of France, the secretary of which, Cnvier, in his 6loge referred to him as "le pare de chemie m o d h e pi ne vouloit @s reconnattre sa fik" Richard Krrwan (1733-1812). The chemist and geologist was an intimate friend of Priestley and like him was the recipient of the Copley medal of the Royal Society. Sir Henry Roscoe (1833-1915) was noted far his work with Bunsen on the quantitative action of Light on chemical reactions, the especial study being the formation of hydrochloric acid from its elements, for his later work on vanadium, and for his services to ~ ~ ~ l i ~ h Peter Waage (1833-1900), the distinguished Norwegian cbemcollaborator with Guldberg, stated in ist, student f, 1867 as a result f,, their investigations, the law which bears their names. Alfred Bernard Nobel (1833-1906) was a Swedish engineer. chemist, and inventor of explosives, who founded the Nobel prizes. One of the last awards was to the American, Irving Langmuir, a recent president of the American Chemical Society. A century ago, the French chemist, Joseph Nicephon Niepa (1765-1833). whose statue a t Chaions recalls his achievement of sun prints On metalplates* died. Thomas Allan (1777-1833) was an dinb burgh mineralogist n and a friend of the Quaker chemist, ~ o h Griscom. F. B. D. Cellulose fermentation. See this title, p. 316.
TEACHING OBJECTIVES, METHODS, AND SUGGESTIONS A science movie. ANON. SCi. Classroom, 12.3 (Feb., 1933)."The Eyes of Scienec," a 3-reel motion-picture flm, which shows the theory, manufacture, and application of modern scientific instntrnents. ha3 .~ .... ----- ~ , been reo oared bv the Bausch & Lomb O ~ t i c a l Ca. I t is available fa; t& use of teachers in colleges and high schools. Applications may be made direct to the-company in Rochester, N. Y., or t o its branch offices in New York, Chicago, nr m Frmrirro. H. T. B. -.S ---. .... Life of atoms shown in movies. ANON. Pop. S C ~ Mo., . 122, 35 (Feb., 1933).-The University of Chicago has prepared two movie films entitled "The Molecular Theory of Matter" and "Oxidation and Reduction." These films picture enperi~
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mentr and processes which illustrate the operation of fundamental natural laws and are expected to prove valuable in replacing lecture experiments and demonstrations. They not only save time and effort which the instructor ordinarily devotes t o his lecture demonstrations, but will also bring a much wider H. T. B. range of material before the student. Silk Cellophane for lantern slides. F. F. YONKMAN.Science, 77. 218 (Feb. 24. 1933i.-Soecial .dn Pont No. 300 white silk ~eilophaheis suggested as recipient of carbon in projection lantern slides. The silk Cellophane taken ink directly from the typewriter ribbon without smudging. Its cost is less than one cent per slide. E. C. K.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS AND DEVICES; CURRICULA C. C. T n n ~ m c n m . High Sch. article represents a rhumb of interviews with twenty-five principals of public schools. Seven benefits derived from such grouping include fewer failures, larger percentage of graduates continuing into higher schools, greater industry, and work more readily adapted to individual needs. The problems involved in such grouping are mostly social, such as: possibility of developing snobbishness among brighter pupils, class consdousness engendered among parents, Homogeneous grouping.
Teacher. 9, 72-3 (Feb., 1933).-This
and aggravation of the discipline problem when all problem cases are brought into one group. "The general feeling is that much goad results from homogeneous grouping educationally. but that careful administration is necessary t o avoid social complications." As to its future, i t may be entirely discarded though considerable modification may save it, or it is even conceivable that it might be perfected to a point of permanent B. C. H. acceptability.
EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENTS AND DATA
What becomes of the college graduate? A. ANABLE. Chem. Ze
Met. Eng., 40, 83-5 (Feb., 1933).-A
study made on 1000 eraduates of Massachusetts Institute of Technolow. All of The&& had had the same educational advantages and all had secured diplomas upon graduation. As a group they entered business and industry in minor capacities, attaining greater responsibilities as the years passed. They were given five achievement ratings based on earning power. The characteristics of the median man in the upper ichievement group, taking character, honesty, etc., for granted, are listed as: 1. A good standing in classroom work, well above the average in all subjects, but especially high in thesis work and in business and economic subjects where latent initiative, imagination, and
resourcefulness are developed. 2. Proficiency in extracurricular activities, particularly calling for managerial and organizing abilities and the subtle technic of leading others and making others like to be led. 3. Ability t o get along well with othersa natural and deserved popularity if you will-indicated by election t o membership in honorary and social fraternities. 4. Success in securing employment in a growing and remunerative industry, such as chemical and related processing industries, a gradual working into the more lucrative fields of that industry. such as distribution, finance, and management, and finally the attainment of an executive position in the active direction of that industry rather than the less remunerative functional or staff position. J. W. H.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION A Wisconsin philosophy of science teaching. I. C. DAVIS. growth of discussions in fifty-five groups in which 300 teachers Phi Delta Keppan, 15, 141-3 (Feh., .l933).-This report of a participated. A teachers' training council of Wisconsin has committee of which the author is chanman represents the out- characterized education as "growth through problem solving"
so the individual may hc trained to act 'in such a way that he w i l l make the p a t e s t posqible contrihutiun to society and a t the same time receive the createst ocrsonill satisfaction " Scirnw. the committee thinks inuthe l i g h of this definition, has three distinct objectives: i t seeks to develop an attitude which recognizes and attacks problems; i t seeks to impart (1) a scientific method which makes more certain success in the solution of problems and (2) sufficient information to save the present
generation from costly mistakes in fields that the past has already mastered. Fourteen specific objectives are stated. Some of these that are not commonly stated in lists of science objectives are: power t o distinguish hetwzen fact and theory; the concept of cause and effect relationship; habits of basing judgment on facts; ability to formulate workable hypotheses; and willingness t o change opinion on the basis of new evidence. B. C. H.
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PROFESSIONAL REPORTOF COMCollege and university teachiup. PROGRESS B J l . Am..Asso~. l%v. Profs., 18, 5 3 3 4 8 (Dee., 1932).-The committee gathered its materials by personal visitation and did not resort to auestionnaires. Fiftv institutions in various parts of the country were visited. Attention was eoncentratc;l on cprtaln immed& and practical prol,lerw C I I ~ nected with irnprovcmmt of teaching. with rm attempt to fullow Ille entire s u b i ~ c tthruueh all its mmificntionr. N,xllinu would seem more fu& than toattempt to define good teaching or the qualities of a good teacher, by inditing generalizations which neglect the wide variations among institutions, among subjects, and in the capacities of the students concerned. There is good reason to believe that the neneral c~ualitvof college teaching has undergone a steady improveme& during the past thirty years and that i t does not now deserve the criticisms leveled against it. Good teaching is a matter of men as well as of methods. I t is well t o raise the question whether the profession is drawing into its ranks the kind of recruits it ought to have. There is a widespread feeling that the profession of college teaching has not heen making a sufficiently strong appeal to the ablest voune minds of the nation. Younr scholars whose qualificationifor entering the teaching profession>e conspicuous should have presented t o them the durable satisfactions of the teaching profession; on the other hand, a vigorous effort should be made to discourage those whose promise of success in the profession is a t all doubtful. The forgotten man in the small college may be a first-rate teacher and worthy of consideration for a more important post, hut perhaps he is not doing the kind of research that attracts attention. One suggestion is that colleges advertise vacancies, and another is that the American Association of University Professors maintain a permanent field representative who will go from college to college inquiring about prospective vacancies and obtaining information about teachers of unusual competence. As to the relation of teaching to research, the fault may lie with the colleges themselves in that they ask that in most cases the candidates recommended to them he young men who give promise of research productivity. It is well recognized by the graduate schools that the rapidity of a teacher's advancement, even in the colleges which profess to desire teaching capacity above all things else, is all too often dependent upon the success of his research work. Success in research gets itself automatically rewarded while successful teaching does not. Good teaching, even though i t be conspicuous, rarely gets recognition beyond the bounds of the campus. I t seems essential that some well-thought-out means for automatically discovering the really good teacher shall be devised and utilized. The settina-up of recognized means for the evaluation of good teaching byeach d e p a r h e n t is an essential first step to the adequate rewarding of good teaching in any institution of higher education. Questionnaires addressed to students and alumni in a n effort to appraise teaching ability are MITTEE-~.
in no case altogether satisfactory. Complaint is made that poor teaching is frequently attributable to the multifarious eat,:*-curricular acttviiici in which college teachers sometimes engay*, whether voluntzrily or involunfartly. Thew do not interiere with effccrivrrws\ in teach~nvsaw in vcrv ercrotional eases. Extension courses, correspondence coukes, Gening classes, as well as committee work, should he counted as part of the weekly teaching load and should be paid for within the teacher's regular salary rather than a s extra compensation. Is it likely that courses in education, if taken bv those who are preparing t o become college teachers, would iesult in better teaching? What is needed mare than these is the pursuit of studies which will accomplish three things: first, the acquainting of every college teacher with the newest developments in the field of higher education presented in relation t o the whole history of education in the United States; second, the gathering of materials with reference t o the methods of instruction in individual devartments such as will enable criteria of mod teaching to be-worked out; third, the vigarous study of-everything that can throw any light on the processes of learning by college students. I t is probably true that there are more students in American colleges who have difficulty in learning than teachers who have difficulty in teaching. College professors sometimes forget that they are expected to functionin a threefold capacity. They are teachers of youth and as such are expected to impart knowledge efficiently. They are also charged with the duty of widening the hounds of learning by their own research and scholarly exploration. They have a third obligation of sharing the direction of collegiate educational policy. It would he of value t o younger teachen if the American Association of University Professors would ~ l a n t o devote each timely issues conyear a series of meetings to the discussion nected with college organization, policy, and methods. The lecture system of teaching has fallen into great disfavor. Large classes are being reduced by splitting into sections. I t seems to he a consensus of opinion that better teaching can he done with small cia-ses than with large ones. The committee believes that while good teaching is highly important, mere improvements in teachina will not of themselves ~ r o v i d ea solution for all the proble&, or even for the most important problems, which now cmfrrmt the college and ur~ivrr$it);facultir, of the C 3. liven mure urdent, for e~arnple,than the necrl for higher standards E need for hieher sfanckrrdi uf schul:astic work uf I I . ~ C ~ ~isI Ithe on the part of the ~merica; undergraduate. Teaching can never he highly effective until a greater degree of intellectual response and cooperation is expected and exacted from the student body. One of the essential prerequisities of improved teaching, therefore, is the elimination of law-standard courses from college catalogs. J. H. G. What becomes of the college graduate? See this title, p. 317.
of
FOREIGN CHEMICAL AND EDUCATIONAL CONDITIONS
The chemistry and industrp of Argentina. M. M. CHARAP. vances. The largest industries depend upon the local supplies
Chem. E-' Ind., 51, 92&2 (Nov. 4, 1932).-Argentina is chiefly an agricultural country a t present (more than 50% of its exports are agricultural) hut manufacturing industries are rapidly expandmg. Many of these are controlled by American and British firms, although local companies are making rapid ad-
of raw material such as meat, cereals, sugar, cotton, wool, and petroleum. Rubber articles, cement, parnts and varnishes, and chemicals are also manufactured in increasing amounts. E. R. W.
GENERAL Appropriations for grants in aid by the National Research Council. W. H. HOWELL. Science, ??,ZIP6 (Feb. 24, 1933).The National Research Council announces that the research aid fund is to he continued during 1933. Requests for grants of moderate amount for the support of the individual research work of qualified investigators in the fields of the natural sciences will be considered. The policies for the administration of this fund are outlined. E. C. K.
The Atlantic City meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and associated societies. Edited by B. E. LIVINGSTON.Science, 77, 125-54 (Feb. 3, 1933).-A very successful and interesting meeting is reported. The American Association prize was awarded to Dr. Henry Eyring (Princeton University) for a paper on "Quantum mechanics and chemistry, with particular reference to reactions involving coniugate double bonds." E. C. K.
