Vol. 19, No. 5
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Tear Gas in China
'1' l \ ' O l ~ I Jbe difficult to imagine a n occasion where harm-
less tear gas could have been used to greater advantage than at the beginning of the present disturbances in China, \rliich have reached serious proportions. Instead of controlling mobs and effectively chastising that part of the ('hinese population vhich sought to do violence to foreigners, those ill coinniand chose to use shot and shell. The result is a number of dead and wounded, the sacrifice of practically all the good results achieved through conatrueti\-e work over several decades, and the laying of a foundation for revenge and hatred which will handicap even the most' unselfish work which tlie white race niay untlert'ake in China for years to come. Why are such blunder:: continually repeat,ed7 Tear gas hw been shown to inflict no injury. It's manufacture and use arc well kriown. Its efficiency in producing both physical and psychological effects has been demonstrated. I t is clifficnlt to see why, with all our talk of humanit,arianism, when the crucial nionieiit arrives we choose t o kill and weep afterward, rather than to cause weeping first with its consequent diveraion of attent'ion and effort. Our sentimentalists seem to prefer to weep a t the prospect of nontoxic tear gas rather than over gunshot casualties. There is litt,le excuse for failure to have used tear gas in China. It may still be employed effectively, but powder and sfeel h a r e alrcatly nrought much perinanent, damage.
The Geneva Front €€E c'oiuicil of the League of Xations has iiiritecl and the L n i t e i States has accepted the invitation to particaipte in an Econoinic Conference t'o be held in Geneva begiiiiiiiig M a y 4. This conference is to be "a general (~onsiiltationin the course of which * * * the vnrioux arguiimits and doctrines niay be freely expressed without the freedoin of discussions being restricted by any immediate iiccessity to transform the conclusions of the conference into iiitc~rtiationalagreements." Liberty of t'rade, tariffs, cominrrrial t'reaties, and indirect ways of protecting the coni~ i i o r c (and ~ shippings of a nation are the mosf: important topicas for discuwion from the viewpoint of the United States. It will be remembered that last auturnn a group of American hankers joined with European colleagues in publishing it declaration which called for the lowering of cust'oms barriers for the heuefit of certain countries which. under existing tariffs such a s those of tlie Vriited States, have difficulty in r(~Iia1)ilitNting thenisel\-ea. Whrn called to t,asB, some of t 1 1 .~iiiericaup ~ tlisc.lainied :my itlea of incliidiiig the United States i n the ~iroposalto abolish tariffs, but they have been :iccused of lack of sincerity. We understand that the League has assigned to Germany the task of preparing data on the world's chemical industry, a n d it is reasonable to expect that the figures presented will bc nintlc to show t,he fairness and desirability of so lowering
MAY 1 , 1927 tariffs as again to permit Gerinany to doniiiiate the world's chemical market. It is well known that there arc many ways of classifying industries and by accepting certain tlrfinitions it would be possible to bring together statistics which would so group American industries under chemistry as t u show our export business to be of orerwhelniing size. Ohviously, it ~vouldbe improper t o include in st,atistics wliicli are to be applied to the synthetic organic r1iemic.al industry figures derived from the refining of petroleum. The Economic Conference may take on the aspects of :i battle front where without question the chemical industjries of European countries will be ably represented, n-ell organized, and alert. I t is understood t,hat replies to the C;ermaii Monograph have been prepared by the British and 1-, t h c Frenrh chemical manufacturers. Announcements contain nothing to indicat,e the representatiori of American clicinical industry in a degree adequate under the circumstances. We may not feel the force of the conflict until Congress reconvenes. The AJIERICANCHEMICAL SOCIETY, which has performed similiar sen-ice in the past, niay be depended upon in future, should nccasion demand, to present to Congress facts which economists may not bring out a t Geneva.
An Obstacle Becomes an Advantage HE Sews Edition and &her iriedimis for n ( x h l i a i ~ aiinouncetl the first American manufacture of syiitlietic methanol on a commercial basis, this accomplishnieiit being to the credit of Laaote, Inc., a company affiliated with E. I . du Pont de Semours and Company, whose plant is located at Belle, near Charleston, W.T a . Having had some h o w l edge of the difficulties connected with the purification of hydrogen for the synthesis of ammonia at the T;. P. Xittratc: Plant To. 1, Muscle Slioa,ls, and likewise being informed as to the method Lazote employs for the manufacture of metlianol, we iiaturally remembered a recent definition of optimism and pessimism. The pessimist is onr who sees insuperable difficulties in every opportunity. The optimist' sees opportunit,iesin every difficulty. The application of t'hese definitions t'o the manufacture of synthetic methanol lies in the fact that Lazote cleverly combines the piirification of hydrogen for aliimonia synthesis with the production of methanol. The carbon monoxide, always a serious matter in the old days of RIusclc Shoals experiments, here becomes a positive advantage. Could there he a better example of practical optimism arid of following the old precept that one mho turiis stuinbling blocks into stepping stones is .mre of advanceinentl In this new all-American process. Ch&Jp
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I Y D U S T R I A L AND ESGI.VEERI-VG CHELVIISTRY
reaction. I n the condeusativn of the methanol the niore coniplete removal of such impurities as water, methane, and sulfur is simultaneously achieved, and such traces of carbon monoxide as may remain in the gases arenext eliminated by passage under pressure over a catalyst, promoting the forination of methane, or by absorption in one of the well-known absorbents. Hydrogen not required for the formation of methanol is thus purified on its way to the reaction chambers, where ammonia is synthesized, thus accomplishing in one operation and with consequent economies the synthesis of two chemical compounds which for years have occupied the center of the chemical stage. Although this methanol is being produced daily in commercial quantities, it is not anticipated that any large amount will immediately appear upon the market. Undoubtedly many steps in manufacture remain to be refined, and the demands of the parent company alone offer an outlet for large quantities. However, the announcement that “plans have been drawn to allow for plant expansion sufficient to meet the entire American demand for methanol” is significant. This is an accomplishinent worthy of much praise. It is a testimonial to the capabilities of American chemists and engineers. It is a demonstration of adequate support on the part of the corporation for the solution of a complex problem, and it is an important step toward the complete chemical independence of the United States.
Chemistry at Richmond
5’01. 19, No. 5
Are You an Accumulator or a Guesser? UR versatile friend, W. D. Bancroft, in discussing the methods of research before the regional meeting a t Rochester, divided research workers into two great classes, one of which he labeled the guessers and the other the accumulators. The guessers are the dreamers, the men who evolve a theory first and then proceed with investigations, the results of which may prove or disprove the original postulate. Among the guessers may be placed Darwin, Newton, Lavoisier, Faraday, Pasteur, Helmholtz, Gibbs, Bunsen, and Dalton. The accumulators are those who are fond of amassing facts upon which to base their theories. Priestley, Kohlrausch, Mme. Curie, Dewar, and Stas are thus classified by Dr. Bancroft. Some investigators are so fond of accumulating facts that they never complete their task in time to formulate their theories. It may be argued that the guessers base their guesses on the facts already accumulated and announced by others, and that both guessers and accumulators are essential for the progress of science. Dr. Bancroft insists and depends upon his classification of renowned scientists to prove that the guesser is the more important in scientific progress. Obviously the two methods of attack are constantly being employed. Consider the method of work and the contributions made by a long list of investigators and make your own classification. Perhaps some men represent both types t o a degree. Are you an accumulator or a guesser?
HERE was good reason to expect an unusual meeting a t Richmond, especially in view of all the inducements offered in advance. There was no disappointment-in fact, no criticism-but instead a meeting that surpassed expectatioiis in every particular. A partial report has already appeared in the Kews Edition and will be followed in its next issue with further accounts of successful divisional meetings, of group dinners, and of other enjoyed occasions. There are many complimentary things that might be said of our spring meeting, but what impressed us most was that a section not large in numbers has succeeded in so conipletely winning the support of a community as to enable it to discharge without apparent difficulty the multifarious duties which any meeting of more than thirteen hundred people entails. That Richmond is behind our Virginia Section was clearly demonstrated in many ways from the courteous placards expressing welcome on street cars, busses, and in store windows, to a supply of automobiles which made it possible for any group, by a mere expression of desire, to be taken to such points of interest and a t such time as it might designate. The Boy Scouts also made themselves generally useful throughout the convention. One prominent member remarked that he was afraid the next week he would forget he was not in Richmond. ask a favor of some fellow townsman, and be promptly told where to go. Significant also was the way the people of Richmond crowded the auditorium to listen attentively to Dr. Vaughan’s masterly yet technical address. Such success is of course due to many weeks and months of careful planning which leads to the development of an organization that works in perfect coordination and does not slip a cog. Richmond has demonstrated that a successful meeting can be held in many places where heretofore groups have hesitated to undertake the responsibility. A high mark of achievement has been set and we know that we voice the sentiments of the SOCIETYwhen we extend both our thanks and our congratulations. May the stimulation to chemistry locally and nationally produce much of permanent benefit!
The Priestley Collections HOSE mho have made the journey to Northumberland, Pennsylvania, have been impressed with the diversity of interests which Joseph Priestley had, as reflected in the variety of exhibits which make up the museum established on the grounds of his old home. It must have occurred also to these visitors that only a fraction of the scientific and philosophical apparatus carried in Dr. Priestley’s inventory a t twenty-five hundred dollars-a significant sum in those days-has been brought together in this absolutely fireproof structure. It is difficult to see how anyone possessing authentic material that mas used by Priestley could feel otherwise than that the benefit resulting from bringing together apparatus, books, and what not mould be augmented if the bit he possessed could be added to this larger and more important collection. I t is very gratifying to learn that the Smithsonian Institution has found it possible to place in the museum a t Northumberland, as an indefinite Ioan, the collection of Priestley material which it has had for years. This has come about largely through the interest of C. A. Browne. We learn from the letter of transmittal that the collection was received with practically no data concerning the individual specimens and that it has not been possible for the Smithsonian authorities to associate it with any specific work or experiment. For this reason the apparatus has never been definitely on exhibition, but now these relics will be given a place with the other apparatus, which many of us have examined with such interest. What a story the individual pieces of apparatus and the several volumes could tell, if they but had the gift of tongue! Many of them have wandered since Priestley’s time, and how they. might exclaim with joy a t the reunion! The collection sent to Northumberland consists largely of physical and electrical apparatus with globes and brass stands, alembics, Leiden jars, a compass box, and the like, with which is included a photograph of the statue of Priestley a t Birmingham, England.
