11A
V O L U M E 2 5, N O . 8, A U G U S T 1 9 5 3
the
analystes column
E. KLOPSTKG, of the National PAUL Science Foundation, in a talk last
year, made some rather pertinent re marks regarding the subject of instru mentation—its importance and devel opment. Speaking of the foundation's support of basic research he pointed out that, particularly in universities, a great amount of time and energy is now expended in devising and construct ing experimental equipment such as measuring devices for observing and re cording, means for increasing the acuity or reducing the thresholds of perception, and apparatus for the precise control of certain experimental quantities. This job in many instances is done by scien tists with inadequate experience and training in instrumentology. This term as here used means the planning of all instrumental means capable of attack ing a problem, and the devising, design ing, and constructing, if necessary, of the instrumental and manipulative aids required in the research. The practice of instrumentology, so denned, fre quently results in a device so widelyapplicable that it later becomes a com mercial product; but its immediate purpose is the fulfillment of an impor tant function in basic research. The field is vast and alluring, and its fasci nation easily diverts a specialized scien tist from his principal interest. He should not, to do justice to his special competence and productivity, be so di verted. By the aforementioned "divi sion of labor" he should be relieved of most of the exacting work, in a task for which others may be far better qualified. It is no exaggeration to say that prac tically all scientific research depends in one way or another on experimental methods and devices in which known physical laws and principles find expres sion. This is as true of much so-called theoretical research, the results of which must be validated by experiment, as it is of experimental research. Today, many standard instruments of great utility are available, applicable to a great diversity of problems. On the other hand, there are areas of investigation susceptible to cultivation only by means of new and novel tools or new combina tions of existing ones. Moreover, there are areas that encompass different kinds of scientific fields, or overlapping sec tions of contiguous fields, in which wellplanned cultivation with suitable equip ment promises great returns. Dr. Klopsteg is one of those who believe that such areas are among the most fruitful, and that here especially the application of instrumentology has extraordinary possibilities. At first glance, many scientists, par ticularly those who hold that research can be "pure" only if it has no "practi cal" objectives, would probably say {Continued ση -page ISA)
combines the Welch
with Transmission Light Source
DiNSICHRON
DENSITY .READINGS
GUIDE
110V A C SWITCH .
VOLUMP CONTROL
•BUMS.:-: LAMP RHEOSTAT.
-FOCUS CÇNTROL
RÂt^GE SWITCH'
The special Welch Transmission light source with a filter paper guide for holding and advancing the papergram at 3 mm increments, when used with the Densichron becomes a complete transmission densitometer for quantitative paper chromatography. The quantitative analysis of complex com pounds such as PROTEINS, SUGARS, V I T A M I N S , etc., has been simplified by reading maxi mum densities of papergrams with the DENsichron. This new apparatus and procedure will speed up your work and permit the analysis of very small samples. Works equally well for quantitative paper electrophoresis. This instrument was demonstrated last September at the Instrument Show in Cleveland and the Chemical Exposition in Chicago. Write for literature describing the production of papergrams and the use of the Densichron for quantitative determination by the maximum density method.
No. 3835B
;·••· :
.DIVISION
Of w.
M : ;>»ÈLCB
MA^ufACtueiNO
15 !S SEDGWICK STREET,' 0£PT. A - 1
$425.00
COMPANY :
CHICAGO 10. a U N Q I S . U S A ,
VISUAL OBSERVATION AT 30,000 PSI
S t a i n l e s s Steol
A
Construction
This is a high pressure spectrophometric cell as used in the Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins University. It is used for study of visible and near ultra-violet absorption spectra of liquids up to 2000 atm., 125° C. It measures optical densities of 0.1 to 1.0 photoelectrical^ to accuracies of 3%. The equipment is precise enough to detect a reversible wave length shift of 0.5 millimicron with pressure in the near ultra-violet spectra of toluene.
Throughout
SOME FEATURES O F T H I S EQUIPMENT! Î. Optically flat quartz windows—self sealing—easily cleaned and replaced. 2. Movable self sealing closures adjust window spacing from W to I"; Volume 2 to 16 cc. 3. Glas-Col heating mantle or Water bath maintain accurate temperature. T H I S VESSEL C A N ALSO BE USED FORI A. Static or continuous studies of flowing streams. B. Phase change study. C. Equilibrium and kinetic studies of liquid phase reactions. D. Biological studies of organisms under pressure. E. Control of liquid concentration in a continuous flow system. F. Freezing points of liquid, etc.
AUTOCLAVE ENGINEERS, INC. ERIE, EXPORT
DEPT.
PENNSYLVANIA
751 DREXEL
BLDG.
PHILADELPHIA
6, PA.
