CHEMISTRY
in
SPAIN
MARY LOUISE FOSTER Northampton, Massachusetts
T
HE Ninth International Congress of Pure and in the same strain, saying among other things that he Applied Chemistry is already a matter of history. sympathized with that philosophy of chemistry that I t is enrolled with those other international scien- sought to benefit humanity in every way, and that he tific meetings held in Spain centuries and centuries wished every success to result from the research of ago. In the tenth century, Avicenna, "prince of those interested in this aspect, but that on the day that medical men," drew his colleagues from all parts of a government demanded the production of catastrophic the world to Cordova to listen to his lectures on Hip- bombs and asphyxiating gases, he could do no less pocrates; two centuries later Bishop Raimundo at- than hope that their minds would refuse to function on tracted to his school in Toledo learned men, whose such research. This point of view was conspicuous in Latin translations made Europe familiar with Arabic the conferences, the program of biochemistry being science, and in that same century Avkoes in Cordova most inspiring in its record of achievement. delivered his commentaries on Aristotle. In the thirConferences in the various sections occupied the teenth century, Alfonso el Sabio invited to Toledo daytime. Four buildings in diierent parts of the city scholars from the East to translate into Spanish the were in constant use: the magnificent new Institute works of Syria, Chaldea, and Persia on astronomy and Nacioml de Fisica y Quhica, gift of the Rockefeller mineralogy. To be sure, chemistry has today a dif- Foundation, the Residencia de Estudiantes, somewhat ferent connotation from that of those remote days, but, analogous to an English college a t Oxford or Cambridge, nevertheless, through the centuries the constant aim the Escuela Central de Ingenieros Industriales, and the has been to find the composition and constitution of Escuela de Ingenieros de Mines. The evenings were matter. We seem nearer to it now than ever before. devoted to banquets, concerts, and theater parties. The &Tort of those early chemists to transmute metals Sunday was given over to excursions by autobus to seems fairly on the way to realization, but their wild- Toledo, Segovia, and Avila-a delightful program, est dreams are as nothing in comparison with the actual thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. One of the auspiaccomplishment in pure and applied chemistry of the cious events was the conferringof the degree of doctor of men who took part in the conferences of this recent science, honoris causa, upon one representative from great International Congress. each country. Professor G. N. Lewis of California I t was a distinguished audience of over twelve hun- received the degree for the United States, while Prodred congresistns, madters in their chosen lines, ac- fessor Bartow of Iowa was made member of the Acadecredited representatives from thirty countries as re- mia de Ciencias Exactns. mote from Spain as the United States, Japan, China, The conferences represented every aspect of modern Colombia, that assembled in the auditorium of the chemical research, except those related to the history magnificent new cine house, "Capitol," on the morning of chemistry and the teaching of chemistry, two topics of the fourth of April. They were all more or less of importance from the American point of view. Beclosely related, according to the scientific genealogical sides interesting papers on inorganic and physical chemtable, as master and pupil. It was, however, cause istry, there was an unusual number of papers on bioof very special pride to the Spaniards to welcome their chemistry: Bonino (Bolonia) had a paper on the colleagues to their midst. Their hospitality was un- Raman spectrum of aromatic nuclei; Kruyt (Utrecht) limited and the Congress was a tremendous success on modem colloid chemistry; Gerlach (Munich) defrom every point of view. scribed the use of quantitative methods of spectrum After a few words by Professor Moles, Secretary of analysis in the detection of poisons and abscesses; Kuhn the Congress, Professor Obdnlio Fernhdez, president of Heidelberg, Karrer of Zurich, and Seidell of Washingof the Congress, opened the session. "If our satis- ton told of their research on vitamins; Koegel of faction as chemists is great, for we share the pleasure Utrecht not only told of his research on "auxinas," of this invitation to our country with our companions substances of infinitesimal quantity that enormously from all parts, that, which we as Spaniards feel, is accelerate the growth of plants, but he showed moving much more intense. Chemistry in Spain is beginning pictures that made vivid the activity of these catalyzers to respond to the impulse of glorious memory and to or hormones. These are only a few of the many papers, the necessity of developing the sources of our wealth. 35 in all. Four were from the United States: Lewis, The stimulus which your presence here communicates Seidell, Bartow, and Dorr. The total number of conto us will give breath to more difficult enterprises and ferences and communications was 283, five being from result in frnitful research." The President of the the United States. Republic, Sefior Alcali Zam6ra, followed and spoke President FernBndez, in his opening address of wel-
come, spoke of the inspiration to Spanish chemists that would undoubtedly result from this Congress. In the plans drawn up by the International Committee last summer, conspicuous place was given on the program to young men. There were a goodly number of these who were esteemed worthy of such honor. This is very encouraging for Spaniards. Spain is rich in mineral wealth. Its mines of pyrite are the richest in the world, having yielded during the past year 1,831,000 tons for export. Mercury, zinc, galena, manganese, phosphate, and potash deposits of extraordinary abundance are only a few of the mineral deposits. From early Roman times many of the mines have been worked. Spaniards have been in no sense unaware of the existence of these potential riches, hut they have lacked initiative in the past, and the mines have generally been in the hands of foreigners. The situation is changing. That there is change is largely due to the wnstant effort, pressure, and initiative of the Junta para Ampliacidn de 10s Estudios Cient&os. This is a government committee organized more than thirty years ago to improve university education. To
A MERCURY SEAL FOR STIRRERS D. T. ROGERS Rensseker Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New
A
York
MERCURY seal made from stainless steel (Allegheny No. 22) was recently described by the author.' This seal (Figure 1) was intended for use with diierent sizes of glass, steel, or brass stimngrods and at relatively low speeds. For this purpose it was satisfactory but for use at sustained high speeds the seal described in this article (Figures 2 and 3) has been found more satisfactory. To reduce vibration two bearing surfaces (E) and ( F ) (Figure 21, which just allow free turning of the stirring-shaft ( A ) , are fastened to the body of the seal. In those cases where stirring is to he coutinued overnight or where very rapid stirring is desired, it is more convenient to havethetube k2q (D), which rnns in F,,,,, FIGURE 2 the mercury, rigidly attached to the stirring-shaft ( A ) . This is arranged ' D. T. ROGERS, 3. Am. Chn. Sac., 55,4901 (1933).
this end young men who had successfully finished their university careers, were sent abroad to study-to Paris, to Germany, to England. The committee's work did not end here, for, when these young men returned, trained in foreign ways, with their eyes opened to their opportunity, the committee provided libraries and lahoratories in which they could carry on their research. These young men later became the professors in the University of Madrid and in the institutes and universities all over Spain. Elementary schools, residenaas, or dormitories where the social and intellectual life is developed and encouraged, have been established for both men and women of the Central University. I t is impossible to tell all that has been done for education here by the Junta. That is another and longer story.* But this Congress, in charge of the men who have been benefited by the ideals of the Junta fiara Ampliacibn de 10s Estudios Ciatificos, is the concrete evidence of the worth of those ideals.
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* See m y article "The triumph of education in Spain," U. of Chicago Magmine, July. 1931.
by forang (C) into (D) and boring (() so that and (D) as a unit can just he slipped up and down the stirrer-shaft ( A ) . When the desired position is reached (determined by the size of the flask used) the set-screw (B) maintains the adjustment. The shaft (A) and the parts (B), (0,and (D) rotate as a unit. An absolutely moisture-proof and airtight seal is obtained by applying a drop of Insolac to the upper junction of ( C ) and (A). The projection (G), on which the bored stopper is placed, is tapered (not shown in the diagram). Dimensions are such that stoppers can be changed without dismantling the seal. The external features of the seal are shown in Figure 3. The stimng-blades are so designed that they do not fall below a horizontal position but they can be pushed up to the vertical when the stirrer is being put into the flask. A bolt and screw arrangement permits easy changing of the blades. The entire seal and stirrer are made from Allegheny No. 22. Seals made of this alloy have been in continuous use for over a year in this laboratory and are as yet untarnished. The seals were made by A. Bigelman, 1314 Third Avenue, Watervliet, New York.
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