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quantitative, and organic chemistry. Master-keyed, changeable combination locks have been used on the desk drawers and cupboards. Both A. c. and D. C., 110-volt, and battery current have been ~rovided on laboratory desks where required. Individual student panels carrying a switch, fuses, and binding posts are installed on those desks. Plumbing. Duriron pipe has been used for all laboratory waste lines and the dilution tank. Ceramic sinks, lead traps, lead troughs, and buffed red metal plumbing fixtwes have been used throughout. Block tin lines with burned joints and tinned cocks have been provided for distilled water distribution. Hood Ventilation. Transite wall hoods of the open Cornell type have been used throughout, except in the qualitative Inboratory, where Sheel downdraft table hoods are installed. The hoods are served by Duriron blade fans, located in the attic, through ducts equipped with adjustable, locking dampers to permit equalization of the pull. The vertical, inaccessible, fume hood ducts are constructed of Knight tile; other duct work is of copper-bearing steel, leadplated and gilsonite-coated a t the time of installation. The movement of all air in the building is toward the hoods, thereby reducing to a minimum diiusion from laboratories into the corridors. Electrical Installation. The electric furnace laboratory is equipped with a transformer which will furnish current of 110 volts and 300 amperes in steps, each of ahout 20 volts, down to 25 volts a t 2000 amperes. Direct current up to 300 amperes and 110 volts is also available for the electrolysis of fused salts and other work requiring it. GeneralDetailr. Metal sashes with two movable and adjustable sections permit cleaning the entire outer surface of the windows from within. The floors in all laboratories are surfaced with acid-resisting mastic; the comdors and stairs with terrazzo. All paints and lacquers used on the
FEBRUARY, 1931
interior were previously tested as to resistance to laboratory gases. The architectural beauty of the building is enhanced by a limited amount of carving in conventional design. Its dedication to chemistry bas been emphasized by placing an the 46 ornamental shields, between the pilasters across the front, pairs of symbols of the known chemical elements in order of atomic number and selected alchemistic symbols on the shields an the wings and a t the rear of the building. Our effort has been to build and equip, within available resources, a fundamentally complete, durable and usable chemistry building. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE The $1000 award for 1931 of the American Association for the Advancement of Science went to M. A. Tuve, L. B. HAZETAD, and C. D A ~of . the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, the Carnegie Institution, Washington, D. C., for their paper presented before the American Physical Society during the December 29th-30th meeting of the A. A. A. S. a t Cleveland. The paper dealt with the measnrement and artificial creation of radium rays in a 2,000,000-volt X-ray tube, which are more penetrating than any heretofore produced or measured. The chemistry section of the meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science a t Cleveland was sponsored by the Cleveland section of the American Chemical Society. It assembled on December 30th a t the Morley Chemical Laboratory of Western Reserve University, and the following program was presented: Mosaic Disease of Tobacco. Isolation of an Active Virus Fraction Very Low in A~~.-CARL F. V w s o ~ The Structure of Gels.-LEO FDDMAN The Formation of Liesegang Rings in Gels.-OL~ F. T o m n The Chemistry of Biologically Active J. Lipoids from Tubercle Bacilli.-R. ANDERSON
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The Chemistry of Proteins in Liquid W. Ammonia. Preliminary Reporl.-E. MCCHE~NEY The Activation Energy of Adsorption and Catalytic Activity.-HUGH S. TAY-
obtain from a single simple hydrocarbon a synthetic petroleum that is probably just as complex as petroleums occurring in nature. "The simplicity of such a mechanism LOR may lend indirect support t o the old idea Some Chemical Aspects of the Origin of an inorganic origin from one or a few of Petroleum.-S. C. L m hydrocarbon gases such as might be proSignificant Temperatures in the Pyroly- duced by the action of water on metallic sis of Certain Pentanes and Pentenes.carbides in the earth's interior," said Dr. JAMESF. N o m s am GEORGET n o ~ s o ~Lind. "On the other hand, i t does not Boron Fluoride as a Reagent in Acety- preclude animal or vegetable origin, but strongly suggests that the primary malene Catalysis.-J. A. NIEUWLAND The Analysis of Breast Milk Fat.terial, whether gaseous, liquid, or solid, is P. E. ROLLER later subjected to thermal or ionic agents The Chemistxy of Humus Bodies Ob- or both which produce the complexity tained from Protein Material of Certain found in nature." Alaskan P e a s . 4 . L. J ~ D I D I Inorganic Iron Supplements in Nu- Chemicals Change Stretching Capacity of Protoplasm tritional Anemia.-H. H. BEARDand V. C. MYERS Protoplasm, the jelly-like stuff that is Hydrolysis of Halogenated Aromatic the physical basis of life, can be stretched Hydrocarbons in Aqueous Solutions.like rubber. if one emplovs the proper C. BRITTON EDGAR t d j . .it t h e mcctmg of the phvsiol~~gical
Science Seruice gives the following resum6 of reports presented a t the chemical and other sections of the Cleveland meeting: The chemist now knows that such a complex mixture of hydrocarbons as occur in petroleum may be obtained through chemical reactions starting with a single, simple mother substance, DR. S. C. LIND, director of the school of chemistry of the University of Minnesota, told the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Just how these reactions are brought about in nature is not yet known, but the fact that they can be accomplished in the laboratory indicates their possibility as natural processes. This is a step toward the solution of the great mystery of the origin of the oil in the crust of the earth, but it does not settle the question as to whether the processes of nature manufacture petroleum from a vegetable, animal, or inorganic source. By application of heat and pressure, or by bombardment with the alpha rays from radioactive substances, i t is possible to
section of the notnnical Socicty of America PROP.WILLIAM SEIPRIZand JANETPLOWK of the University of Pennsylvania reported on tests conducted on this property of the life-stuff. They took hold of bits of protoplasm with ultra-fine needles manipulated under the microsope, and stretched i t as far as they could before i t broke. Then they treated other cells with various chemicals, and tested the extensibility of the protoplasm after treatment. Some of the chemicals increased the stretchability, others diminished it. Salts of calcium and strontium increased the extensibility, mamesium salts did not affect it, and salts of potassium, lithium, and sodium diminished it. Cuttings Take Root Faster
W h e n Fed
Certain Chemicals Certain chemicals greatly stimulate the rooting process of both hardwood and softwood cuttings, IRWIN KLEIN reported. Mr. Klein's experiments were conducted a t The Ohio State University. Common cane sugar, glucose, and potas-
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sium pcrmanganate proved the most powerful stimulants t o the propagation of cuttings. After being soaked in solutions of these chemicats for 24 hours, cuttings showed an increase of between 72 and 402 per cent in the number of roots, as com~ a r e dto untreated cuttings grown under the same conditions. The length of the roots was even mare greatly increased by the chemical bath. Cuttings soaked in sucrose, glucose, or potassium permanganate solutions sprouted roots which were from 90 to 648 per cent longer than untreated cuttings. Liver Extract Makes Plants Green Liver extract, successfully used to check the course of pernicious anemia in human beings, has been used t o check the analogous yellowing of plants placed in the dark, by Prof. Oran Raber of Immaculata College, Pa. I'rof. Raber reported this research bclorc the American Society of Plant Physiologists. The activity of liver extract in checking this yellowing, or etiolation, of darkened plants, raises again the question of the ~ossible physiological relationship between chlorophyll, the substance that makes lcaves green, and hemoglobin, the stuff that makes blood red. Liver extract keeps red blood in the veins of the anemic; it now appears to keep green chlorophyll in the leaves of plants. Poison Bound for Troublesome Bushes A poison for undesired bushes such as poison ivy and European barbeny, quick and sure in its action yet clearing out of the soil after its work is through, was also described before the meeting of the American Society of Plant Physiologists by PROF.R. B. HARVEYof the University of Minnesota. This new agent in man's chemical warfare against tough weeds is ethylene oxide, chemically related to the ethylene chloride which has been found very efiective in hastening the ripening of fruits and vegetables. Professor Harvey
FEBRUARY, 1931
found that the oxide killed the fruits and vegetables instead of speeding up their ripening processes. He tried the compound on some large barberry bushes, which are being harried out of existence in the great grain areas because they harbor the black stem rust of wheat. What he calls "depth charges" of ethylene oxide dissolved in water were sunk into holes pierced in the soil a t the roots. A few days later the hushes were revisited, and in every case they were found to he in the last stages of the death struggle. About one and one-half ounces of ethylene oxide, diluted out to a ten per cent solution in water, usually sufficed for a large bush. At present barberry bushes are fought either by digging them up, which leaves stray roots free t o sprout again, or by dumping quantities of common salt into holes a t their roots, which is rather hard on the soil. Other chemicals which are effective against them cannot he used because they are poisonous t o cattle. "Depth charges" of ethylene oxide, Professor Harvey concludes, seem to offer the best means so far discovered for killing these and similar noxious plants. PERNICIOUS ANEMIA CURE WINS POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY AWARD
Popular S&nce Monthly has announced that the first bestowal of its annual award of $10,000 for the current achievement in science of greatest benefit to the public was made an December 18, 1930, to DR. GEORGEHOYTWHIPPLE,dean and professor of pathology of the School of Medicine and Dentistry in the University of Rochester, who discovered the principle of liver diet as a cure for pernicious anemia, and DR. GEORGERICHARDS MINOT,professor of medicine in the Medical School of Harvard University, who perfected its application to human beings. $5000 and a gold medal each commemorating the award were presented t o Dr. Whipple and Dr.
Hovt.
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CANCER-CAUSING SUBSTANCES FLASH DANGER SIGNAL A peculiar blue-violet fluorescence may provide a test for cancer-producing compounds. This new weapon in the investigation of artificial cancers is due to DR. W. V. MAYNEoRn and I. HIEGER, two scientists a t the Cancer Homital Research Institute, London. They find that when substances known t o cause cancer in mice are illuminated with a beam of ultra-violet light, a blue spectrum appears. The existence of such substances was first discovered hecause the employees in the shale ail and coal-tar industries were found t o be particularly susceptible to the disease. Later i t appeared that cancer may he produced artificially by prolonged contact with many tar-like liquids obtained by heating common substancesfor instance, skin, muscle, the temperature a t which and hair-to iron begins to glow dull-red. The workers of this laboratory have recently shown that a similarly harmful substance may he obtained a t low temperatures by the action of aluminum chloride on tetrahydro naphthalene--a commercial coaltar product used in the dye industry. It was this condensation product which has recently been found t o give the blue fluorescence. A search is now being made for other compounds of known constitution which show the same property. This has been successful in that several compounds related t o benzanthracene have been shown t o give a similar spectrum and also t o be cancer-producing. Benzanthracene is built up of four benzene rings cemented together. It is believed that substances in coal tar which predispose t o cancer are similar in nature. While not all cancer-producing substances show this spectrum and while some which do show the spectrum do not cause cancers, the new test is likely to be of assistance in uncovering the origin of cancers which develop spontaneously.Science Service
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ANNOUNCEMENT OF THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON BITUMINOUS COAL The third international conference on bituminous coal will be held a t the Carnegie Institute of Technology in November, 1931, according to a recent announcement made by DR. THOMAS S. BAKER,president of the Institute of Technology and organizer of the first two international congresses. An invitation will be extended to scientists of all countries to take part in the meeting, which is the only one of its kind of international scope. Prominent men of affairs in America will assist Dr. Baker in organizing the meeting. The purpose of the congress, President Baker announced, will he similar t o that of the meetings held in 1926 and 1928: t o present for discussion the results of recent studies of coal. Particular attention will be paid t o the economics of the new methods and processes that are being evolved, he indicated. The program will include papers on carbonization, liquefaction, and gasification of coal; hy-products of coal; the mechanism of combustions; cleaning of coal and its preparation for the market; pulverized fuels; power plants; and domestic beating. The discussions will be confined to coal above ground. Beginning a t the mouth of the mine, however, practically every phase of distribution and consumption will be treated by outstanding authorities in the several fields. "The condition of the coal industry during the past few years can hardly be called healthy," President Baker said, "and the current business let-down has brought extreme depression to this basic world industry. We hope that as a result of the discussions held we may be of assistance in uncovering new processes which may help i t on the road to recovery." Announcement of this third world meeting comes in logical sequence t o the previous congresses. The first conference
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was organized h y President Baker in which are brought under control in indus1926 for the purpose of finding new uses trial operations, through the apparatus for bituminous coal and especially t o and equipment in large-scale operations. discuss the problem of liquefying coal to In many cases whole processes will be supplement the petroleum oil supply of shown in operation. the world. This meeting, although it Special fundamental operations utilized was the first of its kind t o be held, at- in the chemical industries will be shown in tracted 1700 scientists from thirteen the demonstrations, including disintegradifferent countries. Two years later tion, crushing, grinding, grading, mechanifollowed the second congress which was cal separation, including filtration, classibroader in its scope, including discussions fication, settling, thickening, evaporation, on pulverized fuel, low-temperature distillation, drying, weighing, measuring, carbonization of coal, rubber from coal, mechanical handling of materials, conveythe hydrogenation of coal, and by- ing, and the demonstration of materials of product nitrogen. Speakers during the construction. For the last named the two conferences have been such scien- chemical industries are constantly seeking CLAUDE, DR. F R ~ D R I C Xmaterials for permanence t o resist corrotists as GEORGES BEROIWS,PROP. FRANZ FISCHER, DR. sion and destruction by the materials used DR. R. Lssswc, GENERAL in reactions conducted in the industries; C. H. LANDER, GEORGE^ PATART,DR. FRITZ HOFMANN. and the products displayed will include and DR. KARL KRAUCK. ceramic materials, glassware, metals, alloys, plastics, wood, fibers, fabrics, and a long list of materials developed for many THIRTEENTH EXPOSITION OF special purposes. CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES. NEW There wiU be special sections in the exYOFX CITY position devoted t o the showing of the raw During the week of May 4 t o 9 in- materials from our Southern States, s secclusive, 1931, the Thirteenth Exposition of tion for the natural resources of Canada Chemical Industries will he held at the and its various provinces, one for laboratory supplies and equipment, another for Grand Central Palace. New York. materials handling, and still another in It has already been announced that the Students Course upon the Fundamentals which be will demonstrated the numerous of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering types of containers suitable for various will again be instituted under the chair- chemicals and chemical products. W. T. READ,dean manship of PROPESSOR Exhibits of New Metals and AUoys of chemistry a t Rutgers University, who is a member of the Exposition Advisory Since the last exposition of chemical inCommittee. dustries, long strides have been made in The ex~ositionwill include three floors the commercialization and use of highly of exhibits devoted t o the raw materials specialized alloys, and exhibits of this suitable for the manufacture of chemicals group a t the Thirteenth Exposition are and chemical products, various other tech- sure t o command interest and close study. nical products used in the arts and indusThe demands of the automobile called tries, apparatus and equipment, machin- forth many alloys never before known and ery, and the finished products of the set metallurgists t o working in many a chemical industries. laboratory with a zeal that has never since The machinery and apparatus will vary abated. Today a host of industries are defrom laboratory equipment, supplies, and manding alloys capable of meeting their instruments through instruments of pre- own peculiar requirements, and another cision for recording temperature, pressure. host of manufacturers are busy meeting volume, flow, and the many other factors these demands.
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From the bowels of the earth, where hard rack and corrosive, mineral-laden waters impose extreme conditions on mining machinuy and tools, to the lonely spaces above the clouds where strength must be coupled with extreme lightness and resistance to corrosion, go the new alloys. The high temperatures and pressures used in modern hailers require a steel that can keep its strength a t temperatures that ordinary steels will not endsteel that not only will not burst, hut that will not "creep" or stretch under prolonged strain a t the temperatures common in oil and powdered coal-fired boilers; a steel, also, that wil( withstand the corrosive action of the gases of combustion a t those high temperatures. The steam output of those boilers also must be handled by valves that will not warp and jam, or carrode. Alloys developed to meet these demands have six to eight times the strength a t senrice temperatures of the low-carbon steel so long considered satisfactory for boiler duty. The tendency of the railways to impose increasing wheel loads calls far rails of stronger s t e e l a n d the call is heing met. In bridge work there is another great field for steels of high tensile strength and resistance to corrosion. I n large bridges the dead load is so great that the live load sinks into comparative insignificance. If the elastic ration of bridge steel can he increased ten per cent, the dead load can he reduced twenty-five per cent. And if corrosion-resistant steel can be used, much of the cost of maintenance is eliminated. I n fields as diverse as the equipment for chemical plants and cooking utensils for kitchens, dental hridges and fillings, and jewelry, the new alloys have been making steady headway during the past two years. Mass production methods, necessary to any largescale use, have been improved and costs cut. Methods of heat-beating and working have been developed or improved for alloys that defy the methods of working used on ordinary low carbon steel. Improvements in the use of the X-ray for
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examination of machine parts has facilitated detection of hidden defects. Consumers, long accustomed to the old metals and the old methods, have made progress in understanding the new alloys they must use henceforth. All of this is mare or less indicated by the statement, made a few weeks ago by an officer of one of the great alloy steel manufacturers, that in the face of current business conditions, production of some of the high-priced alloys has increased from twenty to forty percent over 1929. SECOND ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY OF RHEOLOGY The second annual meeting of the Society of Rheology was held a t Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, on December 29 and 30, 1930. The following program was presented: Mondav. -.December 29th 9:00 A.M.Registration, Gayley Chemical Laboratory, Lafayette College. 10:00 A.M.Address of Welcome, WILLIAM MATHERLEWIS, president of Lafayette College. 10: 10 A.M.Response, WHEELERP. DAVEV, president of the Society of Rheology. 10: 15 A.M."Explicit Formulas for Slip and Fluidity," MELVIN MOONEY,U. S. Rubber Co. 10:45 A.M. "Solvation and Viscosity of Lyophiic Dispersions," ELMER 0. KRAEMERand GEORGER. SEARS, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. 11: 15 A.M. "The Kinematics of Slow, Stationary Flow of Rigid Bodies," NADAI, research engineer, Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. 11:45 A.M Trefemed Orientation in Silver Foil Produced by Cold Rolling." and CLEVELANDB. HOLLABAUGH WAEELERP. DAVEY,Pennsylvania State College. 2:00 P.M. "Note on the Melting Paint of Pitch by the Ball and Ring Method," Easton, Penna. FREDC. EATON,
A.
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Gestetner, Ltd., Tottenham, London, 2 : 16 P.M."An International Comparison England. of Viscometers," S. E m , research Additional papers were presented as scientist, Physikalisch - Technische follows: Reichsanstalt, Berlin, Germany. "The Nature and Measurement of Fric2:45 P.M."Slippage of a Non-Newtonian tional Forces," E. KARRER,B. F. Liquid," MARKUSREINER, DepartGoodrich Company, Akron, Ohio. ment of Public Works, Jerusalem. 3: 15 M "The Absolute Viscosity af "Viscosity Measurements in Molten Glass," H. R. LILLIE,Corning Glass Water," report of Committee on Works, Corning, New York. Standards, EUGENE C. BINGHAM, "Mathematics of Leveling." GEORGES. chairmen, Lafayette College. HASLAM, New Jersey Zinc Company, 8 : 1 5 ~ . ~"The . Elasticity of ProtoPalmerton, Penna. SE~RIZ,University plasm," WILLIAM "The Law of Elasticity for Finite Deforof Pennsylvania. Massachusetts mation." H. HENCKY, 8:45 P.M. "The Fluidity of Liquids, Part Institute of Technology, Cambridge, R. C. 11," S. E. S H E F F A and ~ Mass. Houcn, Eastman Kodak Company. 9: 15 P.M. "Notes on Same Liquids Pro- "The Relation between the Plasticity of a Two-Component Solid-Liquid System posed for High-Viscosity Standards,'' and the Degree of Wetting of the Solid K. G. HICKMAN, and S. E. SHEPFARD. and A. by the Liquid." F. E. BARTELL R. C. Houcn. Eastman Kodak ComHERSHBERGER, University of Michipany. gan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 9:45 P.M."A Contribution to the Theory of Thixotropy," ERNESTA. HAUSER, The nature of a number of the papers Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany. listed may be indicate3 by the following abstracts: Bingham and Spooner have prepared 9:00 A.M."The Viscosity Correction for tables which make it easy to calculate the the Coefficient of Discharge for the fluidity of pure chemical compounds over Flow of Liquids through Minute Ori- the entire range from the freezing to the Pennsyl- boiling point. fices," P. H. SCHWEITZER, Bingham and Wikoff have worked out vania State College. the laws of the flow of sand through a ver9:30 A.M. "Flow of Liquids in Sails," CHARLES TERZAGAI, Vienna, Austria. tical capillary. The flow of dry sand is 10:00 A.M. "Physical Conception in Theo- not affected by changes in temperature, ries of Plastic Flow,"R. L. PEEK,JR., which doubtless explains its use in ancient times for "hour glasses." Bell Telephone Laboratories. Eaton has studied the standard method 10:30 A.M. "Further Studies on Assodation," EUGENE C. BINGHAM andL. W. of obtaining the softening-point of bitumen, showing how a correction may be SPOONER, Lafayette College. 10:45 A.M. "The Orientation of Dipole made for differences in the rate of heating the sample. He also showed that further Molecules in a Viscous Medium," J. W. WILLIAMSand J. L. ONCLEY, specification is desirable in order to obtain a uniform samble due to loss of volatile University of Wisconsin. 11:00 A.M."The Flow of Sand and Particle matter during melting. Hauser presented a theory to account Size." EUGENEC. BWGHAM and R. far the fact that certain gels may be W. WInoaF, Lafayette College. 11:30 A.M."The Row of Colloids," HANS changed to liquids, called by colloid chemists sols, simply by shaking them. This KROEPELIN, Erlangen, Germany. 12:00 A.M. "The Thixotropy of Pseudo- phenomenon is called by the word thixoplastic Systems," A. DE WAELE,D. tropy derived from the Greek words meanTuesday, December 30th
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ing "changed by touching." According to Hauser the thixotropic particles are scalelike in shape, which in the gel form an oriented structure somewhat like a stone wall. Bartell and Hershberger demonstrated that there is a definite relation betwcen the readiness with which a solid can be wet and the plasticity of a paste made from the solid in finely divided farm. The hehavior is closely connected with orientation of the molecules. Their paper included numerous experimental results presented in graphical form. Lillie described the technic by which the Margules method is applied to the measurement of high viscosities, especially that of glass a t high temperatures. He discussed the general visosity characteristics of glass and made a comparison of the more common types. The abstract of the paper by Williams and Oncley is as follows: The dielectric constant has been defined as a measure of the work done by an external electrical field in orienting molecules against the effect of their thermal agitation. It is found that in the case of a polar liquid there is a region in which the dielectric constant decreases with increasing frequency, the frequency region hemg dependent upon the size of the orienting molecule and the viscosity of the medium. This frequency region determines a time of relaxation for the molecules which has been evaluated, using Stokes' law for the rotation of a particle in a viscous medium. I t appears, however, that there arc several objections to the use of the ordinary caefiicient of viscosity of the medium ta measure the resistance offered to a rotating molecule. I n the derivation of Stokes' law i t is assumed: (1) that the discontinuities oi the fluid be small compared with the size of the rotating sphere; (2) that the sphere be smooth and rigid; (3) that the velocity of rotation of the sphere be small. These conditions can hardly be assumed in the case under discussion. Experimental data were given to indicate the
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type of system t o which the theory may properly be applied. GOVERNMENT SCIENTIST ANNOUNCES FINAL VALW FOR GRAVITY CONSTANT The final value for the most accurate measurement ever made of the constant of gravitation, from which can be figured the mass of the earth and the force with which the earth pulls the moon, has now been determined by DR. PAULR. HEYL. physicist of the Bureau of Standards, after seven years work. Speaking before the Philosophical Society of Washington, on December 6, 1930. Dr. Hey1 announced that the value can be expressed by the fraction 6.670 over 100,000,000. According to SIR ISAAC NEWTON'S law of gravitation, any two bodies in the universe attract each other with s force that is greater as they are mare massive and less in proportion to the square of the distance separating them. The exact force is obtained in scientific units by multiplying together the two masses, dividing by the square of the distance between them and multiplying the results by the constant of gravitation. Accurate knowledge of the force of gravity is important in many branches of science, from the study of the paths of projectiles fired from guns t o that of the motions of the stars. The physicist refers to the constant as G. The first eEort t o determine G was by a Frenchman, PIERXE BOUGUER, in 1740, but success was not attained until 25 years latcr when an English astronomer, REV. N e v r ~MASKELYNE, fomd the attraction of a Scottish mountain, Schiehallien, which has a short ridge running east and west and steep sidcs on the north and south. He observed a plumb bob on each side of the mountain, and, by comparisons with the stars, measured the amount that the mountain pulled the plumb line from the vertical. This value was only a rough approximation, however, because i t was not possible to find with precision the mass of the mountain. I n the years 1797 and 1798, the English
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physicist, HENRYCAYENDISH, first performed the experiment with small, known masses in the laboratom. With this method, two tiny balls are attached to the end of a little rod, and the rod is balanced a t the end of a long thin wire. As two large masses of metal are brought near, the small balls are pulled toward them and the wire is twisted. A tiny mirror attached to the wire near the rod turns with it, and moves a spat of light reflected from it to a distant screen. Essentially this is the method used in the new determination a t the Bureau of Standards. The largest masses used by Dr. Heyl were steel cylinders weighing about 150 pounds each. The smallest were balls of gold, platinum, and glass, each weighing about two ounces. Though the attraction that the large masses exerted on the small ones was about the same as the weight of the ink in the period a t the end of this sentence, this force was measured with an accuracy of a thirtieth of one per cent. Instead of merely measuring the displaccment in the position when the large masses were far away and when they were near. Dr. Hey1 set the small masses swinging back and forth and measured the time of their swing. This period of oscillation changed as the large masses were brought dose. Dr. Heyl's work has been largely indirector of spired by DR. G. K. BURGESS, the Bureau of Standards, who had a personal interest in the problem. I n 1901, when he was working for his doctor's degree a t the Sorbanne, in Paris, Dr. Burgess performed the experiment for his thesis, and obtained 6.64 for the value of G. However, the work was done under pressure of time, and he was not satisfied with the result. Then, when he became director of the bureau, he saw t o it that the experiment was done more accurately than ever before so Dr. Heyl was assigned t o the problem, and given plenty of time and the best facilities. I n 1927 Dr. Heyl announced a preliminary value for the figure of 6.664, but then the w o k had been done only with the
FEBRUARY,1931
small balls of gold and platinum. Since then he has repeated the work with the glass balls, and these gave a somewhat higher value, so that the final figure, the mean of all three, is 6.670. Dr. Heyl attributes the difference to small experimental errors in the set-up, and not t o any difference in the gravitational attraction for different materials. Experiments made some years ago by BARONROLANDYON Eorvbs, an Hungarian physicist, showed very conclusively that there is no difference depending on materid-Science Seronce
SIMPLE CHEMICAL MAY REPLACE LIVER AS ANEMIA CURE Good news for the pernicious anemia sufferer may result from the recently announced investigations of DRS. R. WEST and H. D. DA~IN,and MARIONH o r n of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Presbyterian Hospital, New York City. Doomed to eat half a pound of liver daily in order to remain alive and healthy, the anemia sufferers have found themselves longing for the medieted day when all our nourishment would be served in pills and capsules. It was DRS. GEORGE R. MINOT,W. P. M u n m ~and , colleaguesa t Harvard Medical School who made the life-saving discovery that eating liver was efficaciousin the treatment of pernicious anemia. Almost immediately, wails were heard from patients who found liver eating a trial. Some of them were silenced by a potent liver extract developed by DR. E. J. COHN, also of Harvard Medical School. The entract, however, is costly, and most of the sufferersmust keep on with their liver diet. Medical scientists, interested in the purely scientific as well as the practical problem, wanted to know exactly what it was in liver that was so effective in treating pernicious anemia. Part of the answer has now been given by the Columbia investigators. From liver they isolated a crystalline salt which is active in pernicious anemia. Analyzing this salt, they found two chemicals, beta-
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hydroxyglutamic acid and hydroxyproline, which are probably fragments of the active material. How these two are combined in the liver and whether any other substances are combined with them has not yet been determined. The ~racticalamlication of this work .. is still in the future, but it seems possible that the synthesis of the active principle of liver may eventually be effected. that has been accomplished, large-scale manufacture of a relatively cheap product may be expected.-Science Sernice
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to merit searching investigation as a basic raw material for employment in various branches of chemical industry. Four chemists, headed by Dr. Cox. have begun the initial scientific research of the Industrial Fellowship. Additions will be made to this staff, as needed. from time to time. NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
The Bulletin of the American Association of University Professors reports that the Steering Committee of the National MELLON INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES Advisory Committee on Education has INDUSTRIAL FELLOWSHIP ON adopted the following fundamental prinSUGAR ciples: I. The federal government has an DR. EDWARDR. WEIDLEIN, director, Xellon Institute of Industrial Research, obligation t o aid public education in thc has announced that the institution has states. 11. While the educational obligations lately begun a broad investigation into ~mssible industrial uses for raw and of American governments upon every state, and local-arc rrfincd sugar. The research will be level-federal, carried on by a Multiple Industrial equally full and binding, these obligations Pcllowship that will be sustained by The ought, in fact, t o be discharged in a Sugar Institute, Inc., of New York, an manner considerably different on each organbation. that represents the cane governmental level. 111. The federal government should sugar rehers of the United States. The comprehensive program of in- render large intellectual assistance to thc vestigation will be supervised by DR. states in matters of education through GEORGED. BEAL, assistant director of research, collection and dissemination Mellon Institute, and by DR. GERALD of reliable information, particularly with J. Cox, senior industrial fellow. They reference t o those types of intellectual and the scientists who will he under service which the states and the local their direction in endeavoring t o find communities cannot render t o themselves. IV. The federal government should and to develop uses for sugar in various industries will have the close advisory give some financial aid to education in the collaboration of DR. LEONARD H. states, but in a manner that will not CRETCXER, the sugar specialist who is the violate athcr fundamental educational, head of Mellon Institute's department of political, social, and economic considerations basic t o sound public policy. research in pure chemistry. V. Financial grants to states in aid According to Dr. Weidlein, various studies made by private research workers of education as a whole should supplant have already indicated results of in- special grants for the stimulation of dustrial promise; these findings will be particular types of training of benefit to special groups of the population. carefully studied in the laboratories of VI. I n the field of education a t least, Mellon Institute. Most of these proposals relate t o applications for sugar in matching federal money grants, whether such technologic practices as wood preser- general or special, with state funds is a vation, textile finishing, and the manu- policy t o be favored. VII. It is unwise t o centralize in the facture of adhesives. Sugar is thought
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federal government, as opposed t o the years of age, with the sole restriction that state and local governments, the power these federal funds be used for support of determining the social purposes t o be of educational operations, making each served by schools or of establishing the state responsible for budgeting the grant within the state school budget in such technics of educational procedure. VIII Modifications of thc federal manner as, in the judgment of the state means of aiding education should include itself, will best develop all the talents of provisions t o assure adequate periods of all the people. 4. Repeal all laws that give annual transition. IX. Agencies created by the federal federal grants in any form t o the states government to meet new needs should be far spccial phases of education of interest granted the autonomy and financial to particular groups of the people, or facilities necessary to overcome the that authorize federal officers to supervise state rducational or research activities, inertia of traditional practice. X. New participations of the federal approve state plans, or withhold funds government in education, de3igned to in order t o compel state compliance with frdcral requirements. meet changing . . economic, social, and 5. Provide that for the next five years political conditions, should be inaugurated under tentative policies, regarded frankly each state must allot t o each specific as experimental, and subject to revisions purpose for which it now receives federal funds as much of the new federal grant as circumstances warrant. The Steering Committee, as composed of as is now received from the federal S. P. CAPEN,FRANKCODY,L. D. COPP- government for that purpose; and that W. M. DAVIDSON, after five years the state may allocate all MAN,J. W. CRABTREE, C. H. J ~ DU., W. LAMKIN,C. R. MANN, federal monies received for support of J. E. R n s s s ~ L ,W. F. RUSSELL,HBNRT educational operations as it decides will SUZZALLO, and GEORGEF. ZOOK, alsn best promote its own educational program. 6. Require that each state submit drafted seven definite proposals for federal each year to the appropriate federal action as follows: office a financial audit and that it pub1. Increase the federal appropriations lish a rcport dcxribing specifically how for educational research and information thc fcderal monies have hccn used; and service by the Officc of Education, by the that thc federal government publish Federal Board for Vocational Education, all forty-eight reports in one volume for and by the Extension Service and thc comparative study by all interested. Office of Experiment Stations in the Dc7. Readjust the amount of the flat partmtnt of Agriculture; and provide per capita federal grant to the states ample means to these offices for supplying for support of education a t the end of each to all concerned the results of research and tw-year period as the new census figures. statistical studics through publications the past experience, and the then existing and conferences. situation may indicate to be appropriate. 2. Crcatc an adequate federal hea~lquarters for educational research an:l CHANGES I N ORGANIZATION AT information, so organized as t o scrve THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO both as a cobperating center far all federal agencies with respect to the cducaPRESIDENT ROBERTMAYNARD HUItianal aspects of their work, and as a CHINS has announced the intention of the reliable source of comprchenrive, correUniversity of Chicago t o abandon the lated, and accurate data on education traditional organization in which a student for all concerned. spends four years acquiring a fixed num3. Provide one unallotted annual grant ber of credits which automatically ento the states of $2.50 per child under 21 title him to a degree. The old type of
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graduate school also will he eliminated in the new order. The present undergraduate college will he replaced by a new kind of college in which a student will be able t o graduate whenever he can demonstrate hy passing comprehensive examinations that he has acquired a general education. Whether the student needs only one or four years depends on his own ability; he will not be hampered by a rigidly uniform system. This new kind of college cannot he developed over night, but the first step in the program has been approved. Reorganization of the university into the professional schools and five main divisions, which replace the old divisions of college and graduate school, has just been sanctioned by the faculty and the board of trustees.. . The five main sections into which the university's work in arts, literature, and science will hereafter be divided are the Social Sciences Division, the Physical Sciences Division, the Biological Sciences Division, the Humanities Division and the College. President Hutchins emphasized the fact that the university will not rush into the new plan without careful working out of all details. But the faculty and administration are agreed on the basic policy that education must cut loose from a system that has remained essentially unmodified since universities were first established in America and which is no longer adapted to modern needs. The revision of the curriculum and the establishment of satisfactory standards of achievement and workable methods of measuring the student's progress by carefully framed comprehensive examinations will require considerable time and labor on the part of the university, but the main outline of this system has already been tentatively established.. . . . The transition from what is now the college level to what a t present is the graduate level will be an easy and natural one under the new method, instead of the abrupt change that now is made.
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The sharp line that hitherto has divided the graduate school from the undergraduate college will he removed and all the work in special fields above the "general education" lcvel will he merged in the four divisions.. . . . Once in an upper division, the student will graduate by the same means that he entercd-by passing a comprehensive examination, The professional schools will award all professional degrees and the divisions will be responsible for the award of all non-professional degrees, including the equivalent of the present bachelor's degree now granted a t the end of four years of work. The bachelor's. master's, and doctor's degrees are to he granted on the recommendation of the entire division and not by one department. The reorganization already in effect, which in a large measure establishes divisional rather than departmental antonomy, willmeananimmediateencouragemeut of undergraduate teaching, for now the college, instead of the various departments, will control the budget devoted t o general education. The joh of the college will be that of teaching, and its funds will he devoted t o that purpose; the faculty of the college will he expected to contribute to the improvement of general education. . .. . Four of the deans of the five new divisions have heen named. . . . . PROFESSOR H ~ m vG. GALE, formerly dean of the Ogden Graduate School of Science, is dean of the Physical Sciences Division. . . . The broad objects of the divisional reorganization, as explained to the University Senate by Resident Hutchins, are "to improve administration by placing greater responsibility on officers who are familiar with the work of their respective divisions; t o reduce the number of independent budgets presented to and administered by the president's office, to promote co6peration in research, t o co6rdinate teaching, and to open the way t o experiments in higher education." Significance attached t o the immediate reorganization, so far as the university's
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advanced work is concerned, is that research on major problems which cut across present departmental boundaries will be facilitated. . . . .Anather important result of the correlation of departments is that advanced students in specialized work will be able t o acquire a thorough grounding in the fields closely related to their special interests. The change from the present methods of courses and credits cannot be made abruptly, and the university authorities now think that they may he required t o let the old typc of effort overlap the new methods for a period after the latter is put in effect. Some "credit hookkeeping," as a means of enabling a student to measure his achievement and also to protect students who may wish to transfer t o other institutions operating under present methods, may be required.School and Society EUROPEAN STUDY TOURS FOR AMERICAN EDUCATORS The International Institute of Teachers' College, Columbia University, cooperating with the Zentralinslitul ftZr Ereiehung und Unterricht in Germany, the Pedagogical Department of the Second University oi Moscow in Russia, and the Minktry of Public Instruction in France, is planning a series of study tours for American schoolmen and educators in the summer of 1931. The tours will he t o Russia beginning in Moscow on June 15th and continuing for six weeks; t o Germanv beginning in Bremen on June 22nd and continuing for six weeks; and to France beginning about June 1st and continuing for six weeks. . . . . These tours are organized under the auspices of the respective educational authorities in Germany, Russia, France, and England. The leadership is divided between Teachers' College. Columbia University, and the educational authority in the various countries. The purpose of these trips is to provide American teachers with direct insight into the life and organization of foreign school systems. The tours are so organ-
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ized, however, that liberal opportunity is afforded members of the groups for intimate contact with many other phases of life and culture in foreign countries, such as music, art, drama, industry, agriculture, commerce, and politics. University credit may he granted to participants in these tours, provided the requirements for credit are met. Steamship reservations must he made ALEXANDER, Interthrough DR. THOMAS national Institute, Teachers' College, Columbia University.-School and Sociely ENROLMENT OF TEACHERS IN SUMMER SCHOOLS
More than 421,000 teachers, or about 45 per cent of the nation's combined administrative, instructional, and supervisory staffs of public, elementary, and secondary schools, took special courses last summer, aceording t o a survey made recently by the National Education Association. The figures are based on the enrolment returns of 649 summer schools throughout the country. More than half the teachers takmg courses attended lectures in educational theory and practice. I t was estimated that this year there were 942,025 teachers, supervisors, principals, and administrative officers employed in the public schools. The number of teachers continuing their studies during the summer months was reported increasing constantly. Summer school attendance of teachers ten years ago was only 50,000 persons, i t was said. By 1928 the figure had grown t o 410,000 teachers. I n 1929 it reached 415,000.-School and Society SOUTH
DAKOTA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
The Science Section of theSouth Dakota Education Association met a t Sioux Falls from .November 24 t o 26, 1930, inclusive. A program 'on "Needed Changes in Science Content, Organization, and Finance for South Dakota" consisted
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of the following papers: "Science Teaching and Curriculum Problems," Dn. OTIS W. CALDWELL, director, Institute of School Experimentation, Columbia University, New York City; "Science Teaching in the Elementary Schools," GRACE HAAS, Sioux Falh; "IS the Science Club a Vital Factor in Science Education?" AUSTIN PARK L-BEE, Yankton; "Curriculum Construction for South Dakota," J. H. JENSEN,Aberdeen; "The Garvan Prize Essav Contest.'' B. A. DUNBAR,Brookings; "Creating Interest in Historical Chemistry by Subject Development Rather than BioVergraphical," ARTHURM. P-EE, milion; "Magazines for High-School Science Students," RALPH E. DWBAR, Mitchell. The group met for a business luncheon a t the First Presbyterian Church on Tuesday noon, November 25th. Industrial excursions were made the last day of the session to the plants of the John Momell & Co. Packing Plant and the Manchester Biscuit Co. Bakeries. This feature of the momam ~. was under the direction of F. V. RAYL of Sioux Falls.
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ble mechanisms an their formation in nature. He has also carried out brilliant synthetical work in connection with the coloring matten of flowers. His theoretical studies of the mechanism of organic reactions, in particular substitution in aromatic compounds, have led t o results of great value in that they enable a very wide range of reactions to be considered from a common point of view." LECTURES AT COOPER UNION The Chemistry Teachers' Club of New York held their 201st meeting a t Cooper Union on December 20, 1930. DR. G. EGLOPPof the Universal Oil Products Company was the guest speaker, his subject being "The Cracking Process in Gasoline and Gas Production." On December 16th, the Cooper Union Student Chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, was addressed by Mn. E n ~ s ~ of u s the Union Carbon and Carbide Research Laboratories of Long Island on "The Relationship between Metallurgy and Chemistry."
DAKOTA WESLEYAN
GEORGEV. BOHMANof Manmouth College has been added t o the chemistry faculty as associate professor of inorganic chemistry. The Royal Society held its anniversary PROFESSOX RALPHE. DUNBARhas been meeting, according t o a report in Nature. on December 1st. a t which meeting broadcasting a series of weekly talks SIR ERNESTRUTHERPORD completed his every Friday morning a t 10:00 o'clock term as president. The Copley medal over station KGDA, Mitchell Broadcasting Corporation. Topics that have was awarded t o Sm WZLIAM BRAGG; been included in recent broadcasts are: the Rumford medal t o P. DEBYE; Royal "Anti-Freeze Solutions far Automobile medals t o 0. W. RICHAKDSON and J. E. MA=; the Hughes medal t o S m VEN- Radiators," "The Utilization of Agrcultural Wastes," "The Chemistry of KATA RAMAN; and the Davy Medal to Waste Products," and "Batteries and has been a R. ROBINSON. I n regard t o the last Blizzards,,, A question award. Sm ERNEST RUTAERFOROreweekly feature of this science program. ferred t o the fact that Professor Robinson "by his investigations of the chemistry COLLEGE CmMISTRY of the alkaloids, has made notable addiGI,"= tions t o the howledge of the structure of these complex substances, and by The chemistry club of Hastings College experiment extended by theoretical dis- was fortunate in having DR. H. P . C ~ Y , cussion he has strikingly indicated possi- head of the chemistry department of ANIiIVERSARY MEETING OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY
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K a n s a University, present his nationally known liquid-air demonstration a t a recent meeting. He is a member of Sigma Xi and has done outstanding work in his researches on ionization in liquid ammonia and in methods of separating helium from natural gases, as well as in many other phases of inorganic and physical chemistry. The club aims t o present educational features along a chemical line a t each program. Programs which have been of especial interest have included: demonstration of photography, a t which a flash-light picture was taken and each process of the development explained on a chemical basis; and an experiment showing the characteristics and uscs of explosives. The chemistry club was organized in . W. 1925 under the sponsorship of P ~ o aP. EVANS, head of the chemistry departmcnt of the college. DR. KOCH LECTURES AT DE PAUL UNIVERSITY
On Sunday, December 14th. a t the Morrison Hotel, DR. F. KOCH,head of the department of physiological chemistry, University of Chicago, and internationally known chemist, was guest of honor and speaker of the evening a t the regular monthly dinner meeting of the Chemistry and Physics Society of De Paul University. Dr. Koch discussed, with the aid of lantern slides, his rcccnt investigations on cholesterol irradiation. The separation of the ergosterol factor, its nature, potency, and use in antirachitic conditions were conclusively demonstrated. Attention was called to the complexity of the sterol molecule, its distribution in the organic world and the transformation of i t into substances possessing vitamin D activity through the agency of ultra-violet light. Dr. Koch pointed out by way of illustration of this property, that rats merely licking the fur of their cage-mates previously subjected to ultra-violet irradiation would acquire sufficient antirachitic substance
FEBRUARY, 1931
as to become totally immune for the time being to the ravages of rickets. This effect was attributed to the converted sterols present in the animal skin or fvr MISSOURI SCHOOL OF MINES "Radium and Radium Poisoning" was the title of the general lecture given a t Parker Hall Thursday, November 20, 1930, by PROPESSOR HERMANSCHLUNDT, head of the department of chemistry a t the University of Missouri. Dr. Schlundt is well known far his scientific and technical work with radioactive substances. Besides discussing radium and its radioactive disintegration products, he presented information as to the physiological effects of radioactive substances. As little as ten micrograms of radium, valucd a t about one or two dollars, will produce very serious physiological effects. Insoluble radium eompounds accumulate in the bony structure of the body with resultant slow disintegration of bone and tissue during the years. Dr. Schlundt has developed very delicate instruments for measuring the small amounts of radium in individuals suffering from radium poisoning. Amounts as small as one microgram can be detected in respirative or other products of the body. I t was pointed out that no new cases of radium poisoning in the luminous paint industry have developed during the last decade, and patients who had been afflicted some 15 ycars ago during its early days are slowly Experiments eliminating the poiwn. are being carricd out a t present for hastening the elimination process. Methods of treating the radium paint to make it non-toxic a t the time of application were described. The lecture was sponsored by the Ira Remsen Society and a dinner in honor of the speaker was given by Sigma Xi. The department of chemistry entertained the Rolla Section of the Missouri University Chapter of Sigma Xi on December 9th with a progress report on research work being done in the
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department. MR. P. H. DELANOre- of the collcge of liberal a r t s rcceived last ported on a pentode vacuum tube po- academic year the highest grades in tentiometer; DR. H. L. DUNLAPspoke general chemistry and their names will on the solubility of salts in alcohols; be engraved on the Alpha Chi Sigma DR. C. L. M o m o reported ~ on electrolysis alumni tablet in the department of through glass; and DR. W. T . S ~ R E N Kchemistry library. spoke on the electrolytic depositions of DR. L. P. KVRIOESand MR. T. S. CARSWELLof the Monsanto Chemical lead dioxide. MR. H. E. WIEDEMANN,Missouri Works gave a lecture and demonstration state chemist and consultant of St. Louis, on glass blowing before the Alchemist Mo., told a few of his varied experiences Society of the department on December as a consulting chemist during the last 11th. 25 yean, in a talk before the Ira Remsen Society, December 3rd. His talk war DEPARTMENT ACTMTIES AT THE informal in nature, but covered a multiCOLLEGE OF THE CITY OF NEW tude of incidents, no two of which were YORK alike. Cansultmg work and court room December 5th was "Higb-School Day'' cases furnish the high spots of interest in the career of such a free-lance chemist. a t the Commerce Center, College of the City of New Yark. Several thousand analytical work being more or less routine. Mr. Wiedemann's description gave the representative students from the various student chemist a better idea of what the high schools of New York City attended. business of chemistry looks like from the The exercises consisted of descriptive lectures in the auditorium, athletic inside. exhibitions in the gymnasium, and a survey of the whole plant. PROPESS~R WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY Ross A. BAKER,associate professor in The celebration of the 300th anniversary charge, and the members of the staff of of the first recognized use of cinchona was the department of chemistry of the held October 3lst-November 1st a t the Commerce Center, together with nuMissouri Botanical Garden, with which merous student assistants, had many Washington University's department d instructive and interesting demonstrabotany isconnected. "The History of Cin- tions working in all the laboratories. chona" was reviewed by prominent speak- Professor Baker gave successive groups ers. Addresses were also given by DR. M. a brief talk and some s~ectaculardemanKERBOSCA,director. Government Cin- strations in the lecture room. chona Estate and Cinchona Experimental The fifth annual dinner of The BaskerROSEN- ville Chemical Society was held on Station, Java: by DR. FREDERIC GARTEN, past president of the American December 20th. The main speaker was Chemical Society; by DR. WILBUR L. PROFESSORHERBERTR. MOODY. The SCOVILLE,Detroit, Mich.; others on officers of the society for 1931 are: F. L. "The Cinchona Alkaloids"-the industry. WEBER, president; M. J. KILPATRICK the pharmaceutical preparations, and and M. N E ~ L E ,vice presidents; D. the minor alkaloids of the bark. Lrascmn, secretary; C. A. MARLIES, spoke over treasurer; P. M. A P P E L B A editor. PnonessoR L. MCMA~TER ~, radio station KMOX, Sunday, December 7th, on the "Disintegration of the Atom." CHEMISTRY RESEARCH AT THE PROFESSOR A. L. HUGHESof the deSTATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA partment of physics spoke a t the same time on "Cosmic Rays." A considerable variety of research is being conducted a t the State University ARTHURB. TILLMAN of the school of engineering and MATHILDEL. DAVIS of Iowa among the nine divisions in
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which the chemistry department is organized. The analytical division is interested in accurate methods of analysis, with pure substances, studying equipment, oxidation-reduction potentials, precipitates with the microscope and ncphelomcter, and co-precipitation phenomena by quantitative spectroscopic methods. In the division of biochemistry, including pathological chemistry, special attention is given t o studies of the chemical functions of the human body in both health and disease. In the division of industrial chemistry and chemical engineering the research work includes: (1) problems arising in the manufacture of illuminating gas and its by-products and in the use of fuels in general; (2) work in theoretical chemical engineering, such as the measurement of heat flow in evaporation, drying, and similar processes, and the development of filtration constants. In the division of inorganic chemistry theoretical studies are being made of the solubility of substances in solvents, such a s liquid sulfur dioxide, liquid nitrogen tetroxide, and carbon tetrachloride. Attention is given t o the X-ray investigation of solutions relative to a theory of solution. A study is also being made of the preparation of pure materials and of the valence changes of sulfur. I n metallurgy a study is being made of alloy systems not previously investigated. The effects of different metals on the
FEBRUARY, 1931
propertics of brasses and bronzes are examples. A study is also being made of the materials used in dentistry. The work in organic chemistry is devoted t o the study of the structural relations of certain types of compounds. with the purpose of determining the causes of special molecular rearrangements and the particular structures that are responsible far these changes. Such changes have a practical hearing an the reactions employed in the preparation of various synthetic compounds, such as dyes, antiseptics, and explosives. Emphasis is placed on the establishment of the principles involved. I n physical chemistry theoretical and experimental studies are being made of various physio-chemical phenomena. Among these are problems in adsorption of organic vapors by charcoal, of interest in the purification of gases and in dcfensive gas warfare; the free energy changes in chemical reactions; special studies in catalysis by metals and metallic oxides; conductivity measurements and studies in colloid chemistry. I n toxicology, the action of poisons is studied; their localization in the organism and their detection. In water and sewage chemistry, scientific methods of water and sewage analysis and the practical treatment of water, sewage, and trade wastes are subjects of investigation. The research work is theoretical and practical t o make the results of advantage to the student who does the work and t o the puhlic.
Seamless, Endless Tube of Copper, Zinc,or Iron, Made by Electrolysis. By forever pulling off the metal sheath as it is deposited out of solution on an iron alloy core Prof. Jean Billiter of the University of Vienna makes seamless and endless tubing of copper, zinc, and iron. But this, his first method, was too slow, he recently told the American Electrochemical Society; only a few inches of tubing could be made in an hour. So a faster method was devised. A lead core is now run continuously through the solution and metal is deposited on i t as the core moves. Then the soft lead is melted away and the copper, zinc, or iron tubing left. A tube five yards long and nearly one-tenth of an inch thick can be made in 24 hours.-Science Semite
