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far use as a catalyzer in effecting chlorination reactions and as an adsorbent for such gases as sulfur dioxide, chlorine, etc.1 Jones and Allison are, therefore, clearly incorrect in stating that “nothing of practical value” had been accomplished along the line of natural gas chlorination up to the time of the initiation of their research. It is of interest to mention here that from the processes of Garner and Clayton were developed what is believed to be one of the first charcoal-containing gas masks. During the latter part of April 1915 it was realized a t thr Mellon Institute that charcoal, on account of its high adsorbent qualities, might be efficient in the adsorption of poisonous gases from the acmosphere and that there were great possibilities in the use of charcoal in this connection, were it possible to design a suitable, non-cumbersome fighting mask. The first gas mask based upon the use of charcoal was designed by Mrs. J. B. Garner, and practical tests demonstrated its utility against war gases. Accordingly, twelve masks of this type were made and transmitted (in June 1915) to the British government through their U. S. Agents, Messrs. J. P. Morgan & Company, of New York. Upon the declaration of war by the United States, full details of the experimental work and all apparatus used therein were 1
U
S. Patents 1,173,566 of Feb. 29, 1916, and 1,220,411 of Mar. 27, 1917.
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communicated to the Pittsburgh Station of the Bureau of Mines. Notwithstanding this fact, no credit has been given to the Industrial Fellows of the Mellon Institute nor has any mention been made of the fundamental work of the research staff of that institution in the numerous publications which have emanated from the Bureau of Mines and American University on the subject of wood charcoal and its use in defensive gas warfare. This letter has been prompted by my established practice of securing for all incumbents of Industrial Fellowships complete recognition of their research accomplishments. RAYMONDF. BACON,Director MEI,LONINSTITUTB OR INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH PITTSBURGH, PA. July 25, 1919
INTERALLIED ORGANIZATIONS FOR CHEMICAL WARFARE-CORRECTION In the article of the above title [THISJOURNAL, IT (IgIg), 72 I 1, the following correction should be made:
Page 722, 1st column, 6th line from top, “against the” should read “against and the.” J. E. ZANETTI August 15, 1919
WORKS AND LABORATORY ACCIDENTS A NOVEL METHOD OF REMOVING METAL FROM AN EYE Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: Having heard that a friend since boyhood had been injured while a t work in the laboratory of the Dayton Metal Products Company I sought further information and obtained a story which is certainly worth telling, particularly to chemists. The blowing out of the safety diaphragm of a hydrogen tank with defective valve, which tank contained the gas at 2000 lbs. pressure, resulted in numerous fine particles of metal becoming embedded in the cornea of the right eye of my friend, whom I shall call Mr. M., as he has asked that I “mention no names.” The metal was not analyzed but was known to be a low-melting alloy such as would be used for a safety diaphragm of a tank containing combustible gas, and it was thought to consist of bismuth, tin, and lead. A few of the pieces of metal were large enough to be picked out but it was estimated that after their removal some forty or fifty smaller particles remained. The doctor believed that to remove them mechanically would require so much digging around as to destroy the sight. He tried treatments to soften the cornea with the thought that the particles might drop out by gravity, but they failed to do so. In the meantime the irritation was not only putting the injured eye in worse and worse condition but the left eye was beginning to cause trouble of a sympathetic sort, so that a t the end of three weeks after the accident had occurred Mr. M. was feeling very uncomfortable, to say the least. Then he decided to take things into his own hands. He conceived the idea of removing the metal by amalgamation. He purified some mercury by treating it in the usual way with dilute nitric acid and redistilling and applied it to his eye by means of an eye-cup. Almost immediately the irritation to the eyelid which fine projecting points of metal had caused was relieved, these points disappearing like magic. By repeating the applications, using fresh mercury each time, every piece of metal was removed inside of two weeks and the eye was restored to normal condition. Can you point to an experience either in fiction or in real life which shows more ingenuity in a pinch? E. J. CRANE 0x10 STATE UNIVERSITY COLWMBWS, OHIO
FIRE HAZARDS IN DYESTUFF STORAGE AND MIXING Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: A fire which recently occurred in a dyestuff warehouse in Boston, furnishes an illustration of the hazards connected with a certain class of dyestuff. The building was located in a builtup city block. It was occupied mainly for the storage and mixing of colors for the textile and leather trades. On the top floor, however, were z barrel-shaped mills in which dyes were occasionally pulverized, preparatory to the mixing and packing processes. At the time of the fire a substance known as metachrome brown or pala-chrome brown in the dry state was being pulverized in one of these mills. A sudden burst of flame, amounting in effect to a mild explosion, occurred in this mill. The action was so violent that flame was projected out of the building some 2 0 ft. across an open areaway, scorching windows some distance from the mill itself. The flame also ignited considerable material inside the building and it was only by the prompt use of the extinguishing facilities present that a severe loss was avoided. Upon investigation it was found that this color was made from picramic acid, a material very likely to explode from friction, shock, or ignition. It is supposed that the explosive action noted in the color itself was due to an excess of free picramic acid. Since this fire it has been learnell that several fires have occurred in mills where alizarol browns and yellows were being ground and that the risk of grinding these materials in a dry state is almost prohibitive. In the case of this plant, it is apparent that the material had been ground in the dry state several times previously without any resulting fire or explosion. It is evident that the material should be handled and ground in paste form only, if a t all, and that all materials of this sort, derived from picramic acid, should be regarded with suspicion and handled with caution. BOSTON, MASS. W. D. MILNE June 13, 1919 . . . . . . . . . e
Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: A fire recently occurred in a wholesale dyestuff plant in Boston, Mass., which illustrates the hazards which may be present in properties where dyes are handled but where no strictly manufacturing processes are carried on.
