CORRESPONDENCE HOW DEPENDABLE IS TASTE? It has been discovered that about seven out of ten people, on chewing paper which has been treated with DEARSIR: phenyl thiocarbamide, detect a definite taste. The In teaching the three R's the senses of seeing and others taste nothing. The Association believes that hearing are all-important. But even the embryo the differences in taste reaction are inherited, being chemist finds much use for his additional senses. A transmitted as a Mendelian character, trained nose is a wonderful asset. Every chemistry Interesting results were obtained when the members text states that a water solution of an acid tastes sour, of three chemistry classes were given small squares while a similar solution of a base is acrid or bitter. of the above paper,* told to chew them, and record This statement stands unmodified as only lately has the taste without paying any attention to other stuanyone seemed to realize that people, apparently dents. Several of them made wry faces and reported normal in every way, T i e r in their ability to recognize the taste as horribly bitter and displeasing. A few the tastes of sour, sweet, bitter, and salty substances. reported it just bitter, one reported it sweet, a few Again and again i t had been noted that good students reported i t salty, and two bright boys who had made when testing unknowns to decide which was acid Or inaccurate reportson their unknowns found the paper base made mistakes. As they were not careless workers to be tasteless. Over 80% of the students detected the reason for their apparent inaccuracy was unex- a bitter taste. plained. Then the findings of the American Genetic Sincerely yours, Association came to the writer's attention. HATTIED. F.HAUB 'Small squares of this paper may be obtained from the ScnOOL Association, Victor Building, Washington, American Genetic OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA D. C., for 2t each.
To the Editor
CREDIT WHERE DUE To the Editor DEARSIR: At the request of Dr. Fred Allison of the Mabama Polytechnic Institute, I should like to emphasize the important r81e played by Professor Bishop and Dr. Sommer in concentrating element 85 (alabamine). Fearing lest my statement* that "...Dr. Allison and Dr. Murphy, with the assistance of Professor Edna R. One Bishop and Miss Anna L. Sommer3 worked hundred pounds of. . .monazite sand" might be misinterpreted, Dr. Allison has kindly written me as follows: "Misses Bishop and Sommer did not play the r61e of assistants in this work. They had complete charge * J. CHEH.Eouc.. 10,168 (Mar., 1933).
and direction of the work of concentration. They therefore should certainly share equal credit with myself and Mr. Murphy. I am wondering whether i t would be possible for you in some way to make some further statement of correction so that Misses Bishop will receive the credit due them on the and sommer work which had to do with this element. I may say have that neither Professor Bishop nor is in appreciation of mentioned this matter to me. the invaluable co6peration which these ladies have rendered and of my indebtedness to them as colleagues that I bring the matter to your attention,n Sincerely yours, MARYE L VWEEKS ~ THE UNNERSITY
OF KANSAS
LAWRENCE. KANSAS
