VOL. 8, NO. 11
TEACHING CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
A n d finally- observation indicated t h a t
2191
it did develop initiative i n the
student to some extent.
Acknowledgment The author is i n d e b t e d to Dean W. M. Cobleigh and M r . E. C. F u l l e r of the Department of Chemical Engineering, M o n t a n a State Collexe, f o r the subject matter of t h i s article.
Mass Warfare on Malaria Waged by Palestine Doctors. Malaria, which scourges whole Arab village populations in certain marshy districts in Palestine, is being subjected to mass attack by a medical corps with headquarters a t the Hebrew University lacated in Jerusalem. The afflicted Arahs, far from being hostile toward their Jewish medical visitors, have been coBperating with them readily in the effortt o rid themselves of their perennial ailment. The first step of the Hebrew University doctors raas to find a treatment that could be used effectively in mass treatment of the particular type of malaria prevailing in the district under operation. They found that by combining quinine with plasmochin, one of the nelhier synthetic quinine derivatives, greater effect on the malaria parasites could be obtained, with less ill effect on the patients. When they had adjusted the dose size by trials with small numbers of individual patients, they were ready for the mass attack. Two communities of Arabs in marshy regions were selected, one consisting of a group of villages and camps, the other of a single village. Men, women, and children, even babies less than two years old, got their daily two doses of quinine plus plasmochin through five days. About 75 per cent of adults and 85 per cent of all children received the treatment. Blood examinations disclosed the presence of malaria germs in 28 per cent of the reduction, total a t the beginning of the period, and in only about 7 per cent a t its endtherefore, of threefourths of the infection among those treated. A discouraging feature of the work is the quickness with which the cured patients become re-infected. New cases of malaria appeared in less than three weeks among the treated persons. Furthermore, other studies have shown that the local Anopheles mosquito is often found more than eight miles away from the nearest breeding places. The final clearing of this malaria-afflicted region will therefore require a long and hardfought campaign.-Science Service Dangers of Methanol Not Limited to Beverage Use. The danger t o health and life of methanol, cheap wood alcohol which is heine widelv used as an automobile - synthetic . radiator anti-freeze and in certain industries, is not limited t o its use as a beverage, Dr. Carey P. McCord of the Industrial Health Conservancy Laboratories has reported to the American Chemical Society. The deaths last winter of 208 persons who drank methanol have overshadowed its othrr dangers. Dr. XlcCard pointed out, and urged that tunusual protcciivr measures for the safety of the public and of industrial worken are needed. Methanol is now finding wide use in such industries as dry-cleaning, hat-making, metal-working, painting, and cabinet-making. Methanol is just as dangerous when absorbed through the skin or when its vapor is inhaled as when the liquid is drunk. Dr. McCord found in investigations with animals. Authorities are not generally agreed, however, on the question of whether methanol is dangerous through skin absorption and inhalation.-Science Service
