INDUSTBIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
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the static civilization of Asia, where Nirvana is the goal of human life and s large fraction of the population reaches it quickly through starvation. Why is it that “fifty years of Europe is better than a cycle of Cathay?” Is it not simply because in certain sections of the world, primarily those inhabited by the Nordic race, a certain set of ideas has got a start in man’s mind -the ideas of progress and responsibility? And these ideas have come about, I think, because in a few sections of the earth men have been led to follow simply the urge to know. First, to know this earth geographically, to explore it clear to the North Pole and to the South Pole, even when they knew there was not the slightest prospect of growing wheat or potatoes there. But now the days of geographical exploration are gone, and yet it is the same urge which leads on the descendants of these voyagers into the unknown-the astronomer to explore the heavens, however useless that may be; the physicist to study the properties of matter and radiant energy whether he sees any immediate use for his results or not; the biologist to delve as far as he can into the secrets of life and organic growth.
Vol. 16, No. 4
Wanted : An Endowment T H E rapid development of chemistry, particularly new
branches of the science, constantly brings to those responsible for the finances of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY new demands for support, which often cannot be given. Scientific men not only provide the papers and discussion, but must also 6nance the publication of their work. This is a condition which seldom confronts other groups; and, while it is becoming a well-established state of affairs, it seems obvious that unless endowments can be secured for scientific publication, the development of science itself must be arrested. We refer particularly to the publication of those all-important papers on fundamental topics which never have been and never can be expected to be self-supporting. Such problems are customarily met by securing large enAmong the outstanding features of American support for dowments from men or organizations more far-sighted than research may be mentioned the extensive list of fellowships many of their contemporaries and therefore willing to help and scholarships now available to students of various quali- finance scientific publication. Why can we not find some easy fications. In order that those who desire to engage in such way eventually to provide our own endowment? Suppose study may have a t hand a concise catalog, the National everyone interested in chemistry could see his way clear to Research Council has issued Bulletin 38 in which are given provide a bequest to the AMERICAN CHEMICALSOCIETYas a the names of institutions where these inducements are part of its endowment for scientific publication. We have no offered, together with brief indications as to the subject vital statistics upon which to make prediction, but it is our where restricted to any particular science or sciences, the belief that had such a plan been followed from the inception qualifications required of applicants, the conditions of tenure, of the SOCIETY there might now be a substantial sum yielding and the stipend when specified. This bulletin is cross in- interest to be added to our appropriations for publication. dexed by a list of fellowships bearing special names, another It is also reasonable to assume that chemists generally would list of industrial corporations and trade associations support- recognize such benefits as would accrue to them from the ing fellowships, and a subject index. It is encouraging to note SOCIETY and would be willing to make some slight acknowlthat thirty-five industrial corporations and nineteen trade edgment in the manner suggested. associations are here listed and that under chemistry fifty-five fellowships and forty-five educational institutions are given in addition to twenty-eight fellowships under industrial research. The Rockefeller Foundation, the donor of a series of fellowships in physics and chemistry under the auspices of the Silver Research National Research Council, has renewed this grant for a second five-year period, has provided a group of fellowships NNOUNCEMENT has been made that extensive rein the medical sciences, a third in the biological sciences, and searches looking t o new uses for silver are to be combeginning with 1925 a fourth group for research in mathe- menced at the experiment station of the Bureau of Mines at matics. Reno, Nevada. This station is purposely placed in close Surely research is coming into its own in America, and we proximity to silver producers, has the support of the Unimust lend whatever support we can t o increase its prestige, versity of Nevada, and is so equipped that i t is believed the broad scope upon which it is undertaken, and encourage initial steps in the research can be taken to advantage at that the best qualified youth of the land to choose research as a point. It is a problem of great interest to silver producers as career. well as to those who regard the metal as a raw material and prepare it for sale in its various fabricated forms. The problem is therefore both one of consumption and production. New Technical Procedure When new alloys are ready for close examination, there will i‘PAKhTION of materials by adsorptive charcoal with be an opportunity for a further bond between the East and s t h e subsequent removal of the Dactions by displace- the West, for the center of silver consumption appears to lie ment from the interface of the charcoal offers a new pro- along the Atlantic Seaboard somewhere between Philadelphia cedure which has already demonstrated its value in the puri- and Boston. Here are t o be found numerous plants, some fication of insulin. This particular process avoids the great with laboratories undoubtedly willing to share their data losses of insulin that obtained with the older methods, and and experience and t o place their trained personnel and unique material valued at twelve hundred dollars was saved in one facilities at the disposal of the Bureau of Mines so that the week in tl comparatively small plant by the application of greatest possible results may be obtained from Government this method to the supernatant liquid from the isoelectric appropriations. Close touch must be maintained between precipitation. I n this case benzoic acid is ured to displace the research laboratories in Reno and the shops of the silver the insulin from the interface of the charcoal, and this ad- users where new alloys must be given a practical trial, or norptive method effectively separates the insulin from the in a number of other consuming industries where details of inass of gland material resulting from the maceration of the shop practice and the performance of metals in service must be studied by those responsible both for the research and for pancreas. A procedure which yields seven times the ordinary yield of the utilization of these new alloys of silver. We are interested in the success of this work, believe it t o be a final product is worthy of note. Purification by fractional displacement on charcoal may soon take its place in other in competent hands, and await with interest results which industries along with fractional crystallization and frac- may be expected through the application of the- scient3fic method to this problem. tional distillation.
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