LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
'f«v« WASHING
ï^MÎImmsM£m
Chemist Soldiers Under a Disadvantage
place in the next 50 years. Of equal interest and great importance is his defiMany young engineers and chemists nition of the crisis in which present-day now in military service have t h e best in- science finds itself because of the extratentions of maintaining their civilian status ordinary disorder and lack of coordinar within their profession. These men are tion of its banks of data, the disarrangeconfronted with a very difficult problem, ment and incomplete classification of its the solution of which should b e of vital vast mass of theory and fact, n o w being interest to the companies with w h o m the added to increasingly as time goes on. The crisis is real. W e do not know men are now or may eventually be affiliated. With these scientific fields advanc- what w e already know. Who, working toing as rapidly as they are, it is imperative day on a scientific problem, can be sure for the technical specialist to k e e p in con- that he can learn what others working in stant contact with the professional ad- the same field have already done, unless vances or he ceases to l i v e in the world of by fortunate chance he is in an organizatoday. He no longer knows w h a t work is tion so vast that no detail of previous to be done and what has already been work, no phase of earlier thought need b e overlooked. Too often what has been done. The ways in whidh. an engineer or done, and the conditions and aspects of cheinist may make a n effort to keep such earlier work, must remain hidden. abreast with his profession are several. The Thus the swift progress of science is inmeans most effective is to remain in con- evitably slowed, harassed, or even destant touch with his profession by being feated, by the simple lack of a proper and a member of a few of t h e existing profes- essential tool, which is a complete and desional societies. This requires only a tailed classification and presentation of all nominal amount for t h e yearly dues, but information pertinent to present work in one must attend a majority of the local immediately available form. The satisfaction of this need is in itmeetings to derive a measurable benefit. These items, inexpensive as t h e y are, are self a problem of enormous complexity. rather costly to one living on a soldier's It would seem that, first, personnel must be trained, not to search for n e w knowlpay. Many periodicals are available to engi- edge, but to understand, correlate, coordineers and chemists for a nominal subscrip- nate, and then make available the knowltion fee, but, in general, must b e procured edge already attained but which is reb y the individual rather than through his corded in scattered, diffuse, and incomunit's library. This little item takes a sub- plete form, if at all; and then to seize n e w stantial amount of the small p a y of the information as it comes, tear it apart into a variety of detail of data and thought, serviceman. Books are constantly being published and then add the parts to an already containing a high grade of design data classified arrangement of scientific knowland ideas. These also have a monetary edge. Experts in many fields would have value and add to the plight of the young to be developed, skilled in all the newer phases of thought, of semantics, cybersoldier-engineer. The crowning touch handed to the netics, logic. The mechanical housing young, aspiring engineer or chemist cur- of such a clearing house for the knowledge rently in military service is that the social of science would in itself b e a problem of requirements of an engineer are usually high cost and elaborate study. All the arts somewhat in excess o f the average man of such aids to thought as modern elecin service. This means to hold his pro- tronic "brains" and micro recording would fessional standing, he must dress and act have to be employed. The whole matter is indeed a crisis, bethe refined individual he is and is excause we face increasing waste of precious pected to be. With the existing shortage of tech- time and human effort even to understand nically-trained men, it is necessary for the and use the commonest things w e already men within the professions t o remain in know. As Heinlein indicates, there may or attain the highest possible level. It not b e even one man in this country would be to the advantage of industry as who knows what is really going o n in a whole to adopt a policy w h i c h would as- science, now, because science, including sist their technically-trained m e n in their chemistry, is not a discipline. It is a endeavors to maintain their professional jungle. W I L L I S A. BOUGHTON standing during the time that these men Fort Lauderdale, Fla. spend in military service. D E A R SIR:
30s
Leading industrial doctors advise immediate washing with plenty of running water a s the best first aid treatment for any chemical In the eyes. Records prove that washing with water for ten minutes or more, close to the accident, is necessary to reduce or eliminate eye damage. Forehead operation leaves hands free to open eyelids so water can be directed wherever chemicals might be lodged- Sanitary white baked enamel bowl is resistant to most fumes. Over 500 Industrial plant installations have been made to date. Write For Details. VALVE Chain Operated Quick Action Self-Closing
ËÊ^ÊÊÊBÊm
The Β & A Showei Is the quickest and most satisfac tory way to saturate a work er with gallons of water the Instant an accident occurs, to prevent a dis figuring burn—even a fatality Special shower head, no holes to clog—can be used where unfiltered water prevail». Write Fox Details.
!
r:¥B"-·
DISFIGURING FACIAL C U T S . AND B u R N S /
OH ARM?./ AND OOO. -
ΗΑΡρεΗ5 M
Î 'V«ÏOT* 0 „
NEW LOW COST Β &A SAF-T-BAGS
are widely used for the safe handling of glass bottles con taining harmful chemicals; also the storage and recovery of expensive serums, biologicals. and other costly products. Painful cuts, disfiguring burns, loss of eyesight, or even a fatality, do result from corro sive liquid splash and flying glass when unprotected bottles $ PINT shatter. I GALLON Writs For Défaite. 5 GALLON
^tNtONSASSOeiATISvIHe; P.O. BOX 7542, CHICAGO 80, ILLINOIS
2378
HERBERT L. W A T T S
Pine Bluff Arsenal,
Ark.
Science Founded on Ideals DEAR
The Jungle of Science D E A R SIR:
In a recent number of a magazine devoted to modern fields of science fiction, one of the more astute writers in that field, Robert Heinlein, predicts 19 developments that may lb>e expected to take C H E M I C A L
Sm:
Let's have more articles like the o n e by Joel Hildebrand in May 19 C&EN. Rapid extension of great fine ideals of teaching and research are necessary to maintain a high standard in the sciences. ROBERT AUERBACH
New York, Ν. Υ. AND
ENGINEERING
NEWS
