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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR O t h e r Men's Poison DEAR SIH:
I was very much interested in your little1 comment entitled "Poison Ivy Chemistry," which appeared on page 499 of t h e F e b . 9 C&EN. I am a great admirer of Dr. D a w s o n and appreciate his *work, but I must speak in behalf oi my junior asso ciates. In J ACS, 50, 2 7 3 6 - 8 ( 1 9 3 4 ) t h e r e was embodied t h e conclusions reached b y Vincent Mattacotti and W . D. G r a h a m , working under my supervision as c a n d i dates for t h e M.A. degree at Wesleyara University. Our article states "Majima. proved urnshiol to be a mixture of o-dihydroxybenzenes with a normal 1 5 carbon atom side chain in position 3."" T h e article, entitled "The Toxic Principle of Poison Ivy," concludes with t h e state ment "The toxic principle of the poison ivy, RhusToxieodendron, has been isolated, a n d identified, as urushiol." It is quite evident trom our p a p e r t h a t w e realized we had isolated a m i x t u r e , a n d I do feel that the credit for isolating a n d identifying ivy poison really belongs to the Wesleyan group. G. A L B E R T I I I L Ï .
Hartjonh
Conn.
D E A R SIH:
T h e isolation and identification of t b e active principles in poison ivy ("conCENItrates," F e b . 9 ) was done, I thought, a n u m b e r of years ago, at least proof of a catechol derivative containing a 4-alkenyl g r o u p . Moreover, I thought that t h e i n jection or application of poison ivy or i t s active principles frequently caused t h e characteristic dermatitis. It seems that attempts towards i m munization with a toxic chemical s u b s t a n c e ( not a living organism ) warrants reconsideration. Can one, for example, b e i m munized against t h e toxic effects of b e n zene, HCN, aniline, etc.? A simple rationale was outlined over 1 0 years ago b y Ole Gisvold of the University of Minnesota ( / . Am. Pharm. Assoc, 3 0 , 17, 1941 ) , w h o considered t h e active principles as phenols and treated them as such, viz., with dilute alkali, followed "by powdered magnesium oxide. He once r e lated to m e several striking cures effected b y such treatment. T h e latter a p p r o a c h conforms, it seems to me, to t h e known facts about poison ivy; t h e simplicity of the treatment, coupled with the rapid, e x cellent recovery it promotes, w o u l d seenn to merit serious consideration. J E R O M E J. ROSENBAI_ T M
New
Brunswick, N. J.
D E A R SIR:
O n reading t h e F e b . 9 C&EN I w a s startled t o learn that poison ivy is "giving up its secrets" to chemical researchers at Columbia. While I was a student at Jolins C H E M I C A L
Hopkins University ( 1 9 0 3 - 7 ) , one of my classmates, Charles Koullier, conducted his g r a d u a t e thesis on the active constituents of poison ivy. He used some of his classmates as "test animals" and applied his "extract fractions" to the backs of their hands to see w h e t h e r or not they contained t h e poison. H e also healed t h e rash once it had appeared b y an early application of a dilute solution of potassium p e r m a n ganate and caustic soda (about \7c of each, as I r e m e m b e r ) . T h e treatment was quite effective. \V. R.
Midland,
YEAZEY
Mich.
Civil Defense DEAR
SIR:
Re your editorial "Much Remains to Be D o n e , " of F e b . 23, I don't doubt that t h e p u b l i c is poorly informed on the destructive power of the H-bomb. This lack of information is part and parcel of t h e general lack of interest in civil defense. I believe that m a n y important a n d influential people in industry do not believe that t h e threat is imminent and will n o t permit t h e story to b e presented within their organizations in such a manner a s to shock their employees. Civil defense will never receive the popular support it requires unless a comprehensive plan is cleared b e t w e e n t h e Government a n d top leaders of industry, providing a long-term program of education b y T V , radio, newspapers, bill boards, etc., u n d e r national sponsorship. Until this is done, there is no likelihood for a n y major improvement in t h e shocking i n a d e q u a c y of civilian defense in our large industrial communities. T h e ACS could render a great service to t h e nation b y using its influence to sound out t h e point of view· of industrial management in collaboration with national authorities responsible for civilian defense. Only by shocking the public can t h e condition of apathy that you describe b e changed. B u t right now many an authority is opposing any measure t h a t would worry their employees and their families. Hence m y suggestion to you. P H I L I P H. V A X I T ALLIE
Wymiewood, Anonymous
Pa. Polemics
DEAR SIR:
M a y I ask, in connection with your cover story of t h e March 9 issue, whether C&EN has decided to permit anonymous polemics in scientific controversies? As an outsider who only knows w h a t he reads in t h e journals, I should b e foolhardy t o say anything about w h o is right in t h e photosynthetic q u a n t u m yield controversy. However, regardless of w h o is right, I object to the slur implied b y t h e use of t h e t e r m "old g u a r d " for those on · one side of the argument. P A U L M. L A U G H T O N ·
Ottawa,
Ont.
AND
ENGINEERING
NEWS*
