322
INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERISG CHEMISTRY
cent voice t h a t filled any hall he gave definite information about animal feeding and answered all questions in a manner that left no doubt. His early training in salesmanship as well as his college platform contests made him at ease before the public. No rustic that wanted t o have fun with the professor from the college ever embarrassed him. The Cattle Food Law, prepared by him in 1896, the second of its kind in the United States, made i t legal to collect samples and publish analyses. In 1903 Dr. Lindsey succeeded in getting the law altered so as t o compel manufacturers t o state the composition of their products. Upon the retirement of Dr. Goessmann in 1907, all the control and experiment station chemistry was brought under Dr. Lindsey’s jurisdiction. I n 1909 he was made vice director of the Experiment Station. In 1911 all the chemistry of the Massachusetts Agricultural College was put under him. I Up t o 1920 there are 129 titles of his printed addresses, agricultural articles, and scientific papers. The large number of materials whose digestibility was studied has already been stated. The experimental feeding of various farm animals shows many
Vol. 19, No. 2
titles. Papers giving advice to farmers, showing how to use the scientific data available, are numerous, a s are those telling how the animal feeder can readjust rations to market changes. In January, 1926, the State Board of Agriculture, realizing the extent of his activities for the benefit of the farmers, presented him with a gold medal for distinguished service t o agriculture. Since his recovery from a severe illness in 1899 some restriction has been put on his activities, and he appears on the platform much less frequently. Occasionally after pressure of work he withdraws to his native Marblehead on the North Shore to sail a boat, swim, and cogitate on the miseries of a head t h a t refuses to think twelve hours a day the year around. Dr. Lindsey has a lively interest in all t h a t goes on-in the Congregational Church, where he conducted a Sunday School class and was a deacon for several years; in the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity; in all phases of college activity where he turns up on a special committee whenever anything important is i n the air. His particular form of entertainment is the legitimate drama, concerts, and lectures. CHARLES A. PETERS
NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE Furfural Steps into Industry
I have avoided words implying a n improvement on the original substance, as the superiority might be a matter of opinion. AUSTIN M. PATTERSON Since t h e publication of my article under this title [THIS XENIA,OHIO JOURNAL, 18, 1217 (1926)], I have been informed by F. B . January 15, 1927 .. .. .. .. . . .. LaForge of the U. S. Bureau of Chemistry t h a t a careful investigation made by him in 1920 revealed the fact t h a t corncobs in Editor of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: great abundance could be obtained at several points along the On your editorial page 2 I notice t h a t you want a word t o Ohio River at a price ranging from $2 t o $3 per ton. H e believes substitute for t h e word “substitute.” Now, why not subt h a t no difficulty would be encountered in collecting sufficient stitute for “substitute” the word “similitute.” Of course, i t quantities of cobs at any one of several points t o assure the con- must have a “tute” on the end; otherwise i t would not be tinuous operation of a plant producing furfural in quantities of noisy enough to attract attention, but a substitute could hardly 5 or more tons per day. Dr. LaForge disagrees with the statement be a similitute. WM. HOSKINS contained in my article to the effect t h a t “unusual difficulties 111;wEST MONROE ST., CHICAGO, ILL. January 11, 1927 in collecting a t any one point a sullicient supply of them (corn............ cobs) at a low price t o make furfural manufacture commercially Editor of Industrial and Engineering Chemi.stry: attractive” prevented this development. Referring t o your editorial, “Wanted-A Word,” in the January D . H. KILLEFFER number of Industrial and Engineering .Chemistry, I submit 19 EAST2 4 m St., NEWYORKCITY “supergate”-derived from “superior” and “surrogate.” January 6 , 1927 FRED WEST UNITEDDRUGCOMPANY, ST. LOVXS, Mo. January 11, 1927
Substitutes for “Substitute” Editor of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: With reference to your editorial, “Wanted-A Word,” in the January issue, permit me t o suggest consideration of the following substitutes for “substitute:”
Ally. Means something associated with, or akin to, another. The association or kinship need not necessarily be one of chemical structure, but could be also one of properties and use. Alternate, or alternative. Implies otherness, but not inferiority. Equivalent. Seems to me preferable t o “equistitute.” Innovate, or innovation. Implies newness. “Innovate” is now a verb only but might be used as a noun. Succedent. An obsolete word (as a noun) meaning “one that follows or succeeds.” It might be revived. “Succedaneum” sounds rather too learned. It is usually applied to medicines. Surrogate. A recognized synonym for “substitute” but not nearly so often used. Possibly it carries the same suggestion 01 inferiority.
.. .. . . . . . . . .
Editor of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: Concerning words more suitable than substitute, I have two suggestions. “Equipart” might be promoted from a [RARE] which is its present status in the dictionary. It a t once suggests comparison and equivalence. Then “superium” would be readily understood if used to indicate any superior item; and it is easy to say. ANNE ELIZABETH WHITE C. I. A. STATION, DENTON, TEXAS
January 11, 1927
............
Editor of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: I read with great interest your editorial “Wanted-A Word.” I am sure many will agree with you in your contention that we need a new word to replace the word “substitute.” I would suggest “isoprag.” This is made up of the two Greek words tuos, meaning “equal” or “similar,” and ?rpcry!~cr, meaning “a thing made, or done.” “Isoprag” would mean therefore-something t h a t is equal or similar.
February, 1927
I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
For a substitute t h a t is better we might use “hyperprag,” and for one t h a t is inferior “hypoprag.” These terms are both euphonious and expressive, and their formation follows well-established precedents in scientific nomenclature-e. g., iso-mer, iso-therm, iso-bar. VICTORA. BAST S T . JOSEPH’SCOLLEGE, MOUNTAIN VmW, CALIF.
January 13, 1927
The History of the Word “Alum” An editorial note appended t o the article under this title,
THISJOURNAL, 18,634 (1926), states:
“ I n their decision the commissioners upheld the meaning of t h e word ‘alum’ as herein developed.” Objection having been raised t o this sentence, the matter has been referred t o t h e Federal Trade Commission, and the following letter received: Replying t o your inquiry of November 30th last concerning the accuracy of the note appearing on page 634 of the June issue of your Journal, please be advised t h a t this Commission has made no finding of fact as to the meaning of the word “alum.” T h e proceeding now before the Commission in which such meaning may be of importance is still in progress. Very truly yours, (Signed) OTIS B. JOHXSON, Secretary Federal Trade Commission
In t h e record before t h e commission, designated as Docket 540, the Royal Baking Powder Company was charged, among other things, with falsely referring t o the sodium aluminum sulfate in competing baking powders as alum, and on March 23,
323
1926, the commission, after consideration of the evidence, dismissed the proceedings by a vote of 4 t o 1. Although we are informed t h a t the commission does not make findings of fact when i t disposes of a proceeding by a n order of dismissal, the report by the commission’s trial examiner. filed on November 10, 1925, did contain a finding of fact by the examiner, which upheld the meaning of the word as developed by Dr. Patterson in the article t o which we refer. In July and again i n October, 1926, steps were taken t o reopen the proceedings. The commission’s right t o proceed further after having dismissed the case has been challenged and the ma&ternow awaits decision by the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia.
Calendar of Meetings American Ceramic Society-Annual Meeting, Hotel BookCadillac, Detroit, Mich., February 14 t o 19, 1927. American Chemical Society-73rd Meeting, Richmond, Va., April 11 t o 16, 1927. Midwest Regional Meeting-Chicago, Ill., May 27 and 28,1927. Division of Colloid Chemistry-Fifth National Colloid Symposium, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., June 22 to 24, 1927. American Electrochemical Society-Benjamin Franklin Hotel, Philadelphia, Pa., April 28 t o 30, 1927. American Institute of Chemical Engineers-Cleveland, Ohio, May 31 t o June 3, 1927. American Society for Testing Materials-Annual Meeting, French Lick, Ind., June 20 t o 24, 1927. Second National Symposium on Organic Chemistry-Columbus, Ohio, December 29 t o 31, 1927.
BOOK REVIEWS Ancient Egyptian Materials. BY A. LUCAS. 242 pages. Longmans, Green & Co., New York; Edward Arnold & Co., London, 1926. Price, $2.75. This is an interesting discussion of archeology from the chemical point of view, for as the author points out, a number of problems of Egyptology can only be solved with t h e aid of chemistry. The book in ten chapters discusses the various materials required for construction, decoration, clothing, and furnishings, and in the eleventh chapter touches upon miscellaneous materials, leaving t h e twelfth for a summary. Appendixes giving the chemical analyses of a number of materials follow. From the chemical analysis the author is able t o throw some light upon the possible origin of the materials and to draw comparisons with modern articles of commerce. H e points out, for example, t h a t there is no evidence t h a t the Egyptians used some method for treating copper and bronze t o impart t o them the hardness of tool steel. In discussing oils, fats, and waxes, t h e difficulty of reaching definite conclusions is stressed because of the decomposition of the original materials through the centuries and the small amount of unknowns with which t o deal. The same is true of varnishes and paints, though it is apparent t h a t many of the varnishes gave a transparent and colorless coating. It is interesting t o note t h a t many of the stones used for jewelry, etc., are not such as nowadays would be called precious, but at t h e most semiprecious, and often not even that. The diamond, ruby, and sapphire were not known to the ancient Egyptians. The author finds t h a t Egypt was the first t o produce and use copper a t a time probably before 4000 B. C., t h a t the next great landmark in the progress of Egyptian civilization was the use of bronze two thousand or more years later, and that another peak was the Egyptian civilization contemporaneous with the regular production of glass a t about the beginning of the eighteenth dynasty (1580 B. C.). Egyptian iron came at approximately 800 B. C., by which time Egypt was decadent. His comments’ on the development of certain industries without foreign influence, as well as discussion of articles which must
have found their way into Egypt from other lands, are interesting as indicating development of trade routes and trading with other nations. The principal imports during the eighteenth dynasty are listed, together with countries of origin, the greater proportion probably coming from western Asia and Asia Minor. The author finds no evidence of any early intercourse between Egypt and China. The Chemistry of Wood. BY L. F. HAWLEY AND LOUIS E. WISE. A. C. S. Monograph Series. 334 pages. Chemical Catalog Co., Inc., New York, 1926. Price, $6.00; t o A. C. S. members, $5.40. I n the introduction t o this book the authors state their objectives t o be a s follows: critically and constructively t o bring together useful data pertaining t o the chemistry of wood; t o stress the results of purely scientific investigations in the field of wood chemistry without attempting t o write chapters upon practical details of wood-utilization processes; t o point out the many gaps and loopholes in our present knowledge; t o adduce and evaluate recorded experimental data while discussing open-mindedly the viewpoints of various investigators; and finally t o emphasize the fact that investigations in the field in question are of living and fundamental importance to biology and t o industry. The outcome of this very laudable undertaking is a volume of over 300 pages in which citations are made t o the contributions of four hundred or more workers in the field. The task of the authors has been anything but an easy one owing t o the inevitable confusion existing in a realm beset in its present stage of development by innumerable problems of baffling complexity. It is well known that, in spite of the enormous amount of work which has been done with the chemistry of wood, scarcely a beginning has been made in solving the problems presented, so t h a t much credit is due anyone having the courage t o take up the labor of appraisal, abstraction, interpretation, and unification. Considering inherent difficulties, the objectives of the writers
