VOL.8, No. 11
CARICATURES OF CHEMISTS
2155
contribution to the history of chemistry, for if we had it alone we could truthfully conclude that KekuX as early as 18(i0 was regarded as an able organic chemist. Other examples of caricatures might he cited, but those shown in this article suffice to prove the thesis that caricatures of chemists are often contributions to the history of chemistry.
Small Dose of Drug Makes People Tell Their Secrets. A psychologist has d i s covered a means of "breaking the ice" which will make even the most reserved person anxious to discuss his private affairs. It is a small dose of sodium amytal, a derivative of barbituric acid related t o the common drugs veronal and luminal, which has been used for years as an anesthetic. Dr. Erich Lindemann, of the Psychopathic Hospital of the State University of Iowa, told of its new use a t the meeting of the American Psychological Association a t Toronto recently. His research on the psychological effects of sodium amytal was begun as a result of the effective use of this drug in the treatment of certain mental diseases. I t s use in psychiatry was t o produce a deep sleep. Physicians also noted that this sleep was followed in the case of depressed or excited patients with a period of calm and contentment. Some stuporous patients were given lucid intervals. I n the psychological laboratory of the Psychopathic Hospital, Dr. Lindemann performed the experiment of giving a very small dose of this same drug to psychotic patients in the hospital and also t o normal individuals. This dose, though too small t o ~ r o d u c eanesthesia or even sleepiness, had a decided effect on the emotions and on the subject's personal relations with those about him. The mast striking effect on the normal subjects was the desire t o tell about personal matters which the individual would ordinarily want t o keep hidden. Under the influence of this drug, a person is unable to refuse to answer questions about the most intimate matters. He shows a warm emotional attitude toward others, and has a feeling of strength, self-confidence, and serene contentment. Dr. Lindemann suggested t h a t this drug would he of great importance t o the physician who must learn the secrets of diseased minds in order to give effective treatment.-Science Service Forgetting Not Caused by Disuse. When the stenographer blames lack of dictation or her loss of memory of shorthand, she is laying the trouble t o only a minor factor her forgetting, we may assume from a recent psychological study of forgetting repo ed to the meeting of the American Psychological Association a t Taronto recently orgetting is not primarily due to disuse, hut t o the experiences that occur during the p iod of disuse, Dr. John A. McGeoch, of the University of Missouri, told the psycho$gists. "Dikuiuse is significant only in t h a t i t gives other factors a chance to operate." Dr. McGcach said. The experiences which follow the learning may have a backwardacting effeqtin inhibiting memory. "other factors, such as the method of learning, the age of the subject. the character of t h e matetial, and disuse itself, may set limits to the operation of the primary factors. but are themselves secondary in importance." Forgetting is not just t h e apposite of remembering, hut must be studied as an entirely different problem. Dr. MoGeoch believes.-Sucnse Service
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