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INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
What a Chemical Report Should B e S a m u e l M. G o r d o n , C o u n c i l o n Dental Therapeutics, 212 East Superior St., C h i c a g o , 111. CHEMICAL report should clarify rather A than obfuscate. A chemical report should not be permitted to see the light of day unless the reader has a clear notion of what the writer is trying to transmit, and unless it gives information fully and hon estly. Examples of ideal chemical reports can be found in such publications as the Jour nal of the American Chemical Society, INDUS TRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY, and
Office Hours 9 A. M. to 5 P. M. , Α.Μ., Ph.D. Chemist and Research Engineer Licensed Professional Engineer. .State o f . . . Formerly Chemist to British Government Bureau of Munitions Problems Involving Chemical Research Practically Solved February 13, 1936
VOL. 14, NO. 11
SOCIETY like to feel that none of their membership can perpetrate such stuff and remain in good standing. The preparation of reports which may ultimately be used in exploiting or pro moting a product to the public becomes a matter of concern for all chemists. The outsider may not be able to appreciate the difference between chemists and chemists. Individual members of the SOCIETY may feel powerless to act. Such protests come properly from the largest body of chemists in the world. It is hoped that a start t o wards the control of such nefarious activi ties of those who represent themselves as chemists will be taken by the SOCIETY.
the Journal of Biological Chemistry, to men tion but a few in this country. These re ports, as a rule, deal with the extension of Prize for Effective C o t t o n W o r m the fields of knowledge in chemistry to in TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Eradicator animate or animate chemistry and to the THIS IS TO CERTIFY that I have made extension of chemical processes to industry. a complete analysis of manufactured THE Royal Agricultural Society of There is another kind of report that has by , of and find it to be J. Egypt has offered a prize of approxi not received much discussion. It is that of composed of strictly pure and harmless in mately $100,000 to the discoverer of the a consulting chemist made for his client. gredients. best method of exterminating the cotton As a rule these reports are intended for the It contains no caustic alkalies, grit, or worm, which causes serious damage to sole consumption of those who retain the other objectionable materials and exerts no the Egyptian crop. The competition is consulting chemist or the consulting labo injurious action on the skin or the surfaces on open to foreigners as well as Egyptians, ratory. But more and more one notices which it may be used. It possesses a very de though competitors should be members of that these reports are made the basis of cided cleaning and polishing action, and is recognized scientific bodies. Each method propaganda of advertising or of sales pur excellently adapted to the purposes for which considered worthy by the society will be poses. This marriage of science and cer it is recommended. tried for six years, after which the award tain kinds of advertising has befuddled the Being entirely non-poisonous and free from will be made. public and brought little respect to chem any harsh abrasive or chemical action, I take ists. One commentator puts the situation pleasure in recommending it as a strictly thus: high-grade cleaner and polish, highly effec C a d m i u m I n d u s t r y i n 1935 tive for the purposes for which it is sold. It Not so well appreciated, however, except may be safely used on the most highly fin HE production of metallic cadmium by some of the more serious interpreters of ished surfaces, leaving them clean and bril in the United States in 1935 amounted modern culture, are the more subtle effects of liant without the slightest injury to the fin to 3,477,091 pounds, an increase of 25 the overdeveloped art of advertising. So ish. per cent over the output of 2,777,384 continuously is the bewildered consumer SIGNED pounds in 1934. Output in 1935 was the bombarded by mail, by newspapers and largest annual production ever recorded. magazine, by billboard, and by radio, with a Stocks of metal were drawn upon and sales confusion of unrelated and conflicting ap amounted to an all-time high record of peals that he has no refuge which is reserved SEAl 4,023,900 pounds, an increase of 63 per for cultural enrichment and relaxed enjoy cent over sales of 2,472,97 pounds in ment. People are progressively ceasing to 1934. It i s plainly apparent that such a report believe in everybody and everything. Cul The average quoted price tor cadmium turally and morally, as well as economically, is good only to be exploited by those who modern advertising is jeopardizing the wel use s u c h documents as camouflage. Mem stood at 55 cents a pound for several years. It advanced sharply to 65 cents in late fare of the people and giving alarming evi bers of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY March, 1935. Other sharp increases took dence of the decadence of modern civilization. may feel gratified that the report was place later in the year and carried the written by one who represents himself as a price to $1.05 a pound in December, Where chemistry is involved the relation chemist but not a member of the AMERI 1935. of the chemist t o the general public occu CAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. Members of the pies a special sphere. He becomes to the public, in a general way, what the physi cian, dentist, or attorney is to his client. U. S.—Finland Trade Agreement Signed The public looks to him for advice. He becomes more than a "hired man." He is OTTO W I L S O N , 3025 F i f t e e n t h S t . , N . W., W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . now a professionally trained individual 6 to 4 Finnish marks per kg. (1 Finnish ΤΉRΕΕ-ΥΈΑR trade agreement, the fourwith a responsibility to a group beyond his mark per kg. is about equivalent to 1 teenthof the present series, was signed immediate client. I t is on such reports United States cent per pound); the corn that the public or other groups are asked by t o e United States and Finland on May starch rate of 1 mark per kg. is bound to pass judgment on a particular prepara 18. Unconditional most-favored-nation against increase; and the rate of 2 marks treatment for the products of either coun tion or product. per kg. on gasoline is likewise bound. In order that the profession of chemistry try w h e n imported into the other is al ready provided b y a commercial treaty The United States in return binds 1 may not be abused, it is desirable that such article of Finnish trade on the free list reports attain, as far as possible, the excel signed in 1934, but the agreement just and grants duty reductions on S others, lence of the reports published in journals signed defines t h e term more precisely besides including in the agreement con for public reading. This can be done. without affecting the rights and obliga cessions on 10 articles already granted to Effective salesmanship and truthfulness tions of either country under that treaty. It also contains a number of duty con other countries and hence applying auto need not be at conflict. matically to Finland as long as the agree Some consulting laboratories carry on cessions by each country. Among the general provisions is one to the effect that ments with those other countries remain their activities on a plane worthy of the in effect. The articles of chief commer best traditions of chemistry, others take a no quota shall be established by either cial importance affected are standard "public be damned" attitude and write country on those articles of the other newsprint paper, wood pulp, and cream their reports according to the adage of country on which concessions are granted separators valued at not over $50, all "whose bread I eat, his song I sing." The in t h e agreement. bound on the free list. On sulfate wrap Finland's concessions include duty re writer has had occasion to point out one1 of ping paper a reduction from 30 to 25 per ductions on 9 articles, the binding of 18 the abuses of chemistry in advertising. cent ad valorem was granted to Sweden The American Medical Association has others a t present rates of duty (a stabiliz in an earlier agreement, and the rate is re rendered a public service through its ing factor for our trade, inasmuch as duced still further to 20 per cent in the chemical laboratory by exposing the spuri Finland's tariff rates are subject t o fre present agreement with Finland. On ous nature of some advertisements based quent revision), and the binding of 2 various other kinds of paper and on safety presumably on the work of chemists. The others on the free list. N o products of following is an example of the form a re American chemical manufacture are in matches the reduced rates granted t o Sweden and Belgium or the binding of cluded in either group. Imports of Ameri port should not take: can lard up to 1000 kg. (1 kg. = 2.2 existing rates against increase are in cluded in the present agreement. pounds) receive a reduction in duty from ι IND. ENG. CHEM., 2 4 , 1148 (1932).
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