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I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Vol. 17, No. D
EDITORIALS An Economic Conference
The Public Official’s Attitude
HERE is something fine in the attitude of officialdom NE of America’s leading chemists and chemical engineers toward science in foreign countries which we should like to recently wrote us his appreciation of the article by John E. Teeple in the July, 1925, number of THISJOURNAL, see more nearly duplicated in our own country. Those who and made further reference to an article by Gustav E. Landt attend scientific meetings abroad return with appreciation of which appeared in the February 10, 1924, number of the the courtesies extended by the rulers of the land, ministers, News Edition under the heading “Making Chemistry Pay and members of cabinets. These attentions impress the the Chemist.” Our correspondent is impressed with the people of those countries and are reflected in their attitude tosuggestion that an economic conference should be held a t ward scientific work. On the occasion of the British AsCHEMICAL SOCIETY sociation meeting in Canada in 1924, the premiers of the the semiannual meetings of the AMERICAN to consider how we can improve and maintain proper economic several provinces did their utmost to extend unusual courtesy, conditions in our profession. There is no criticism of the and this attitude was shared by others in authority. At efforts now being made to apply chemistry to new and wider the meeting of the International Union of Pure and Applied fields of human endeavor, but it is obvious that if the pro- Chemistry in Bucharest last June the delegates were showered fession is to attract to it the best minds, especially among the with lavish entertainment. The ministers of the land atyounger men, it must be made financially inviting, as well tended the scientific meetings and social functions, and the as offer an opportunity to win signal honors through con- photograph of those heading the delegations, which we retribution to our sum total of knowledge. produced in our August number, shows the group which the Turn back to your News Edition of February 10, 1924, King and Queen of Roumania entertained a t dinner. and read hfr. Landt’s suggestions. Should such an economic America has not been lacking in courtesy to its foreign conference be made a part of our semiannual program? guests. President Taft was host to all those who attended What questions might be discussed a t such a conference? the opening meeting in Washington of the Eighth InternaWhat results would you expect from the effort? What tional Congress of Applied Chemistry, and President Coolidge do you think? at graciously received the AMERICANCHEMICALSOCIETY the Washington meeting. City officials extend courtesies to our SOCIETY wherever we meet and, on occasion, our general meetings have been addressed by Senators and members of RESEARCH worker, particularly in organic chemistry, the House. The attitude of those in official life toward scientific work may a t any time come unexpectedly upon processes or products significant in chemical warfare. This fact has been and those who carry it on is changing. We confidently look repeatedly stated in explaining why it is impossible to control forward to an early day when scientists in this country will all factors in chemical warfare by legislation, treaties, or agree- be accorded the same courtesies that have come to typify meetings abroad. Then, when our foreign guests return home ments. The best known of the war gases is mustard, which the perhaps they, too, may feel that the hospitality of our governchemist knows as dichloroethyl sulfide. It is surprising to ment officials is indicative of the high regard in which scienfind that interest in this chemical compound was revived tific work is held in high places. through an accident of which H. T. Clarke, prominent in the affairs of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY,was the victim. It happened while Dr. Clarke was a t work in Emil Fischer’s laboratory in the University of Berlin, late in October, 1911. AVE you a landing field in your town? It may soon He was studying the action of various reagents on thiodiglycol become as important as the railway terminal or the with a view to preparing its internal ether, 1,4-thioxane. docks, and before long you will be criticizing the city fathers Among the reagents tried was concentrated hydrochloric who neglected to provide such a field while it could be had for acid, which resulted in the formation of dichloroethyl sulfide. a moderate expenditure. We have had that experience reDr. Clarke undertook to prepare a quantity of the material as peatedly with parks and school grounds, but now that any a step in the preparation of 1,4-thiazanesJ but unfortunately town may become a port of entry, the commercial factors broke the flask, spilling the greater part of the product on and our experience may give us better guidance. his leg. After spending six to eight weeks in the hospital he Commercial aviation may be nearer a t hand than we was visited by Professor Fischer, who had previously been una- realize. One paragrapher has remarked that he refuses to ble to locate the new student. Professor Fischer was much become enthusiastic until it is considered less of a miracle to interested in his case and gave to the German Chemical Soci- reach one’s destination in safety, but European figures as t o ety an account of what had happened; later Dr. Clarke pub- numbers transported without accident in a twelvemonth are lished a note in the Journal of the Chemical Society (London). significant and show, among other things, how much more While dichloroethyl sulfide had been previously described seriously aviation is considered abroad than here. What by Guthrie and in 1886 by Tiictor Meyer, it is significant that opportunities will commercial aviation bring to chemistry? Professor Fischer, whose knowledge of the organic chemical Chemistry has already played an important part in avialiterature was phenomenally wide, should have been un- tion. It has helped to provide metals of maximum strength familiar with this work of Victor hieyer. Interest in dichloro- with minimum weight, but there is still much to be done. ethyl sulfide was undoubtedly reawakened through this ex- Any weight saved in structure or in power plant means much. perience of Dr. Clarke, though even that remained merely a Chemistry has helped to supply material for gas bags, but they are still far from perfect. We should not consider as matter of interesting record until it became a war material.
A
Unexpected Discoveries
Your Landing Field
