In conclusion, lest we forget, let us repeat that the average, present, highschool chemistry text-book does not coincide with the standards which should govern the selection and organization of the subject-matter for a secondary school curriculum. Our study leads us to two general conclusions which are not exactly new. We are convinced that school administrators and high-school teachers of chemistry should give greater attention to the matter of selecting a chemistry text. The teacher of high-school chemistry should also realize that he cannot rely entirely upon the content and method of presentation of the average chemistry text-book for the subject-matter of his course; but that, in addition to the subject in the text, much other material of interest and use to the high-school pupil should be offered. This additional subject-matter should be presented according to its degree. of difficulty, according to its interest to the pupil, and a t the point of his greatest need. This investigation was conducted under the direction of Professor A. G. Capps, School of Education, University of Missouri. Valuable suggestions were also received from Professor Herman Schlundt, Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri. Mr. James E. Wildish of the Kansas City Junior College has helped in preparing this abstract.
Fireproof Gas Tanks Like Pnncture-Proof Tires. +An aeroplane gasoline tank which may be completely riddled by incendiary or explosive bullets without bursting into flames, or even leaking, is the latest development in the aviation field which comes from Vienna. The tank is the usual metal type, but with a peculiar interior coating, the composition of which is a carefully guarded secret with the inventor, probably on the order of the liquid gums placed in automobile tires to make them punctnreproof. There is also, according t o the claims of the patentee, a special mechanism inside the tank which eliminates all the effects of explosion, either of bullets or of gas fumes. The inflammatory bullet, upon entering the tank, is immediately enveloped with a coating of some sort of material that extinguishes the flame, and a t the same time prevents a phosphorous coated bullet from leaving a deposit. I n a test made by expert army witnesses, a series of twenty bullets was fired through the experimental tank, which was filled half with gasoline and half with inflammable gas. The bullets were fired in a series of one explosive, one phosphorous, and one solid, in rotation. After the twenty rounds had been fired with no bad results, the tank was set in an aeroplane, which then made an hour's flight using only the gasoline from the apparently perforated tank. No leak or fire occurred, and no other trouble of any kind. The invention is arousing great interest in the war department, as the figures of the past Great War taken from the German war office show that 80 per cent of the planes brought down in flames were fired either from phosphorous bullets, or caught fire from tank leaks.-Science Smice
