T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A ATD E.VGI *VE E R I N G CH E & f I STR Y
Nov., 1916
country really wants oar industry, it seems only reasonable to expect that such added help would then be forthcoming, promptly, permanently, willingly and intelligently. Our first duty, then, is to tell the country how we suggest t o have this added information imparted; then, if the country does really give us that, it will be our second duty to take hold of the opportunities thus disclosed and make them give up all they can be made to give u p ; we can then cross the next bridge when we come to it. I n the meantime we have our hands full trying to get this request for more information into presentable and convincing form. I n making up this list of import items we must bear in mind that it should contain everything that a well rounded-out and self-contained chemical industry needs either in materials or apparatus or makes in the way of products, finished or intermediate, for its own use or for use in other and wholly non-related industries, and this is much more varied than any availaable list of such products; this is our real task-to make the list complete in every respect. The function of such a complete list is threefold: I-It will inform government officials and the public of, and will visualize to both, the variegated and ramified activities and interests of chemical industry. 11-By its illustrative character it will enable our government officials to “spot” a relevant newcomer in our field much more readily than otherwise. 111-It will tell us chemists ourselves a great deal more about our own business, our own opportunities and our obligations to other industries than any collection of text or handbooks ever could. It is rather a “tall order,” but if we will not make up such a list why should we expect others to do our work for us? And who else should do it? It is our job and no one’s else. When considering the taking up of making things in this country that are up to then largely or wholly imported from abroad, we must bear in mind that, in general, increased domestic consumption follows domestic manufacture so that an imported item of $10,000 per year may in a few years of domestic manufacture reach a consumption of three or four times that figure. Finally, it must not be :lost sight of that when we ask for greater subdivision of the items of imports in our commerce and similar reports we are n.ot a t all asking for a revision of the general classification. These reports can convey the same financial and other information as to the sources and amounts of revenue as heretofore; we do not ask to have this function of those reports curtailed nor hampered in the least; all we ask is that they be made to contain and to give more detailed information as to our items of purchases of products of and €or the chemical industry from abroad. 25 BROAD STREET NEW
YORK CITY
Apparate und Processe (Chemical Apparatus and Processes). There are numerous sub-classes (denoted by letters) to Class 1 2 ; e. g . , Class I z d , Klaren, Scheiden, Fidtrieren (Clarification, Separation, Filtration), Class I 2 h, Allgemeine elektroclzemische Verfahren und Apparate (General Electrochemical Processes and Apparatus), etc. Thus the patents are placed in the particular class to which they belong, regardless of a chronological arrangement of numbers, and present rather a confused appearance; e. g., in 1 9 1 3 , Patent No. 266,863, is followed by Patent No. 267,138. Corresponding to the Index to the U. S. Patent Office Gazette is the Verzeichnis erteilten Patente (Index of Patents granted), which is the proper starting point in the search for a patent. There are five sections in the Verzeichnis (Index), as follows: I-Chronologische l’ebersicht der Patente (Chronological List of Patents), a chronological list of the patent numbers, followed by the number and letter, showing in which class the patent has been placed. z-S~~stematische l’ebersicht der Patente (Systematic List of Patents), a chronological list of classes and sub-classes, with the patents as they have been distributed, including the patent number, title of patent, date, and a page reference to the Az~szuge (Abstracts). 3-Alphabetisches Namenverzeichnis der Patentinhaber (Alphabetical Name-Index of Patentees) gives the name of patentee, number of patent, class, and a page reference to the above class from which can be obtained the data desired. 4-Alphabetisches Sachverzeichnis (Alphabetical Subject-Index) indexes the patents according to subjects and gives the patent number, class, and a page reference to Section 2 above. This list gives no names. 5-Verzeichnis der Patente (Index of Patents) : ( a ) Nach Patentklassen geordnet (Arranged according to classes). ( b ) *\Tach Patentnumlnern geordnet (Arranged according to numbers). This list gives all patents which are in effect a t that date, but gives only the patent numbers. I n (6) the patent numbers are given, and after them are the class numbers and letters given in parentheses. The only index given in the Auszuge (Abstracts) is the chronological list of classes and sub-classes, with the patents included in them. With this preliminary information, the method of procedure, which is comparatively simple, is as follows: There are three possible starting points, viz.: I-Patent h-umber. 11--Name of Patentee. 111-Subject of Patent. I-If the number of the patent is known, look first in the following table to find in which year of the Verzeichnis (Index) the patent was publi shed. Year
GERMAN PATENT-BIBLIOGRAPHY By EARLN. JEssop
I n most cases, it is a difficult and tedious task to find the specification data of a German Patent unless one is familiar with the method of procedure. The German Patent system differs from the United States Patent system, in that the German Patents are not published in the “Auszuge aus den Palentschriften” (“Abstracts of Patenttext,” corresponding to the L . S. Patent Office Gazette) in chronological order, but are distrtbuted, according to their subjects, among various classes and sub-classes. At present there are approximately 380 classes and sub-classes which include many and varied subjects; such as Sprengstoffe (Explosives), Photographie (Photography), Tabak, Zigarren, Zigaretten (Tobacco, Cigars, Cigarettes), etc., with appropriate sub-classes. The class especially interesting to chemists is Class 12, Chemische
105 3
1877-8 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889
Pat. No. 1-4390 4391-8800 8801-12766 12767-17105 17106-21236 21237-26084 26085-30543 30544-34561 34562-38569 38570-42451 42452-46374 46375-50780
Year 1890
1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901
Pat. No.
Year
Pat. No.
50781-55460 55461-61010 61011-66910 66911-73340 73341-79620 79621-85340 85341-90750 90751-96190 96191-101760 101761-109190 109191-117974 117975-328482
1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913
128483-139092 139093-149056 149057-158245 158246-167845 167846-181275 181276-194525 194526-206135 206136-218130 218131-230230 230231-242870 242871-255950 255951-269470
Then look in either the first or last table in the Verzeichnis (Index) for that year-where the patent numbers are arranged alphabetically-and a class number will be found following the patent number. Then look under that class in the Systematische Uebersicht (Systematic List) and here will be found the patent number, name of patentee, title of patent, date, and a page reference to the Auszuge (Abstracts) for the same year. On this page in the Aztszuge (Bbstracts) will be found a short
10.54
T H E J O U R i V A L O F I N D L T S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERIIVG C H E M I S T R Y
abstract of the patent (such as appears in the ZT. S. Patent Office Gazette). 11-If only the name of the patentee is known, look in Alphabetisches -Yamensevzeichnis der Patentinhaber (Alphabetical Kame-Index of Patentees) and there will be found the patent number, class number, and a page reference t o Systematische Cebersicht (Systematic List). From this point the procedure is the same as in I. 111-If only the subject of the patent is known, look in Alphabetisches Sachaerzeichnis (Alphabetical Subject-Index) and there will be found the patent number, class number, and a page reftrence t o Systematische liebersicht (Systematic List), but no names are given in this section From this point the method is the same as before. example would probably be helpful. Suppose one wishes to find Pat. No. 266,863. First look in above list and there it will be seen t h a t KO.266,863 is in the Verzeichizis (Index) for 1913. Upon looking in the first table in the 1913 Verzeichnis (Index), P a t . No. 266,863 will be found in Class 1 2 i . Then by looking under Class I Z ~in the following section of the Verzeichnis (Index) there will he found the following:
V O ~8, . KO. 1 1
Pat. A-0. 266,863. A. Messerschmidt. “Process for Generation of Hydrogen by Alternate Oxidation and Reduction of Iron, etc.” 9 /7 I I 2 j 3 4 . (h’ote t h a t the Germans in writing the date in this manner, always reverse the month and day. Where we write 9/7 for Sept. 7, the Germans use 7 / 9 ; where we use 7/9 for July 9, the Germans use 9,’7.) An abstract of tlie patent will be found on page 2534 of tlie Auszirge (Abstracts) for 1913. If only the name “Messerschmidt” were known, there would be found by looking in the Alphabetische Namenoerzeichnis der Patentiizhabev (Alphabetical Name-Index of Patentees) under “XIesserschmidt,” the KO. 266,863, Class 12;. Knowing the patent number or class, the above method can be used. If neither the number of the patent nor the name of the patentee were known, but only the subject, the patent could be located by looking under Wasserstof (Hydrogen) in the Alphubetische Saclz~erzeicJzizis (Alphabetical Subject-Index), where there would be given the patent number, class, etc., and from this the patent could be traced as explained above. MELLOKITSTITUTE, PITTSBURGH
ISYMPOSIUM ON OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES IN CHEMICAL TRADES I Papers presented a t the Annual Meeting OF the Bmerican Chemical Society, Kew York City, September 29, 1916
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES IN THE CHEMICAL TRADES By CHARLESBASKERVTLLE Chairman of the American Chemical Society Committee on Occupational Diseases in the Chemical Trades
An International Congress, dealing with the subject of industrial diseases, was held a t Brussels in 1910. The first Congress took place in 1906 in hlilan, and since then an institution has been established there devoted to the study of diseases of occupation and to matters of industrial hygiene. Previously, museums of safety had been established in Berlin (1904) and Vienna (1909). The American Museum of Safety is established, but in very inadequate quarters in h‘ew York City. The Brussels Congress \vas attended by orer 600 delegates, and approximately 2 0 per cent of the papers presented were by medical men of Great Britain, where the subject has received attention for a number of years, both by the Factory Department of the Home Office and by the Association of Certifying Factory Surgeons. -4 Committee on Occupational Diseases in the Chemical Trades was appointed by the Kew York Section of the American Chemical Society in February, 1912. Some of the reasons for the existence of the Committee appear in the statement of its objects which were, specifically: I-To hold itself ready t o advise the Legislature of the State of Xevv York in reference to matters appertaining to occupational diseases in the chemical trades. 2-To study various hills presented in the Legislature in an effort to avoid unwise technical legislation. 3-To superintend and inaugurate such investigations as might be decided upon which would look toward improvement of conditions of labor in the chemical trades. Two members of that Committee served the New York State Factory Investigating Commission and assisted in formulat,ing the present laws having to do with inorganic chemicals, ventilation, and the regulation of the use of \wood alcohol. Subsequently the Parent Society appointed the present Committee, whose personnel has changed but little since its creation. The objects of this Committee ha\-e been to extend the intent and purpose of the Sectional Committee in so far a s legislation was concerned. I t was and still is the hope of the Committee to secure sane and uniform legislation in all the states. This accomplishment, however, requires time and patience, which are essential for bringing about things in a re-
puhlic, where so many states of different interests, different modes of thought, etc., constitute the whole. Another purpose of the Committee has been to learn of specific conditions in particular chemical trades which might call for improvement. To that end its members in the several parts of America represented have sought information, solicited and offered advice. It has cooperated with Boards of Health and private corporations. Its work, however, has not been systematic or in,accordance with any well-defined plan, for the simple reason t h a t no funds have been available to meet the expenses of investigation, adequate clerical force for propaganda, etc. The work requires financial support to be properly organized. Informally the Committee has learned that some manufacturers are doing much toward the protection of their labor, while others are absolutely inconsiderate. The former are governed by motives altruistic, an appreciation of the efficiency of a. healthy workman, and they are frequently supported by laws covering the employment of labor in factories. They are often handicapped, however, by unwillingness on the part of labor t o utilize the precautionary facilities placed a t hand. The other group of manufacturers, fortunately relatively few in numbers, are selfishly inhuman in some instances and go their way lawlessly or more often in blind ignorance, for the untoward action of some chemicals is slow and insidious. I n fact, one of the important questions in connection with industrial diseases is, “Is it possible t o draw- a distinction between maladies which are the result of certain occupations and accidents?” This is of great significance in connection with the “Tl’orkmen’s Compensation Act” of England, and of the same importance in the relations between “Master and Servant” in this country, It is indeed difficult in many cases to ascertain whether a disease is the direct result of the nature of employment; but the justness of the principle of compensation for so-called industrial diseases is generally accepted, and the method of procedure by the aid of a schedule of diseases as adopted by the English law is regarded as a good example t o follow. In the United States, certain severe and clearly traceable diseases resulting from occupational causes have had recognition, and actixrc campaigns against such industrial maladies as plumbism and phosphorus poisoning have resulted in specific legislation. Tq,Torkmen’sConipensation Laws have been enacted in about one-third of the States of the Union and there is hope that a federal bill proposed may yet receive favorable action. The
