Vol. 22, No. 8
Industry Recognizes Its Responsibility T H E rapid development of industrial organic chemistry in the United States has been accompanied by the introduction of numerous new compounds available for the first time in commercial quantities and introduced into industry with great rapidity and in large volume. Many of these compounds have been solvents, thinners, and plasticizersto name but one group of unusual activity. The necessary or incidental contact on the part of workmen with these new AND ENGIcompounds has led to editorials in IKDUSTRIAL NEERIXG CHEMISTRY and in the technical and trade press generally. Industry has been called upon to recognize its responsibility and to ascertain well in advance the hazards possibly involved in using these new materials before offering them on a large scale to the general industry, in some sections of which there may not, be sufficient knowledge of the use and treatment of chemical compounds to guarantee reasonable discretion and safety in their use. The chemical industry has not been unmindful of this responsibility and a t least one company manufacturing solvents, diluents, and the like has had extensive tests conducted by independent pharmacologists in the case of each new product prior to its introduction. Now comes synthetic methanol in such quantity that new and proper uses for it must be found. Methanol is by no means new to industry. It is synthetic methanol that is the newcomer, and unless one discriminates carefully between the various grades of methanol, known by other names in earlier days, he may fall into error. For the first time in history methanol is competing with ethyl alcohol and has indicated its intention of entering the antifreeze field, in which heretofore ethyl alcohol, denatured with methanol of denaturing grade, has had for competitors principally ethylene glycol and glycerol. Methanol has not been marketed a t a price which made it really competitive as an antifreeze. Kow it may enter that market. The question at once arises, is there any hazard involved for filling station attendants who will handle the material or for drivers of automobiles and trucks who will use it? The opinions of those who are in a position to know may be a t once classified in three divisions. There are some who believe no hazard exists; others who seem apprehensive that grave danger is involved; and a third group who frankly say that there are insufficient data to enable them to arrive at a conclusion, since methanol heretofore has not been used generally for this purpose although employed by a considerable number of automobile operators. It is gratifying to record that the Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Corporation. the Commercial Solvents Corporation, and the D u Pont Ammonia Corporation, realizing this situation, have joined in supporting an independent investigation, now in progress for some weeks, under the supervision of R. R. Sayers, of the U. S. Public Health Service, assigned to the Bureau of Mines, and W. P. Yant, of that bureau. There is every reason to believe we shall have available, as a basis for procedure, the results of this investigation before the time
August 1, 1930 comes when automobiles will line up a t service stations for the first addition of an antifreeze to their radiator solutions. Pending the results from this independent research, we may all speculate to our heart’s content, but we should be careful in predicting what Doctor Sayers and his associates may find. We can derive a large share of satisfaction, however, from the fact that the chemical industry evidently recognizes its responsibility, and can be depended upon to put public welfare well above commercial gains.
National Institute of Health Est ablished S O M E months ago attention was called to S . 1171-the Ransdell bill-an act to establish and operate a Sational Institute of Health, to create a system of fellowships in this Institute, and to authorize the Government to accept donations for use in ascertaining the cause, prevention, and cure of disease affecting human beings. This bill became a law in June, when it was signed by the President. Hereafter the Hygienic Laboratory of the Public Health Service is to be known as the National Institute of Health, and all laws, authorizations, and appropriations pertaining to the Hygienic Laboratory become applicable for the operation and maintenance of the new Institute. A unique feature is the authorization for the Secretary of the Treasury t o accept, on behalf of the United States, gifts made unconditionally for study, investigation, and research in the fundamental problems of disease, as well as for the acquisition of grounds, the erection and equipment of buildings or their maintenance, devoted to the same purpose. Surveys are now being made to secure an adequate site in Sliashington and the equivalent of four city blocks may be set aside. More than that, the Surgeon General may, with the a p proval of the Secretary of the Treasury, establish and maintain fellowships in the Institute from funds given for that purpose. The individual scientists designated by the Surgeon General to receive such fellowships are to be appointed for duty in the National Institute of Health, and during their appointment these fellows wilI be subject to the administrative regulations for the conduct of the Public Health Service. The scientists selected for this work may of course be placed in other localities and institutions in this or in other countries during the time of their fellowships. It is further provided that the facilities of the Institute shall be made available to bona fide health authorities of states, counties, or municipalities for purposes of instruction and investigation. As in all such progressive steps, what has been accomplished is due to the cooperation of many individuals and groups. Senator Ransdell has given the subject sustained and active leadership, and he has been ably assisted throughout by Francis P. Garvan, president of the Chemical Foundation, and the special representatives of that organization. It has required some four years to bring about the establishment of the Institute, and while it seems strange that such a period was necessary to have the project fully under-
