INDUSTRIAL
June 20, 1923
AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
MÏCHÏGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE SECTION PROVIDES POPULAR LECTURES ON CHEMICAL SUBJECTS W h a t is perhaps the most extensive a t t e m p t t o provide popular lectures on chemical subjects fur lycaiin courses, woman's clubs, luncheon clubs.cliambers of commerce and similar organizations, has been worked o u t by the Michigan Agricultural College Section of the AM Η ΚΙ CAN CHEMICAL
SOCIETY.
The
program
for
1923-24 which has just been issued by the Section contains a list of sixteen lectures. As other sections of t h e SOCIETY will
probably decide to work out similar pro grams we are listing t h e titles a n d de scriptions of t h e lectures and the names of the lecturers: The Chemist and the Manufacturer. Λ dis cussion of the needs of the manufacturer from the chemical standpoint. By Λ. J. CI.ARK, professor of chemistry, Michigan Agricultural College The Chemical Ice Man. A discussion of arti ficial refrigeration in the home. By A. J . CLARK. How We Use What We Eat. The human body as a chemical factory. How it diicests t h e food and converts it into body tissue. By MARIU DYIÎ, assistant professor of home economics, Michigan Agricultural College How Shall We Feed Our Children? A discussion of how chemical experiments teach us the amount of different kinds of food needed to furnish an adequate supply of minerals, proteins, and vitamins to children of various ages By
MARIIÎ DYI·:. Chemistry and Infectious Diseases. A discussion of the relation of biological chemistry to the avoidance and treatment of germ diseases in e v e r y d a y life. Chemical theories a n d their application within recent years have revolutionized not only our attitude toward germ diseases but our practices in connection with such diseases. I t will be shown further t h a t these matters are of vital interest to every member of society whether he is directly interested in chemistry or not. By WARD GILTNIÎR, professor of bacteriology and hygiene, Michigan Agricultural College. Chemistry and Public Health. A discussion of some of the aspects of biological chemistry, the chemistry of living matter, in an effort t o explain how this science through the gretiL advances of recent years has assisted man to make our great social structure possible. I t will be shown t h a t in the absence of the application of our knowledge of chemistry modern civilization would be out of the question.
By WARU GILTNIÎK.
Home Dyeing. The methods and principles of home dyeing. A discussion of 1'a.brics and the type of dye Lest suited to each, based on their ch'jmicui nature. By B. I\. HARTSUCH, associate professor of chemistry, Alichigan Agricultural College. Artificial Silk. A discussion of t h e manufacture, uses, detection and value of artificial silk, a chemical substitute for the natural product By Β. Ε . HARTSUCII.
The Laundering of Fabrics. A discussion of the proper methods for laundrying different fabrics, from the point of view of th\eir underlying principles. By Β. Ε. HARTSUCII. Rickets, Its Cause and Prevention. A discus sion from the standpoint of cause and prevention of this very important disease of early childhood. It is a disease characterized hy defective nutri tion of the entire body and alteration in the growth of bones. Its cause is fundamentally a chemical one. By R. C. HUSTON:, associate pro fessor of chemistry, Michigan Agricultural Colege.
Milk as a Food. A discussion of the reasons why milk is essential to the proper growth and development of man, based on the discoveries of physiological chemists. By R. C. HUSTON. Louis Pasteur. I low the influence of one of the founders of modern science reaches into human ity's daily life. By R. L. K A H N , Michigan De partment of Health. Children of the Sun. A discussion of the rela tion between sunshine and life showing how the human race is dependent on chemical processes for which the sun is ultimately responsible. By A. J. PATTEN, chemist, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. Chemistry and the Staff of Life. A discussion of the composition of grains and the manufacture of flour; the composition of flour and the manu facture of bread By A. J. PATTEN. What Chemistry Can Do for a Community. What chemistry has done and can do in a com munity along the lines of more efficient manu facturing, better agriculture, more honest mer chandising, purer foods and water, better sani tation and a more wholesome manner of living. By D. I,. RANDALL, professor of chemistry, Albion College. Chemistry and Civilization. A discussion of the importance of chemistry in the progress of civilization through improvements in the manu facture of steel, rubber, petroleum, cement, food products, textiles, medicines, and other products. (Illustrated.) By D. L. RANDALL. Michigan Chemical Industries. An account of the various industries of Michigan in which chemistry plays an important role. By II. S. REED, associate professor of chemistry, Michigan Agricultural College. Comfort and Chemistry. What chemistry has clone to make " t h e good old days" of grand mother's time better. Some chemical aspects of evcry-da3 r life. By C. S. ROBINSON', research associate in chemistry, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. Creative Chemistry. An interpretative review of the book of the above title and later articles written by E. E. Slosson. By C. S. ROBINSON The Soil as a Chemical Factory. A discussion of the chemical changes brought about in soil by microorganisms, particularly those of economic importance. T h e methods of study in the field will be considered, and illustrative material used to describe the different groups of organisms and the processes involved. By ROBERT M. SNYDER, research associate in bacteriology, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.' Chemistry on the Farm. A discussion of the part chemistry plays in daily life on the farm. By Ο. Β. W I N T E R , research associate in chemistry. Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. Some Little Things—and How They Look. How the microscope has become a valuable tool for the chemist in the study of many problems affecting our daily life. (Illustrated.) By O.
5
Low Accident Percentage in Handling Explosives Investigations conducted by the De partment, of the interior through the Bu reau of Mines relative to the hazards in volved in the handling of explosive materials indicate t h a t the number of accidents in handling and testing explo sives is relatively low; in fact, it is lower than in some supposedly less dangerous occupations. Workers who handle ex plosives, being aware of the danger, practice carefulness until it becomes a habit; in consequence accidents are rela tively few. Accidents from explosives, however, receive more publicity than do most industrial accidents. The Bureau of Mines estimates that at least 75 per cent of all the industrial acci dents with explosives are caused by hurry ing the work and by taking chances where conditions are known to be dangerous; probably 20 per cent are due to careless ness, the rest having a t least fairly excus able causes. T h e great essential in avoid ing accidents is t h a t inexperienced men should be made fully conscious of every movement in handling explosives an·· should be trained to "play safe" until they are automatically careful all the time. Nearly all men become accustomed to working with explosives a n d feel no nervous strain, although after a bad ex plosion only a person of unimaginative temperament can work without excessive nerve fatigue. In the laboratory a chemist naturally avoids spattering or spilling materials on his clothes or skin, or inhaling the fumes or fine particles of any explosive. Ben zene, toluene, aniline, and their nitro com pounds, besides other compounds, are known to be poisonous, b u t so is hydro gen sulfide which all chemists use. When preparing samples of explosives many analysts wear rubber gloves, but the usual course is to see t h a t the hands arc dry, to avoid direct contact as much as possible, and to wash the hands as soon as the sampling is finished. When pos sible, it is l3est t o bathe the hands in a dilute solution of sodium sulfite, which acts as a solvent and is not readily ab sorbed by the skin. When a sample contains, or is likely to contain, hexanitrodiphenylamine, special precautions should be used, a s compara tively small quantities of it cause blisters and burns on the skin, and dust from it causes severe injury to t h e mucous mem branes of the eyes, nose, and throat.
B. W I N T E R .
H. J. Burucll, formerly manager of the Boston office of the Link-Belt Co., has resigned t h a t position to enter business for himself. H e is succeeded by L. M . Dalton. The directors of Β runner Ward & Co., Kngland, chemical and dye manufacturers, have decided to offer a t a price t o be fixed, but n o t below par, 100,000 shares in the company to their staff and workers.
"Silk Grass" from Nicaragua Inquiry shows that on the eastern coast of Nicaragua, there is considerable "silk grass" growing wild. I t has a strong silk-like fiber a n d the Indians use it for making rope, Consul W. W. Heard re ports. T h e long rainy season necessi tates some sort of artificial drying in the treatment of t h e fiber.
Fort Wayne C h e m i s t s Organize At a meeting held in Fort Wayne, June 6, representatives of t h e Wayne Tank & P u m p Company, Perfection Biscuit Company, Northern Indiana Gas and Kdison L a m p Works formulated plans for the organization of a Chemists' Club. R. T . Bohn, of the Perfection Biscuit Company, was elected temporary chair man.
