T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y were generally the bases, were used by the enemy. A salvage service allowed us to make investigations very quickly so as to determine the exact nature of these products, their physiological action, and to deduce the therapeutics and the means of effective protection. These last arrived a t a fine degree of perfection. Our soldiers, wearing their masks, could in the last months of the war remain without inconvenience several hours in an atmosphere containing a high percentage of poisonous gases. Horses, dogs, and carrier pigeons, all had their protective devices. From September 1915 to September 1918, 12,400,000masks of different models were manufactured and delivered. From August 1915 to April 1916, ~o,ooo,ooo pairs of goggles were also delivered. The effort to find means to retaliate was no less active. Beginning in September 1915, during the Champagne offensive, we used again the German shells loaded with tetrachlorosulfide of carbon, the only product which we had in sufficient quantities. Messrs. Urbain and Lebeau then invented a gas with hydrocyanic acid base, calling it “Vincennite,” which produced instant mortal action, but which our chiefs through an excess of humanitarian scruples, which were indeed superfluous, decided not to employ. The same decision was arrived a t for phosgene, used in the beginning of the Battle of Verdun in February 1916, and which produced a panic which is recorded in the German orders of the day. The chemists, not discouraged, then turned their efforts towards other products of chlorine or formaldehyde. Finally the choice fell on a product which the Germans had first used in July 1917 a t the Battle of Ypres, and which was called for that reason “Yperite,” and which is chemically a sulfide of dichlorethyl. This possesses both toxic and blistering qualities. The manufacture, despite the great difficulties and the dangers which it entailed, was pushed fast. Eleven factories made the necessary chlorine, and up to the armistice’ had produced 24,000 tons. In the seven months, from April to November 1918, 2,172,334 shells for the “75,” 90,810 for the “105,” and 142,035 for the “155” had been loaded with yperite. In all, there had been loaded and fired against the enemy 13,193,000 “75” shells, 3,930,000 heavy shells and trench bombs, and 1,140,000 grenades loaded with gas. We have, besides, ceded 8,000 tons of asphyxiating gases and over a million loaded projectiles to our allies. These figures are enough to show what a formidable effort was made by our French scientists and manufacturers, an effort of which they may be justly proud, and how well merited was the glorious citation given by Marshal Petain to the chemical services in the war. CHEMICAL PREPAREDNESS
Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: Some time ago you gave a talk before some of the chemists of our company assembled in the library. At that time it occurred to me that in spite of receiving encouragement from such men as yourself to keep up our good work, there has been one phase of the general subject of patriotic protective activities not generally considered. It is doubtless true that as a body of highly trained scientists the American chemists can easily adapt themselves to possible war-time activities, but most of us are really very far from knowing just what we can best do in an emergency. What a chaotic condition is bound to follow when a few thousand men are all suddenly attempting to produce something new and to learn how t o do it a t the same time1 To parallel the general agitation for universal military trainCHEMICAL SOCIETY and the ing, why should not the AMERICAN large chemical industries get behind the development of a val-
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uable system of peace-time education of their chemists for the pursuit of definite, coordinated and specialized activities in times of possible war? How many of us know anything definite about the manufacture of phenol, picric acid, ethylene, mustard gas, formaldehyde, acetone or wood alcohol, nitrogen fixation, or about large-scale work upon such fundamental processes a s nitration, sulfonation, etc., to say nothing of many other technical processes, doubtless of great war-time importance? It has occurred to me that the American chemical industry might in part repay the country for its many recent advancements if in peace-time in connection with the Government i t should adopt a policy of lending its chemists two weeks each year for the purpose of pursuing special studres in “chemical war technology.” A so-called “Chemical War College” would in fact be more of a university with its various specializing “colleges” made up of the laboratories and plants of actually functioning industrial plants in various parts of the country. If the chemists were to be loaned the Government then the Government might pay traveling expenses and any peculiar living expenses necessarily incurred by the “war technology” student during his course of training. It would not be many years before we would have in this country an army of chemists each of whom would know exactly what his duty should be, where he should go, with what he would have to work, and how to go about his task in any emergency. These men should be classified and their names and records kept on file, each being subject to emergency call for technical or scientific service at proper salary. Would i t not be worth while to give this matter some discussion in the columns of the JOURNAL? C. A. LYFORD NATIONAL ANILINE& CHEMICAL Co. BUFFALO, N. Y.,April 3 , 1920
DECENNIAL CELEBRATION FOR THE FOREST PRODUCTS LABORATORY The Madison Association of Commerce and Forest Products Laboratory have made preliminary arrangements for the celebration a t Madison of the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Laboratory. Present plans call for a two-day meeting during the latter part of June, with addresses by men of national reputation in science and industry, a banquet, tours of inspection through the laboratory, informal discussions, and various forms of entertainment. Detailed arrangements will be announced later. The Forest Products Laboratory is a branch of the United States Forest Service, established in 1910in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin, and is a consolidation of a number of testing laboratories and other units of the Forest Service which had been located a t various points throughout the United States. It is engaged principally in industrial research on problems connected with the manufacture and use of forest products, including beside lumber, posts, poles, ties, and similar products, pulp and paper, naval stores, hardwood and softwood distillation products, and other chemicals and pharmaceuticals. A t the present time the laboratory employs about zoo people and occupies five buildings in whole or in part. AMERICAN FELLOWSHIPS IN FRENCH UNIVERSITIES The Society for American Fellowships in French Universities offers each year for open competition among graduates of American colleges and other suitably qualified candidates, 2 5 fellowships to encourage advanced study and research in French universities. Fellowships of the annual value of $1,000are granted for one year and are renewable for a second year. Application blanks and further information may be obtained from the Secretary, Dr. I. L. Kandel, 576 Fifth Ave., New York City.
