Paraldehyde Properties and uses. Warning of danger when used as sedative.
Not mentioned:
Gasoline
Properties and uses. Mention of imlammability and explosive possibilities. Should warn of danger when taken internallyespecially by children. Should mention special danger in the house. Ignition by pilot light of stove, static spark, etc. Warning against use in dry cleanine in house.
A few texts are ex:ellent. Most texts have only fair treatment. Several texts say nothine of daneer when &ken intern&.
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Lead Salls Properties and uses. Lead soluble in soft water and many vegetable acids. Lead poisoning cumulative. Tetraethyl lead not dangerous as ordinarily used, but warning of danger if in contact with skin. Warnine of easoline containing tetraethyl read. Lead poisoning may come from absorption of lead salts through the skin-from paints, powdered lead, etc.
Only a few warn of the poisonous properties of lead salts. None give adequate warning.
large amount of new material which would tend to reduce the high mortality from accidents in which chemicals play a Nrt. It seems clear that all textbook authors ought to reexamine their books carefully, with a view toward
Lead salts dangerous in sprays if breathed. Lead chromate should not be used t o color egg substitutes in baking, or paper which may come into contact with foods. Lead foil should never come into contact with moist foods. or foods containing acids.
Niotine Properties and uses. Warning of poisonous properties. Antidotes.
Food Poisoning Mention of aU kinds of food misoning. Poisons in foods due t o organisms, metallic salts, decay, or putrefaction. Poison due to nature of foods or mistaking other things for foods. mushrooms, etc. Warning of dangers, how to prevent, and antidotes.
Not mentioned in most texts. No warning. Texts put more stress on economic loss through putrefaction than on danger from po!sonmg. Little given on metallic salts or fruits as a source of danger. Botulism and mushroom ~oisoninerarelv mentidned. One book does not mention putrefaction of foods a t all.
improvement in the treatment of these chemical items reported by the Bureau of Census to be the cause of more than seven thousand accidental deaths in the United States in 1935. Surely high-school chemistry has some responsibility in this matter.
REFERENCES ~ m n r t . --2nd Tnfnmation from the Wisconsin State Board of ---=-..Health, Quarterly Reports. Madison. isc cons in. ~
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Information furnished by the National Safety Council.
Several Vital Statistics Reports. (S~ecialReports.) U. S. Department of Commerce.. Bnrea; 6f Census.. Monographs and Reports of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York City.
PURDUE UNIVERSITY ORGANIZES SCHOOL OF CHEMICAL AND METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING For many years past k d u e University has maintained an active School of Chemical Engineering, the enrolment of which has steadily increased. Early in the history of the School the practice of permitting some undergraduate specialization in chemical engineering and related fields was adopted; to give &ect to this policy three options (general chemical engineering, organic technology, and metallurgy) were provided, each intended to furnish opportunity for upper class courses of instruction in the several specialties. For a long time this arrangement was eminently satisfactory; in recent years, however, the increasing complexities of each of the fields of engineering has necessitated a reconsideration of the cumiculum as the result of which i t has become obvious that, related though they are, first-dass instruction in chemical engineering and metallurgical engineering can be provided only by completely separating the courses of study. This reorganization, which has just been completed, has resulted in the establishment of a School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering which will provide curricula leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy. The undergraduate student enrolment in the School in the present year includes approximately one hundred thirty seniors, of whom about thirty are majoring in metallurgy. I n addition, between twenty-five and thirty graduate students are working in the School. The graduate and undergraduate enrolments represent a considerable increase over those of previous years. The reorganization of the School has been made the occasion of revising the curriculum in chemical engineering. Changes in ::
the latter have been in the direction of eliminating subject matter which is of doubtful pedagogical or professional utility, rearranging some courses to include new aspects of the field, expansion of some subjects to utilize increased laboratory facilities, and so forth. The metallurgical curriculum has been completely revised and greatly enlarged in content. I n both courses of study every effort has been made to emphasize the analytical approach, for it is felt that the ability to think is the onlv stock-in-trade that the eneineer has t o offer. Therefore, purely deicrtptivecoursesarr kept m a nlinimum. Prohlern* arc freely utilizcd, nor only t o develop whatcbrr masoning ahilily the srudenr may p o s r i s , but alw to hring ro his atlcntaon in a forcible manner many phases d his professional work. Research work is being conducted by graduate students on thesis problems, by staff members in their respective fields (every staff member is expected to engage in research as a means of maintaining professional alertness and recognition) and industrially sponsored research fellows. Work on theoretical and of immediate industrial significance is encouraged among all these categories of research men; other things being equal, the theoretical problems chosen are those related to industrial progress rather than those of purely abstract nature. Problems which seek to utilize the specific personal experience or ability of individual members of the staff, or which utilize equipment which is available only a t Purdue, are considered suitable for staff or graduate research. Sliehtlv " * more than 8600.000 was made available a few mouths ago for the construction and equipment of a new building for the School. The work will be completed during the summer of
