INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
January, 1923
Division of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry At the Pittsburgh meeting of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, September 4 to 8, 1922, the Division of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry passed a resolution instructing its executive committee to arrange for the printing of edited abstracts of all papers to be presented at its meetings, and the distribution of such abstracts to all members before the meetings. To cover the cost of these abstracts it is necessary t o charge a fee of $1.50 to each member of the Division, which will entitle him t o receive abstracts of papers for both of the 1923 meetings. Since the present membership list of the Division of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry is very fragmentary, a letter is being mailed t o all old members, and to many others not previously affiliated with the Division, in order to give them the opportunity of receiving abstracts of all papers presented a t the divisional meeting, The mailing list, however, is most incomplete, and the who may present notice is t o request all members of the SOCIETY desire t o be enrolled in this Division, and to receive abstracts of papers, to send their names, with check for $1.50, t o the secretary of the Division. I n order that sufficient time be allowed for the distribution of these abstracts, it is essential that an abstract of each paper to be presented at the New Haven meeting be sent to the secretary
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with the title, and that such abstract be in his hands not later than March 10, 1923. UNIVERSITY,VA. GRAHAM EDGAR,Secretary
Textile Chemists and Colorists The 2nd annual meeting of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists d a s held a t the Hotel Pennsylvania, New York City, December 2, 1922. There were 160 in attendance. The amendments to the constitution which had previously been proposed were adopted as drafted, with the single exception t h a t the section pertaining to the duties of local secretaries was changed to provide that the annual reports of local secretaries shall be submitted to the secretary of the Association each year, before February 1 of the same year in place of before February 1 of the succeeding year, as originally recommended. The following officers were reelected for another year: Pvesident: LOUISA. OLNEY. Vice Pwsidents: WILLIAMD. LIVERMORE and WILLIAMH. CADY. Secretary: WALTERE. HADLEY.
Treasurer: WINTHROPC. D U R ~ E G . Counrilovs: ELMERC. BERTOLET, ARTHURE. HIRST, GEORGEA. MOXAN, WILLIAMK. ROBBINS,and WALTERM. SCOTT.
W. R. Morehouse was elected an additional councilor for a period of three years.
NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE Comment on America’s Part in the International Congress of Combustible Liquids Editor of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry:
* * * * * I am sorry that our people in the United States did not feel enough interest in the affair to take a more active part in it. It is a shame that we do not a t least do as much in the matter of codperating in these affairsas is done by other countries. Mr. GCrard knew of the presence in Paris of Prof. John Frazer, of the University of Pennsylvania, exchange professor t o France this year, and myself, and sent us invitations to be present. The only other Americans who were here were three representatives of the Standard Oil Co., headed by a Mr. Cobb, and Dr. Gray, of the Texas Oil Co., who was sent over by his company especially for the meeting; the Standard Oil men were here on other matters. I should think that as a general principle the United States should be as much interested in developing the better utilization of liquid fuels, and, as the French express it, of a “Carburant National,” as the other nations of the world; in fact, more so since we are the principal producers, and it should be our business to improve the methods of utilization, and extend the application of these fuels.
***** At the banquet Dr. Gray responded for America, and was the only representative of about fifteen countries called who did not speak in French. I do not say t h a t I could have done so, but I certainly hope that some day I may be able to make a better showing for my country than I have seen made so far during my sojourn here. ATHERTON SEIDELL PARIS Octoher 15, 1922
Say “Diatomaceous Earth’’ Editor of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: I would like to call your attention to the confusion often arising in technical and scientific literature through the use of trade names in place of “Diatomaceous Earth,” the correct descriptive name for the material in question. This valuable heat-insulating material and filter aid, aside from bearing the burden of numerous trade names, has been described in the literature by such names as Celite, Kieselguhr, Infusorial Earth, Diatomite, Fossil Meal, Fossil Flour, Desmid Earth, Molera, White Peat, Tellurine, Randanite, Ceyssatite, Tripoli, English Rotten Stone, Bergmehl, etc. Many of these names are correctly applied to other materials, and their use in place of “Diatomaceous Earth” is both confusing and misleading. Diatomaceous Earth, as it appears on the American market, is composed almost entirely of the fossilized remains of diatoms, either fresh water or marine, or a mixture of the two types. Radiolarian remains and sponge spicules may be present in minor proportions. When the use of trade names is essential to the clarity of a technical article, much confusion can be eliminated if the true nature of the material also be indicated by the use of the proper descriptive name, “Diatomaceous Earth.” NORRISGOODWIN FEATHER-STONS INSULATION COMPANY Los ANGELES,CALIF.,November 23, 1922
Photo-Engravers Cooperate The following resolution was recently adopted by the PhotoEngravers’ Board of Trade of New York, Inc. : Xesoltcd, t h a r t h e Photo-lcngravers’ Board of Trade of Ken. York. Inc., endorse a n d approve t h e action taken by t h e American Chcmical Society in their endeavor t o bring a b o u t a simpler a n d more workable administrslion of t h e provisions of t h e Volstead Act a s affecting industries requiring alcohol
for manufacturing purposes.
