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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
(3,200pounds moisture-free wood) of the valuable products and the value of each is thus given by Veitch and Merrill: Refined wood turpentine, 6 gallons, at $0.40.. . . . . . . . . . . Pine oils, 7 gallons, at $0.35.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rosin spirits, 1 1 gallons, at $0.20.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rosin oils, 40 gallons, at $0.35.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Phenoloids, 12 gallons, at $0.06... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crude methyl alcohol, 3.5 gallons, at $0.35. . . . . . . . . . . . Unbleached pulp, 1,440 pounds, at $0.0175.. . . . . . . . . . . . Total.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vol. 5 , No. 5
In this case-at Fontenoy de Comte-the tar was spread so close to the trees that it prevented the water from getting to the roots.
2.40
2.45 2 .20 14.00 0.72 1.20 25.20 4 8 . *7
Thus products worth $48.17are made from wood which costs from $2.00 to $4.00 delivered a t the works. The values given are approximate wholesale values a t the plant, and are said to hold, approximately, for good average lightwood, except as to refined wood turpentine, which should run higher than reported. All the products are said to be of good quality, the pulp making a good strong brown wrapping paper, quite similar to that now selling a t from 3 to 4 cents per pound. It is believed that such a combination as that mentioned offers the most p ofitable use of refuse wood and stumps on the cutover pine lands of the South and West.
PRESSURE FILTERS FOR CLARIFYING TRADE WASTES The clarification of the liquid wastes from a glue factory by means of pressure filters has been tried out by a Gloucester, Mass., firm, and a plant with a capacity of one million gallons per day has been installed a t its works. The wastes are pumped from a basin by a centrifugal pump and passed through pressure filters until the layer of waste which is intercepted by the top surface of the sand has attained a considerable thickness. The water is then drawn off and compressed air is applied to dry the sludge layer and convert it into a flexible cake, which is rolled up and removed through manholes in the filter. After passing through presses, the sludge cake may, it is claimed, be used as a fertilizer. The pressure filters are cylindrical steel drums containing a bottom layer of pebbles and a filling, 30 inches deep, of coarse quartz sand. In drying the sludge layer, in which operation air under pressure is blown down through the filtering medium, forcing the water out, about one hour is required. The filters are operated continuously for 60 working hours at a time, and are then opened up and the detritus is removed. It is needless to remark that the time of the drying process is dependent upon the blower.
THE EFFECTS OF TAR ROADS UPON VEGETATION AND ANIMALS It has been stated that the dust from tarred roads has appeared to be more irritating to the eyes than that from untarred THE HAMMOND WATER METER roads, and in 1910an investigation of this matter was conducted The Hammond meter, designed for use under the exacting in France by Truc and Fleig (Compt. rend., 151,593). I t was ascertained that dust from untarred roads had only the slightest effect when sprinkled on the eyes of animals, and that dust from old tarred roads, from which the coating had more or less disappeared, gave effects little different. However, dust from old tarred roads with a well preserved surface occasioned conjunctivitis and other lesions, while dust artificially produced from such roads gave still more severe effects. Notwithstanding the fact that bituminous vapors have only a slight action upon the eye (Comfit. rend., 151, 769), the investigations of Truc and Fleig seemed to show that the results corresponded to the proportion of tar, as well as t o the mechanical irritation produced by the dust and to the germs present. Concerning these observations, Baskerville has remarked (N. Y . Med. I., November 30, 1912) that while bituminous dust may rapidly produce various lesions in the eyes, and may leave persistent leucoma, the condition of the eye and the action of sunlight are both predisposing causes. H e noted that the experiments which have been conducted on these points do not, moreover, constitute a n argument against the tarring of roads, for, when tarring is well done, it diminishes the chance of injury to the eyes. I n 1911,Mirande (Comfit. rend., 152, 204) investigated the many substances prepared from coal tar used for preserving wood, destroying moss on tree trunks, as insecticides, etc. He was led to conclude that these all contained creosote and gave off vapors which were destructive to leaves, flowers, shoots, etc., in the same way as coal tar vapors, blackening them and causing death by plasmolysis. Quite recently the statement that the use of tar on roads has an injurious effect on the surrounding trees and vegetation, for which Mirande is held responsible, has been pronounced to be unfounded by German experts. H. F. Fischer has been investigating the matter, and he plans to present his results before the coming International Road Congress, which is to convene in London in June, 1913. I t may also be noted that the conclusions of Mirande respecting tarred roads have been refuted by several French engineers (Ckem. World, 2, IO^), who point out that a large street in Bordeaux has been treated with tar for some years without the slightest damage to the trees bordering the street, and that other towns have also practised tarring without injurious results, though one example is on recQrd where the trees wound a square were destroyed by tar. conditions found in the modern power station, is said to be
3Iay, 1913
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
unaffected by water containing oil or mud and to be capable of measuring liquids of any temperature. It is claimed that it can be used in any case where the liquid to be measured can flow from the meter by gravity, and that it is especially useful in measuring condensation from engines, the supply of water to boilers, liquids from vacuum pans, chemicals, brine, volatile oils, creosoting liquors, sugar juices, etc. ‘ The Hammond water meter is constructed entirely of cast iron sections bolted together, and its operation is as follows: The meter consists of two tanks, comprising a n upper receiving tank, A , located in the top part of the meter, and a lower measuring tank, B, divided into two compartments, “right” and “left,” by means of a central vertical partition, C. The liquid enters the receiving tank and flows through a slot in the bottom, into the measuring tank B. This measuring tank has discharge valves D, and D, opening downward from each compartment, which are held up to their seats by valve rods E, and E,, operated by lever arms L, and L,. The tilting inlet valve G is operated by the wrist plate, causing the mater to be deflected either into the “right” or “left” compartment. With the tilting valve G and the wrist plate F in the position shown, and the water flowing into the left measuring tank, the operation is as follows:
I
The discharge valve D, is held up to its seat by the wrist plate
F which 1s held by the latch H,. As the water rises in this compartment it lifts the float I,, which, through lever M,, unhooks the latch HI, and releases the wrist plate. The weight of the water on the discharge valve D, instantly pulls down the valve and rotates the wrist plate. This turns the tilting inlet valve G to deflect the water into the “right” measuring tank B. At the same time it draws up the discharge valve D, to its seat, where it is held by the latch H,, ready for the water now flowirig into the “right” compartment. The springs J, and J, in the heads of the valve rods E, and E, hold the discharge valves up to their seat and keep them from leaking. The wrist plate and latches are provided with hook blocks similar to those on the valve gear of a Corliss engine, and are made of hardened steel. The wrist plate is mounted on ballbearings as are also the rollers on the rim of the wrist plate on which the levers controlling the valves roll. The operation of the meter is automatic and continuous. A record of the cycles of operation is registered on the revolution counter K.
I
SCI€NTIFIC SOCIETIFELS
THE OFFICIAL CLOSING OF THE EIGHTH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS The Executive Committee of the Eighth International Congress of Applied Chemistry met a t the call of President Nichols a t the n’aldnrf-Astoria on Friday, April 18th, a t which time the reports of the secretary and the treasurer were presented and accepted. Other official business was transacted, and the final resolution adjourning the committee sin? die was passed, thus officially closing the Congress. After the business meeting, Dr. and hlrs. Nichols entertained the members of the Committee and their wives a t dinner. The following evening the representative chemists of America tendered a complimentary dinner to Dr. Nichols and Dr. Hesse a t the Chemists’ Club. The banquet was held in Rumford Hall which was crowded to its capacity. Many chemists both here and abroad were unable to attend, but expressed in innumerable letters and telegrams their appreciation of the labors of the distinguished officers of the Congress. Professor E. XV. Morley, Honorary President of the Eighth Congress, presided and introduced the Toastmaster, Dr. .irthur D. Little, President of the American Chemical Society. After a glowing tribute to the work of the guests of honor, Dr. Little introduced Professor Wilder D. Bancroft, of Cornel1 University, who responded to the toast of “The Chemists of America.” Dr. William Brady, Chief Chemist of the Illinois Steel Company. spoke t o the toast of the Manufacturers of &America,and Dr. Leo H. Baekeland to the toast, “Was it Worth While?” Dr. David T.Day, of the Geological Survey, was called upon and in a most eloquent tribute presented to Dr. Nichols, on behalf of the Chemists of America, as a mark of their appreciation of his u n swerving fidelity to the welfare of Chemistry in the United States and his self-sacrificing service in behalf of the Eighth Congress, a duplicate of the British Treasury Ink-Stand and Desk Set, executed in silver by Tiffany, and to Dr. Hesse, for his distinguished success in the execution of the many and responsible duties as Secretary of the Congress, and as a n appropriate mark of the high esteem of his colleagues in the profession he represented so creditably, a magnificent Loving Cup. Both Dr. Nichols and Dr. Hesse spoke feelingly in expressing deep appreciation to the chemists for their cooperation and as-
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sistance in the work of the Congress, and the happy choice of thc method selected by them for expressing their approval of thc work done in this great undertaking. ~~
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THE UNITED STATES PHARMACOPOEIA-THE O F THE NINTH REVISION’
PROGRESS
B y JOSEPH P. REXINOTON Received March 2 5 , 1913
The conditions now existing in the United States have been a compelling cause for a change of method in conducting the present Revision of the Pharmacopoeia, The directions of the Convention that a n Executive Committee of fifteen shall bc organized to have immediate charge of the work of Revision have now been in operation for nearly three years. With thr enormous amount of detail, it became necessary to divide the work and give to each of the fifteen of the Executive Committee the position of Chairman of the Sub-committecs having charge of the fifteen different divisions. Each Chairman reports monthly to the General Chairman the condition of the work in his Sub-committee; in this way corrclation is secured. The General Committee of Revisiop is, of course, to be depended upon to comment, criticize or corrcet the report of the Executive Committee. The By-laws provide that an appeal to the General Committee of Revision through the Executive Committee or the Chairman can be made in case of difference of opinion. Probably the greatest changc in the method was the means now employed to reach a correct decision, particularly with regard to the tests for chemical substances and to provide standards. In previous Revisions, the Committee had to obtain information from manufacturing chemists and others not on the Committee by special correspondence and requests for information, but the most important questions remained unanswered because the manufacturer preferred to keep this information to himself. I n very few cases it mas necessary to confirm or disprove the information given by writing to a competitor, The present method is far more effective on account of the Pure Food and Drug Acts, and hearings on important subjects have been held by parties interested in the manu1 Address before the Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, American Chemical Society, 47th Meeting. Milwaukee. March. 1913,
