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being quietly a n d patiently conducted is bearing fruit, It is a pleasure t o reproduce here t h e invitation a n d we have a hunch t h a t t h e results disclosed so far from t h e Secretary of t h e Chemical Society (London) are but t h e forerunner of a great mass of important contributions t o t r u t h still t o be made. t o all chemists who visit England, a n d t h e reply of T h e interesting researches now being conducted b y Secretary Parsons of t h e AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. Custodian Palmer should be aided by every loyal Chemical Society chemist in possession of facts which would contribute Burlington House, London, W. I July 25, 1918 t o proof of enemy ownership masquerading i n AmeriMr. Charles I,.Parsons can garments. Secretary, American Chemical Societv DEARSIR: No doubt there are many members of your Society ordinarily residing in America who are now in this country, and I am WAR CHEMISTRY IN THE ALLEVIATION OF SUFFERING writing to ask you to be good enough to use such means as may occur to you to inform your members that they are most cordially A few days ago we asked a well-known organic invited by the Council of this Society to avail themselves of the chemist, one who has been particularly successful use of our Library and Rooms, and to attend our meetings. Perhaps, also, you would be good enough to place on your in working o u t methods for t h e manufacture of cernotice board a notice to this effect so that any of your members tain much-needed coal-tar medicinals, ‘(Suppose who are about to leave your shores for this country may be in- during your researches you made some new compound formed of this. which you believed would prove more efficacious against I may say that I have been in communication with Sir Harry Britain, who has very kindly promised to place on the notice certain diseases t h a n a n y of t h e known compounds board oi the American Club for Officers a notice inviting them whose details of manufacture you have solved, where to make what use they can of this Society. Believe me, would you t u r n t o have it tested thoroughly?” H e Yours very truly, replied, “I don’t know.” (Signed) SAMUEL SMILES We were returning from a baseball game a t t h e Polo Honorary Secretary . . ... . . . Grounds, had walked over t o Broadway a n d were about t o enter t h e subway when t h e conversation took place. Washington, D . C. T h e subject proved so mutually interesting, t h a t , August I j, 1918 Samuel Smiles, Esq. perched upon a n iron railing amidst t h e upper Honorary Secretary, Chemical Society Broadway crowds, we carried on t h e discussion for Burlington House, London, W. I , England a n hour. He had been engrossed in t h e problem of DEARSIR: reproducing compounds already known a n d used for Your letter of July zj is fully appreciated. Lieutenant Colonel James F. Norris at the American Embassy t h e relief of t h e physical sufferings of humanity; we is one of the members of our Council and a prominent member of the American Chemical Society. He is the scientific attach6 were thinking of t h e still greater service American on chemical problems to the American Embassy, and I would scientists should be enabled t o perform. suggest that you write him a letter calling the same facts to his T h e negative answer was not surprising, rather it attention that you have sent me. I would communicate with him, but I think he would appreciate a letter of this kind from was confirmatory. It is a peculiar situation t h a t you direct. He will be in touch with most of the American exists in this country to-day. T h e three great comchemists that come to England, and through him I believe more of them can be reached than through me, as I do not always mercial applications of t h e so-called “coal-tar chemiknow when they are ordered to your country. cals” are, first, explosives, for which means are never I am sending your letter to the Editor of our JOURNAL OF IN- lacking for t h e thorough testing of new products; DUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY, who, 1 am sure, will be glad to publish your kind invitation so that i t may reach all of second, dyestuffs, for which fortunately t h e equipment our members who may be going abroad. for testing as t o standard, fastness, durability a n d With full appreciation of the courtesy of yourself and your aesthetic suitability is simple, inexpensive a n d accessible Society, I am Sincerely yours, t o every worker; third, medicinals, a n d here t h e prob(Signed) CHARLESL. PARSONS, Secretary lems of investigation become much more complex and t h e responsibility even greater. Rarely does t h e chemist possess t h e technique for their testing; he must THE CUSTODIAN IN ACTION rely upon t h e pharmacologist and t h e physiologist t o T h e appointment of Mr. James A. Branegan, of Phil- determine t h e therapeutic value of his product. I n university circles there is often lacking t h a t spirit adelphia, as Vice President of t h e Heyden Chemical Works, a n enemy-owned corporation recently taken of cooperation between t h e several classes of research over b y t h e Government, will prove gratifying t o all workers which would insure a thorough examination of chemists, not only because of t h e high esteem i n which these new products of t h e organic chemical laboratory, Mr. Branegan is held b y his many personal friends, or, if t h e spirit be willing, t h e means for conducting but because t h e appointment evidences t h e sound t h e tests are t o o limited, especially now when unipolicy of t h e Alien Property Custodian of appointing on versity finances are so severely contracted. I n a few t h e directing boards of seized organizations technical manufacturing establishments provision is made for experts fully qualified t o assure t h a t t h e purposes of animal experimentation, b u t these facilities are entirely inadequate and not available t o all organic chemists. t h e Government will be carried out. Custodian Palmer and his corps of able associates I n government laboratories some provision is made have evidently taken no vacation this summer. T h e for this work, b u t restrictions are enforced b y inthorough anti-financial-camouflage campaign which is adequate appropriations. And still people suffer,
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though much suffering has been alleviated by discoveries made in other lands. Fortunately, through t h e generous provision of wealthy individuals, certain institutions have been established and endowed where t h e chemist and t h e biologist can work in t h e closest cooperation. The importance of t h e intimate cooperation of these workers is evidenced by t h e work on t h e synthesis of a new anti-syphilitic drug which was recently accomplished in the laboratories of t h e Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research. This remedy is now tested from t h e clinical viewpoint in t h e hospital of t h e same institution. Similar institutions, however, are few in number and t h e capacity for work of this kind is necessarily restricted. The laboratory technique, from t h e chemist’s standpoint, is fortunately quite similar whether in preparing explosives, dyestuffs or medicinals; and t h e war period has developed many brilliant organic chemists whose talent could be applied t o t h e relief of suffering. How can this application be made? A suggestion has been advanced which seems t o cover t h e situation admirably, namely, t h a t an institution somewhat analogous t o t h e Mellon Institute be founded, in which adequate provision for laboratory tests of all kinds would be made and t o which, through t h e establishment of fellowships, manufacturing organizations could send well-trained young men for working out specific problems. Cooperation should be established between this institution and t h e organic laboratories of our universities, as well as with t h e hospitals of the country. An institution of this character would prove a great stimulus t o the creation of more adequate research facilities within t h e manufacturing establishments, for t h e great glory of the Mellon Institute lies, it seems t o us, not so much in t h e actual results obtained under its roof as in t h e indirect creation of research departments in industries which first caught t h e full significance of research through t h e fellowships established in that institution. Perhaps there is a better method t o accomplish this object. The columns of THIS J O U R N A L stand a t t h e disposal of any who will contribute t o t h e discussion. If the heart of any man should be moved in behalf of humanity t o fill this great need from t h e abundance of his riches, he can count with certainty upon t h e counsel of t h e ablest scientists of this country in working out t h e safe policies and many details of so important an undertaking. A DYESTUFF SECTION OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
The American Dyestuff Manufacturers’ Association and t h e dyestuff section of t h e Chemical Alliance afford ample machinery t o care for questions of general policy, internal and external, affecting t h e newly developed industry in this country. These, however, are strictly trade organizations. Without desiring t o inflict any further burden of organization
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upon t h e industry, which has its hands full in supplying pressing commercial needs, we would like t o second t h e suggestion of Mr. R. Norris Shreve (page 7 5 0 ) as t o t h e formation of a dyestuff section of t h e AMERICAS CHEMICAL SOCIETY. The days of experimental and large scale production of known dyestuffs have been accomplished. T o rest content with i h e present status of t h e industry would not be characteristic or worthy of this nation, which is justifiably proud of its initiative, resourcefulness, and inventive spirit. New lines must be developed a n d new advances made in technical methods, if we are t o be more t h a n mere copyists. No surer provision could be made for these efforts t h a n t h e semiannual gathering of t h e research men from t h e various dyestuff laboratories, in t h e atmosphere of a great assembly of chemists. The presentation of papers and their discussion would establish facts of value t o all, broader viewpoints would be obtained and sympathetic personal relationships formed which would stand in good stead. It is natural, perhaps, t h a t each commercial organization should desire t o retain for itself t h e benefits of research, yet, carried too far, it is a short-sighted policy, in view of t h e varied workings of different minds, Too much secrecy as t o certain fancied advantages has already proved in some cases the cause of industrial “dry rot.” Community of knowledge as t o scientific achievement, safeguarded by critical discussion of results, will prove so valuable a means of industrial advanFe t h a t it must not be neglected. Success t o those who are taking t h e preliminary steps for the formation of a dyestuff section of t h e AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY! I
THE BULL’S EYE Look out for t h e bull’s eye on the chemical products (not machinery) t o be exhibited a t the Fourth National Exposition of Chemical Industries. Since its inception this annual display of t h e results of chemists’ activities has sought t o accomplish one thing above others, namely, an exhibition of progress made in products manufactured for t h e first time in this country during t h e war period. Unfortunately in t h e past no distinguishing mark has been given t o such products, consequently only a confused idea could be obtained by t h e layman, and even by many chemists, as t o actual progress made. An effort will be made t o correct this during t h e coming Exposition by placing a “bull’s eye” upon all new products whose manufacture has been developed since t h e outbreak of t h e war. This new feature will prove of interest t o all, and we are equally sure t h a t t h e large number of exhibits bearing no such distinguishing mark will be a revelation t o t h e public of t h e manifold achievements of American chemists prior t o the war.
