Which Chemists Should Be Licensed? A. J.
NVDICK,
225 Broadway, New York, 7, Ν. Υ.
The p r o f e s s i o n a l s t a t u s o f t h e c h e m i s t , r e p e a t e d l y a s s u r e d b y t h e c o u r t s , i s b e y o n d d i s p u t e : l i c e n s i n g is n o t n e c e s s a r y for t h i s p u r p o s e . Clicmiete w h o serve t h e p u b l i e directly m i g h t b e l i c e n s e d , b u t there is no neeord Mansfield stated the grounds on which the evidence of Smeaton, the famous constructive engineer, was to he admitted upon a disputed question of obstruction to a harbor: "the opinion of scientific men upon proven facts may bo given by men of scienc.· within their own science. Another chief justice, I/ord Kussell of Killowen, explained the rule in a modern case of Heq. v. Silverlock ( iS'.M) 2 Q.R 76(5, 77Î, 'S Am. (Vim. Hep. 27, 10 Am. Crim K, 16 S. Ct, at page 1001, 41 L . E d . 1Ô1): "Formerly, theology, law, and medicine were specifically known its 'the professions'; but, as the applications of science and learning are extended to other departments of affairs, other vocations also receive the name. The word implies professed attainments in special knowledge, as distinguished from men» skill,- -a practical dealing with affairs, as distinguished from mere study or investigation; and an application of such knowledge to uses for others, as a vocation, as distinguished from its pursuit for its own purposes. There are professors of chemistry in all the chief colleges of the country. It is a science, the knowledge of which is to be acquired only after patient study and application. The chemist who places his knowledge acquired from a study of the science to the use of others, as he may be
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.employed by l hem, :m«l as a voc:it ion for the purpose of his own mainlenanr«\ must certainly h< regarded as oneeng:tgeeals of Xew York, in (,'n'ffrrt v. .1/>«/e found in the tightly licensed professions of law or medicine. • f, for one, am ready t o support legisla tion which will require licensing of those chemists whose activities bring th^m di rectly into contact with the public they serve, because the public is not in a posi tion to investigate the qualifications of such chemists, as contrasted with the em ployer who hires an incompetent at a cutt liroat salary. But even when it comes to the regulat ion of the activities of such chemists, it is important carefully to consider how to deline a "chemist", or the practice of chem istry. Scientific activities'ex t. vm\ over so vast an area these days that t he lines of demar cation between the fundamental natural sciences are not sharply defined. When the chemist deals with intra-atomic forces lie appears to be operating within the do main of the physicist. When the· chemist deals with biological or bacteriological problems he is entering the domain of sis ter disciplines. At best, any system of licensure can do no more than prescribe a minimum stand ard. The person who qualifies under such a minimum standard and is able thereby to announce to the world that he is ready to minister to the scientific needs of the public, offers no assurance that he is par ticularly qualified to handle advanced problems in chemistry. Such a chemist, to achieve a real reputation for competence, will still have to depend upon real perform ance. I t seems that the whole question of li censure has been treated in a strikingly unscientific way. It is nothing short of amazing that scientists who root so lustily for licensing of chemists and pay lip-serv ice to the constitutional requirements— i.e., the protection of the public,* fail to present the factual «lata needed to sustain the constitutional demands. The data re lied on for tbeirconclusionscannotbe.compared to data which they would demand before expressing their professional opin ions. If the public interest, as contrasted with the economic interest of the chemists themselves, really requires the licensing of chemists, such requirement can be proved b y a truly scientific study of the situation. I must again emphasize what is meant by the public interest. Λ'review of the historical background underlying the vari ous statutes regulating the practice of such professions as law, medicine, dentistry.
AND
ENGINEERING
NEWS
architecture, or nursing, disc-loses that there was indeed a great need ïor the legislation. For instance, in the case of dentistry and medicine, innumerable quacks and charlatans had for years imposed upon the sick and ailing people of this state. Fraudulent practices were rampant, and incompetents and unfits were t o be found everywhere. T h e proponents of the original bills for the regulation of the abovementioned professions, and of the subsequent amendments improving the qualifications of persons desiring to enter into the practice of those professions wen* able always to point, to a list of evils that had to be eradicated. I fear that s«*ine of our distinguished chemists who argue for licensing, have themselves not engaged in the research
upon which they predicate their conclusions. Indeed, it appears that they h a v e been fed with fragmentary materials which they have accepted in good faith as being' factually correct, although they would not have done so, had they subjected such incomplete data to the same critical standards by which they would have judged scientific data in their own fields. I believe that there is no need for general licensure. As to the licensing of particular phases of the professional activities wherein the chemist deals directly with the public, any legislation directed to the rectification of evils which injure the public should be framed on the results of a truly scientific study of the problems involved. I, therefore, urge you as scientists to say to your fellow-scientists who clamor so
National Registry of Rare Chemicals FRANCES KNOCK,
Armour Research foundation, Chicago 16. III.
A HE National Registry of Hare Chemicals is now in its fourth year of service t o the chemists of the Nation. With the registry's important wartime job successfully accomplished it is now appropriate to express to the scientists, w h o have insured its # success by submitting sources of chemicals, the appreciation of the large group of research workers and laboratories who have benefited thereby. T o the many who have cooperated and thus aided in expediting countless desperately urgent wartime projects, go its congratulations for a job well done. The registry was founded June 1, 1942, by Armour Research Foundation to serve scientists all over the world asj a central clearinghouse of information on the availability of chemicals not stocked by the usual supply houses. Ordinarily, it does not buy, sell, or stock chemicals but only keeps on file information as to their availability. In those cases, however, where a supplier desires to remain anonymous, .the registry will act as an intermediary in the negotiations, transmitting price information, the chemical, and payment therefor, without disclosing the identity of the supplier. The registry's services, which are free, are directed by members of the staff of Armour Research Foundation who are bound by the same obligation of confidential operation that governs all of the work of the foundation. The registry's file of data, n o w virtually a national survey of existing supplies of rare chemicals, was started by contacting some 2,500 industrial and educational laboratories all over the country to uncover any rare chemicals they might have on hand. To their continued cooperation, and the voluntary efforts of individuals and scientific journals, the registry owes a large part of the continual expansion of the information in its files VOLUME
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In addition, since many wartime projects hinged upon the immediate procurement of rare materials, much information was of necessity unearthed by consulting the chemical literature of the last decade to learn of previous workers who might, and frequently did, contribute valuable clues as to sources of the needed chemical*. From all of these sources, the registry's files have grown to include over 8,500 compounds. The almost universal interest aroused by efforts to assist scientific workers in their research problems is attested n o t only by the large number of contributions of source information, but also by the everincreasing number of requests received t o locate sources of rare compounds. T h e s e have come from every state in this country, from England, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Italy, Australia, Hawaii, Union of South Africa, India, Holland, Sweden, and Russia. Of over 8,000 inquiries during t h e past three years, between one half and throe quarters have been filled, either from the files directly or through information obtained as a result of notices p u b lished throughout the year with the c o operation of many scientific journals. It would be impossible to estimate t h e man hours of work sa veil the Nation b y this means of locating desperately needed rare chemicals. Wartime delays in securing needed intermediates and frequently the complete disappearance of these intermediates from the market would often have necessitated dropping promising lines of research without the registry's aid. All types of chemists, from university students working on their doctorate theses to the scientists of the atom bomb projects, have been helped. From the large file of letters of commendation received, it is safe to say that many impon nt projects would have been seriously ham-
» AUGUST
2 5,
1946
lustily for licensure "Please . a t -uly.scientific study of the evils which y« >u desire to ««radicate». Let that study l>e documented with ease histories sho\vit-»g all the facts, so that we as scientists, ourselves, can formulate the kind of judgment which would he acceptable in a scientific symposium. If there are evils are they present, as traces—or in a m o u n t s which demand legislative action? A r e these evils, especially in the ease of ei*i. plovers who are allegedly imposed upon, the result of the employer's own recklessness or greediness in trying to get conipotent scientific talent at cut-throat price-*? In short, give us all the data that y< >u would want before you would express t i n opinion or judgment in a matter scientific."
pcivd had not sources been found f o r necessary materials. I n order to continue its services to t l i e world's chemists, the registry i s c o n stantly seeking to expand its file of i n formation. Accordingly, another earnest appeal is being made to research workers in all the laboratories of the country To help in obtaining data on sources of rare compounds. Any chemist who prepares an unusual chemical in excess of his needs in the course of some experiment i s urged to relay this information to the registry*. No· matter how small the quantity o n hand, this information will be extremely helpful. Many sources and inquiries f« >r just such small quantities have been r e ceived, and frequently only a fraction of a milligram m a y \y necessary for an identit y test. A chemist possessing this simili amount wouid save another chemist d e siring the compound several weeks of work which m a y be necessary for its preparation. The supplier of the compound e n tails no risk of disclosing trade secrets since he m a y remain completely a n o n y mous if ho so desires. I n listing rare chemicals, the full chemical name of the compound indicating trie exact positions of any substitucnts, a n d the approximate amount available should be given, together with the name and a d dress to which communications should l_>e sent. D a t a on purity arc also useful if known. The information should be a d dressed to the National Registry of Rare Chemicals, Armour Research Foundation, 35 West 33rd St., ( 'bicago 16, 111. The r e lease of this information in no w a y obligates the possessor of the chemical to d i s pose of it, although it is assumed that t l i e listing of a compound implies that t h e possessor is prepared to release all or p a r t of i t to another worker if suitable term*, can be reached. I n looking forward, t h e registry anticipates even greater service to the world's research workers. I t s success, based upon the cooperation of America's scientists seems assured. 2173
