World-Wide Chemistry Italy RAFFAELB SANSONB, Via G. B. D'Albertis 5/4, Genoa (15)
I N SPITE OP THE FACT that international economic and financial questions are still unsettled, Italian industry continues t o show improvement, inducing an appreciable gain in consumption of chemicals. Many plants liave enjoyed increases in their orders, while others have been able t o secure contracts calling for sizable deliveries during t h e last three months of the year. There has been an improvement in the export trade, in spite of high tariffs and restrictions against imports in many foreign countries. In the meantime, the low value of the dollar and the pound (12.50 and 58.50 lire, respectively) has favored importation, al though this has not increased to the extent anticipated, because of difficulty in arranging long-term credits demanded, due to t h e lack of money. A N ARCHIVE FOR A L L R A W MATERIALS FOUNDED
The director of the National Research Council has approved t h e foundation of an Archive for Raw Materials, as proposed b y the committee studying this project. Besides a complete list of samples, there will be collected for the archive all information as to the geological, geographic, ethnologic, artistic, and eco nomic characteristics of the raw materials which the country has, at its disposal, whether obtained within the state or imported. The following will be considered part of the archive, as their work will fall within its scope: the Central Statistical Institute, the Direction of Public Domain, the National Institute on E x orts, the Agricultural and Industrial Confederations, etc. 'he committee for the archive will also refer to specialists in t h e various technical branches of industry, who will be allowed t o prepare or pass upon data collected. Having ordered and collected all this material, it will b e neces sary to keep i t up to date, with notices in regard t o all the raw materials, following fluctuations in supplies and prices in the vari ous markets. To this will be added a study of all the characteris tics of all these materials. Thus the archive will take over from the Research Council all problems relating to the question of substituting cheaper materials, or national products in place of those now imported.
Ç
1. A method for increasing the plasticity of clays and argillaceous earths to prevent dropping during the preparation of ceramic pastes. 2. The choice of a reagent which will accelerate the change of crystallise quartz into tridymite at not too high temperatures, so as to reduce the non-uniform contraction during heating t o a minimum. 3. Considering the refractivity and high thermal activity of Car borundum, t o find a coating to protect it from the corrosive action of alkaline vapors, so that it might h e used in place of the other more common refrac tories. 4. To develop something which would render unnecessary the frequent changes now necessary in t h e fabrics used in retaining t h e ceramic pastes on pressure filters. δ. Bearing in mind the utility of the new gas-heated furnaces for baking ceramics, developed by equipment mazrufacturers. it i s nevertheless consid ered that changes of equipment a t this time would be inadvisable, because of the poor economic conditions. The recent adoption of tunnel heaters, in place of tiio intermittent heaters previously in use, assures a satisfactory reduction in fuel consumption, s o that further improvement may be post poned to more prosperous times. 6. Hadiation losses from non-insulated furnaces are found to be 50 per cent of the total fuel consumption, so it is advisable to insulate, using firebrick cemented together by suitable binders. ELECTBICAJL ENERGY PRODUCED FROM SOFF-IONI
The following represent estimates of the potential yield of energy which the borax soffioni are capable of developing: A t Larderello, No. 1, exploded March 26, 1931, 230,000 kg. vaporhours; N o . 2, exploded April 24, 1932, 180,000 kg. vapor-hours; soffioni of Serrezzano, exploded June 9, 1932, 180,000 kg. vaporhours; Castelnuovo, exploded October 11, 1933, 100,000; total, 690,000 k g . vapor-hoiirs. If to these is added the capacity of the numerous smaller soffioni, a total of over 900,000 kg. vaporhours is reached. As the production of a kilowatt of electrical energy requires about 20 kg. of water vapor, t h e capacity of the soffioni amounts to 45,000 kw-hr. per hour, or 1,080,000 a day. Considering that 1 kg. of Cardiff coal develops 1.5 kw-hr. of energy, 7 2 0 tons of coal a day might be saved by utilizing the soffioni fully. Translation by A . W. CONTIERI
October 17, 1933
ITALIAN COMMITTEE O N NITROGEN FORMED
Miscellaneous Foreign Notes
The Official Gazette has published the Royal Decree-Law of August 13, 1933, N o . 1100, relative to the formation within the Ministry of Corporations of the Italian Committee on Nitrogen. Article 1. There is hereby formed within the Ministry of Corporations a Committee on Nitrogen. Article 2. The scope of the committee will be: (1) to determine periodically the national requirements of nitrogenous products; (2) to determine peri odically the availability of nitrogen products; (3) to regulate the importa tion of these products, permitting the importation, and even delegating the authority t o commercial companies or corporations, to buy and sell the products under the provisions of the oouncil; (4) to authorize the establish ment of depositories of these products within the country; (5) to make all necessary arrangements which may be required to provide national indus tries as well as agriculture with sufficient nitrogen products. Article 3. T h e presidency is assigned to the Undersecretary of State for Corporations a s designated in the constitution of the committee itself. The deliberations by the committee on the matters enumerate! in Nos. 3 , 4 , and 5 of Article 2 become effective when approved by a decree of the Minister of Corporations in conjunction with the Minister of Finance. Article 4. T h e committee shall be self-regulating. It will choose an executive commission from among its own members. Article 5. Nitrogen products producers must notify the committee periodically as t o the amount they intend to produce for the next period, so that production and consumption may be more closely balanced. Article β. OP. the initiative of the committee, the Minister of Corpora tions, with the assent of the Minister of Finance, may start inquiries as to the exact relations between production and demand of the products listed under Article 5 ; and to insure strict observation of its edicts in regard to the importation and distribution of the product. Article 7. A t the end of each fiscal period, the committee will submit a re· port of its activities t o the Ministers of Corporations and Finance. Article 8. The present decree becomes effective on the day of its publica tion in the Official Gazette of the kingdom and will be presented to Parliament to be made into a law. INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON GLASS AND CERAMIC PRODUCTS HOLDS MEETING
The meeting of the International Congress on Glass and Ceramics took place September 21 at the seat of the Local of the Industrial Fascist Union of the Province of Milan. Among the numerous problems discussed were the following:
RUDOLF SEIDEN, Landstrasser Gurtel 9 / 1 0 ,
Vienna III, Austria
Czechoslovakia RADIOACTIVE A I R M A Y C A U S E PULMONARY C A N C E R
Doctor Stoklasa o f Prague has shown that the radioactivity of the air at Joachiinsthal and Schneeberg m a y be the cause of pulmonary cancers suffered by certain miners. Lungs of animals subjected to the protracted action of radium rays produced large amounts of lactic acid, which in turn affected the action of respiratory enzym.es, especially the oxidases and peroxidases. The oxidation of lactic acid was thus inhibited, as were the oxida tions of ethanol and acetaldehyde. Irritations are caused by this accumulation of lactic acid, and these seem t o lead t o the growth of tumors and cancers. Emanations absorbed by a miner in the radium mines a t Joachimsthal or at Schneeberg, who works 7 hours a d a y and some 300 days a year, m a y reach 4.2 to 8.4 million Mache units, corresponding to a weight of 1.55 to 3.1 mg. of radium per annum. The cumulative action of the radium émanation explains t b e occurrence of cancer o f the lungs in those mines in which the air shows an activity of 10 to 14 Mache units. T h e only practical precaution that can be taken i s ventilation under pressure. CHEMICAL. INDUSTRY SUFFERS AS THE R E S U L T OF DEPRESSION
Recently published annual reports of the Central Union of Czechoslovakian Manufacturers for 1932 give the following picture: T h e position o f the textile industry i s indicated by t h e decrease i n the imports of raw materials. Comparatively speaking, the artificial silk industry h a s suffered least. The tanning industry has been obstructed by a prohibitive tariff on chemicals. T h e domestic sale of pulp fell t o 10,000 tons, and, since exports also decreased sharply, the cellulose industry was in a disastrous position. The paper industry declined to 7 5 per cent of i t s production capacity. The sale of pasteboard feD another 2 0 per cent. The position of the roofing-paper industry was i m paired, despite the formation of a mutual association for common purchase and sale. The glass industry suffered even more. Itsproduction reached only 25 per cent of the possible output. While production i n
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the alcohol industry actually increased, the sale of alcohol decreased. The vegetable oil industry worked to only 2D per cent capacity. A decrease Tof 5000 tons in the consumption of lubricating oils was noted. I • xe case of paraffin the decrease was approximately 700 tons. Some SO per cent of the wood distillation plants were idle. Competed with the figures for 1929, the chemical industry shows a retrogression of over 50 per cent. The following figures are given in terms of production capacity: sulfuric acid (at most; 40 per cent; sulfates, 25 per cent; potassium permanganate, 20 per cent; barium chloride, 15 per cent; lithopone, approximately 33 per cent; sodium sulfide, about 15 per cent; potassium chlorate, 33 per cent. Compared with the production in 1931, there was a retrogression of 38 per cent in tlie case of coke and coal tar, and 37 per cent in crude benzene. On the other hand, in the field of synthetic dyes, several new products were developed and the production of trichloroethylene was started. For the first time the pharmaceutical industry showed a decline. The retrogression in the perfume and cosmetic industry was particularly severe. Even the production of essential oils and essences was lowered. Three years ago fifty-four factories supplied shoe polish. Last year there were only fifteen in operation. Only one-half as much celluloid was sold in 1932 as in 1931. Of this amount only about 2 per cent was exported, as compared with, a 75 per cent export in previous years. Similar difficulties were faced by the artificial resin industry. Approximately one-half as much bone glue was produced in 1932 as in 1930. The production of gelatin, however, was somewhat more favorable, owing to curtailed importations. PRODUCTION OP PRECIOUS METALS SHOWS INCREASE
The Government of Czechoslovakia has decided upon an increase in precious metal production. Hitherto the ajonual requirements in metallic silver were approximately 30,000 kg. This has been augmented to 40,000 kg. Gold production, which heretofore has been limited to the Kremnica mine, will be raised to 300 kg. In the region of the North Sea, extensive ore deposits have recently been discovered. These include pyrites and copper ores, as well as some gold and pitchblende. A group or Czechoslovakia interests is carrying on an investigation.
Turkey OUTPUT OP CHROMIUM I s GREATLY INCREASED
In 1932, Turkey exported 53,716 tons of chromium ore, as compared with 29,000 tons in 1931. Further expansion in the mining industry leads to the prediction that the 1932 export will be doubled in 1933.
Poland
year. On the other hand, exports increased both in quantity and value. They were evaluated at 114.4 million drachmas, as compared with 80.6 million drachmas in 1931. Household soaps were produced to the extent of 22,500 tons (valued a t 247.5 million drachmas), as compared with 25,000 tons in 1931, valued at 225 million drachmas. In 1932, 355 tons of absolute alcohol (valued at 5.4 million drachmas) and 7020 tons of denatured industrial alcohol (worth 105.3 million drachmas) were produced. In the year previous the production figures were 108.8 tons and 7820 tons, respectively. None of the data include alcohol used in brandy manufacture, which dropped almost 50 per cent in 1932.
Austria ATOMS SHATTERED WITH EMISSION- OF NEUTRONS
Elizabeth Matzner, working in the Institut fur Radiumforschung in Vienna, has made an interesting discovery. It is known that many elements exposed to polonium alpha-particles emit neutrons. Often this emission is relatively slight when compared with that of beryllium subjected to similar treatment. For example, the ratio of neutrons emitted by beryllium to those emitted by zinc (as measured by the Curie-Joliet effect) is about 70:1. However, by increasing the velocity of the alpha-particles the effect is also tremendously increased. Doctor Matzner filled a small bulb containing zinc powder with radon, and sealed the vessel which then served as a source of neutrons. Experiments showed that the relative intensities of the effects manifested by various elements were approximately the same, irrespective of whether the excitation was caused by the neutrons emitted b y beryllium (under the influence of polonium alphaparticles) or by the secondary radiations emitted by zinc (stimulated by radon and its disintegration products). Thus nickel (which under the direct influence of alpha-rays delivers a minimum number of neutrons) shows the greatest effect as a tertiary radiator. On the other hand, tbe tertiary effect shown by zinc (under either type of influence) is the smallest of any of the elements studied. Stimulated by radon and its disintegration products, however, the absolute intensity of the zinc secondary radiation (which may also be termed "neutron radiation") increases to 50 to 60 times the intensity of the radiation obtained from beryllium irradiated by polonium, provided sources with an equal number of disintegrating atoms of radon or polonium are compared. It will be recalled that the secondary radiation of zinc when caused by polonium alpha-rays was only one-seventieth of the beryllium effect. The startling increase in radiation, with growing speed of the alpha-particles, justifies the assumption that the action is due largely to the rapid alpha-particles of RaC. This action is roughly 4000 times as great as that of the polonium alpha-particles. The exceptional position hitherto occupied by beryllium is evidently not due to the greater yield in the case of this particular element, but to the rather low energy stimulating the emission of neutrons.
CARBON DIOXIDE BURSTS FROM WELL AS SNOWSTORM
In the region surrounding an oil well, during the latter part of August, the bathing resort of Krynica witnessed a unique phenomenon. Quite without warning, carbon dioxide burst out of a neighboring petroleum well, and fell in the form of snow. Doctor Nowak, of the University of Cracow, is making a study of this hitherto unobserved phenomenon.
Vol. 11, No. 22
Palestine CHEMICAL. INDUSTRY SHOWS RAPID GROWTH
The manufacture of glues of all grades, as well as of cleaning and polishing agents, has recently been revived in Tel-Aviv by the Chemische Industrien. In Petach Tikwa, land has been acquired by the Banna Fertilizer Co., with a view to the erection of a second plant. Finland Owing to the rapid spread of orange groves the production PAPER INDUSTRY IS of certain insecticides used in fighting parasites attacking citrus RAPIDLY EXPANDING fruit trees has been greatly stimulated. A factory established The total production of the Finnish paper industry for 1932 by the Tapsol Co. at Tel-Aviv manufactures insecticides known has already been sold. Marked expansion has been made as Knimotin and Tapsol. possible by the installation of new paper machines i n WalkiaThe Salomon, Levy, and Elstein Co., of Tel-Aviv, is erecting a koski and Myllykoski, each machine being capable of producing plant for the manufacture of alcohol and carbon dioxide in Baith50,000 tons of paper annually. A similar machine "will prob- Wegan near Jaffa. ably soon be erected in the Kymmene mill at Voikka. Various chemical products will be manufactured by a firm named "Orientalische Cheinie-Untemehmungen," in Tel-Aviv. This same city also saw the establishment of a branch of the Greece German firm, Leo Werke, which is already producing tooth GRAPHITE paste, shaving cream, and inks. In Haifa, the Snemen Oil Plant DISCOVERED has undertaken the production, largely for export, of massage An important graphite deposit, the first one found in the creams and of oils used for protection against sunburn. Balkan area, was discovered in the Volo region of Thessaly. At a cost of approximately £15,000, Baron Edmund de Rothschild erected a new plant in Petach Tikwa, for the producIN CHEMICAL INDUSTRY tion of essential oils, especially those of rose, lemon, geranium, With the exception of the naval stores industry, a general and mimosa. Extensive, floriculture is practiced at Shuny, curtailment in production was noted. Despite this retrogression, emphasis being placed on the cultivation of roses, tuberoses, prices have increased so markedly that the value of the more and jasmine, and of certain medicinal plants. Essential oils important chemical products has actually risen. According to a are also being furnished by the Rothschild plant at Benjamina, statistical summary, which includes soap, linseed oil, glass, and which was built some ten years ago, and at Rehoboth, by the ceramics, the value of chemical products rose from 678.8 million recently completed factory of the Citrus Oil Co., Ltd. The latter drachmas in 1931 to 812.3 million drachmas in 1932. Chemical manufactures largely oil of orange, of which some 1500 lb. are imports decreased. Their total value was 519.8 million drach- produced annually. Translation by L. E. WISE mas, as compared with 524.8 million drachmas in t h e previous
PRODUCTION CURTAILED
November 20,1933
INDUSTRIAL
AND
ENGINEERING
The Chemist in the State Today FROM A GERMAN CORRESPONDENT
NATURALLY, for a number of years there have been among German chemists National Socialists who have played, and are playing, a leading role in the party. For example, there is Doctor Ley, director of the German labor front, a chemist by inheritance; also Werner Daitz, and Lubeck, a chemist, who was active in the diplomacy of the present government. The associations and societies of chemists, however, have heretofore maintained their independence; only the Bund angestellter Akademiker und Ingenieure has gone into the Deutscher Technikerverband, which includes all employees, and into the Gesamtverband der deutschen Angestellten, with more than a million and a half members, including all types of commercial technologists, engineers, chemists, dentists, employed physicians, apothecaries, theater employees, etc. Furthermore, for some time a national-socialist club for chemists has existed in Cologne, which recently disregarded a specific precedent and postponed the decision concerning the future set-up of the Verein Deutscher Chemiker at its congress in Wûrzburg early in June. In this connection, confidence in the former president of the Verein, Professor Duden, was expressed after he had announced that the Verein Deutscher Chemiker "has unwavering intentions for energetic assistance in the tremendous problems which the new day brings to the German people." Then, Gottfried Feder in a political review discussed the demands which the new state places on German chemists and German technologists, and complained that these had hitherto been repressed too much by political practices. In air protection, particularly, a very imposing national-political problem faces German chemists. Favoring the inclusion of the Verein Deutscher Chemiker in the professional set-up, Doctors Kretzscnmar, Stantein, and Scheifele and Professors Lottermoser and Môllney then entered on the side of Professor Duden. Doctor Kretzscnmar, Berlin, in a supplement to volume 35 of the Zeitschrift fur angewandte Chemie now publishes an essay on National Socialism and chemistry, in which he discusses the remodeling of research and instruction in the national-socialistic sense and the new organization of the chemical profession. A Keich-hochschule division has been founded, which is under the direction of Erich Seidl. For this there is at the same time a government hochschule supervisor at each university and hochschule and a government technical man as supervisor for each technical field. In the latter capacity Doctor Kretzscnmar has been named for chemistry, while Professor Stock has been appointed assistant. Feder returned time and again to the point that the technologists need not hide themselves, "for the handwriting of the technologists is engraved on the entire face of the earth. Technics means service to the people." In this connection, provision should be made whereby not only the old approved membership would be left undisturbed, but in addition all professions yet outside could be brought into the Verein systematically. New laws are being worked out, and their preparation is in the hands of a special committee whose decision will come in the next few weeks. It is indicated, however, that the Verein Deutscher Chemiker has been selected as the starting point for the assembling of the entire German chemical profession. The political confidence man of all technical scientific alliances is the previously mentioned Gottfried Feder, who is the government leader of Subcommittee Β of the party's official political central committee. In the various district organizations of the Verein Deutscher Chemiker the director principle is to be applied everywhere—that is, the president of the Verein names the dis trict presiding officers who then call other members as secretary and treasurer, whereas all official members were formerly elected by the Verein membership. The new trend, to make the educa tion of the young more national, requires that professional instruction in the field of natural science also be remodeled. Thus, P. Stautz, Mainz, notes that even the study of chemistry can yield valuable patriotic service, that the knowledge of the nation is furthered by chemical instruction, and the work of German chemical science and chemical technics can and should be emphasized more than heretofore.
NOTABLE EXPANSION IN JAPANESE RAYON INDUSTRY REPORTED
EXPANSION of the rayon industry is one of the notable features in the Japanese industrial set-up, according to the Commerce Department. Productive capacity increased from 96 metric tons per day at the end of March to 126 tons at the close of the June quarter. Construction plans definitely approved or in actual process of execution are expected to add about 40 metric tons to the potential daily capacity, bringing the total to 166 metric tons per day. This will mean an aggregate yearly ca pacity of 48,000 metric tons, or more than 100 million pounds.
CHEMISTRY
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The Japanese rayon industry has been very profitable for the past two years, and investors appear to believe that this pros perity will continue. A large proportion of the output is being exported in the form of cloth. Recent reports to the Commerce Department indicate steadily rising receipts of Japanese rayon in various important world markets, particularly Germany. BITUMENS IN PALESTINE
ALFRED MARCUS, Haifa, Palestine, is conducting research upon the bitumen and bituminous limestones of that country. The bitumen occurs impregnating limestone of the Cenomanian age exposed in a fault scarp, also in dolomite rocks of the same age, and as a cementing material of diluvial sediments and of conglomerates of more recent Quaternary age lying at the base of dolomite cliffs. A pure bitumen from the Dead Sea has been known for a long period. Generally it contains no impurities but with some of the larger blocks are found crystals of calcite. Bituminous limestones of Palestine are entirely associated with the strata of Senonian-Danian age. Some overlie phosphate beds and west of the Dead Sea and the lower Jordan plain the chert limestone series is highly developed, attaining a thickness of from 200 to 300 feet. Phosphate beds are also general in these sections, where not denuded, but the bituminous limestone does not cap existing phosphate beds in all areas and where the phos phates are still highly developed they become insignificant. Doctor Marcus has analyzed these materials as a part of the effort to exploit these deposits of Palestine.
Two World Congresses of Chemistry in 1934 THE THIRD Technical and Chemical International Congress of Agricultural Industries will be held in Paris, March 26 to 31, 1934, and the Ninth International Congress of Pure and Applied Chemistry in Madrid April 5 to 11, 1934. These congresses will mark the resumption of tbe series of world chemical gatherings interrupted by the war. The last one was the 8th International Congress of Pure and Applied Chemistry, held in New York, September, 1912. The efforts of the International Union of Chemistry, which has functioned since 1920, have been restricted to the consideration, by small groups of delegates chosen to repre sent various countries, of questions of international concern, such as nomenclature, symbols, units, standards, etc. In con trast with these gatherings, the congresses to be held next year are open to all interested persons and opportunity for the pres entation and discussion of papers on all branches of chemistry will be provided. The committees organizing the two congresses are making every effort to arrange programs of the highest interest. The Congress of Agricultural Industries will give especial attention to the sugar, fermentation, and food industries, but of course all other branches of agricultural chemical activity will be included in the program. In fact, twenty-one sections have been organ ized and a chairman and secretary chosen for each. It has also been planned to hold what may be described as sym posia upon various questions of particular importance to agri cultural chemistry. Competent persons will be invited to present the subject and conduct the discussion. Among the subjects proposed are: the practical application of pH and rH deter minations; the improvement of sugar beets and sugar cane by genetic selection; the non-alimentary utilization of surplus agri cultural products; the clarification of sugar juice, the crystalli zation and conservation of sugar; continuous diffusion; the industry of fermentation cultures; the quality of bread in differ ent countries; the collection, transportation, and treatment of milk; the evolution and new procedures in the manufacture of chocolate; use of vegetable oils in combustion motors; the tech nical and economic aspects of motor fuels containing alcohol, etc. This congress will be concerned almost exclusively with the application of chemistry to problems of agricultural importance. At the 9th Congress of Chemistry, to be held in Madrid the following week, applied chemistry will form only a part of the program. Papers upon pure chemistry will probably predomi nate. In fact, an effort is being made to present the most recent developments in theoretical chemistry. New ideas in regard to the atom and the ultimate composition of matter will be given first place on the program. Eminent men from different coun tries nave been invited to give addresses and acceptances have been received from several. An announcement of the list of these speakers and their subjects will shortly be made. The plan of organization of this congress provides that there shall be brought together a group of the outstanding chemists of the world as the stars around which many others will assemble. The regulations of the two congresses are those customary for such gatherings. The membership fee for that of Paris is 100 francs for active members, and 50 francs for accompanying visi tors. For the Madrid meeting the charge is 75 pesetas and 25 pesetas, respectively. The rules for the submission of papers
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provide that they shall be submitted, together with an abstract, not later than January 15, 1934, in t h e case of t h e former, and January 31,1934, for the latter, i n order that they m a y be printed and distributed before the opening of the congress. It is probable that American chemists may submit papers after these dates and have them accepted and given a place on t h e program, b u t printed copies cannot be furnished in advance. There are n o restrictions as to membership. The period chosen is that most agreeable for a trip t o France, and especially t o Spain. For Americans it is t h e off season for ocean travel, and cheaper rates and better steamship accommo dations are available than at a later date. For Europeans it is the Easter vacation period, which is the traditional one for a visit to Spain. Among the privileges which will be accorded t o members of t h e two congresses will be one-half fare rates o n the railroads, excur sions t o the wine and other agricultural regions of France, and to points of touristic interest in Spain. There will be a trip at t h e close of the Paris meeting to t h e region around Bordeaux, after which those going to Madrid will proceed directly. For those not going t o Madrid, excursions are being arranged to the valley of the Rhone, t h e Burgundy a n d Champagne regions, and t o Alsace. The custom of attending congresses b y automobile is develop ing in Europe but, of course, has not attained the degree that i t has in America. These two congresses should provide an excep tional opportunity for American chemists to extend their auto mobile touring experience. For a group of several persons using the same car the expense should certainly not greatly exceed that of travel b y rail. The transportation of touriste' auto mobiles t o Europe is quite reasonable. One line advertises a rate of S120 for t h e round trip from N e w York t o Havre. A l though the dollar has declined i n value, about 40 per cent in re cent months in respect t o most European currencies, the cost of traveling in Europe is still no greater than in America for com parable accommodations. It has been m y great fortune to visit Europe frequently in recent years, and i t will be my pleasure to give additional informa tion upon t h e Paris and Madrid congresses to all who m a y wish to call upon me. ATHERTON SEIDELL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF H E A L T H
Washington, D . C. ROANOKE MEETING OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS A T THE M E E T I N G of the American Institute of Chemical Engi neers, t o be held in Roanoke, Va., December 1 2 , 1 3 , and 14,1933, the following papers are to be presented: T U E S D A Y M O R N I N G , D E C E M B E R 12
"Amortization, Depreciation, Obsolescence, and Replacement,'' by Wyman P. Fiske, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "Recent Developments in Nitrogen Fertilizers," by C. L. Burcick, E. I. du Pont d e Nemours & Co., Inc. "The Development of Air Conditioning in Industrial, Residential, and Public Buildings. Its Effect on Human Beings. T h e Factors Which Enter into I t s Design," by P . F. Davidson, Carrier Corp. WEDNESDAY M O R N I N G , D E C E M B E R 13
"A Printing Ink and Method for Discharging from Paper," b y Sidney D . Wells, Combined Locks Paper Co. SYMPOSIUM ON REFRIGERATION
"Refrigeration," b y Frank Zumbro, Frick Co. "Water Vapor Refrigeration," b y Paul Bancel, Ingersoll-Rand Co. "Various Liquids Used in Refrigeration," b y J. B. Churchill, T h e Chemists' Club. PRINCIPLES OF CHEMICAL E N G I N E E R I N G
"Steam Film H e a t Transfer Coefficients for Vertical Tubes," b y G. Μ. Hebbard, Dow Chemical Co., and W. L . Badger, Uni versity of Michigan. "A Study of Entrainment in a Forced Circulation Evaporator," by Oren C. Cessna and W. L. Badger, University of Michigan. "The Isothermal Flow of Liquid Layers," b y C . M. Cooper, R. B. Drew, and W. H. McAdams, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "The Drop wise Condensation of Steam," by W. M. Nagie and T. B . Drew, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "Heat Transfer b y Condensing Vapor on Vertical Tubes," b y C. G. Kirkbride, Standard Oil Co. (Indiana). THURSDAY M O R N I N G , D E C E M B E R 14
"Some Chemical Aspects of Coal Utilization," b y H . H . Lowry, Carnegie Institute of Technology. "Acetic Acid Dehydration," b y Donald F . Othmer, Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute.
Vol. 11, N o . 22
Calendar of Meetings American Chemical Society 8 7 T H MEETING. St. Petersburg, Fia., week of March 25, 1934. 8 8 T H Meeting. Cleveland, Ohio, September 10 t o 14, 1934. 89TH MEETING.
N e w York, Ν . Υ .
9 0 T H MEETING.
San Francisco, Calif.
ELEVENTH COLLOID SYMPOSIUM.
Madison, Wis., June 14 t o 16,
1934. FIFTH
NATIONAL ORGANIC
CHEMISTRY
SYMPOSIUM.
Cornell
University, Ithaca, Ν . Y., December 28 to 30, 1933. LOCAL SECTIONS CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. State College, P a . , November 23, 1933. Meeting 7 : 3 0 p. M., "The Complexities of t h e Simple Element Hydrogen/' by F . G. Brickwedde. LOUISVILLE. December 12, 1933. "Modern Motor Fuels," by Gustav Egloff. MIDLAND. December 1, 1933. "Medicinal D y e s , " b y R. Norris Shreve. MINNESOTA. Auditorium, School of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, November 23, 1933. Meeting, 8 P. M., "A N e w Synthetic Stone—Rostone," by R. Norris Shreve. N E W YORK. Chemists' Club, December 8, 1933. Dinner, 6 P . M.; meeting, "Some Simple Aliphatic Chemistry," b y F. C . Whitmore, a n d "The Separation and Properties of t h e Hydrogen Isotopes," by H . C. Urey. NORTHEASTERN. December 8 , 1 9 3 3 . Dinner, Engineers' Club, 6 P. M.; meeting, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 8 P. M., "Organic Free Radicals and the Valence of Carbon," by H. E . Bent. ROCHESTER. December 4, 1933. Speaker, Alice Hamilton, Harvard University. S T . JOSEPH VALLEY. Cushing Hall of Engineering, University of Notre Dame, November 22, 1933. Meeting 8 P. M., "Oxy gen Therapy," b y J. I . Banash. S T . LOUIS. December 4, 1933. Dinner, Medical School Res taurant, 6:30 P . M.; meeting, St. Louis University Medical School, 7:45 P . M., "Fungicides," by G. H . Brown, "Some Phases of Wave Mechanics," b y Fred Olsen, "Intermediate Stages of Reduction of Chromic Acid," b y T. R. Ball, and "Electrodeposition of Silver." b y L. F. Yntema. TOLEDO. University of Toledo, November 23, 1933. Meeting, 8:15 P . M., "An Investigation of a Dietary Essential Present in Protein," by W . C . Rose.
Other Scientific Societies AMERICAN
ASSOCIATION
FOR THE ADVANCEMENT O F SCIENCE.
Boston, Mass., December 27, 1933, to January 2, 1934. AMERICAN INSTITUTE O F CHEMICAL E N G I N E E R S .
Roanoke, Va.
Date changed from December 6 t o 8, 1933, t o December 12 t o 14,1933, in order n o t ύθ conflict with the Chemical Exposition. Council meeting, December 11, 1933. AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY*
University of Cincinnati, Cin
cinnati, Ohio, December 1 t o 2, 1933. Pacific Coast, Stanford University, December 15 and 16, 1933. Boston, Mass., December 28 and 30, 1933, Annual Meeting. AMERICAN SOCIETY O F BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTS.
Columbia U n i
versity Medical School, N e w York, Ν. Υ . , April 25 t o 28,1934. FOURTEENTH
EXPOSITION
O F CHEMICAL
INDUSTRIES.
Grand
Central Palace, N e w York, Ν . Υ., December 4 to 9, 1933. SOCIETY OP KHEOLOGY.
Pittsburgh, Pa., December 2 7 and 28,
1933. TECHNICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE P U L P A N D P A P E R
INDUSTRY.
Waldorf Astoria Hotel, N e w York, Ν . Υ., February 19 t o 22, 1934. T H I R D INTERNATIONAL H E A T I N G A N D VENTILATING EXPOSITION.
Grand Central Palace, N e w York, Ν . Υ., February 5 t o 9, 1934.
CHEMICAL EXPOSITION
DINNER
THIS SECOND Chemical Exposition Dinner of the New York Pro fessional Group of Alpha Cni Sigma will be held December 6, 1933. There will be speakers; also plenty of time t o get ac quainted. A registration book will be placed in one of the ex hibition booths a t the Grand Central Palace s o that reservations can b e made for t h e dinner. Further details will b e sent t o local chapters and groups at a later date. RICHARD H I L L ,
100 West Hunter A v e . Maywood, N. J.
Secretary
