seeking the assistance of technically trained men, for experience gained during the stress of war has led them to see that money invested in chemical research is likely to return many times over in increased profits derived from better efficiency in their processes, and the utilisation of products formerly wasted. Better co-operation between science and industry may be looked for, and while the economic status of the chemist at the present moment is not good, the increased number of opportunities, now being provided by the captains of industry, makes his future assured. The Canadian Institute of Chemistry is welding the chemists together in a chain across Canada which will enable them better to cope with difficult questions involving their professional status; and the various other chemical societies, flourishing, reflect the new interest. Canada is a country of optimists, and optimism is the keynote of research and progress. If the foundations of research are well laid there need be little fear regarding the superstructure that capital will rear thereon, and the status of the chemist will no longer be a necessary topic for discussion.-Canadian Chemical Journal, iii., No. 12. CHEMISTRY AND AGRICULTURE. THIS journal (Canadian Chemical Journal) cannot be sa d to have suddenly become interested in agriculture as a result of recent elections in the Province of Ontario. Agriculture in general has been one of the fields that has given the chemist in the past very large opportunities, and agricultural chemistry has for years been one large branch of the subject. We would point out, however, to those chemists who have found their work in other fields that the whole of agricultural chemistry does not consist in making analyses of fertilisers. Some of the most complex problems and those most pressing for solution are either directly or indirectly connected with the utilisation of soil, the feeding of animals, and the production of crops and food supplies. Like all other branches of chemistry, there are many side lines and much overlapping with other sciences, but on the whole a sound knowledge of the principles of chemical research are essential before much progress can be made in any line or difficulties overcome. We have developed agricultural schools and experimental farms to a very fair state of efficiency, but it is not unfair to say that the various interests of these organisations has left but little energy for any real attacks on research problems. The perfection of the pure sciences in our agricultural colleges has lost much because they were so closely connected with a student body for the most part interested in what seemed to be more practical things, and also for the reason that no close connection was maintained with universities where more of the academic or research spirit might be imbued. Engineer ing has contributed to agriculture, practical farmers have been given better methods, better stock, and a keener ambition to develop the soil possibilities, and, on the whole, progress has been wonderful. Now, in order that it may be sustained, our facilities for the application and spread of general agricultural science must be increased, and above all more attention and more suitably trained Canadian minds should be directed towards the solution of basic problems and the development of the new in agri cultural science. Most of the keenest weapons of attack will more than likely be found to be chemical.-Canadian Chemical Journal, iii., No. 12. RÖNTGEN SOCIETY.-An Exhibition of Radiographic Prints by Members of the Röntgen Society will be held at the Royal Photographic Society House, 35, Russell Square, London, W.C. 1, from January 6 to February 7. The Exhibition will be open daily (admission free) from II a.m. to 5 p.m., and on the evenings of January 6 and 13 till 9 p.m. HELIUM PRODUCTION. Bulletin No. 178 C. of the United States Bureau of Mines gives an interesting account of the war development of plants for helium production-though, probably as a war was substituted for helium, measure, the name "argon and the three experimental plants finally constructed became known as argon plants. It is explained that one of these, the Norton process, is the latest practicable development in liquefying and separating gases. The Linde process (Plant No. 1) depends upon the so-called Joule Thomson effect, obtained by the sudden expansion of a highly compressed gas through a small orifice, or nozzle, and the consequent cooling of the gas; the process being elaborated into a self-intensive or cumulative cycle of heat interchange by causing the cooled gas, on escaping, to circulate around the tube leading the initial gas into the apparatus. George Claude, of Paris, conceived the idea of a liquefaction cycle with an expansion engine interpolated. Though the Joule-Thomson effect is used in the Claude cycle (Plant No. 2), its value is reduced to a minimum, because the compression of the gas in this system is lowered. The maximum cooling effect is produced by the expansion engine, because the compressed gas, on expanding in the engine cylinder, is made to do work, and thus its temperature is lowered. In the Norton process (Plant No. 3) three expansion engines are used, liquid is throttled, and the heat interchanger and fractionating still are of new design. In the Linde system an enormous expenditure of power is demanded to compress the gas in order to obtain the maximum effect of throttling; and this energy is then wasted. The Claude system requires much less compression power; but in this system the energy stored in the compressed gas is also dissipated. In the Norton system the requirement for gas compression is reduced to a minimum by the interpolation of the multiple-expansion engines, and what is needed is conserved and re-applied through the energy developed by these engines. Thus the maximum cooling effect is obtained at a minimum cost. confidently expected that helium of the highest purity will As the result of experiments made and work done, it is soon be produced by Plant No. 3 on a large scale.—Gas Journal. NOTIFICATION OF EPITHELIOMATOUS AND CHROME ULCERATION. SECTION 73 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, requires every medical practitioner attending on, or called in to visit, a patient whom he believes to be suffering from poisoning by lead, phosphorus, arsenic, or mercury, or from anthrax or toxic jaundice, contracted in a factory or workshop, to notify the case to the Chief Inspector of Factories at the Home Office; and a similar obligation is imposed on the occupier of a factory or workshop to send written notice of every such case to the Certifying Surgeon and Inspector of Factories for the district. The Secretary of State has now made an Order, in pursuance of sub-section (4), applying the provisions of the above section to all cases of (a) Epitheliomatous ulceration due to tar, pitch, bitumen, mineral oil, paraffin, or any compound, product, or residue of any of these substances, and (b) Chrome ulceration due to chromic acid or bichromate of potassium, sodium, or ammonium, or any preparation of these substances, occurring in a factory or workshop. 1. Epitheliomatous Ulceration.-In general, ulceration of the skin is a term used to define a raw surface forming on the skin, which, in industrial employment, is not infre quently set up by the substances handled. Under appro- | priate treatment, at no matter what age, such ulceration usually heals quickly, and should it recur will again heal with rest and treatment. In the case of those handling the substances named, however, especially when the workers are over thirty-five years of age and have worked for about ten years or more n particular operations exposing them to dust or liquids, the ulceration following on the skin irritation set up may not heal but spread over a larger area of the surface of the skin and extend downwards into the flesh. And this form of ulceration, among other places, occurs with rela. tive frequency on the scrotum. It is then to be regarded as epitheliomatous or cancerous, and this is the condition to be notified. The only method of treatment for these ulcers likely to be successful is operative, which should be undertaken as early as possible, and roughly the need for operative interference is a criterion by which to judge of the need for report. Many workers coming into contact with the substances named are prone to inflammations of the skin, such as plugging of the orifices (hair follicles and sebaceous glands) leading to hard red raised lumps on the skin (papules) often with a black central spot (blackheads). These are most marked on the forehead, neck, and outer surface of the arms. Sometimes the continued irritation causes scattered patches of pigmentation or reddened areas on the face or forearms, or quite small warts form without ulceration or extension into the surrounding skin. These conditions do not come within the definition of "epitheliomatous ulceration," and it is not the intention that they should be notified. 2. Chrome Ulceration. If chrome compounds and their solutions remain in contact with the broken skin (and sometimes even with a very sensitive skin in the absence of an obvious broken surface) they give rise either to a general eczematous ulceration or a circumscribed ulcer known as a "chrome hole." Both these conditions when definitely ulcerative will become reportable. Recurring attacks of epitheliomatous and of chrome ulceration should be reported when they appear na fresh place. GAS AS INDUSTRIAL FUEL. MR. H. R. HEMS (Industrial Research Laboratory, Bir mingham Corporation) read an interesting paper on the use of gas as a fuel in Midland industry before the members of the Midland Gas Association on Thursday, December 18, 1919. The value of the gas furnace installation lay in its cleanliness, simplicity of control, and quality of work. A furnace with a capacity of from 200 to 250 lbs. of alloy had a gas consumption of approximately 1000 cubic feet per hour, and would bring down a pot of metal in two hours. Gas furnaces for the hardening of pen-nibs were working most satisfactorily, and gas as a fuel was being increasingly used in all branches of the Midland glass industry. It was installed for the annealing operation in "lebrs" of varying capacity, and also for "glory holes" used for the finishing operations after blowing. One firm had had running for some years a tank used for the melting by gas of "batch" and "cullet" for the production of a cheap class of scent and sauce bottles and similar articles. The furnace is of special design, consisting of a long rectangular brickwork box divided into three sections. Into the first the glass is fed and has playing directly upon it two large high-pressure flames which did the preliminary melting operations; the molten glass flowing underneath the first baffle into the second and third chamber, and from the latter was taken off from two holes by the glass blowers. The furnace was never let out except for Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, when minor repairs had to be carried out; it burned approximately 1000 cubic feet per hour. One of the most important applications of gas to industry, Mr. Hems said, was in connection with the nut and bolt trade high-temperature furnaces for forging of steel and wrought-iron bars, and the results were entirely successful. The number of such furnaces was growing rapidly in the "Black Country." Staffordshire ranked among the noisiest and dirtiest of industrial workshops, and a clean and easily controlled industrial fuel, such as gas, was greatly appreciated. The furnace, too, was becoming a familiar feature in various branches of the enamelling industry, and particu larly for the enamelling of jewellery, meter and clock dials, and advertising signs. The ramifications of gas in industry were growing apace, and there were important developments with regard to tube-brazing (in the cycle and bedstead trades) and soldering. PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. CHEMICAL SOCIETY. Ar a meeting held on December 18 at Burlington House, In his introductory remarks he observed that the pooling of results and of experiences gained by different depart ments and their utilisation for the common cause was one of the great features in achieving a quick success in the early days. During the time when the shortage of ammunition was acute, in the beginning of 1915, he approached the War Office with the suggestion that he might contribute to the production of that essential explosive, trinitrotoluol. Every assistance towards the execu tion of his proposal was afforded by Lord Moulton, and he undertook to supply 150 tons of T.N.T. within a stated period. A disused egg-preserving factory in the neigh bourhood of Edinburgh was the site selected for the plant, and before the expiration of the time-limit, in October, 1915, he was able to deliver the agreed amount of 150 tons of T.N.T. However, they were discouraged from continuing their manufacture in the site selected, as it was pointed out to them that, should a German U-boat appear and start to shell the factory, they would be in direct line with the fire from the shore battery. Consequently another site was selected-close to the North British Railway's goods depôt-and at these new works they were able to produce no less than 30 tons a week in 1917. With regard to the supply of nitrogen for the manufacture of nitric acid, this country was practically dependent upon the supplies of sodium nitrate received from overseas, and there were no plants for the manufacture of nitrates from atmospheric nitrogen, as was the case in Germany. One source of nitrogen, however, was avail. able, in the shape of ammonia, and the catalytic production of nitric acid from ammonia was undertaken. Prof. Walker demonstrated by experiments the formation of nitric acid from ammonia. Some 25 per cent ammonia was placed in a flask, and when a hot spiral of platinum was introduced into the flask the platinum was seen to glow. On the other hand, if dilute ammonia were used the appearance of nitrous fumes was observed, and Prof. Walker demonstrated how, in the case of dilute ammonia being used, a nitrite is produced, which is not the case when concentrated ammonia is employed. It was found that when 10 to 12 per cent of ammonia is present in the air mixture the best results were obtained. Numerous slides illustrated the apparatus and the manufacturing process. The mixture of air and ammonia was filtered through cotton-wool, as it was found that dust impaired the activity of the platinum catalyst. The latter took the form of platinum gauze, throngh which the mixture of ammonia and air was forced, only 1/1000 of a second being occupied in the passing, while the yield amounted to no less than 97 per cent. to contend with; one, a minor detail, was that this proThey had many difficulties cess produced an extremely penetrating whistling sound. He humorously mentioned how they received one day a visit from a mechanic, who stated that he had not yet encountered any trouble he could not settle with a spanner, and they also received a postcard with the query, "Why don't you oil the d-d thing?" Originally, to make one ton of T.N.T. required 1.27 tons of nitric acid, the average for the country; but by the introduction of devices for the recovery of nitrous fumes they succeeded in reducing the amount of nitric acid required to only 0.95 ton in 1918, shortly before the armistice. The necessity of observing the strictest economy with the sodium nitrate supplied made the recovery of the nitrous fumes evolved in the course of producing T.N.T. a very important factor, and Prof. Walker demonstrated by slides the methods used in realising a recovery amounting to 93 per cent nitric acid from the fumes produced in the course of nitration. In conclusion, he remarked that academic chemists had done well in the war, and bad The Council give notice that they will proceed shown that they could enter the manufacturing branch of chemistry if endowed with common sense, and were willing to listen to those who had practical experience and engineering knowledge. The chemist who had a sound knowledge of his profession would also possess the necessary business instinct, and the research laboratories of the Germans were not so much scientific, but rather an indi cation of excellent business methods, implying a co-ordination of both aspects of the chemical industry.-Chemist and Druggist.. MEETINGS FOR THE WEEK Saturday, January 3. Royal Institution, 3. (Christmas Lectures). "The World of Sound," by Prof. W. H. Bragg. Monday, January 5. Society of Chemical Industry, 8. Valleys," by Prof. J. W. Gregory. British Psychlogical Society, 2.30. "The African Rift shortly to appoint the following: A RESEARCH BOTANIST, at commencing salaries of £500 per annum. Application forms and further particulars may be obtained from the Director of Research for the Li en Industry Research Association, 3, Bedford Street, Be fast, to whom the applications for the above Appointments should be sent not later than JANUARY 18, 1920. THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD. DEPARTMENT OF GLASS TECHNOLOGY. Applications are invited for the Post of ASSISTANT LECTURER AND DEMONSTRATOR in the Department of Glass Technology. Candidates should possess an Honours Degree or its equivalent, and should have had good training in methods of Chemical Analysis. Special knowledge of Glass Technology not essential. Salary £300 per annum. Applications should be set to the undersigned, from whom further particulars may be obtained, not later than JANUARY 17, 1920. W. M. GIBBONS, Secretary to the Glass Research Delegacy. "The Development If in good condition, Sixpence per copy will be of Mental Tests " by Dr. P. B. Ballard. Royal Institution, 3. "The World of Sound," by Prof. Royal Photographic Society, 7. "The X-Rays approached from a Popular Standpoint," by Dr. G. H. Bodman. Röntgen Society, 8.15. paid for any of the undermentioned numbers of the CHEMIC NEWS which may be forwarded to this office : 3051, July 5th, 1918. 3056, September 13 h, 1918. 3052, December 6th, 1918. 3064, January 3rd, 1919. 3066, January 17th, 1919. 3068, January 31st, 1919. 3069, February 7th, 1919. 3070, February 14th, 1919. 3075, March 21st, 1919. 16. NEWCASTLE STREET, FARRINGDON STREET, LONDON, E.C 4. MARTINDALE'S Apparatus and Reagents For Chemical and Bacteriological Research. SPECIALITIES: 9/-, 16/ MARTINDALE'S BURETTE STAND MARTINDALE'8 BACTERIOLOGICAL CASE 42/Analytical Price List post free. Telephone-1797 Paddington. W MARTINDALE, 10, New Cavendish St., W. Jan. 2, 1920 F. E. BECKER & Co.'s NEW SHORT BEAM ANALYTICAL BALANCE, Agate knife edges and planes throughout; richly gilt beam graduated along BACK NUMBERS AND VOLUMES. 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