PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES, CHEMICAL SOCIETY. Chair. REFERENCE was made to the death, on December 4, 1913, of Mr. Christer Peter Sandberg, of Westminster, who was elected a Fellow on March 3, 1870. Messrs. H. F. Tayler, A. O. Blackhurst, V. Lefebure, C. J. Dickenson Gair were formally admitted Fellows of the Chemical Society. Certificates were read for the first time in favour of Road, Stoke Newington, N.; Richard Charles Denington, Messrs. Ethelbert William Blair, B.Sc., 70, Fountayne 69, Dover Road, S. Wanstead, N.E.; John Garth, 170, St. Thomas's Road, Preston; Ivan Richard Gibbs, B.A., University Hall, 3. Moors' Gardens, Chelsea, S.W.; Pawson Robson, B.A., Ph.D., 78, Rolland Street, Cape Theophilus Harper, 39, Camden Street, Belfast; William Town; Chandra Bhusan Roy, M.A., Patna College, Moradpore, P.O., Bankipore; M. R. Viswanatha Tyer, 50, Prem Chand Bural Street, Bow-Bazar, Calcutta. appear, by the influence of the pile that the hand of man had ever isolated." "Experience capitale" is the title given by Davy to this experiment on the register preserved at the Royal Society. The fabrication of soda since these researches has developed considerably. As to aluminium discovered by Henri Sainte-Claire Deville, the entire production is more than 50,000 a year, and the production in France alone is more than 15,000 tons. The Prof. W. H. PERKIN, LL.D., F.R.S., President, in the uses of the electric furnace are numerous. "Ferrosilicon" and the "ferro-chromium are manufactured by millions of tons. The production of electric steel is more than 120,000 tons a year. Lastly, carbide of calcium is an important production of the electric furnace. In the whole world there are more than 300,000 tons of carbide of calcium manufactured yearly, and out of that France manufactures 36,000 tons. A recent and very important application of the electric furnace is the production of nitrogenous manure, drawn from atmospheric nitrogen. Sir W. Crookes pointed out that the increase in the white races entails an augmentation of many necessary cereals, which must be extensively cultivated to satisfy the demand. It is proved that Germany (which only produces twothirds of the corn necessary for its consumption) could increase the cultivation 4,000,000 tons, by using 130 kilogrms. of manure per hectare. Statistics go to prove that during the present century the beds of nitre in the mines of Chili will become exhausted-according to some in the year 1940 and to others in the year 2032. The production direct of nitrates is to-day an accomplished fact. At the present moment 160,000 tons of calcium cyanamide are manufactured, which corresponds to 30,000 tons of nitrogen. Other methods furnish about 160,000 tons of nitrate of lime, and this is only the commencement. For the whole of France the statistics value the force of industrial motors at 3,144,000 horse-power, and of those of railways and tramways at 10,309,000 horse power. We arrive thus at a necessary force of 50 milliards, 700 millions of horse-power hours. The hydro electric force of France is, according to M. Gall, equal to a tenth of this amount. It could immediately be increased 50 per cent by the utilisation of two electromotive forces, that of the Rhone and that of the Durance. The utilisa tion of each of these forces corresponds to the discovery of coal-beds producing, one 1,800,000 tons, the other 80,000 tons of coal a year. TO RECEIVE THE SIGNALS OF THE T.S.F. M. Bigourdan, astronomer of the "Observatoire," presented to the Academy a paper from MM. Tauleigne, Ducretet, and Roger on a new system for registering on a Morse-receiver wireless telegraphy signals, which are generally transmitted by telephone. This method comprises a "detector electrolytique à réglage," combined with the use of a magnetic polarising relay. The three experimentists have been able to register signals at a distance of 150 and 170 kilometres by means of a rod 12 metres long, held to a height of 12 metres from the ground. Action of Alkaline Sulphites on Acetylenic Acids and their Ether Salts.-E. Lasausse.-Neutral alkaline sulphites act on free phenyl propiolic acid to give the neutralt salt of a B-sulphocinnamate. Sodium disulphite reacts with methyl phenylpropiolate to give the cinnamate of methyl monosulphonate of sodium and the phenylpropionate of methyl disulphonate of sodium. Methyl amylpropionate fixes 2 molecules of sodium disulphite with formation of the saturated disulphonic derivative, C3H11-C2H2(SO3Na)2-CO2CH3. Thus it is possible to attach 1 or 2 molecules of an alkaline disulphite to the salts and ether salts of acetylenic acids of general formula R-CEC-CO2H. In the first case the product is the alkaline salt of a monosulphonic acid with an ethylene bond; and in the second case the alkaline salt of a saturated disulphonic acid.-Bull. Soc. Chim, de France, 1913, No. 18 19. The PRESIDENT announced that, at the request of the International Committee on Physico-Chemical Nomenclature, the Council invited criticism of the symbols recently suggested by_the_International Association of Chemical Societies. For these symbols Fellows were referred to the Proc. Chem. Soc., xxix., 333 (see also CHEM. NEWS, cviii., 293), and were requested to forward any suggestions to Prof. A. Findlay, University College, Aberystwyth, before February 28, 1914. The announcement was also made that, in order to give Fellows more frequent opportunity of meeting informally, the Rooms of the Society would be opened on January 15, 1914, at 8 p.m., when the President and Council would be glad to meet the Fellows of the Society. Smoking will be permitted, and light refreshments will be provided. Fellows were also invited to exhibit apparatus or specimens of interest and to show experiments; those willing to do so were requested to communicate with the Secretaries before the Monday previous to the Meeting. Of the following papers, those marked were read :*330. "Absorption of Gases by Celluloid." By VICTOR LEFEBURE. An absorption of gases by celluloids of a magnitude comparable with the sorption of gases by some charcoals has been observed by the author, and the chief points already established are as follows. The effect is reversible. It is not chemical, in that no compound with a very low or with a moderately large dissociation pressure is formed, assuming that such com. pounds would not form solid solutions with the celluloid. It is common to all the kinds of celluloid examined, but almost vanishes when a precipitate of celluloid constituents is substituted for film celluloid. The property is recovered by the refilmed precipitate. Again, it is not exhibited by the two chief constituents of the celluloid, camphor and nitrocellulose. Finally, the effect increases with lowering of temperature and raising of pressure, and in general nature resembles a case of sorption. The quantitative experiments which have been carried out are concerned with time, diffusion, and equilibrium. The equilibrium experiments yield isotherms of the type given by previously examined sorption effects. The time experiments, yielding curves representing rates of sorption, indicate the possibility of a development of surface within the celluloid mass, and probably near to the external visible surface. The diffusion experiments have merely established the fact of diffusion through films. NEWS DISCUSSION. Prof. DONNAN wished to congratulate the author on the excellent way he had carried out the work. He thought that Mr. Lefebure's paper was the first investigation of that nature on a semi-solid colloidal film. The great rapidity of the initial absorption of the carbon dioxide by the celluloid, and the fact that the speed of absorption increased much more rapidly (per unit of weight of celluloid) than the increase of apparent (external) surface of the film, showed that in the mass of the celluloid or perhaps in the neighbourhood of the surface there was a very fine-grained macro-porosity into which the gas could rapidly penetrate and be adsorbed. Diffusion of the gas into or through molecular pores was simply what one called solution, and, so far as one knew, solution phenomena in semi-solid gels were relatively slow at the temperatures at which Mr. Lefebure had worked. Solution and diffusion in the ordinary sense probably also occurreb in the case of the celluloid films, and accounted for the later portions of the velocity curves. Very little was known concerning the macro-heterogeneity of the camphor-nitrocellulose system, but Mr. Lefebure's work was an important contribution to the subject. Mr. W. P. DREAPER pointed out that it was possible to vary the porosity of structureless cellulose filaments within wide limits by varying the strain under which they were dried at the time of manufacture. It might be possible to utilise this in determining the effect of porosity on the adsorption of gases by this material, and in this way confirm, or otherwise, some of the conclusions arrived at by the author. From this point of view it was strange that the precipitated cellulose gave a lower result, as it would certainly expose a considerable surface to the gas, and be relatively porous. 331. "Aromatic Compounds obtained from the Hydroaromatic Series. Part III. Bromoxylenols from Dimethyldihydroresorcin." By ARTHUR WILLIAM CROSSLEY and NORA RENOUr. In continuation of the work, of which a preliminary note has appeared (Proc., 1912, xxviii., 332), the following rearrangements of hydroaromatic to aromatic substances have been established : 1. Under the influence of alcoholic potassium hydroxide dibromodimethylcyclohexenone (II.) gives 5-bromo-0-3 xylenol (I.) melting at 84° and 4: 5-dibromo-0-3-xylenol (III.) melting at 97° : (VI.) under the 4. Tribromodimethylcyclohexenone influence of heat or alcoholic potassium hydroxide yields 4: 5-dibromo-0-3-xylenol and other bromoxylenols, which, up to the present, it has not been found possible to separate in a pure state. *332. "The Equilibrium of Dilute Hydrochloric Acid and Gelatin." By HENRY RICHARDSON PROCTER. The author referred to a previous paper (Koll. Chem. Beihefte, 1911, ii., 243), in which it was shown that the swelling of gelatin in dilute acids, and the amount of acid absorbed, can be explained on the current hypothesis of chemical affinity and osmotic pressure. Precise mathematical expressions for these relations were now given, and it was shown that the two basic affinity-constants of gelatin being known, together with molecular weight, and a small correction for original alkalinity, its whole behaviour with regard to dilute acids can be prognosticated. The mathematical relations are quite general and applicable to other amphoteric proteins and other acids and their salts, and all the concentrations in the jelly were shown to be mathematical functions of the concentrations of the equilibrium-acid only, and not dependent on the chemical character of the protein. Gelatin appears to be diacid as a base, with hydrolysis constants K1 = 0.0013, K2=105), and an approximate molecular weight of 839, leading to the formula C35H57013N11. Some difficulties in the applications of the electrometric method to colloidal equilibria were mentioned, and it was pointed out that in consequence of surface-potentials the ionic concentrations measured with the concentration cell in colloid solutions are not those of the colloid solution itself, but of the acid or other solution with which it would be in equilibrium. Suggestions were made with regard to the probable colloidal structure of protein jellies and solution. A graphic geometrical method was described for dealing with all such equilibria as depend on the "equality of products." DISCUSSION. Prof. DONNAN thought that the methods of investigation employed by Prof. Proctor were the right ones, and would lead him eventually to a solution of his problems. He observed that the author inclined to the view taken by Arrhenius in his work on immunity, namely, to treat the phenomena as cases of molecular equilibrium, without much reference to adsorption and colloidal aggregation and disaggregation. Nevertheless in his (Prof. Donnan's) opinion both series of phenomena occurred, and must be taken into account. He would refer Prof. Proctor to the work of two Italian investigators, an account of which was to be found in the "Nernst Festschrift." *333. "Researches on Residual Affinity and Coordination. Part I. Metallic Acetylacetones and their Absorption Spectra." By GILBERT T. MORGAN and HENRY WEBSTER Moss. An examination of the absorption spectra of fourteen metallic acetylacetones in alcoholic solution showed that, with the exception of the chromium compound, all these substances exhibit a well-marked absorption band in the ultra-violet. Chromic acetylacetone showed a band of this character, but in addition a well-defined band toward the red end, probably due to the metallic radicle. Comparative experiments were made on the volatility of scandium and thorium acetylacetones under the ordinary and under 8-10 mm. pressure. *334. "Ionisation and the Law of Mass Action. Part II. The Osmotic Data in Relation to Combined Water." By WILLIAM ROBERT BOUSFIELD. It was shown by reference to the figures for sucrose that the osmotic data can be brought into accurate conformity with the gas equation by taking account of the combined water. The osmotic pressure equation, vapour. pressure equation, and freezing-point equations then present themselves in the following forms: DISCUSSION. Prof. DONNAN thought that there were some misconceptions in that paper. There was absolutely no a priori reason to "expect" the equation PV=RT to hold for more concentrated solutions. The general theoretical osmotic equation for solutions of any strength was now well known. If, however, there was practically no volume or energy-change on solution, this equation, as was well known, reduced to a simple form for solutions of any concentration. If solvation occurred, then, of course, in relatively concentrated solutions allowance had to be made for it. The calculations of Mr. Bousfield might serve to show that after this allowance had been made aqueous solutions of sucrose of very considerable concentration approximated to the "simple" behaviour referred to above. In Prof. Donnan's opinion this suggestion had been made by previous authors. 335. "Chemical Examination of Sarsaparilla Root." By FREDERICK BELDING POWER and ARTHUR HENRY SALWAY. The material used for the present investigation consisted of grey Jamaica sarsaparilla root, such as is recognised by the British Pharmacopoeia. The root was found to contain a small amount of an enzyme, which slowly hydrolysed amygdalin. An alcoholic extract of the root yielded, besides a little essential oil, the following definite compounds:-(i.) a crystalline glucoside, sarsasaponin, C44H76020,7 H2O, which, on hydrolysis, is resolved into sarsasapogenin, C26H42O3, and dextrose; (ii) sitosterol d glucoside (phytosterolin), C33H56O6; (iii.) sitosterol, C27H460; (iv.) stigmasterol, C30H500; (v.) a new crystalline dicarboxylic acid, sarsapic acid, C6H4O6 (m. p. 305), which yields a dimethyl ester, C8H8O6, melting at 121°; (vi.) dextrose; (vii.) a mixture of fatty acids, consisting of palmitic, stearic, behenic, oleic, and linolic acids. The alcoholic extract contained, furthermore, a small quantity of a substance which possessed the characters of cetyl-d-glucoside, and a considerable quantity of potassium nitrate was also present. The amount of resinous material was equivalent to about 1.25 per cent of the weight of root employed. It has now been shown that Jamaica sarsaparilla root contains but one definite saponin glucoside, namely, sarsasaponin, and it is considered probable that the "parillin" of previous investigators was a mixture of sarsasaponin and a phytosterolin. It has also been definitely ascertained that the so-called "smilacin" ("smilasaponin" of v. Schulz) is not a homogeneous substance, but contains a relatively small proportion of sarsasaponin, together with amorphous material. 336. "Metallic Derivatives of Acetylacetone and Acetyl Mesityl Oxide." (Preliminary Note.) By GILBERT THOMAS MORGAN and HENRY WEBSTER Moss. Series 1. With the exception of copper, the metals of the first vertical series of the periodic classification yield somewhat unstable derivatives with acetylacetone. Lithium acetylacetone, Li OC(CH3)=CH], a colourless, crystalline mass, decomposed when dissolved in the ordinary organic media, the solutions assuming a yellow colour. Caesium acetylacetone, a colourless, crystalline mass soluble in water or alcohol, was much less stable than the preceding compound. Silver acetylacetone, obtained as a white, crystalline precipitate, rapidly darkened on posure, with liberation of silver; it is sparingly soluble in ex Comparative experiments made with yttrium, erbium, and thorium indicate that the acetylacetones of scandium and yttrium (the two rare earth metals of least atomic weight) do not under similar experimental conditions yield additive ammonia compounds comparable with those obtained from acetylacetones of the rare earth metals of higher atomic weight. Series 5.-Vanadyl acetyl mesityl oxide,— O C(C4H7) 2, vo [=0 prepared by the interaction of vanadyl sulphate, acetyl mesityl oxide, and ammonia, crystallised from light petroleum in grass green leaflets. Other metallic derivatives of acetyl mesityl oxide are under examination; they are characterised by their ready solubility in organic solvents, including light petroleum. 337. "Constitution of the Ortho-diazoimines. Part IV. Isomeric Benzenesulphonyl-3: 4-tolylenediazoimides." By GILBERT THOMAS MORGAN and GODFREY EDWARD SCHARff. 3 Nitro-p-toluidine and 4-nitro-m-toluidine (m. p. 111-112°), the latter base prepared from either m-cresol, m toluidine, or diacetyl-2 5-tolylenediamine, were converted respectively into the isomeric 4-benzenesulphonyl3: 4-tolylenediamine and 3-benzenesulphonyl-3 4tolylenediamine. These acylated ortho-diamines yielded the corresponding isomeric diazoimides, 4 benzenesulphonyl3: 4-tolylenediazoimide and 3-benzenesulphonyl-3 : 4tolylenediazoimide. CHỊCH<NH SO Ph a NH2 N:N. CHз CeHa -N SO2Ph a-Isomeride (m.p. 118-119°). NH SO,Ph 3 3 CH3 C6H3NH2 3 4 4 silicanediol and of anhydrobisdiphenylsilicanediol both give | practical work in applied chemistry, including very simple tetra anhydrotetrakisdiphenylsilicanediol, and probably experiments with fuels, soils, waters, &c. The book will also some trianhydrotrisdiphenylsilicanediol. no doubt be found convenient by those who are using the text-book or attending ihe author's lectures at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, but it hardly presents sufficient novelty or special merit to suggest that its more extended use could be warmly recommended. Calico Engraving. By WILLIAM BLACKWOOD. London: Charles Griffin and Co., Ltd. 1913. Dianhydrotrisdiphenylsilicanediol may be obtained by carefully hydrolysing trianhydrotrisdiphenylsilicanediol with alkali in ethereal acetone solution; it is very rapidly converted into trianhydrotrisdiphenylsilicanediol in methylalcoholic solution in the presence of a little hydrochloric acid. Trianhydrotrisdiphenylsilicanediol is also formed when anhydrobisdiphenylsilicanediol is treated with a methyl-alcoholic solution of hydrochloric acid, but the reaction takes place slowly. Trianhydrotetakisdiphenylsilicanediol,— HO SiPh2 O SiPh2 O SiPh2 O SiPh2 OH, the most complex open-chain condensation product so far obtained, may be prepared by very cautiously hydrolysing the tetra-anhydro-derivative with sodium hydroxide in chloroform solution; it melts at 127, and is easily converted into the tetra-anhydro-derivative by traces of sodium hydroxide in alcoholic solution. 339. "The Absorption Spectra of Sulphurous Acids and Sulphites." (Preliminary Note.) By ROBERT Wright. While comparing the absorption spectra of various acids with their salts, it was found that whilst the absorption of sulphurous acid is characterised by a band in the ultraviolet, the sodium salt exhibits only general absorption. It is thought that this is most probably due to a difference in structure between the acid and its salt, additional evidence in favour of this view being the fact that whilst the acid has the properties of a moderately strong acid, its salt suffers hydrolysis in aqueous solution, thus behaving like a derivative of a weak acid. A parallel case is to be found in the behaviour of chromic acid and its salts, where a strong acid differs in visible colour from its salts, the latter also being hydrolysable. (To be continued). NOTICES OF BOOKS. Researches in Magneto-optics. By P. ZEEMAN, Sc.D., Ph.D., D.Sc. London: Macmillan and Co., Ltd. 1913. THIS monograph contains a very stimulating account of the author's remarkable work in magneto-optics, and since highly technical details are omitted as far as possible it may be read by the educated general public with as much interest as by the scientific man. The author's manuscript has been translated from the Dutch by Miss J. D. van der Waals. The arrangement of the text closely follows the historical development of the subject, and the author's first paper on "The Influence of Magnetism on the Nature of the Light Emitted by a Substance," laid before the Academy of Sciences at Amsterdam in 1896, is reprinted almost in full. The apparatus employed in modern spectroscopic work is admirably described, and the investigations of other workers in the same sphere are fully described. Some new results are published in the monograph for the first time; for example, the determination of the ratio of the number of emitting atoms to the whole number present in the flame, and in the last chaper some account is given of Sir J. J. Thomson's work on the con. stitution of the atom. General Chemistry Laboratory Manual. By J. C. BLAKE, Ph.D. New York: The Macmillan Co. 1913. THIS book of practical chemistry is intended to be used as a laboratory companion to the author's "General Chemistry, Theoretical and Applied," and the numbering of the chapters and sections is the same as in the text book. Methods of preparing many elements and inorganic com. pounds are described, and a short course of analytical work is included, besides a rather sketchy outline of THIS book is based upon the lectures delivered by the author at the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, on engraving designs for calico, but in preparation for the press the lectures have been very much extended, and both skilled designers and students will find the book most instructive. The author enters fully into technicalities, and machinery of many different types is thoroughly explained and illustrated. Valuable hints are given for the benefit of hand engravers, and engraving for paper stainers is also discussed. Electroplating is very briefly treated, and if the theoretical explanations are somewhat curtailed it is quite possible that they are sufficient for the purpose for which they are intended. Practical Chemistry. By the late J. CAMPBELL BROWN, D.Sc., LL.D. Sixth Edition. Edited by Guy D. BENGOUGH, M.A., D.Sc. London: J. and A. Churchill. 1913. THIS very useful book contains a concise summary of the chief reactions employed in analytical work, and includes a good deal of matter not usually to be found in similar books of the same size. Thus the reactions of some of the rarer elements are given, also those of many organic bases and of some neutral organic substances which are commonly used in the laboratory. The analysis of gases is also shortly treated. A great deal of information is compressed into the book, but for the use of students the directions may very possibly be found to be somewhat too concise. For example, unless used to gas analysis the student might be somewhat at a loss when told merely to "separate the gases into two groups by a solution of sodium hydrate." For practising analytical chemists, however, the book can be recommended as containing clear and accurate descriptions of experimental work. Chemistry, Inorganic and Organic. With Experiments. By CHARLES LOUDON BLOXAM. Tenth Edition. Rewritten and Revised by ARTHUR G. BLOXAM, F.I.C., and S. JUDD LEWIS, D.Sc., F.I.C. London: J. and A. Churchill. 1913. FOR nearly fifty years Bloxam's "Chemistry" has enjoyed the well deserved reputation of being the most compendious work on chemistry in a single volume, and those who have minded how often they have found in it information not to had occasion to use it will probably not need to be rebe obtained even from larger and more detailed treatises. his material, and this feature is as noticeable in the last The original author showed remarkable skill in selecting as in the first edition. Very many changes have had to be made in the tenth edition. Thus all the earlier chapters have been recast, and throughout the book the Periodic System of classification has been followed more closely than before. The division of the text into numbered paragraphs has been dropped, and the appendix on applied chemistry is omitted. The Sugars and their Simple Derivatives. By JOHN E. MACKENZIE, D.Sc., Ph.D. London: Gurney and Jackson. 1913. THIS book is based upon a course of lectures delivered by the author at Birkbeck College, London, and afterwards at the University of Edinburgh. Many students who were interested in technological chemistry attended these lectures, and for their benefit stress was laid upon those points in the chemistry of the sugars which are of special importance in the sugar and brewing industries and in medicine. At the same time the book gives a really useful introduction to the subject for students of pure chemistry, and questions of configuration, &c., are so clearly treated that candidates for examinations will find it a valuable summary. The first part of the book contains some account of the production and manufacture of cane sugar, and subsequently the properties and constitution of the individual sugars are described. Fermentation and metabolism are shortly dealt with in later chapters. Principles and Processes of Metal Plate Work. By EDWIN G. BARRETT. London: Crosby Lockwood and Son. 1914. THIS book has been compiled to meet the requirements of candidates for the examination in metal plate work of the City and Guilds of London Institute, and it will be found to fulfil its purpose admirably. The author has carefully studied the examiners' criticisms of the average candidate's work, and has paid special attention to those points in which particular weakness is usually displayed. Thus methods of performing numerical calculations are very carefully explained, and many mensuration formulæ are given. Model answers are also provided, and the syllabus of the examination in metal plate work and also recent questions are reproduced. The book will be of service to metal plate workers other than those entering for the examination, and if they wish to acquire some knowledge of the theory of such work they cannot do better than to get a copy of it. The London Matriculation Directory. No. 65, September, 1913. London: University Tutorial Press, Ltd. No. 65 of the "Matriculation Directories" closely resembles is predecessors, and contains the usual articles on textbooks, details of the classes of the University Correspondence College, and hints to intending candidates for the examination. Many of the papers sent in September, 1913, are reproduced in it with full solutions and comments upon them. Although on the whole a wise choice is made of the papers for reproduction, and they deal with those subjects which are most popular in the examination, it seems probable that some students would be glad to see some of the others, such as those on Ancient History, Geology, or Zoology, even if it were not worth while to prepare answers to them. London University Guide, 1914. London: University Correspondence College. THIS guide contains a full almanac and calendar for 1914, with the regulations of the more important examinations. Details of the classes and the fees of the University Correspondence College are also given, and the guide contains some articles on text books and an interesting short history of the University of London and account of its constitution. Recent changes in the regulations are pointed out, and the guide is an almost indispensable possession for the intending candidate for an examination of London University. The Burroughs Wellcome Photographic Exposure Record and Diary for 1914. CONTAINS much useful information for photographers. The "Record of Negative Exposures" is invaluable for any who care to introduce "method" into their work, and the Exposure Calculator is an ingeniously designed apparatus by help of which the correct exposure can be calculated. Some very good prints are included in the book; one of Mr. H. C. Ponting, F.R.G.S., at work in his dark room at Cape Evans, speaks well for the value of the comparatively new developer Rytol. There is a good diary and memorandum book included, and the book is not too bulky for the pocket or the camera case. 51, EDGAR B. Wastell. Gillott Road, Birmingham. INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY CONFERENCE. To the Editor of the Chemical News. letter of Mr. E. A. Lewis, which was published in your SIR,-With your permission I should like to reply to the issue of the 2nd January. The last part of his letter raises an important point of general interest. It is essential that the chemical profession should include all persons who are engaged in teaching the principles of chemistry, or in applying those principles towards the attainment of practical results. These persons only can claim to be professional men in the sense in which that term is usually accepted. The profession should not include those persons whose interests are directly commercial. Any profession worthy of the name should consist of a united body of men, but true professional unity is not attained by setting up, at the outset, educational barriers of a more or less artificial kind. This mistake, however, has been made in the case of the chemical profession, with the result that the profession has been divided against itself, the status of technical chemists has been lowered, their professional interests endangered, and the technical interests for which the profession stands have suffered. It is unnecessary to insist on the national importance of applied chemistry. The fact that universities and technical colleges give a large amount of time and money in training students in the principles of chemistry is sufficient proof of this. Students are encouraged to pursue a course of study that shall form a sound foundation for their future technical work. They are encouraged to adopt applied |