Mr. DYKES emphasised the importance of limit gauges in all classes of manufacture, even of such things as ploughshares and perambulator wheels. He recommended that the National Physical Laboratory should have two classes of tolerances for commercial gauges, the lower class being suitable for coarser work. He urged the more widespread use of the screw gauge protector. Mr. M. F. RYAN (Director of Munition Gauges) said the early production of gauges was seriously hindered by the measurements on the standards from which the draw ings were being made being inaccurate, so that gauges correctly made to the drawings might not fit the standards. When the National Physical Laboratory took over the testing this state of affairs was quickly exposed. The work of teaching the manufacturers was also carried out by the N.P.L., and it is largely due to this that the large output (10,000 per week before the armistice) was secured. He was heartily in favour of Dr. Shaw's suggestion of setting up a metrology department in the universities. Mr. J. E. SEARS (Supt. Metrology Dept., National Physical Laboratory) said the intimate association with manufacturers of gauges and also of the products for which the gauges were intended, had given them an opportunity during the war of attaining quite exceptional progress in the subject. He thought limit gauge work was going to be an important factor in all future engineer ing; and if interchangeability between the work of different firms had to be maintained, it is evident that all the controls of such gauges must be referred to a central authority governing the fundamental standards of length. It was essential that the Laboratory should also have a fair amount of test work in order to maintain the close contact with the manufacturers that had proved so useful in the past. There would still, of course, be plenty of work for local centres, which he agreed were desirable; but he did not think the universities were the most suitable places for such work to be carried out. Mr. W. H. BOLTON (University of Sheffield) emphasised that education was necessary among manufacturers before they would realise that standardisation was essential to efficiency in their business. In Sheffield one firm made 1700 different patterns of pocket knife. He thought a scheme of decentralisation was vital to the nation, and he disagreed with Mr. Sears as regards the relation of the universities to test work. He regarded test work as essential if these institutions were to keep in touch with industrial requirements. Mr. B. P. DUDDING (of the National Physical Laboratory) said that in nearly every case when one comes to apply measuring to a specific problem one has to conduct some researches as to how the measurements should be made, what instrument to use, and how to use the instrument. The research worker needs to have a good workshop behind him. Sir RICHARD GLAZEBROOK, in replying to the discussion, expressed his satisfaction at the interest in the subject which was evidently springing up all over the country. The PRESIDENT, in closing the meeting, said that several points of importance were brought out prominently throughout the discussion. These were first, that under the stress of the war many manufacturers have learned to use limit gauges with very great improvement to their work. Second, that there is a tendency to slip back into old methods, which must be vigorously resisted. Third, that sub-stations where accurate testing could be carried out locally, in close association with the National Physical Laboratory, were essential to the future development of metrology. May 30, 1919 NOTICES OF BOOKS. Applied Optics: The Computation of Optical Systems. Being the "Handbuch der Angewandten Optik" of Dr. ADOLPH STEINHEIL and Dr. ERNEST VOIT. Translated and Edited by JAMES WEIR FRENCH, B.Sc. Glasgow and Bombay: Blackie and Son, Ltd. Two Volumes. Price 12s. 6d. net each. THE present work, an edited translation from the Standard German work of Steinheil and Voit, is issued with the approval of the Standing Committee on Glass and Optical Instruments appointed by the Advisory Council of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, in order presenting a complete Trigonometrical System of Optical to provide the British Optical Industry with a handbook Computation in a form suitable for practical use. Mr. James Weir French, B.Sc., of Messrs. Barr and Stroud, Ltd., who is himself a member of the above Committee, is responsible for this edition in English. Through his wide experience in optical productions he has been able to supply a work that is eminently suited to the practical conditions of the present day. It is thus not a mere translation; it owes much to Mr. French's own specialist knowledge of a highly technical subject. A distinguishing and essential feature of the original work is the very complete system of symbols and sign convention employed. The portion of the original appendix which deals with this has been included in both volumes. To illustrate the meaning of the symbols there has been added a series of ten diagrams over and above those that appear in the original. These diagrams include examples descriptive of the sign convention. To render them abundantly clear they are printed in The diagrams form an important element in the work. colours, whereby their convenience for ready reference is greatly increased. NOTES. RECENTLY we had had occasion to turn up No. 1 of the CHEMICAL NEWS, published on Saturday, December 10, 1859. It was edited by William Crookes, and the general appearance is much the same as to day's issue. The matter is interesting. The first paper is by C. Grenville Williams on "Vapour Volume," and we read about oxygen with an atomic weight of 8, and are warned that it is safer to adhere to the old notation until further researches have shown its fallacy. The table of contents contains papers on the "Separation of Nickel and Cobalt from Peroxide of Iron" and on "Platinum and its Associated Metals," by MM. Deville and H. Debray. The metal bad been introduced into the laboratory but a few years back, and speculations are raised as to its possible uses. The paper is chiefly occupied with the metallurgy of platinum and can be studied with profit to day. A paper by John Spiller, FC.S., deals with the production of a carbon ink, in which concentrated sulphuric acid, indigo, sugar, and gum are used; the author mentions the need for using a gold or a quill pen, and also the fact that the paper must needs be thick as the written characters penetrate somewhat! In the "Proceedings of Societies" a meeting of the Chemical Society is reported, with B. C. Brodie, F.R.S., in the chair, and we read discussions in which Dr. Hofmann, C. L. Bloxam, Dr. Miller, and Dr. An exhibit of Optical Scales and Graticules, by Mr. J. Odling take part. The advertisement pages, too, are Rheinberg, was on view at the close of the meeting. BLACK VARNISH FOR WOOD can be made by dissolving bitumen in carbon bisulphide. If the odour is objected to, carbon tetrachloride can be used instead of bisulphide. interesting; many familiar names appear. James R. Gregory offers collections of minerals; Churchill, Van Voorst, Mitchell, and others offer books. "Elements of Chemistry," by William Allen Miller, is announced as just published. The principal difference between the first issue and that of to-day is the presence in the former of CHEMICAL NEWS, Notes from Foreign Sources. May 30, 1919 matter and advertisements dealing with pharmaceutical chemistry and medicines. On reading through the issue it is impossible not to notice the tremendous advance in the chemistry of to-day over that of sixty years ago, an advance that we can confidently assume will continue; so that the subscriber to the CHEMICAL NEWS sixty years hence may find as much interest in reading to-day's issue as we do in reading Prof. Bloxam's demon stration at the Chemical Society of the decomposition of ammonia by means of the discharge from a Rühmkorff coil. 263 been offered and accepted by chemists who, upon demobilisation, have found great difficulty in obtaining appointments. PIEZO ELECTRICITY, the production of electricity by has only been applied to practical uses of late years. The pressure upon crystals, although observed many years ago, matter was studied exhaustively by M. Curie, who devised and used an instrument based upon the principle in the early work upon radio-activity that led eventually to the discovery of radium. To M. Curie is due the discovery that the quantity of electricity developed in a crystal by pressure is exactly proportional to the pressure. Sir J. J. Thomson has recently drawn attention to the phenomena in a lecture delivered at the Royal Institution, and sug. gested the possibility of using it for the measurement of suddenly developed pressures such as are met with in artillery and explosion of gun-cotton, &c. Explosions have been recorded lasting only 1/100,000th sec. The method is likely to find many applications in the near future. THE Second "Report on Colloid Chemistry" has just been published; the first report was issued in 1917 by the British Associatton for the Advancement of Science, but on account of financial difficulties consequent on the War they were unable to meet the greatly enhanced cost of publication for the Second Report. Under these circumstances, and in view of the importance of the subject, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has arranged that this Second Report should be published by H.M. Stationery Office, and it is now on sale at is 6d. net. The work occupies some 170 pages-Tac Research Grant Board which has been established and is very complete: historical matter, practical applications, and theory are exhaustively treated, and the publication will be found of very great value in almost all industries. AUTOMATIC AND ELECTRIC FURNACES, LTD., of 281283, Gray's Inn Road, W.C. 1, have designed and placed on the market a series of electric muffle furnaces that are likely to become of use in chemical and technical laboratories. They appear to be of simple and robust construction; they are capable of giving temperatures up to 1000° C. and are wound for any voltage between 100 and 250 volts for continuous or alternating current circuits. In a paper on "Some Observations on the Use of Boric Acid as a Disinfectant," Fred W. Tanner and Ruth S. Funk (Bacteriological Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, Ill.) give an account of some carefully conducted experiments showing the effect of this agent on a number of bacteria. A saturated solution of boric acid in distilled water was used and tubes of dextrose agar were inoculated and incubated. The result showed that very little if any germicidal action followed the use of even large amounts of boric acid. Further experiments were made using the silk thread method of inoculation, which also gave a very poor result, and the general conclusion of the authors is that the use of this reagent should be discontinued in those cases where disinfection is absolutely essential. BERI BERI, a disease prevalent in Eastern Asia, has been found to be very common where polished rice was the main article of diet. On treating patients suffering from the disease with extracts from the husks and polishings removed from the rice marked improvements were noted. It appears that the vitamines" contained in the husks of rice and other grains are very necessary, and their removal may lead to unhappy results. GRANTS FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN SOUTH AFRICA by the Union Government in South Africa for the encouragement of scientific research, has recently announced its scheme for awarding research scholarships and making grants towards the expenses of scientific research. The scholarships will vary in value from £80 to £250 per annum for one or two years, and may be awarded for a further period. Applications must be made through, and with the approval of, one of the governing bodies of the higher educational institutions of the Union or of a Museum or Research Institute. H.M. Senior Trade Commissioner in South Africa has forwarded the Regulations of the Board, and these may be consulted at the Enquiry Room of the Department of Overseas Trade.Board of Trade Journal. NOTES FROM FOREIGN SOURCES. Graphitic Carbon and Graphitic Acid. - V Koblschütter and P. Haenni. - By graphitic acid the authors mean the solid oxidation products which are obtained by subjecting pure graphite, prepared electrically, to the action of a mixture of nitric acid, sulphuric acid, and chlorate. It is essential that the oxidising mixture should be taken up by the whole mass of graphite, and that the chemical action should take place simultaneously from the interior. This is brought about by the nitric acid; oxidising agents which do not penetrate into the substance lead only to the simplest oxidation products. When the oxidising action is repeated the proportion of carbon in the product is gradually decreased, and the flakes of graphitic acid dissolve to form reversible colloid products. When dry graphitic acid is heated to 200° carbon separates, water, CO, and CO2 being simultaneously formed. The carbon thus obtained possesses all the properties of soot, but it can comparatively easily be compressed to give a dense mass of a graphitic nature. Sulphuric acid also decomposes graphitic acid at 160-180°, giving CO and CO2 in proportions which depend upon the way it is heated. Reducing liquids produce carbonaceous products resembling the original graphite, mixed with by-products THE Institute of Chemistry is operating with the of the reaction. The experimental results seem to show Appointments Department of the Ministry of Labour in that there is no essential difference between amorphous view of the resettlement in civil life of chemists who carbon and graphite, and the peculiar properties of the have served with the forces. The Council is said to have latter are due to a peculiar state of division and dispersion. stated that "Salaries of £300 a year and upwards (with-Zeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie, prospects) would command a good selection of candidates." 1919, cv., 121. This statement has given rise to some comment on account of the smallness of the minimum suggested, but unfortunately we are in possession of information that shows that salaries of considerably less than this have SIR JOSEPH J. THOMSON, O.M., President of the Royal Society and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, has been appointed by an Order of Council dated May 8, 1919, to be a member of the Advisory Council to the Committee of the Privy Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Cyclisation by Elimination of a Nitro Group.-S. Reich and V. Nicolaeva.-The authors have prepared the oxime of 2.4-dinitroacetophenone by the action of amyl nitrite upon 2.4-dinitroethylbenzene in presence of sodium alcoholate. When the oxime is heated for a quarter of an hour with 15 per cent hydrochloric acid and water is added, the phenylhydrazone of 2.4-dinitroacetophenone is obtained, and this yields methyl-nitro-indox azene on the addition of aqueous soda to its alcoholic solution in the cold. The cyclisation takes place with elimination of nitrous acid. Secondary products are also obtained by the reaction, but the authors have not yet studied them. The most abundant product is methyl-nitro-indoxazene, which can be purified by crystallisation in alcohol; it form3 yellowish crystals which melt at 114°. - Bull. Soc. Chim. de France, 1919, xxv.-xxvi., 190. NEWS has previously stated. If the reagent employed is a mixture of phosphoric acid and sodium molybdate, in the proportions of 25 to 1 by weight, a very intense violet coloration is obtained even with crystallised specimens which were unaffected by phosphoric acid alone. Many other products, such as apomorphine, atropine, brucine, cocaine, &c., were tested similarly, and although they gave various colorations the only ones which could be confused with those obtained with aconitine were aspidospermine and veratrine. These, however, can readily be distinguished from aconitine by trying the effect of oxidising agents on the first and on mineral aeids upon the second.-Journal de Pharmacie et de Chimie, 1919, xx., 295. Action of Alcoholic Potash on Resins Paul Nicolardot and Charles Coffiquier.-The authors have Action of Phenyl Magnesium Bromide upon the studied the action of alcoholic potash on different resins, | Polyhalogen Derivatives of Ethane. Fred Swarts. heating 1 grm. of the resin for an hour with 25 cc. of N/2-The author endeavoured to obtain fluorstyrolene by the alcoholic potash, using a reflex condenser. 50 cc. of water were then added and the insoluble residue was filtered off and weighed. Of the twenty-seven different types of resins examined, all but one left an insoluble substance, and the addition of water enabled them to be classified in three groups :-(.) Those with which the amount of insoluble product was unaffected by the addition of water; (ii.) those with which the addition of water led to the total or partial disappearance of the insoluble part; (iii) those which showed an increase of the insoluble part when water was added. It appears that the action of alcoholic potash gives rise to resinous soaps, some of which are more soluble in alcoholic potash than in water, while others, on the contrary, are more soluble in water than in alcoholic potash. It is possible that this new characteristic may be employed in the identification of different resins. -Bull. Soc. Chim. de France, 1919, xxv.-xxvi., 200. Mobility of Hydrogen Atoms in Organic Molecules. Action of Phenyl Hydrazine on Dioxindols.-J. Martinet.-Among the factors which may influence the mobility of hydrogen atoms two are specially importantthe neighbourhood of electro-negative elements and a particular position with regard to double bonds. If two atoms a and B are united by a single bond an atom of hydrogen attached to a is mobile if 3 has a double bond. In dioxindol one atom of hydrogen is thus placed, while another is united to an atom of oxygen. Hence, although the carbonyl group of the dioxindols has a lactamic and not ketonic character, the structure of these substances recalls that of the a ketonic alcohols, which with phenyl hydrazine give diphenyl hydrazones or osazonee. If the readiness of the secondary alcoholic function to undergo oxidation is due to its position with regard to the double bond of the ketonic group, a similar action on dioxindol might be foreseen, one molecule of phenyl hydrazine acting as oxidising agent, while a second entered into combination. Experiment has confirmed this hypothesis, which the authors have verified in the case of dioxindol and five of its homologues chosen from different groups. The reaction must be carried out in an atmosphere of hydrogen, and various media, such as water, alcohol, acetic acid, or mixtures of these three, were tried. In all cases the reactions were practically instantaneous at the boiling-point of the solvent and the yields were good.—Comptes Rendus, 1919, clxviii., 689. action of phenyl magnesium bromide upon difluordibromethane, expecting to get difluorbrom methyl benzene which, with alcoholic potash, would yield difluorstyrolene. But the products actually obtained were difluorethylene and brombenzene. Thus the magnesium compound acted as a reducing agent, removing two atoms of bromine. Various polyhalogen derivatives of ethane were then submitted to the action of phenyl magnesium bromide, and it was found that the principal reaction with bromine derivatives was the subtraction of two atoms of halogen, with the production of brombenzene and an ethylenic derivative. When an atom of carbon was united with fluorine and bromine the latter was removed. With chlorine deriva. tives a molecule of hydracid was removed, and this reacted with the magnesium compound to give benzene. In many cases magnesium fluoride was obtained, but was present in a colloidal state. Various secondary reactions also took place, diphenyl being frequently formed, especially in the case of reactions which take place slowly. Wednesday, June 4. Society of Public Analysts, 8. "Examination of Com- Thursday, June 5. A Reaction of Aconitine.-L. P. J. Palet.-Dragendorff has stated that a characteristic reaction of aconitine is the formation of a reddish coloration when it is heated with phosphoric acid. Other observers have failed to obtain this coloration or have noticed it only with im pure specimens, such as the aconitine obtained from the organs of animals poisoned by this alkaloid, which might be explained by supposing that it was due to the presence of a decomposition product. The author has obtained positive results with two samples of amorphous aconitine, using concentrated phosphoric acid and heating directly over a small flame until fumes were given off. A violet coloration was thus produced, while with crystallised Royal Institution, 3. "The Italian Front," by J. M. specimens only a greyish colour was obtained, as Barthe Friday, June 6. Royal Institution, 5.30. "Atomic Projectiles and their Price. Saturday, June 7. Property of CHEMICAL NEWS Ed ted by AND JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE James H. Gardiner, F.C S. ] ୮ Established (WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE "CHEMICAL GAZETTE "). in the Year 1859. Published Weekly. Annual Subscription, free by post 1 Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Mail Matter. Transmissible through the Post-United Kingdom, at Newspaper rate; Canada and Newfoundland, at Magazine rate. NOTES..... NOTES FROM FOR GN SOURCES. MEETINGS FOR TH WEEK 273 Registered as [PRICE 4d. a Newspaper. POST FREE 4fd. POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE, HOLLOWAY, LONDON, N. 7. | NORTHERN The Governors of the above Institute invite applications for the Post of ASSISTANT CHEMICAL LECTURER. Must have good degree. Commencing salary, including War Bonus, up to £250 per annum (L.C.C. scale), according to qualifications and experience. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SOUTH WALES AND MONMOUTHSHIRE (Coleg Prifathrofaol Deheudir Cymru A Mynwy). The he Council of the College invites applications for the following Posts. Applications, with testimonials (which need not be printed), must be received by the undersigned on or before CAPPER PASS & SON, Lim., the date stated in brackets after the title of each post. BEDMINSTER SMELTING WORKS BRISTOL, are buyers of LEAD ASHES, SULPHATE OF LEAD, LEAD SLAGS, ANTIMONIAL LEAD, COPPER MATTE, TIN ASHES, &c., ORES, DROSS, or RESIDUES containing ANTIMONY. TIN, COPPER, LEAD, and IN experiments, the quality of every detail tells. Filter Papers and Extraction Thimbles are important, therefore get the best-get "Genuine Whatman," manufactured by W. & R. Balston, Ltd., Paper Makers in Britain for over 150 years. Genuine Whatman Filter Papers are made in all grades- Genuine Whatman Extraction Thimbles are Fat-Free and Seamless. |