DIPENTENE
‘OUTECHNIW
HOWARDS & SONS LTD Ilford • Essex
Telephone: IL F O R D 3 3 3 3 Telegrams: Q U IN O L O G Y , IL F O R D
The Chemien - ' - ' ■ - : ... - .. .. .
A W eekly JouraaJ
D e v trre d;
mIn d u stria l a n d ® isg ia ee rid g O m
—
VOL. LI I SATU RDA Y, F E B R U A R Y 1 7 , 19 4 5 sd. Per Copt
No. I3 3 S.K / o i l ' REGISTERED AS A NEWSPAPER POST FREE 80.
ÀU D L E Y E N G I N E E R I N G COMP ANY L I M I T E D - N E W P O R T - S H R O P S H I R E • E n g l a n d L U B R I C A T E D P L U G VALVES In C a s t Ir o n , S te e l , S ta i n le s s S te e l, A c i d R e s i s t i n g B r o n z e , A u d c o l o y , R e i n f o r c e d E b o n i t e a n d Glass, f o r all
c h e m ic a l p u r p o s e s .
ii THE CHEMICAL AGE F e b r u a r y 1 7 , 3 9 4 5
K E L V I N • B O T T O M L E Y • A N D • B A I R D • L T D .
j t - * *
1 ) 1 1 ) 1 ' . t o v e M ® » 'a i i J J „ d i n s ¡ B U * " ’ j a b ,
‘ "“ I “ '
« f i & x f l f t 1 « r . o»
x* z g s e ? ~
oj hun)ldlty^ —
-P A C K I N G S
FOR TOWERS
A Monument to Quality
Brilliant filtrates from all types o f chemical liquids produced through the M etafilter are a m onum ent to the high-quality filtration which it ensures. In addition to chemical liquids, the M etafilter handles w ith equal facility and success synthetic drugs, bio
chemical products, gelatine, syrups, and e x tra c ts; and it w ithstands the action of acids, alkalis, oils, and organic liquids
T H E M E T A F IL T R A T IO N CO. L T D ..
BELG RA V E RO A D , H O U N S L O W , M ID D L E S E X .
Telephone: Telegrams.:
Hounslow 1 :3 1/2/3 Metafilter, Hounslow.
Replacem ents are less frequently required when towers are packed with
" N O R I "
ACID-RESISTING WARE
You are invited to investigate the exceptional physical properties o f this materia], which is now widely used in the leading chemical plants. L iterature giving technical data on request. Please send your enquiries for all plant components in acid ware.
ACCRINGTON BR IC K & T IL E CO.,
A C C R I N G T O N T e l. : 2 6 8 4 A ccrin g to n
i i THE CHEMICAL AGE Fe b r u a r y 1 7 , 1 9 4 5
W A L L A C H
4 9 * T A B E R N A C L E ST • L O N D O N * E - C - 2 C l E r k c n w e ll 1448/9
Sa fety F irst
S A F E T Y F I R S T
PROTECT W O R K E R S HANDS AGAINST IRRITANT SUBSTANCES T H E “ O L D B U R Y ” P A T E N TC A R B O Y D I S C H A R G E R w ill e m p t y a n d e le v a t e u p t o 5 0 f e e t t h e c o n t e n t s o f a n y c a r b o y , b o t t l e o r v e s se l, a n d c o m p ile s w ith all t h e c o n d i ti o n s o f t h e F a c to r y A c t o f 1937.
K ESTN ER EVAPORATOR & ENGINEERING ---CO., L T D .--- --- 5, G r o s v e n o r G a r d e n s , W e s t m in s t e r , L o n d o n , S .W .
Applied before work keeps hands healthy
KOZALEX L T D ., IO NORFOLK S T ., M ANCHESTER, 2
— P O T T E R ’S --- Machinery Guards
9 D E S I G N E D F O R S A F E T Y
# B U 1 I. T F O R S E R V IC E
I !mSÍBSÍBBI8
Industrial
SAFETY
P o t t e r ’s guards a re installed in w orks th ro u g h o u t th e co u n try a n d a re d istin - g u ish ab leb y th e ir sound c o n stru c
tio n , good fittin g a n d m a n y exclu
sive featu res.
EQUIPMENT l I ™
A C I D & A L K A L I R E S IS T IN G C L O T H I N G C A R B O Y S A F E T Y D E V IC E S , RU BB ER^
A S B E S T O S , L E A T H E R & C O T T O N G L O V E S , S P L A S H P R O O F G O G G L E S A N D F A C E S H I E L D S , and everything for the protection of the Industrial W o rk e r.
W ilte to-day lo r a copy of o u r “ Blue Book lo r Safety A ppliances“ —th e resu lt of fifty y e a rs’ experience in
p rotecting in d u stry .
P n i P P S T R E E T . L O N D O N . E .C .2
Telephones : BtShoPifote 2177 13 llnet)
Solvent Recovery Plant
Carbon Adsorption System
British Carbo-Norit Union, Ltd 16, Queen A nne’s Gate, S .W .l.
Superlative Quality Large Stocks - Prompt Despatch F R A N C IS W . H A R R IS & Co. Ltd.
B U R S L E M - Stoke-on-Trent
'P h o n e : S t o k e - o n - T r e n t 7 1 8 1 .
' G r a m s : B e ltin g , B u r s le m
Sole distributors for Aerox Filters Ltd., Glasgow and London
C E N T R A L H O U S E , U PPER W O B U R N PLACE, L O N D O N , W . C . ! Telephone : E U S T O N 4086/7
★ The lower i l l u s t r a t i o n shows our Experimental Laboratory Filter Set which consists of seven inter
changeable elements, one of each grade, 3" long x 2" diameter. The fittings are supplied in Steel, Brass, Ebonite or Regulus Metal.
W e should be pleased to send you a copy of o u r Brochure B.6 on request.
“ A E R O X ” P O R O U S C E R A M IC E L E M E N T S have been in use over a long period for the filtration of cold and hot gases.
They are particularly suitable for this type of filtra
tion because the method of manufacture ensures :—
1. Uniform pore density.
2. Controlled pore size.
3. Resistance to acids, alkalis, thermal shock and high temperature.
The Elements are manufactured in seven different grades of pore size ranging from 5 to 200 microns.
i v THE CHEMICAL AGE Fe b r u a r y 1 7 , 1 9 4 5
& H Î &(§H) P®M?
GLANDLESS— SELF-PRIMING
_________
PATENT {¡LANDLESS ACID PUMPS
% N O P A C K IN G G L A N D 0 N O B E A R IN G S U R F A C E IN C O N T A C T W IT H A C ID 0 M A D E IN S P E C IA L M A T E R IA L S R E S IS T A N T T O A L L C O R R O S IV E L IQ U ID S
# L O N G A N D T R O U B L E -F R E E LIFE A S S U R E D
# S E L F -S T A R T IN G E V E N A F T E R A L O N G S H U T - D O W N .
Full Particulars from :
KESTNER EVAPORATOR & ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
C h e m ic a l E n g i n e e r s 5, g r o s v e n o r g a r d e n s, Lo n d o n, s.w .i
H &
P- DIMETHYLAMINOSTYRYL-ß-NAPHTHIAZOLE METHYL IODIDE
A n e x t r e m e l y s e n s i t i v e c o l o r i m e t r i c
R E A G E N T F O R Z I N C
w h ic h s e e m s t o h a v e e s c a p e d g e n e r a l n o t i c e o w i n g t o t h e difficu lty o f p r e p a r a t i o n .
D e ta il s o f its use m ay be f o u n d in t h e p a p e r by K r u m h o l z & K r u m h o l z , M i k r o c h e m i e , 19, 47 (1935).
Now available from—
H O P K I N & W I L L I A M S L I M I T E D
1 6 - 1 7 S T . C R O S S S T R E E T , L O N D O N , E . C . I
Send for our ' List of Chemicals,
Reagents, Etc.
FRACTIONAL HORSEPOWER
MOTORS
The most popular
in the country
S I N G L E - P H A S E T H R E E - P H A S E
or
D .C. M A C H I N E S
B A L L OR S L E E V E B E A R I N G S
Motors are available f o r:—
S o lid B a s e M o u n tin g C r a d le M o u n tin g R e s ilie n t M o u n tin g
with or without
A u to m a tic B e lt-te n s io n A d ju s te r S p ig o t M o u n tin g
(lor Vertical. Horizontal, or Inclined Positions)
• •
B T H p ro d u cts include a ll k in d s
n ^1 i
r M a z d a la m p s , a n d M a z d a lu x lig h tin g eq u ip m e n t.J
0 i n R U G B Y
T H E B R I T I S H T H O M S O N - H O U S T O N C O M P A N Y L I M I T E D . R U G B Y . E N C L A N D A 3320
THE CHEMICAL AGE Fe b r u a r y 1 7 , 1 9 4 5
PTHHC
R E G * T R A D E M A R K . B R A N D
SCIENTIFIC GLASSWARE For re liab ility
a n d lo n g service.
The experim ental research w ork and routine testing carried out by scientists and w orks chem ists thro ugh out the co u n try calls for the m ost dependable laboratory glassw are that the craftsm an of the present day can produce.
P Y R E X Brand Scientific G lassw are has irrefutable claims that place it in the front rank of all such glassw are . . . . resistance to sudden therm al changes, resistance to attacks fro m all acids (except hydrofluoric and glacial p ho sph oric), and am ple m echanical strength to resist the physical shocks of everyday usage.
P Y R E X Brand G lassware Is ever safe and dependable. It m eets fully the m ost exacting dem ands of laboratory practice, and at the sam e tim e saves m u ch o f the heavy cost of glassware replacem ents.
P Y R B X B r a n d S c i e n ti f i c G la s s w a r e i s s u p p l ie d o n ly th r o u g h L a b o r a to r y F u r n is h - e r s . b u t i l l u s t r a t e d c a ta lo g u e a n d tw o f r e e co p ie s o f o u r C h e m is t’s N o teb oo k w i l l be s e n t d i r e c t o n a p p l i c a t i o n i o n s .
A i k f o r P Y R E X B r a n d a n d s e e t h a t y o u g e t it!
JAMES A. JOBLING & CO. LTD.
S U N D E R L A N D .
B A R IU M B A R IU M B A R IU M B A R IU M B A R IU M B A R IU M B A R IU M B A R IU M B A R IU M
C A R B O N A T E H Y D R A T E M O N O X I D E N A P H T H E N A T E O L E A T E P E R O X ID E S T E A R A T E S U L P H A T E S U L P H ID E
S O D I U M H Y P O C H L O R IT E S O D I U M S U L P H ID E S O D I U M P E R C A R B O N A T E
T I T A N I U M O X ID E
S O A P S
A L K A L IN E C L E A N E R S H Y D R O G E N P E R O X ID E A M M O N I U M P E R S U L P H A T E B E N Z O Y L P E R O X ID E C A L C IU M P E R O X ID E M A G N E S I U M P E R O X ID E P O T A S S IU M P E R S U L P H A T E U R E A P E R O X ID E
Z I N C P E R O X ID E '
S O D I U M A C ID P H O S P H A T E S O D I U M A C ID P Y R O P H O S P H A T E S O D I U M P E R P Y R O P H O S P H A T E S O D I U M P Y R O P H O S P H A T E
LAPORTE
B J .A P O R T E Ltd. L U T O N
S A lC S S E R V IC E & D E V E L O P M E N T D E P T . IN V I T E E N Q U IR IE S
Which of you gentlemen
can say what this is for?
I f
every m em b er o f a Board were a fuel expert, the consequence might well be confus ion. But if every directo r interests himself in fuel efficiency, n o th i n g b u tgo o d can com e o f it. *
It m akes all th e difference to th e workers to k n o w t h a t those in a u th o r ity are w hole-heartedly behin d the drive for fuel efficiency, w'ith its w ar-tim e em phasis on fuel ec onom y. Is th at true o f t o « ? A sinSle case history like the following fr om a steel w o rk s w here pro d u ctio n has rem ain ed steady proves th e im men se influence th at m a n a g e m e n t can exert.
S T E A M B O IL E R S . M o r e than 7 per cent, saving on one set and as much as 40 per cent, on another. On the third set, even using low grade coal as against washed nuts, there is a 23 per cent, saving. The evaporation in waste heat boilers (per lb. of producer coal used) has been improved by more than 14 per cent.
M I L L E N G I N E . Steam consumption, per ion of steel, reduced by 24 per cent.
P R O D U C E R S . Coal consumption reduced by 6 per cent.
A N N E A L I N G F U R N A C E S . A 6 p c r cent, coal saving per ton of steel. From what in 1942 was described as “ indifferent,” the efficiency of producer plant at these w'orks is now reported to be “ much improved-” A mill bar furnace has improved ■—
from “ good " to
“ very good ” and an increased throughput obtained by fitting baffles in the roof.
H O W THESE BULLETINS CAN HELP Y O U . T h e la te s t s p e c ia liz e d k n o w le d g e b n a lm o s t e v e ry c o n c e iv a b le fu e l s u b je c t is a t y o u r fin g e r tip s in th e F u e l E fficien cy B u lle tin s — a d v ic e a n d h e lp t h a t o r d m a r i y w o u ld h a v e t o b e h e a v ily fcc’d . I f y o u \ e m is la id y o u r c o p ie s , a p p ly n o w to th e R e g io n a l O ffice o f t h e M in is tr y .
) Issu ed by th e M in is try o f Fuel a n d P o w e r
v i i i THE CHEMICAL AGE Fe b r u a r y 1 7 , 1 9 4 5
| O ne o f th e m a n y H o lm e s - C o n n e rs v illc B lo w e r s s u p p lie d to C h e m ic a l W o r k s . C a p a c ity o f m a c h in e I llu s t r a t e d , 1 2 0 ,0 0 0 c u . f t . p e r h o u r a g a in s t a p r e s s u r e o f 3 lb s . p e r s q . in c h . S p e e d 4 0 0 r .b .m .
d e liv e r a p o sitiv e, re lia b le a n d oil-free su p p ly of A ir e co n o m ically a n d efficiently.
A b se n c e of in te rn a l contact e n s u r e s lo n g life, low m ain ten a n c e a n d continuous o p e r a tion o v e r lo n g p e rio d s . Many of th e s e m ach in es a r e in su ccessfu l o p e ra tio n fo r th e h a n d lin g of G a se s. O v e r 1,400 h a v e b e e n s u p p lie d a lr e a d y fo r su c h p u rp o s e s .
H E ft 0 O F F I C E « T Ü R N B R I D G E • H I) D D E R S F I E L 0
t o K 0 OK O F F I C E 119 V I C T O R I A S T S W I > M I O L f t N O S O F F I C E ? l B E H H E T T' S H I L L B i t M I N C H K M 2
T e le p h o n e s - H u d d e r s f i e ld . 5 2 8 0 : L O N D O N . V i c t o r i a . 9971 : B IR M IN G H A M . M id 'a n d . 68 3 0
F O U N D E D 1830
Old-established yet up-to-date In every detail, rh ls o r g a n is a t io n p r o v i d e s a s p e c i a l i s e d service for the chemical industry that ensures rapid delivery and low prices all the time
M A N U F A C T U R E R S A N D P R O P R I E T O R S O F /y I M V I T T A /; D E C O L O U R I S I N G
I I N V I V « I A C A R B O N PLUMBAGO CHARCOAL (W o o d & Animal) MANGANESE / / I K I V I f ' T A // b i t u m i n o u s m a t e r i a l s I I N V I V-4 I / - \ f o r r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n
G R I N D I N G “ i / T X * ' - : ;
chemical and other materials for the trade
T H O M A S H I L L - J O N E S , L T D .
M A N U F A C T U R IN G C H E M IS T S , IN V IC T A W O R K S , B O W C O M M O N L A N E L O N D O N , E.3.
>nd a t M E E S O N ’S W H A R F , B O W B R ID G E , E .I5 : : C O N T R A C T O R S T O H .M . G O V E R N M E N T T e le p h o n e : E A S T 3285 (3 lin e s ). T e l e g r a m s : H lll - J o n e s B o c h u r c h , L o n d o n
HOLMES-CONNERS VILLE
P O S I T I V E A I R B L O W E R S
WORKS: WIDNES, LANCS London £ ° â ï Mild steel storage vessel o f all welded construction, 8 ' 6 " diameter by 30' 0" long, capacity 10,000 gallons.
I f you require welded and/or riveted tanks, in mild or stainless steel, we offer the services o f our Constructional Department.
WIDNES FOUNDRY
& ENGINEERING CO LTD
Specialists in all types of Pre - fabricated Steelwork
and Tanks
THE CHEMICAL AGE Fe b r u a r y 1 7 , 1 9 4 5
A M E S C R O S T A MILLS & C O M P A N Y LTD.
M O S S I R O N W O R K S , . H E Y W O O D , L A N C S .
W A B B E Y H O U SE . V IC T O R I A ST.. LONDON j.W L
HOLLAND / S • L -M
Y COMPRESSORS
& VACUUM PUMPS
L O W M A IN T E N A N C E C O S T S usa
L O N G LIFE
I N I T I A L E F F I C I E N C I E S M A I N T A I N E D O V E R Y E A R S O F S E R V I C E
The B. A. Holland Engineering Go. Ltd ., 15 Dartmouth Street, London, S.W.1
W O R K S : P E R T H A V E N U E , S L O U G H
CATION OF TRADE WASTE WATERS
P U R IF IC A T IO N P L A N T S F O R B L E A C H W O R K S , DY E W O R K S . T A N N E R I E S , C O L L IE R IE S, B R E W E R IE S , A R T IFIC IA L S I L K W O R K S .W O O L L E N MILLS, C O T T O N W A S T E
MILLS. E tc .. Etc.
T h e tre a tm e n t o( tra d e w aste w ate rs calls lo r specialize d experience. F o r o v e r 40 years w e have been engaged in the m a n u facture and in sta lla tio n o f m echan ical e q u ip m e n t fo r th is purpose. T h e ran ge o f m a n u fa ctu re s is ex te nsive and includes Screens, G r it S e p a ra to rs, S e ttlin g T an k s, R e v o lv in g and R e c ta n g u la r S p rin k le rs, B io lo g ic a l T r e a tm e n t Plan ts, Pu m p s, Ejectors, V a lve s, Penstocks, F lo a tin g A r m s , L im e M ix e rs, etc. T h e se are described and illu stra te d in a co m p re h e n sive series of booklets.
Sta v e le y Q u a lity is n o accident. It is t h e n a tu ra l re s u lt ' o f e x p e rie n c e d c ra fts m a nship . T h e S t a v e le y W o r k s h a v e
‘ b e e n in e x iste n c e fo r o v e r 2 0 0 y e a rs a n d g e n e ra tio n a fte r g e n e ra t io n of. w o r k ■ p e o p le h a v e p a sse d on th e ir skill to p re se rv e th e g lo rio u s tra d itio n s a n d th e fin e re p u ta tio n o f th e C o m p a n y w h ich
t h e y serve.
The
S t a v e l e y C o a l & I r o n C o . L td ., Nr.
Chesterfieldx i i THE CHEMICAL AGE Fe b r u a r y 1 7 , 1 9 ^ 5
Imperial
Made in Great Britain
Typewriters can now only be supplied under licence from the Board o f Trade
Imperial T ypew riter Company L td . Leicester
P R E C I S I O N IN S T R U M E N T S for
TE X T IL E T E ST IN G L A B O R A T O R IE S
We invite enquiries for
H U M ID IT Y C O N T R O L EQ U IP M EN T.
REGAIN A PPARATU S FOR M O ISTU R E D ETER M IN A TIO N .
M IC R O SC O P IC A L EQ U IP M E N T.
pH METERS, ETC., ETC.
EXTEN SIVE STO CKS OF LA BO R A TO R Y EQUIPMENT including Glassware and Chemicals
R E Y N O L D S & B R A N S O N , LT D .
13, BRIGGATE, LEEDS, 1.
Y T T T T T T T T Y T T Y Y T T Y T T T T Y T T Y Y Y T Y T T Y T T N
I
Now available
DIETHYL CARBONATE
(C 2I-IsO )X O
P roperties o f P u re Substance :—
Colourless, pleasant-smelling liquid.
Boiling point . . . 126°C.
Specific Gravity at 20°C. . 0.975 Refractive Index at 20°C . 1.385 Inflammable
ETHYL CHL0R0F0RMATE
C1C0 0 C2H 5
P ro p erties o f P u re Substance :—
Colourless, pungent-smelling liquid.
Boiling point . . 93°C.
Specific Gravity at 20°C. . 1.135 Refractive Index at 20°C. . 1.397 Inflammable
Samples and information on application 'to :
IM P E R IA L C H E M IC A L IN D U S T R I E S L I M I T E D L O N D O N , S .W .l.
CN1I1BJ
x i v THE CHEMICAL AGE Fe b r u a r y 1 7 , 1 9 4 5
THE
B.D.H. COMPARATOR
By employing the B.D.H. Comparator Case with standard buffer tubes containing an appropriate indicator, the pH of coloured or hazy liquids can be expeditiously and accurately determined. Suitable indicators and equipment can be supplied for any industrial process in which at some stage the determination of the pH value of a liquid is of importance.
A thirty-two page booklet “ p H Values, what they are and how to determine them ” will be supplied, free o f charge, on request.
T H E B R IT ISH D R U G H O U S E S L td.
G R A H A M S T R E E T L O N D O N N .l
^C FOR TH E TREA TM EN T OF OILS AN D FATS
H IG H E S T G R A D E O F P R O D U C T • L O W E S T R E F IN IN G L O S SE S M A X IM U M C O N T R O L A N D F L E X IB IL IT Y IN O P E R A T IO N
C O M P L E T E F A C T O R Y IN S T A L L A T IO N S F O R T H E P R O C E S S I N G O F A N I M A L , V E G E T A B L E A N D M A R I N E O I L S & F A T S
B A M A G
B A M A G L I M I T E D
U N I V E R S A L H O U S E . 6 0 B U C K I N G H A M P A L A C E R D „ L O N D O N . S . W . I .
O n W a r O ffic e a n d A d m i r a l ty L U « . T e l e p h o n e , S lo a n e 9 2 8 2
9b
The Chemical Age
A jW eekly J o u r n a l D evoted to I n d u s tr ia l an d E n g in e e rin g C h e m is try
B O U V E R I E H O U S E , 154 F L E E T S T R E E T , L O N D O N , E .C .4 T e leg ram s: A LLA N G A S F L E E T LO N D O N
G LA SG O W : 1 1 6 H ope S tre e t (C entral 397°)
T e le p h o n e : C E N T R A L 3 2 12 (10 lines) B IR M IN G H A M : D aim ler H ouse, P a ra d ise S tre e t (M idland 0784-3 ) T H E C H E M IC A L A G E offices arc closed on S a tu rd a y s in ac co rd an ce w ith th e a d o p tio n of th e fiv e-d ay w eek by
B enn B ro th e rs L im ited
VOL. L I I
N o . 13 3 8 .
February 1 7 , 1945
A n n u al crip tio n26s.“ T h e irs n o t to re a so n w h y .” T h a t w ill n o t be th e p o si
tio n in in d u s try . T h e re th e m en (a n d w om en) w ork u n d e r c o n d itio n s of fre e w ill a n d of te a m w o rk . T h e difference is th a t in in d u s try th o se in c o n ta c t in th e sam e w orks fo rm a te a m , a te a m th a t m u st h a v e sufficient of th e te a m s p irit to obey th e c a p ta in , b u t w ho w ill n o t obey a c a p ta in w ho h a s n o t th e ir confidence.
T h e a p p ro a c h to
i p O Ln t c i tN ttfl]
R esponse to Environm ent^ .<>
h a n d lin g m en m u st be '*~ditfefent.
T h e o th e r im p o rta n t d ifferen ce is th a t in th e S e rv ic e s re s u lts c o u n t irre sp e c tiv e of m o n e ta ry co st (a n d so m etim es ir r e sp e c tiv e of h u m a n c o st); in in d u s try co sts d o m in a te ev en ts. T h u s th o se w ho w ill com e b ack in to in d u s try fro m the F o rces m a y h a v e m uch to u n le a r n . T h e tra n s itio n w ill p ro b a b ly n o t be very difficult fo r those w ho h a d b een in in d u s try b e fo re h a n d , b u t th e new e n tr a n ts w ill h a v e a difficult an d p o ssib ly a p a in fu l a d ju s tm e n t to m ak e. W h e th e r th e y w ill fit in e a sily o r n o t d ep en d s on th e ra p id ity of th e ir re sp o n se to th e ir e n v iro n m e n t. I t is fo o lish to pro m ise d is c h a rg e d officers “ fa t "
po sts in in d u s try im m e d ia te ly ; like ev ery o n e else th ey w ill h a v e to p ro v e th e ir v a lu e first.
N o d o u b t m ost of On O th e r P a g e s
T
H E tim e is co m in g w hen those who h a v e been in th e F o rc e s fo r “ th e d u ra tio n ” w ill be re tu rn e d to in d u stry . M an y of th em h a v e n e v e r b een in in d u s try b e f o r e ; th ey w ent s tr a ig h t into th e S e rv ic e s fro m s c h o o l; th ey m ay h a v e rise n d u r in g th e stre ss of w a r to p o sitio n s in w h ic h th ey co m m an d m e n ; b u t c o n d itio n s as th ey k n o w th e m w ill be v ery fa r rem o v ed fro m those th e y w ill m e e t in in d u s try . I t is n o t n e cessary to la b o u r th is p o in t, since those w ho h a v e h a d a n y e x p e rie n c e of both S erv ice life a n d in d u s try know the differences.J u s t tw o p o in ts of fu n d a m e n ta l differ
en ce sh o u ld be e sp e c ia lly n o ted , how e v er. O ne is th a t in th e S erv ices th e m en u n d e r c o m m an d g iv e, ex p e c t to g iv e , a n d a re ex p ected to g iv e u n q u e s
tio n in g ob ed ien ce to a n y o rd e r, ho w ev er d is ta s te fu l it m ay be.
Notes and Comments ... 155 Penicillin Film ... 156 Progress in- Drugs, F ine Chemi
cals, and Biological Products in. 1944—I V ... 157 Parliamentary Topics ... 160 Chemical Engineering School ... 160
Lac Prices ... 160
H asards of Contact W ith Chemicals ... 161 Handling N itric A cid ... ... 162 Chemical Progress in S. Africa 163 Port Sunlight at W ar ... 164 L etter to the F.ditor Scientific
P ublicity ... ... ... 165 Personal Notes ... ... ... 166 General News from Week to W eek 167 Forthcom ing É vents ... 168
Commercial Intelligence ... 169 Stocks and Shares ... 169 Chemical Prices ... ... ... 170
those w ho a s p ire to a tta in in g good p o sts in in d u s try w ill be tra in e d b efo re b e in g th ro w n in to th e w h irlp o o l a n d to ld to sw im . T h a t h a p p e n e d a f te r th e la s t w ar, w h en m a n y m en sp e n t th e ir s a v in g s o r th e h o n o ra r iu m g iv e n them on d is c h a rg e in ta k in g co u rses a t -the U n iv e rs itie s w hich le d to “ w a r ” d e g re e s. T h a t opens u p th e im p o rta n c e of p la n n in g such c o u rses c a re fu llv . 153
154 THE CHEMICAL AGE F e b r u a r y 1 7 , 1 9 4 5
T h e acad em ic im p u ls e is to cau se ev ery ch e m ist to go th ro u g h th e ro u tin e m ill in p u re c h e m istry , on th e g ro u n d th a t if one h a s the fu n d a m e n ta ls of th e su b ject, th e d e ta ils of sp e c ia list in d u s trie s, e tc ., can e a sily be filled in. T h a t is rig h t u p to a p o in t. B u t th e lo n g -c o n tin u e d a rg u m e n t ab o u t th e tr a in in g of ch em ists o r ch e m ic a l e n g in e e rs fo r in d u stry seem s to s u g g e s t th a t a ll is n o t w ell. A v e ry y o u n g m an c a n no doubt be p u t rig h t th ro u g h th e “ p u re sc ie n c e ” m ill fro m s ta rt to finish, an d if th e re is m uch th a t he le a r n s th a t h e w ill n e v e r a p p ly th ro u g h o u t th e w hole of th e rest of h is life , it does n o t g r e a tly m a tte r.
I t is a ll to th e good th a t he sh o u ld h a v e a w ide k n o w le d g e of h is su b je c t a n d a t le a s t know th a t th ese th in g s e x ist—o r are th o u g h t to exist. B u t in h is la te r stu d ies th ere a re o th e r th in g s th a t sh o u ld be ta u g h t him .
T h e o ld e r m an re tu rn in g fro m t h e . w a r sh o u ld c le a rly be g iv e n a d ifferen t c u rric u lu m . M uch of the acad em ic stuff c a n be o m itted a n d le ft fo r h is own p riv a te s t u d y ; h e w ill w an t to know o n ly as m uch as w ill fit h im to e a rn h is liv in g in in d u s try q u ic k ly . T h is , of co u rse, is ra n k h eresy . In a tex tb o o k on c h e m istry p u b lish e d in th e d ay s of o u r e x tre m e y o u th w e re c o lle c t th e g lee w ith w hich the a u th o r re c o u n te d how a v is ito r to th e R oyal School of M ines b ro u g h t h is son w ith th e request- th a t he sh o u ld “ do> c o p p e r ” ; he d id n o t w a n t him , h e said , to w aste h is tim e le a r n in g ab o u t ato m s a n d m o lecu les a n d a ll th a t so rt of th in g —h e ju s t w an ted h im . to
“ do c o p p e r.” P u t in th a t w ay it a ll so u n d s v ery a b su rd . T h e H a lls of O ly m p u s ju s tifia b ly rin g w ith J o v ia n la u g h te r. P u t in a m o re co m m onsense w ay, h o w ev er, th e re is a c e rta in a m o u n t of so und sense so m ew h ere a t th e b a c k of it.
'T here is a n a w fu l lo t of d e a d w ood in ..th e te a c h in g of m o st sciences. T h e re is a m ass o f m a te ria l th a t it is fo o lish to m e m o ris e ; a ll th a t is re q u ire d is th a t it s h a ll be k n o w n to e x is t a n d w h ere i t can be fo u n d . W h a t th e stu d e n t re q u ire s is a so u n d k n o w le d g e o f p rin c ip le s . In o u r p riv a te view a k n o w le d g e o f th e p r in c ip le s o f p h y sic s is as im p o rta n t in in d u s try —ev e n in ch em ical in d u s try — as a k n o w le d g e of th e p r in c ip le s of c h e m istry . T h a t su g g e sts to u s th a t for o ld e r m en it sh o u ld be p o ssib le to devise a co u rse th a t w ill g iv e th em th e g ro u n d
in g th ey n eed to e n a b le th em to becom e u sefu l m em b ers of a n in d u s tria l te a m , le a v in g th em to a c q u ire m uch m o re by th e ir ow n la te r r e a d in g , an d th ro u g h a read y re sp o n se to th e ir new e n v iro n m e n t.
C e rta in th in g s th a t a re fu n d a m e n ta l sh o u ld be ta u g h t, h o w ev er. O n e of th ese is th a t sp eed co u n ts in in d u s tr y ; th e reaso n is th a t costs d o m in a te in d u s try . R a p id m eth o d s o f a n a ly s is m ay not g iv e th e first p la c e of d e c im a ls co r
re c tly , b u t th ey m ay sav e h u n d re d s of po u n d s in a v o id in g w aste by a llo w in g q u ick d ecisio n s to be ta k e n . C a p ita l cost, c o stin g of ste a m , of p ro d u c tio n , of re p a irs a n d m a in te n a n c e , m u st a ll be im p ressed upon th e new e n tr a n t. T h e fa c t th a t the ru le -o f-th u m b m eth o d s of th e w o rk m an m ay h a v e so m e th in g in th e ir fa v o u r m u s t n o t be n e g le c te d . T h e y o u n g ch em ist (th e y o u n g in e x p e rie n c e , we m ean) m u st be ta u g h t not to be too d o g m a tic ; “ p ro v e a ll th in g s , h o ld fa s t th a t w hich is g o o d ,” is a good m otto, a n d o v e r-h a sty c o n d e m n a tio n of “ p ra c ti
c a l ” m eth o d s m ay r e s u lt in m o re frictio n th a n a d v a n c e m e n t. T h e n , a g a i n , m an y in d u s trie s h a v e b een b u ilt up on special m eth o d s a n d k n o w le d g e w hich c a n n o t be ta u g h t a t a c o lle g e . T h e new e n tr a n t m u st be w a rn e d th a t he w ill h av e to d isco v er th ese th in g s fo r h im se lf, an d th a t u n til h e h a s d o n e so he w ill not be e s p e c ia lly u sefu l in h is new job, a n d m u st w alk h u m b ly . E m p lo y e rs can th e m se lv e s do m uch to a ssist in g a in in g th is k n o w le d g e by h e lp fu l s u g g e s tio n s a n d by ta k in g a n in te re s t in th e w o rk o f th e ir staff. A ll th ese th in g s w ill h e lp th e m an fro m th e S erv ices o r th e hew e n tr a n t from th e U n iv e rs ity to resp o n d ra p id ly to h is e n v iro n m e n t. U n til a m an h a s re sp o n d e d to h is e n v iro n m e n t a n d rubbed off h is a n g le s , he re m a in s a s q u a re p e g in a ro u n d h o le.
The following reprints from the Smithsonian Report for 1943, published by (lie Smithsonian Institution, W ashington, have just arrived in this country: “ Petroleum Geology," by W illiam B. H eroy, Director of Foreign Production Petroleum A dm inistra
tion for W ar; “ The Sea as Storehouse,”
by Dr. E. F . Armstrong, F .R .S . : “ Progress in New Synthetic Textile F ib res,” by H . R.
H anersbergcr ; and “ Chemo-therapeutic Agents from M icrobes,” by Robert L . W eintraub, Division of Radiation and Organisms, Smithsonian In stitu te.
N O T E S A N D
C a rb o n is in g an d th e F u tu r e
D
R. G. E . F O X W E L L a n d h is w ritin g s a re w ell k n o w n to re a d e rs of Th e Ch e m ic a l Ag e, b u t it is d o u b tfu l w h e th e r h is u n o b tru siv e h u t u n tirin g w ork fo r th e good of th e ch em ical and a llie d in d u s trie s h as m et w ith the a c k n o w le d g m e n t it d eserv es in a ll th e b ra n c h e s of in d u s try w hich h a v e been b en eficially affected by it. H e h a s m ade a sp ecial stu d y of th e c a rb o n is in g in d u s trie s, both in re s p e c t of th e ir n o rm a l an d of th eid w a r-tim e a c tiv itie s , an d no one, in co n seq u en ce, is b e tte r q u alified to p ass ju d g m e n t on th e ir p ro s p e c ts a n d d u tie s fo r the fu tu re . H is c o n sid e re d o pinion is e x p ressed in a p a p e r on “ T h e C a rb o n is in g In d u s trie s a fte r the W a r ,” ' w hich w as p re s e n te d on F e b ru a r y i to the M id la n d S ectio n of th e C oke-O ven M a n a g e rs ’ A sso ciatio n , a n d h a s been p u b lish ed in ful 1 in T h e G as W o r ld (C o k in g S ection, - F e b ru a r y 3 , p. 2 3).
As a lw a y s, D r. F o x w e ll's p ro n o u n c e m e n ts a re rich in s u g g e s tiv e ideas, th o u g h he h im se lf, w ith g e n ia l cynicism , q u o tes B ish o p C re ig h to n to th e effect th a t “ An E n g lis h m a n n o t o n ly h a s no i d e a s ; h e h a te s an id e a w hen he sees o n e .” M uch of th e p a p e r ab ly su m m a rise s th e c o n clu sio n s th a t h a v e a p p e a re d fro m tim e to tim e in the J o u rn a l o f th e I n s titu te o f F u e l, T h e G as W o r ld , a n d o th e r te c h n ic a l jo u r n a ls , as w ell as in o u r ow n c o lu m n s, b u t, a p p ro p r ia te ly , th e s tin g of the a d d re s s is in its ta il, w h ere the s u g g e s tio n is p u t fo rw a id th a t a C e n tra l C a rb o n isa tio n B o a rd m ig h t be fo rm ed , w o rk in g on th e lin e s o f the C e n tra l E le c tric ity B oard.
C oke an d th e C h e m ic a l In d u s tr y
I
F , as D r. F o x w e ll s ta te s, th e re is g o in g to be a v a stly in c re a se d d em an d fo r sm o k eless fu e l, th e re can be no d o u b t th a t som e so rt of c o -o rd in atio n w ill be re q u ire d in th e coke-oven in d u s try , w hich, as th e a u th o r p o in ts o u t, has n e v e r h a d co m m e rc ia l .sta b ility . T h e su g g e s te d C a rb o n isa tio n B o ard is ju s t one e x a m p le of th e so rt of th in g th a t m ig h t be done. W h e re th e ch em ical in d u s try com es in , o f co u rse, is in th e u tilis a tio n of the p ro d u c ts of th e c a rb o n isin g in d u s trie s , such as we h a v e been u r g in g fo r som e tim e past. In v e s tig a -
G O M M E N T S
tion (to say the least) sh o u ld be m ad e in to th e F is c h e r-T ro p s c h p ro c e s s ; into th e u s a g e o f m e th a n e a n d e th y le n e ; an d in to the m a n u fa c tu re of c a rb id e from coke. T h e im p o rta n t th in g is th a t an y ch em ical p rocesses d e v e lo p e d sh o u ld be c o n tin u o u sly o p e ra te d a t h ig h o u t p u t ; th e c a p ita l o u tla y w ill be h e av y a n d n o th in g in th e n a tu r e of a n in te rm itte n t pro cess u s in g sp a re g a s is w o rth c o n sid e rin g . G iv e n th e re q u is ite econom ic co n d itio n s, it seem s lik e ly th a t a g a s g rid w ould be o f v a lu e to the ch e m ic a l in d u s try in s u p p ly in g g a s, in a re lia b le m a n n e r, to th e fa c to rie s w o rk in g th e n ew ly -d e
v elo p ed processes. A ny su ch fa c to rie s m o re o v e r, w ould th en d e p e n d , as to size, n o t 011 the size of the coke-oven p la n t to w hich th ey h a p p e n e d to be a tta c h e d , but to th e scope fo r th e ir p ro d u c ts in the m a rk e t. T h a t seem s to ’ be sound econom ics, an d such a ‘ schem e w o u ld sim p ly be an a d d itio n a l b u sin ess v e n tu re to w hich both of th e in d u s trie s co n cern ed sh o u ld m a k e c o n trib u tio n .
No R o o m fo r N ew s
I
X b o th th is w e e k ’s a n d la s t w e e k ’s issu e w e h a v e p rin te d le tte r s from c o rre sp o n d e n ts , a ris in g outi of an e d ito ria l w hich a p p e a re d o n J a n u a r y 2 7 , a d v e rtin g to v a rio u s asp ects of th e su b je c t o f scientific p u b lic ity . In a ll th ese, th e m eth o d , o r ra th e r th e la c k of m eth o d , by w hich p u b lic ity is g iv e n to scientific a n d te c h n ic a l a d v a n c e s in th is co u n try w as d e p lo re d , an d w e a re g la d in d e e d to be ab le to v e n tila te th is e m in e n tly ju s t g rie v a n c e . T h e re is a n o th e r a sp e c t of th e case, h o w ev er, to w hich o u r c o rre sp o n d e n ts h a v e n o t d ra w n a tt e n ti o n ; an d th is a sp e c t is b e c o m in g m o re a n d m ore p ro m in e n t e v e ry day. H o w ev er n e a r o r fa r m a y be th e a c tu a l en d of th e w a r, th e re iss no d o u b t th a t its im p a c t on th is c o u n try is d im in is h in g ; a n d th e need fo r
“ se c u rity ” d im in ish e s a c c o rd in g ly . N ew s, te c h n ic a l new s of th e h ig h e s t im p o rta n c e , is b e c o m in g in c re a s in g ly a v a ila b le fo r p u b lic a tio n . T o ta k e an e x a m p le , th e C e n tra l E le c tric ity B o ard h a s p u b lish e d a t one fe ll sw oop its r e p o rts fo r th e y e a rs 19 4 0 -4 3 , and it re q u ire s no g r e a t stre tc h of im a g in a tio n to su rm ise th a t th e e le c tric a l P re ss w ill w ish to co m m en t on th ese re p o rts to
THE CHEMICAL AGE Fe b r u a r y 1 7 , 1 9 4 5
som e c o n sid e ra b le e x ten t. W e hope th ey w ill be a b le to find sp ace, w ith th e ir re s tric te d p a p e r a llo w a n c e , to m ak e a d e q u a te c o m m e n t; but we th in k they w ill be faced w ith a k n o tty pro b lem . T h e re is no d o u b t a b o u t it : te c h n ic a l jo u r n a ls w ill h a v e to h a v e a n in creased a llo w a n c e of p a p e r if ju s tic e is to be done to th e b r i ll ia n t a c h ie v e m e n ts of o u r sc ie n tists a n d te c h n o lo g is ts w hich w ill soon be u rg e n tly d e m a n d in g p u b lic a tio n .
A L ittle S tin g
T T w as a lm o st m ore th a n w e could -*■ h a v e h o p ed fo r w hen we e x p ressed in th is c o lu m n a few w eeks ag o o u r c ritic ism of th e p a p e r a llo c a tio n p o licy o f th e M in istry of S u p p ly , th a t we sh o u ld find so d o u g h ty a ch a m p io n as L ord S a m u e l on o u r side. A d d re ssin g th e a n n u a l lu n ch eo n of th e P a r lia m e n ta r y an d S cientific C o m m ittee, its p re s i
d e n t d ep o site d w h at h e d escrib ed as
“ a little stin g ” in th e bo d y of H is M a je s ty ’s G o v ern m en t. D o lin g o u t sm a ll p a rc e ls of p a p e r h e re an d th e re , in ste a d o f re s to rin g as sp e e d ily as p o ssib le su p p lie s of p a p e r in o rd e r to g iv e the n a tio n fre e access to lite r a tu re o f a ll k in d s is d o in g im m en se h a rm to o u r n a tio n a l cause. T o sp re a d n ew s of B ritish a c h ie v e m e n ts o v er th e w o rld is co m p le te ly a n d u tte rly im p o ssib le, so lo n g as th is m ise rly p o licy is a llo w e d to p e rs ist. A t a tim e w h en m en a n d w om en in m an y la n d s a re a n x io u s to o b tain lite r a tu r e fro m a n d a b o u t B rita in , all th a t can be done is to p ro ffer a m eek ap o lo g y fo r th e s tric t p a p e r re g u la tio n s .
“ T h e h a rm d o n e ,” sa id L o rd S a m u e l,
“ is q u ite o u t o f p ro p o rtio n to th e a d v a n ta g e g a in e d in th e s a v in g of s h ip p in g a n d la b o u r .” T h o u g h la te in th e d ay , it is, we h o p e , n o t too la te to o v e rse t th is
“ P e n n y W ise , P o u n d F o o lish ’’ system . T h e C o m m ittee a t w hose m e e tin g th is v a lu a b le c ritic ism w as m a d e sh o u ld u se its w e ig h ty in flu en ce to e n su re an im m e d ia te re la x a tio n o f th e fe tte rs of th e P a p e r C o n tro l.
A W a r - T im e R eco rd
O
N a n o th e r p a g e w e illu s tr a te the w a r-tim e a c h ie v e m e n t o f L e v e r B ro th e r s ’ W o rk s a t P o r t S u n lig h t in c h a n g in g o v er fro m th e ex c lu siv e m a n u fa c tu re of so ap , a n d th e lik e , to a h ig h ly im p o rta n t o u tp u t of d ire c t m u n itio n s of w ar. T h is is ju s t o n e e x a m p le of th ew ay in w hich a ll ra n k s in in d u s try h av e' re a d ily , in fa c t e a g e rly , tu rn e d th e ir h a n d s to w h a te v e r w as m ost n e e d fu l, liv e ry in d u s tria l e s ta b lish m e n t, h o w ev er s m a ll, h a s its w a r-tim e sto ry a n d th ese sto rie s w ill be du e fo r p u b lic a tio n in in c re a s in g n u m b e rs as th e strin g e n c y of
“ se c u rity ” in e v ita b ly lessens. ' On S e p te m b e r 3 , 19 39 , there w ere ju s t over 7000 em ployees a t P o rt S u n lig h t. O f th a t o rig in a l n u m b e r o v er 2000 have been “ c a lle d u p ,” an d o f those w ho e n te re d th e c o m p a n y ’s e m p lo y m e n t sin ce th e w ar, m an y m o re h a v e been d ire c te d to v a rio u s b ra n c h e s of th e n a tio n a l se r
vice. A h e a v y lo ad of m u n itio n p ro d u c tion h a s been b o rn e , w ith o u ts ta n d in g success, by those w ho re m a in e d — in c lu d in g o v er 1000 p art-tim e w om en, m any of th em g ra n d m o th e rs . T h e ch e m ic a l "and a llie d in d u s trie s h a v e h a d to rely on w om en as n e v e r b efo re, a n d we h a v e a lre a d y c e le b ra te d th e ir ach ie v e m e n ts ( Th e Ch e m ic a l Ag e, N o v em b er 2 5 , 1944, p. 503). T h e w om en w o rk e rs in o u r p ic tu re s th is w eek a p p e a r p e rfe c tly c o n fid e n t a n d h a p p y in th e ir w ork ; an d we a re g la d to n o te th a t one' of th em is p ro v id e d w ith sa fe ty in s tru c tio n s c le a rly p rin te d o n a w all-n o tice. W e ,h o p e th a t m ore such reco rd s w ill becom e av ailab le*
to th e p u b lic as tim e goes on.
P E N IC IL L IN F IL M
The B ritish discovery, developm ent, and production of penicillin and its use in the treatm en t of w ar wounds has been filmed.
The picture, which is being sponsored jointly by Im perial Chemical Industries and the T herapeutic Research C orporation, will, it is hoped, be completed w ithin the next few weeks and will th en be widely shown at home and abroad under the auspices of the M .O .I. and the B ritish Council. T he film deals a t length w ith th e discovery of p en i
cillin by Sir A lexander Flem ing, its subse
quent developm ent by the Oxford G roup of w orkers under Sir H ow ard Florey, the various stages in B ritish in d u strial produc
tion of the m aterial, and its use on the battlefields of H olland and Belgium and in the hospitals in B ritain. The film has been made w ith th e personal co-operation of both S ir A lexander Flem ing and Sir H ow ard Florey both of whom appear personally in it. T he Army P enicillin U n it and S .H .A .E .F . have afforded the producers the utm ost help in obtaining the casualty sequences 011 the battle-fronts and at home.
The film is being m ade by R ealist Film s and directed by A lexander Shaw.
Progress in D rugs, Fine Chem icals and Biological Products in 1944—IV
b y G . C O L M A N G R E E N , B .S c ., F .R .I .C ., A .M .I.C h e m .E . (Continued from Th e Ch e m ic a l Ag e, February 3, 19 4 5 , p . 124)
T
H E economical disposal of mycelium from in d u strial m ould-ferm entation p ro cesses is always a difficult problem, and the use of the mycelium has been explored d u ring the past decade or more as a source of ergosterol. I t is now proposed to use the mycelium produced in penicillin production.
The non-saponifiable m atter from a butanol ex tract of th e wet mycelium yields a sterol corresponding w ith ergosterol which may be irradiated to vitam in D , (Science, 1944).
Dodds (Endeavour, 1944) has outlined the routes by which the synthetic cestrogen9 were evolved. In an attem pt w ith Cook and H ew itt to find the pharmacologically active groupings proceeding through stru c
tures with two fused rings (instead of the four in n aturally occurring oestrogens) 4 : 4'-dihydroxystilbene was arrived at, which, with related substances, qu alita
tively, but not quantitatively, resembled the oestrogens. F u rth e r simplification was attem pted by elim inating one of the rings to give anol. This was prepared from its m ethyl eth er, anethole (i.e., the inethyl ether of p-propenyl phenol), the chief con
stituent of oils of anise anil fennel. V ariable oestrogenic potency of different b atch e s-led to the isolation of the sym m etrical dimer- ide of high potency.
I11 collaboration with Robinson, 4 : 4'- dihydroxydiethvlstilbene was p repared and found to* be about 2 i tim es more powerful than oestrone, and th is substance has been available commercially for some time as stil- boestrol. F u rth er exam ination, with Campbell, of the m other liquors from anol production, yielded “ hexoestrol ” which differs from stilboestrol in th a t the double bond beween a and /3 carbon atoms is hydrogenated. By a different route, an isoiner was obtained with double bonds between the C ,H , groups and the a and /3 carbon atoms, giving y : S-bis (4-hydroxy- phenyl)-/\/S4hexadiene, for which the pseudonym of “ diencestrol ” has been ap
proved by the G eneral Medical Council.
Unlike the n atu ral oestrogens, stilboestrol, hexoestrol and diencestrol are effective per ott. As was m entioned last year, stilboes
trol has been used in control of cancer of the p ro state gland. Dienoestrol has proved very effective in relieving the distressing symptoms of menopause and in the te r m ination of lactation w ithout secondary effects
Bergel el. al. (J .C .S ., 1944) have des
cribed m ethods for the p rep aratio n of baste derivatives of benzofuran which have not been previously studied. The objective of these studies was the hope of finding an a l
gesics among these substances, in the light of the fact th a t this fundam ental grouping is im plicit in the stru ctu re of the morphine molecule.
c h3 r2
• «
S tru ctu res other th an benzofuran are im
plicit in the m orphine molecule, and these have been explored by Small and others.
F o r example, it was mentioned last year th a t Dodds (Nature, 1943) had found Q- hydroxy-a : /3-diphenylethvlamine to be an effective analgesic when adm inistered per os in prelim inary trials. The work has since been published in extenso (¡'roc. Hoy. Soc..
B., 1944). F u rth e r clinical investigation of this compound has shown th a t, so fa r from its being a universal analgesic, its effective action is limited to relieving pain due to . pressure (e.y., m alignant growths) on nerves
(Nature, 1944).
In th e course of the work by Bergel et al.
noted above, E isleb’s general method used in preparing 4-arylpiperidines was used in preparing a basic eoum aran derivative of the type :
These w orkers also devised a new method (B .P. 550,963 ; 550,970 ; 556,976) of p re p a r
ing the analgesic pethidine (l-inethyl-4- phehylpiperidine-4-earboxylie acid ethyl ester) which avoided the use of the vesi
cant /¡-/I'-dihalogenodiethylm ethylam ine used by Eisleb (B .P. 501,135). Pethidine
continues to receive extensive trials and its field of application is becoming defined and lim ited. I t is becoming clear th at it is no general substitute for m orphine although it has advantages in p a rtic u la r respects, espe
cially w here spasm of smooth muscle is in
volved. Its most severe lim itation is th at it is revealing itself as a drug of addiction and in some' countries has been placed, as such, under the restrictions to which m or
phine is subjected. Woolfe and Macdonald have described a method for evaluating the analgesic action of pethidine hydrochloride, while Gallon et al. (ll.M .J., 1944) found it effective and satisfactory in com bination with hyoscine as an o bstretric analgesic.
Spielman (J .A .C .S., 1944) has investigated the analgesic properties of derivatives of oxazolidine-2 : 4-dione, some of which have known hypnotic and anticonvulsant p ro p er
ties. H e has found th a t alkylation of the N atom in 5 : 5-dialkyl derivatives in tro duces im portant analgesic properties and th at, provided th a t the alkyl groups a t
tached to the rin g are of low m olecular weight, there is no significant hypnotic effect. The outstanding compound was
found to be 3 : 5 : 5-trim ethyloxazolidine- 2 : 4-dione, with analgesic properties in the aspirin and' am idopyrin range. T he pre
paratio n of this sub
stance is described as an O t C N .C H j example in B .P . 501,183.
The S and N hetero-
| | cyclic analogues of this (c h3\ c c ; 0 substance w ere found to 1 \ / be w ithout significant O pharm acological action.
The introduction of 1- pheuyl - 2 - benzoyl- tetrahydroindazolone as an analgesic was referred to last year, since when its pre
paration has been described in B .P. 565,616.
X -R a y C o n t r a s t M e d ia
X -ray contrast agents depend upon their iodine content for th e ir efficacy, this elem ent causing relative opacity on account of its high atomic num ber. A num ber of preparations containing iodine are avail
able for use as contrast m edia in various p a rts of the body, including Diodone (a m ixture of 3 : 5-diiodo-4-pyridone acetic acid and diethanolam ine), Iodoxylum (X- lnethyl - 3 : 5 - diiodo-4-pyridoue-2 : 6 -dicar- boxylic acid), sodium o-iodohippurate, sodium iodom ethansulphonate, e tc .; iodised poppy-seed oil (about 40 per cent., combined iodine)—the Oleum iodisatum of the B .P . (Add. 1)—has had wide application in X-ray diagnosis of the genital tra c t, trachea and bronchi,, spinal theca, etc. Iodised oil has, however, objectionable features in its v a ria bility and in the reactiveness and conse
quent toxicity of iodine in aliphatic com
bination. L iberation of iodine in the spinal 15»
canal, is especially objectionable, and S train et al. suggested the use of ethyl-p- iodophenylundecoate (J .A .C .S .). The yield obtained by their method was too poor for commercial production and W ilson B aker et ul. (J .S .C .I . , 1944) have devised a proce
dure the yields from which render com
m ercial production practicable. Benzene is condensed w ith undecenoic neid in the presence of alum inium chloride to give the oj-phenyl derivative w ith isomerides. The product is iodinated in acetic acid solution in the presence of iodic acid and a little w ater. A certain am ount of iodine enters the side chain which is objectionable. The procedure, therefore, involves steps to re move this aliphatic iodine, so th a t the p ro duct contains only stable nucleus-substituted iodine. The product is not entirely homo
geneous but the contam inants are not ob
jectionable clinically.
Disodium tetraiodophthalein (Iodophtlia- leinum , B .P.) has been in use for some time for rendering the gall-bladder opaque to X-rays (cholecystography). This sub
stance has an unpleasant persistent taste which may cause nausea and vomiting when taken per os. T his ro u te is the preferred one as there are toxic reactions when it is adm inistered intravenously. A method for removing th e disagreeable colour, odour, and taste of this substance by bleaching w ith sodium sulphite followed by treatm ent with decolorising carbon is claimed in B .P . 562,889. In 1940, however, D ohru and D iedrich (D eut. Med. W och.) introduced a - plienyl-B-3 : 5-diiodo-4-hydroxvphenylpro- pionic acid for cholecystography and the product was m arketed as “ B iliselectan.”
This substance is tasteless, non-toxic and gives as good X -ray results as iodophtlialein.
In view of the cutting off of supplies from the continent, W ilson, B aker and Salisbury devised two m ethods of preparation {J.S .C .I., 1944), In the first method p- hydroxybenzaldehyde is condensed w ith 'so d iu m phenyl acetate by means of the P erk in reaction, and the corresponding sub
stitu ted acrylic acid is reduced to a-phenyl- /3-4-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid. T his substance is then iodinated readily with iodine monochloride in hot dilute' acetic acid and an elaborate purification process follows. In the second method the more readily available auisaldehyde was subjected to the same series of reactions, the reduc
tion being followed by a dem ethylation to obtain the desired substituted propionic acid for iodination.
W ilson B aker et al. {J .S .C .I., 1944) have also exam ined the preparation and structure of another reputed cholecystographic agent, “ Choloseleetan.” They bring evi
dence to bear th a t this is very crude 6 : 3 ' : - 5 ': tri-iodo-4'-liydroxy - 2'- phenylquinolino-4- carboxylic acid w hich had previously been re-
Fe b r u a r y 1 7 , 1 9 4 5 THE CHEMICAL AGE
substance causing the reported opacity m ust, therefore, have been an im purity.
H olling (L a n cet, 1944) has explored sea
sickness rem edies on behalf of the Medical R esearch Council. Two main groups of substances have been available : general sedatives and drugs of the bellAdonna class.
M ethedrine, sodium hydantoinate, hexobar- bitone, and phenobarbitone were found to be ineffective. T hree proprietary remedies were tested, the composition of which was as follow s: (1 ) chlorbutol plus caffeine;
(2) the dim ethylpropanol ester of tropic acid plus dihydroxydiethylpiperidine; (3) hyoscyamine cam phorate plus liyoseine cam- pnorate plus sodium bicarbonate. As a whole, proprietaries give poor results. In the belladonna group, atropine, hyoscyamine, and liyoseine had significant effects. Hyo- scine in doses of 0 .6 -1.2 mg. was found most generally useful despite its causing dryness of the mouth.
A n a e s th e tic s
As an anaesthetic, trichlorethylene is p re
ferred to eth er on account of its uninfiam- m ability; it is preferred to chloroform be
cause of the lesser risk of ventricular fibrillation. I t is not, however, w ithout its own risks, and cases of paralysis of the trigem inal nerve and of liver necrosis have been reported. Recently, the hazards of using th is gas in closed circuit have been brought out as a consequence of correlating this technique w ith cases of trigem inal paralysis, and it has been advised th a t tr i
chlorethylene should not be used in closed circuit (this Journal, 1944 , 51, 256).
D r. H . E. Cox (B .M .J., 1944) found th a t soda-lime used for absorbing expired carbon dioxide in elosed-circuit anaesthesia may contain substantial am ounts of free caustic soda, one sample exaniined by him contain
ing 1.2 per cent., and another 1 1 . 2 per cent.
H e pointed out th a t when trichlorethylene is heated with alkali, dichloroacetvlene is form ed, and this is known to be highly toxic. M oreover, in the presence of air, dichloroacetylene decomposes explosively to phosgene and carbon dioxide and th is may be avoided by- excess trichlorethylene or an in ert gas.
CHC1 XaOH C Cl + X aCl + I I 20
lj! P ;
.
C C l3 Ć C l
c c i r 1
2 Ml + 3 0 - > 2 C O C1. + 2 CO.,
C Cl L J
X aphthyl, indolyl, and pvrryl aliphatic acids have been much explored for their grow th-prom oting effects on the higher p lants. They are xi.ow discussed (P .P . 560,967) in the light of th eir power of dissi
p ating fatigue and stim ulating bodily and intellectual activity in man. It is claimed
the adm inistration of soporifics. These substances are slow-acting by themselves, but /3 -naplithyl-acetic acid, for example, to
gether w ith caffeine, gives an instantaneous therapeutic effect.
A n t i m o n i a l s
L ittle has been known u ntil recently con
cerning the fate of antim onials in the body.
These drugs have been found particularly effective in the treatm en t of kala-azar, b u t their use is not w ithout h azard . They may be broadly grouped according as they con
tain antimony in a terv alen t or quinqueva- leut form. Among the tervalent compounds in use are potassium antim onyni ta r tra te , sodium antimonyni ins-pyro- catechol-3 : 5-disulphonate (Stibophen, Fouadin), and lithium antimonyni thioma- late. The quinquevalent compounds are divisible into two sub-groups of which the first includes drugs of the emetic type—
sodium antim onyvgluconate—and the second includes derivatives of phenyl-stibonic acid.
The la tte r sub-group has been highly developed and there may be m entioned, by way of example, the N-glucoside of p-am ino-phenylstibonite (Xeostam) and s-diphenylearbamide-4 : 4'-distibonic acid (U rea Stibam ide). The quinquevalent com
pounds are less toxic than the tervalent compounds; but it has long been assumed th a t, by analogy w ith the organom etallic compounds containing arsenic, antim ony is reduced to the tervalent form in the body and th a t it is the stibonoxide group, R - S b = 0 , containing tervalent antim ony which is parasiticida!. Goodwin and Page (Biochem. J ., 1943; N ature, 1944, 3902), support this assumption w ith evidence ob
tained by the use of th eir polarographic method for the estim ation of antim ony in biological fluids. T h is method has two ad
vantages over previous m ethods in th a t it is o f ’ higher accuracy and distinguishes between tervalent and quinquevalent a n ti
mony. T he reduction of antim ony in the body, th e authors think, is probably in ac
cordance with the reaction suggested by G ray, following his in vitro experim ents.
i OH
I II ONa
Hoj.H
R . NH OH + N a S b 0 24 H20 An im portant and comprehensive set of -contributions by W right, H enderson, and Banks, respectively, relating to the use of C
