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The photograph on th e left shows a K en t panel at a w ell-kn o w n firm o f m anufacturers. This in
corporates a ring-balance m e te r showing the to ta l ‘ m a k e ’ and rate in thousands o f cu. ft.
pe r h o u r and a m u lti-p o in t drau gh t gauge showing th e suction in the producer, th e * scrubber, th e heater and th e p u rifier. T h e
circu lar in dicator shows th e pressure of the gas in in. w .g. as it leaves the plane, ■'
th e th re e sm aller dials are te m p e r- A
- a tu re indicators. M
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r it is hS
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BAKE LAQUE PHENOLIC RESINS
■ for acid-proof coatings
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ÄTTWÄTER & SONS, Ltd.
E st. 1868
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W i t h W e lls * W a s t e - O ll F ilte r y o u c an u se y o u r o il s e v e r a l t im e s
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T HE C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h i o, 19 4 5
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ILLUSTRATIONS.
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Retorts in Heat-Resisting Cast Iron.
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A V IM O L T D ., T AUNTON S o m e r s e t ( E n g l a n d )
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PROGRESS by QUALITY
The Research Chemist
The interest aroused in the public mind bv the achievements o f the Research Chemist is based primarily on the practical value o f his discoveries, but the lay mind has little understanding o f the difficul
ties and the problems encountered before laboratory synthesis can be translated into factory production.
After the dram atic discovery comes the generally far more difficult task o f meeting the demand occasioned by it, and such problems have been accentuated during the last few years by the worry o f wartime scarcities. Patience, resource and unremitting effort are just as necessary in research and develop
ment work as the occasional flash o f inspiration, and these qualities have helped the chemist to deal successfully with the many trouble
some situations which the war has brought.
The research workers o f May &
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time difficulties to overcome.
W ithout their efforts many o f our customers would have been less satisfied with the service we have been able to give them. Perhaps the problems which face you fall within the scope o f their experience?
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c o n s t r u c t i o n /
O v e rc o m in g th e p ro te c tiv e d y k e , seas can speedily o v e rw h e lm th e results o f p a tie n t la b o u r. Y e t m an revives fro m e v e ry catas
tro p h e and even im p ro v e s his h a n d iw o rk . A t im e is com ing w hen w a rs ’ d e s tru c tio n w ill cease and R E C O N S T R U C T I O N be th e o rd e r o f th e day. S o m e a lre a d y look ahead . . . . th e dem ands o f th e C H E M IC A L T R A D E S fo r P L A N T o f im p ro v e d design receive fro m
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v i T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h io, 19 4 5
SPECIALISE IN RESEARCH ON
T h e fo llow ing a re available on a p lan t p ro d u c tio n b a s is :
Uric acid, Alloxan, Alloxantin, Allantoin, Acid Sodium urate.
L im ited sm all q u a n titie s o f th e fo llow ing arc available fo r research p u r p o s e s :
Violuric acid, Uracil, Thiouracil, Dialuric acid, Triaminopj'rimidinc, Murcxide.
GENATOSAN LABORATORIES
E n q u ir ie s t o
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T A N K S • S T IL L S • C O O L E R S D IS T IL L IN G P L A N T • P A N S • C R Y S T A L L IS IN G P L A N T • K IE R S • A U T O C L A V E S • M IX E R S • C O N D E N S E R S . E T C .
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Ma r c h io, 19 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
A COM PLETE INDUSTRIAL RUBBER SERVICE
A c id -r esistin g r u b b e r lin in g s to Tanks (s to r a g e , p r o c e s s , p ick lin g ), D y e b e c k s , T ro u g h s, T o w e r s , Fan s, Fum e D u ctin g , H o o d s, E lectrolytic C e lls, Pu m p s, P ip e s, C e n trifu g es, A gitators F le x ib le B uckets an d U ten sils • E b o n ite P ip e s and fittings, s h e e t, r o d , tu b e • G lo v e s,
G auntlets an d A p r o n s • H ose • B elting . S h e et • Mats • M atting, e tc .
D U N L O P R U B B E R C O . L T D . ( G e n e r a l R o b b e r G o o d s D iv is io n ) C a m b r id g e S t., M a n c h e s t e r a n d C le r k e n w e ll H o u s e , C le r k e n w e ll G r e e n , L o n d o n , E .C .l
v i i i T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h io, 19 4 5
THE KESTNER T.V. DRIER
R E C E N T L Y D E V E L O P E D E S P E C I A L L Y F O R D R Y I N G F I L T E R P R E S S C A K E S A N D
S E M I - S O L I D S
Several years of research and developm ent satisfactory plant fo r handling damp materials w o rk in o u r plant laboratories, combined w ith ■ ^ semi-solids.
O utstandingly successful results are being extensive operational experience, enables us to obtained in drying fl|te r cakes, centrifuged offer th e Kestner T .V . D rie r as th e most materials and deposited sediments such as :—
C h a lk , C h in a C la y , S te a ra te s , B oracic A c id , C oal D u st, Sand, B ic a rb o n a te , c e rta in S y n th e tic Resins, etc.
Th e process is based on fundam entally simple th erm ogravic and aerodynam ic principles.
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I. S I M P L I C I T Y . T h e o n l y m o v - 2 . E F F I C I E N C Y . T h e t h e r m a l in g p a r t s a r e f e e d e r a n d f a n s . e f f i c i e n c y is e x t r e m e l y h i g h — n o T h e o n l y c o n t r o l s a r e t h e s u p p l y o t h e r d r y i n g s y s t e m c a n s h o w o f s t e a m o r f u e l t o t h e h e a t e r , b e t t e r r e s u l t s ,
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JAMES WILKINSON & SON, Ltd.
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Ma r c h i o, 1 945 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E x i
we can su btract a smell
In many industrial processes it’s im portant to have your substance minus its smell or minus its impurities, since it may be going into a food or drink or a beauty preparation.
Our Active Carbon can do more than deodorise, of course.
It can de-colourise. It can simplify crystallisation. It can improve colour and increase concentration. "It can remove detrimental flavours.
It can clean precious liquids and gases. In other words it can remove the obstacles in the way of improving the quality and attractiveness of many products in every day use, and our advisory department will be only too pleased to assist the process.
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x i i T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h io, 19 4 5
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For pressures up to 1,000 A tm . and capacity up to units absorbing 3,500 B.H.P.
Also
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S-STAGE C O M PRESSOR 400 A tm .
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The Chemical Age
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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
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V OL. L I I
N o. 1 3 4 1.
March 10, 1945
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Education and Industry I
N D U S T R Y is d e e p ly c o n c e r n e d , a n dr i g h t l y so , a b o u t th e h u m a n r a w m a te r ia l t h a t is p ro v id e d f o r it. N o b a ttle - lin e is s t r o n g e r t h a n th e i n d i v id u a ls m a n n i n g i t ; a n d in d u s tr y d e p e n d s f o r i ts e ffe c tiv e n e s s u p o n th e p e r s o n a litie s o f th o s e w h o d ir e c t it a n d th o s e w h o a r e e n g a g e d in it. I t is, h o w e v e r, e x tr e m e ly d iffic u lt to g e t a n y d e fin ite s t a te m e n t o f th e e x te n t a n d d ir e c tio n to w h ic h e n t r a n t s to i n d u s tr y s h o u ld b e tr a i n e d . T h e r e a r e a ls o d iv e r s e o p in io n s a s to th e a g e a t w h ic h te c h n o lo g ic a l t r a i n i n g s h o u ld b e g iv e n a n d a s to w h a t i t s h o u ld e m b r a c e . T h is d iv e r g e n c e o f o p in io n is q u ite u n d e r s ta n d a b l e b e c a u s e it r e fle c ts th e d iv e r s ity o f i n d u s t r y its e lf . I f n o m o re t h a n th e m a jo r d iv e r s itie s a r e c o n s id e r e d , th e r e a r e th e v ie w s o f th o s e w h o s e p r i m a r y f u n c tio n is r e s e a r c h ,
m a n a g e m e n t, p r o d u c tio n , d e s i g n , p a te n t s , f a b r ic a tio n o f p l a n t , m a in te n a n c e o f p l a n t , fin a n c e , s a le s , a d m i n i s t r a tio n , a n d a c c o u n t
a n c y . I t is s a f e to s a y t h a t fe w p e o p le a r e e q u a l l y a t h o m e in a l l th e s e b r a n c h e s o f i n d u s t r y a n d t h a t th e c h a r a c t e r i s ti c s of th o s e w h o • c a n s u c c e s s f u lly e n g a g e in t h e s e d i v e r s e b r a n c h e s a r e a s v a r ie d a s th e o c c u p a tio n s th e m s e lv e s . C o n s e q u e n tly , t h e
On Other Pages
S o te s and C om m ents F ilm s a n d C h em istry E g y p t’s C hem ical In d u s tr y P ro d u c tio n o f P erch lo ra tes E x p o r ts in 1944 ...
C hem ical E d u ca tio n In d ia ’s S c ie n tific P ro sp ects
F ra c tio n a tio n o f B in a ry M ixtu re s 222 223 223 224 224 225 225 B r itis h S ta n d a rd s In s titu tio n A S e w In se cticid e
P a rlia m en ta ry T opics Ir is h M in era l R esources P erso n a l N o te s
S e w C ontrol O rders
G en era l N e w s fr o m W e e k to W eek 226 F o rth co m in g E v e n ts ... 228 C om pany N ew s ... 229 C om m ercial In te llig e n c e ... 229 N ew C om panies R e g iste red ... 229 S to c k s a n d S h a re s ... 230 B ritish C hem ical P rices ... 230
o p in io n s a s to t r a i n i n g a n d c h a r a c t e r is tic s a r e l ik e ly to b e e q u a l l y v a r ie d . T h e r e m a y b e w is d o m in th e m u lt i tu d e o f c o u n s e llo r s . T h e r e w ill c e r t a i n l y b e c o n f u s io n u n le s s th is o r i e n t a t i o n or v ie w p o in t is g iv e n f u l l a llo w a n c e in d e c id in g b e tw e e n c o n f lic tin g o p in io n s .
T h is d iv e r s ity o f v ie w w a s i ll u s t r a te d a t th e C o n f e r e n c e o f I n d u s t r i a l R e p r e s e n ta tiv e s h e ld a t I m p e r i a l C o lle g e la s t D e c e m b e r to d is c u s s “ I n d u s t r y a n d U n iv e r s ity E d u c a t i o n . ” T h o s e w h o s e p r i m a r y w o rk l a y in' w o r k s m a n a g e m e n t a n d p r o d u c tio n c le a r l y h a d v ie w s d if f e r e n t fro m th o s e w h o d ir e c te d r e s e a r c h l a b o r a to r ie s . N e v e r th e le s s , w h e n d u e a llo w a n c e is m a d e f o r th e i n e v ita b le b ia s t h a t m u s t a r is e f ro m p e r s o n a l e x p e r ie n c e , c e r t a i n b r o a d p r i n c i p l e s e m e r g e w h ic h 'w e s h a ll e n d e a v o u r to d i s e n ta n g l e f r o m t h e . m a s s o f a c c o m p a n y in g v e r b i
a g e . T h e s e v ie w s c o n firm in g e n e r a l th o s e t h a t h a v e b e e n e x p r e s s e d in l e a d i n g a r ti c l e s in Th e Ch e m ic a l Ag e o v e r th e p a s t d e c a d e .
T h e p u r p o s e o f in d u s t r y is th e p r o d u c tio n o f s a le a b le g o o d s o f a q u a li t y a n d a t a p r i c e t h a t w ill s a tis f y th e c o n s u m e r . T h e d is c o v e ry o f n e w s a le a b le g o o d s , th e r e d u c tio n o f th e c o s t, o r th e im p r o v e m e n t in th e q u a li t y o r u s e f u l- 216
217 218 219 220 221 222
2 1 3
2 1 4 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h i o, 1 945 n e s s o f k n o w n g o o d s a s s is t m a t e r i a ll y in
f u l f il l in g th e p u r p o s e o f in d u s tr y . M a n y o p e r a tio n s a r e in v o lv e d in a c h ie v in g s u c c e ss . C o s tin g a n d a c c o u n ta n c y a r e f u n d a m e n t a l ; e n g in e e r i n g a n d e ffic ie n t p l a n t o p e r a t io n lie a t th e b a s is o f s u c c e s s f u l p r o d u c t i o n ; r e s e a r c h m u s t b e p r o s e c u te d if s t a g n a t i o n is n o t to s e t i n ; p r o d u c ts m u s t b e s o ld a n d , m o r e o v e r , s o ld a t a p r ic e t h a t w i l l a llo w a m a r g i n fo r p ro fit a n d f o r a l l th e e x p e n s e s i n c u r r e d in r u n n i n g a s u c c e s s f u l b u s i n e s s ; m a n a g e m e n t m u s t le a d in d u s t r y a n d c o o r d i n a t e th e p a r ts . C l e a r ly , t h e r e m u s t b e a d iv e r s ity o f t r a i n i n g to fit i n d i v i d u a l s f o r th e s e w id e ly d if f e r in g ta s k s . C l e a r l y , a ls o , th e r e m u s t b e a s e le c tio n o f i n d iv i d u a ls to e n s u r e t h a t w h e n t r a i n e d th e i n d iv i d u a l w ill n o t o n ly fit in to th e w h o le o r d e r l y p l a n , b u t t h a t h e w ill b e h a p p y in h is p la c e in th e te a m a n d w ill d o h is b e s t w o r k in t h a t p la c e . T h a t r e q u ir e s s e le c tio n b e f o re t r a i n i n g h a s g o n e to o f a r.
T h e e m p h a s is p la c e d in u n i v e r s it i e s o n r e s e a r c h to o o f te n le a d s s t u d e n ts to a s k f o r r e s e a r c h p o s ts in w h ic h th e y m a y c o n tin u e t h e a c a d e m ic ( “ f u n d a m e n ta l ” ) ty p e o f r e s e a r c h to w h ic h th e y h a v e b e e n a c c u s to m e d in th e u n i v e r s it y , ir r e s p e c tiv e o f w h e th e r th e y a r e fitte d f o r t h a t w o rk a s a c a r e e r o r n o t. S u ffic ie n t e x p e r ie n c e h a s n o w b e e n g a in e d b y th e N a t io n a l I n s t i t u t e o f I n d u s t r i a l P y s c h o lo g y f o r it to b e s e r io u s ly s u g g e s te d t h a t e v e r y b o y a n d g i r l o n a t t a i n i n g th e a g e o f 16 s h o u ld b e e x a m in e d b y th e m e th o d s o f p s y c h o lo g y b e f o r e c h o o s in g a c a r e e r . I n d i v id u a l s s h o u ld h a v e c o m p le te f r e e d o m o f c h o ic e , b u t m u c h d i s a p p o in t m e n t w o u ld b e a v o id e d b y g u id a n c e .
T h e C o n f e r e n c e w a s m a i n l y c o n c e r n e d w ith t e c h n ic a l a n d s c ie n tific t r a i n i n g , a n d f r o m t h is s t a g e w e s h a l l r e s t r i c t o u r a n a l y s i s to t h a t . T h e r e w ill a lw a y s b e in i n d u s t r y ro o m f o r a fe w r e s e a r c h m e n w h o h a v e b e e n t r a i n e d i n c h e m is tr y o r p h y s ic s to th e h i g h e s t d e g r e e , i n c l u d i n g th e l a t e s t d e v e lo p m e n ts in th e h i g h e r le v e ls o f p u r e s c ie n c e ; a n d w h e n a n i n d iv i d u a l s h o w s r e a l a b il i ty h is t r a i n i n g s h o u ld b e c o n d u c te d to t h a t d e g r e e . I n t i m a t e a c q u a in t a n c e w ith th e s e s o m e w h a t e th e r e a l r e g io n s o f s c ie n tific th e o r y is n o t y e t o f v a lu e to i n d u s t r y , h o w e v e r , a n d th e b u l k o f e n t r a n t s to i n d u s t r y s h o u ld n o t b e o v e r b u r d e n e d w ith th is s c ie n tific f o lia g e .
I n d u s t r y r e q u ir e s f o u r ty p e s o f b r a in ,
a s d e fin e d by, D r. D u n s h e a th : r e s e a r c h , d e s ig n , p r o d u c tio n , a n d te a c h in g . N o o n e o f th e s e b r a n c h e s s h o u ld h a v e a ll th e b e s t b r a i n s ; w e w a n t fir s t- c la s s m e n in e v e r y s p h e r e , if o n ly to p r e s e r v e a d e q u a te b a la n c e . T h e v ie w w a s p u t f o r w a r d , a ls o b y D r . D u n s h e a t h , t h a t u n iv e r s itie s s h o u ld a im to p r o d u c e le a d e r s . T h i s ra is e s a v e r y l a r g e is s u e . T h e p u b lic s c h o o ls h a v e f o r g e n e r a tio n s p r o d u c e d le a d e r s o f th e n a t i o n ; n o t a ll p u b lic -s c h o o l m e n a r e fitte d to b e le a d e r s , b u t a t le a s t i t w o u ld a p p e a r t h a t a n e d u c a tio n a l s y s te m c a n p r e d is p o s e m e n to le a d e r s h ip . A ll d e p e n d s o n th e in d iv i d u a l. T h e r e a l l e a d e r is g e n e r a ll y b o r n so , o r m a d e so b y e n v ir o n m e n t, th o u g h h e c a n b e im p r o v e d b y t r a i n i n g . W h a t e v e r b e th e t r u t h o f th is , it is c e r t a i n t h a t s in c e “ a k n o w le d g e o f th e f a c ts is th e lo w e s t f o r m o f e d u c a ti o n , ” o u r e d u c a ti o n a l i n s t it u t io n s s h o u ld s tu d y to p r o d u c e m e n w h o c a n b le n d w ith th e i r fe llo w s in to a te a m , m e n w h o h a v e th e r i g h t p e r s o n a l a tt i tu d e to lif e , w h o a r e a b le to m a k e a llo w a n c e s f o r th e p e c u l i a r i ti e s a n d p e r s o n a l r e a c tio n s o f th e i r fe llo w m e n a n d w o m e n — “ A ll is q u e e r s a v e th e e a n d m e ,” s a id th e Q u a k e r , “ a n d th e e is a l i t t l e q u e e r ” — w h o c a n g a in th e c o - o p e r a tio n o f th e i r o l d e r c o lle a g u e s , a n d w h o in s h o r t c a n w a lk t a c t f u l l y t h r o u g h a n im p e r f e c t w o r ld . S i r R ic h a r d L iv in g s to n e o n c e r e m a r k e d : " E d u c a ti o n is w h a t r e m a in s a f t e r w e h a v e f o r g o tte n a l l w e h a v e l e a r n t . ” T h e r e is c le a r l y a h u m a n s id e to e d u c a tio n t h a t s h o u ld b u l k l a r g e r in o u r s c h o o ls a n d c o lle g e s th a n th e a c c u m u la t io n o f fa c ts .
H o w f a r s h o u ld th e a c c u m u la tio n o f f a c ts b e ta k e n i n s c h o o ls a n d u n i v e r s itie s ? O u r v ie w , a n d it is w id e ly s u p p o r te d b y r v h a t w a s s a id a t th e C o n f e r e n c e , is t h a t f a c t u a l l e a r n i n g s h o u ld n o t b e o v e rd o n e . W e b e lie v e t h a t th e b r o a d o u tlin e s o f th e e s s e n tia l s c ie n c e s s h o u ld b e t a u g h t , b u t t h a t th e y s h o u ld n o t b e o v e r la d e n b y to o m u c h i n tr i c a t e d e ta il. T h e t e c h n ic a l m a n w h o is l ik e l y to b e i n h is r i g h t s p h e r e d o e s n o t c e a s e to l e a r n w h e n h e le a v e s h is u n iv e r s ity , a n d s in c e h e t h e n g e n e r a ll y s p e c ia lis e s in th e p a r t i c u l a r i n d u s t r y h e h a p p e n s to h a v e e n te r e d , h e u s e s o n ly c e r t a i n b r a n c h e s o f s c ie n c e , a n d r a p i d l y f o r g e ts th e r e s t. T h e e d u c a tio n of. th e te c h n ic a l m a n c o n tin u e s f r o m h is o w n r e a d i n g a f t e r h e h a s e n te r e d i n d u s tr y ,
Ma r c h i o, 1945 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E 2 1 5 a n d n e v e r s to p s t i l l h e r e ti r e s — a n d n o t
a lw a y s th e n .
U n iv e r s itie s too o f te n s e e m to a c t on th e b e lie f t h a t a n y th i n g th e y f a il to te a c h a m a n w ill n e v e r b e l e a r n e d . L e t th e m r a t h e r r e c o g n is e t h a t th e y s h o u ld t u r n o u t m e n a n d w o m e n w h o a r e im b u e d w ith th e d e s ir e to a t t a i n k n o w le d g e , w h o k n o w w h a t k n o w le d g e is a v a i l a b l e a n d r o u g h l y w h e r e — o r a t le a s t h o w — to fin d it. D r . L a n g r e c o r d e d t h a t in h is w o rk a s A p p o in tm e n ts R e g is tr a r o f th e I n s t i tu te o f P h y s ic s , h e fo u n d it w a s th e c la s s ic a l p h y s ic s t h a t e m p lo y e r s n e e d e d .
“ W h a t I t h in k th e s e e m p lo y e rs w q n t is p e o p le w h o k n o w p h y s ic s o n a b r o a d b a s is w ith a s o u n d k n o w le d g e o f su c h t h in g s a s s u r f a c e te n s io n , t e m p e r a t u r e m e a s u r e m e n t, in f r a - r e d , t h e r m a l c o n d u c tiv ity , a n d th e lik e . T h e y w a n t th e s e m e n to k n o w a ls o a b o u t e le c tr o n ic s a n d th e q u a n tu m th e o r y , a n d so o n , b u t th e y d o n o t w a n t th e c o u r s e m a d e to p - h e a v y b y ‘ m o d e r n p h y s ic s ’ so m u c h o f w h ic h is in c lu d e d b e c a u s e i t is s p e c ta c u l a r . ” I n p l a i n f a c t, th is in d ic a te s t h a t a g o o d w e ll- o r d e r e d p a s s d e g r e e w ith p le n ty o f s o c ia l lif e a t th e u n iv e r s ity is b e tte r t r a i n i n g f o r m o s t i n d u s t r i a l jo b s th a n a n a c a d e m ic h o n o u r s d e g r e e , to a tt a i n w h ic h th e s tu d e n t m u s t b e c o m e l i t t l e b e tt e r t h a n a w a l k in g te x t-b o o k . S c h o o ls w ith th e i r s y s te m s o f c r a m m in g f o r s c h o la r s h ip s a r e e v e n g r e a t e r o f f e n d e r s ; th e y s t a r t th e p r o c e s s a t a n i m p r e s s io n a b le a g e , a n d r u i n m a n y a g o o d b r a in t h r o u g h o v e r w o r k in th e e a r l y te e n s .
T h e r e is th e i m p o r t a n t q u e s tio n a s to w h e th e r th e s tu d e n t a t th e u n i v e r s it y o r te c h n ic a l c o lle g e s h o u ld s p e c ia lis e . O n th e r e s e a r c h s id e w e s h o u ld a g r e e w ith M r. E . R . D a v ie s , w h o p o in te d o u t t h a t
“ th e p r o b le m s o f th e r e s e a r c h w o r k e r a lw a y s te n d to le a d h im b a c k to p r o b le m s in p u r e o r a p p li e d s c ie n c e w h ic h a r e n o t p e c u l i a r to h is i n d u s t r y . ” T h e i n d u s t r ia l r e s e a r c h w o r k e r , th e r e f o r e , s h o u ld n o t s p e c ia lis e in a b r a n c h of te c h n o lo g y u n t il h e h a s f u l ly a c q u ir e d p ro fic ie n c y in h is c h o s e n b r a n c h o r b r a n c h e s o f s c ie n c e . H e w o u ld a p p ly th is , i t w o u ld s e e m , a ls o to o t h e r w o r k e r s in in d u s t r y , f o r h e p r o p o u n d s t h is v e ry i n te r e s t in g q u e s t i o n : “ A s th e te c h n o lo g y o f a n i n d u s t r y p r o g r e s s e s fro m a c r a f t to a n a p p li e d s c ie n c e is n o t th e d e m a n d f o r te c h n o lo g is ts l ik e ly to d e c r e a s e a n d t h a t f o r t r a i n e d s c ie n tis ts to
in c r e a s e ?” O u r r e p ly w o u ld b e t h a t th e
“ tr a i n e d s c ie n tis ts ” m u s t s t i ll s p e c ia lis e in c e r t a i n b r a n c h e s o f s c ie n c e w h ic h a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y a p p li e d to t h e c h o s e n in d u s tr y . T h e te c h n o l o g is t in th e ir o n a n d s te e l i n d u s tr y , f o r e x a m p le , m u s t s p e c ia l is e in m e t a ll u r g y , i n h e a t tr a n s m is s io n , a n d f u e l te c h n o lo g y . H e r e q u ir e s v i r t u a l l y n o k n o w le d g e o f o r g a n ic c h e m is t r y , o r s o u n d , o r m a n y o t h e r c o m m o n
b r a n c h e s o f sc ie n c e .
F i n a l l y , th e r e is th e q u e s tio n o f w h e n a m a n s h o u ld b e tr a i n e d f o r in d u s tr y . T h e p r e s e n t s y s te m , w h e r e b y b r i g h t b o y s a r e p u s h e d t h r o u g h a s c h o la r s h ip (if p o s s ib le ) o r ta k e H i g h e r C e r tif ic a te a t s c h o o l a n d th e n p r o c e e d s t r a i g h t to a u n i v e r s it y to ta k e th e h i g h e s t d e g r e e t h a t th e y c a n h o p e to g e t, le a d s , in th e o p in io n o f m a n y , to th e p o s itio n t h a t a l l th e d e g r e e m e n e n te r in g in d u s t r y w ish to b e c o m e r e s e a r c h w o r k e r s , w h ile 60 p e r c e n t, o f th e m r e f u s e to b e c o m e a n y th i n g e l s e ; w h e r e a s i n d u s t r y w a n ts m o r e p r o d u c tio n m e n , s h i f t e n g in e e r s , a n d so fo r th . R e c e n t in q u ir ie s seem , to s u g g e s t t h a t in m a n y o f o u r b a s ic i n d u s t r ie s th e m o s t p r e s s i n g p r o b le m s a r e n o t th o s e of r e s e a r c h —t h o u g h th ese, m u s t n o t b e n e g le c te d — b u t o f p r o d u c tio n .
O n ( th e o t h e r h a n d , P r o f e s s o r B a irs to w s ta te d t h a t m o r e t h a n 90 p e r c e n t, o f s tu d e n ts a t a u n iv e r s ity a r e n o t tr a in e d f o r r e s e a r c h , a n d t h a t le s s t h a n 10 p e r c e n t, a tt e m p t o n e o f th e h i g h e r d e g r e e s . T h a t m a y b e t r u e , p a r t i c u l a r l y w h e n it is r e m e m b e r e d t h a t “ s tu d e n ts a t a u n i v e r s it y ” in c lu d e s th e A r ts p e o p le a n d th e t e a c h e r s f o r lo w e r - g r a d e s c h o o ls . I t is c e r t a i n l y t r u e t h a t i n d u s t r i a l i s t s h a v e c la im e d t h a t th e y c o u ld n o t g e t e n o u g h p r o d u c tio n m e n f r o m th e u n iv e r s itie s . W e s h o u ld s e r io u s ly s u g g e s t t h a t e v e r y b o y d e s ir o u s o f e n te r in g i n d u s t r y a s a c a r e e r s h o u ld b e m a d e to s p e n d tw o y e a r s in i n d u s t r y b e tw e e n s c h o o l a n d u n iv e r s ity , d u r i n g w h ic h tim e h is p r o s p e c tiv e e m p lo y e r s h o u ld g iv e h i m a m p le c h a n c e o f d e c id in g w h a t l in e h e is b e s t fitte d fo r. A f te r t h a t h is u n i v e r s it y c o u r s e w ill b e v e r y m u c h m o r e e ffe c tiv e if h e r e a lis e s w h ile h e is l e a r n i n g h o w v a lu a b l e t h a t l e a r n i n g w ill b e. W e lik e th e i d e a o f o n e firm w h ic h e n g a g e s y o u n g m e n , a n d , w h e n i t is f e l t t h a t th e y o u th h a s sh o w n h i m s e l f to b e su ffici
e n tl y p r o m is in g ^ s e n d s h i m to th e u n i v e r s i t y ; t h is s y s te m se e m s to h a v e w o rk e d e x tr e m e l y w e ll. ,
2i 6 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E M a r c h i o, 1 9 4 5
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The Spread of Science
I
F N e w to n h a d liv e d in th e p r e s e n t a g e , th e P r in c ip ia w o u ld m o s t lik e ly n e v e r h a v e b e e n p u b lis h e d . * P r o f e s s o r A lla n F e r g u s o n , in th e c u r r e n t n u m b e r o f E n d e a v o u r , t e l l s th e s to r y o f h o w it w a s o n ly t h r o u g h th e t a c t, e n th u s ia s m , a n d p e r s u a s iv e n e s s o f H a i l e y t h a t N e w to n w a s in d u c e d to p u t f o r w a r d h is s c ie n tific th e o r ie s in c o n n e c te d fo rm . Q u ite d is in te r e s te d in h is p e r s o n a l fa m e , th e g r e a t s c ie n tis t w o u ld c e r t a i n l y to d a y h a v e m a d e th e d iffic u ltie s o f p a p e r c o n tr o l a n e x c u s e to r e f r a i n f ro m p u b lis h in g , H a i l e y ’s in s is te n c e n o tw ith s ta n d in g . C a v e n d is h w a s e v e n w o r s e ; it w a s p u r e ly b y a c c id e n t, a s P r o f e s s o r F e r g u s o n p o in ts o u t, t h a t C le r k M a x w e ll d is c o v e r e d , in so m e m is c e lla n e o u s p a p e r s , t h a t th e s h y s a v a n t h a d a n ti c i p a te d O h m ’s L a w b y n e a r l y h a l f a c e n tu r y . N o t a l l m e n o f s c ie n c e , o f c o u r s e , a r e so r e l u c t a n t t o ' r u s h in to p r i n t ; s o m e , in d e e d , a r e to o e a g e r a n d p u b lis h b e f o re p u t t i n g t h e i r th e o r ie s to th e fin a l p ro o f. T h e i r o ffe n c e is a v e n ia l o n e , h o w e v e r , a n d th e y a r e a lw a y s s u b je c t to c o r re c tio n . T h e p o in t is t h a t m o r e s c ie n tific id e a s a r e r e q u ir e d in th is w o r ld , n o w a d a y s e s p e c i a l l y ; a n d , a s w e a r e n e v e r tir e d o f a f fir m in g , i t is in th e b e s t i n te r e s t s o f h u m a n ity t h a t it s h o u ld b e m a d e e a s y f o r th e m to fin d th e m e a n s o f p u b lic a tio n . A s it is , o fficial p u r b l in d n e s s a n d r e d ta p e c r e a te e v e r y p o s s ib le o b s ta c le .Science and Islam
E
V E N in th e M u s lim w o r ld o f th e M id d le A g e s , a s w e l e a r n fro m th e l e a d i n g a r t i c l e in th e s a m e is s u e o f E n d e a v o u r , s c ie n tis ts — o r c h e m is ts a t a n y r a te — h id t h e i r l i g h t u n d e r a b u s h e l.G e b e r, th e firs t g r e a t c h e m is t in h is to r y , is k n o w n e x c lu s iv e ly b y h is w r itin g s . S o s c a n t a r e c o r d h a g b e e n p r e s e r v e d o f h is a c t u a l l if e t h a t th e v e r y c e n t u r y in w h ic h h e liv e d is u n c e r t a i n . A t a ll e v e n ts , fro m th e 9th to th e 1 3th c e n tu r y , I s l a m le d th e w o r ld in m a t t e r s o l s c ie n c e . F o r r e a s o n s w h ic h w e a r e n o t c o n c e r n e d w ith h e r e , th e c u l t u r a l le v e l o f t h e I s l a m i c c o u n tr ie s d e c lin e d t h r o u g h th e s u c c e e d in g c e n tu r ie s f r o m th e lo f ty p itc h w h ic h i t h a d r e a c h e d in th e f a v o u r i n g a tm o s p h e r e o f B a g h d a d a n d
C O M M E N T S
C o rd o b a . T h e r a w m a t e r i a l is s t i ll t h e r e , h o w e v e r , a n d E n d e a v o u r i s . f u l f illin g a r e a l l y u s e f u l f u n c tio n in c a l l in g a tt e n ti o n to th e f a c t t h a t o n ly th e o p p o r t u n it y n e e d s to b e p r o v id e d , a n d th a t , s in c e so m e 100 m illio n s o f H is M a je s ty ’s s u b je c ts a r e M u s lim s , it w o u ld be m o s t f ittin g if t h a t o p p o r t u n it y w e re to be o ffe re d b y th e B r itis h C o m m o n w e a lth to t h a t p a r t o f I s l a m b e a r in g a ll e g ia n c e to th e C ro w n .
Chemical Detection on the Farm
D
e t e c t i v e s i n fic tio n , fro m S h e r lo c k H o lm e s to D r . T h o r n d y k e , h a v e o f te n sh o w n a p r e d ile c tio n f o r c h e m is tr y . I t w ill b e r e m e m b e r e d , f o r e x a m p l e , 't h a t H o lm e s , t a k i n g a d v a n t a g e of h is p r e s u m e d d e a th in th e R e ic h e n b a c h f a ll s , p u t in so m e u s e f u l w o rk in a l a b o r a to r y a t M o n tp e llie r o n th e in v e s tig a ti o n o f c o a l- ta r b y - p r o d u c ts . I n a c t u a l f a c t, th e c h e m is t is o f te n c a lle d to th e a id o f th e p o lic e , a n d th e H o m e O ffice, a s is w e ll k n o w n , h a s a s p e c ia l d e p a r t m e n t f o r th is p u r p o s e , to d e a l w ith th e p o p u l a r “ u n k n o w n t r o p ic a l p o is o n s ” a m o n g o th e r th in g s . A n a r ti c l e in th e J a n u a r y is s u e o f / . S o c . C lie n t. I n d . r e v e a ls th e f o r e n s ic c h e m is t h e l p i n g th e c a u s e o f ju s tic e in a le s s n o to r io u s w a y , to w it, in d i s t in g u i s h i n g b e tw e e n th e in te n t io n a l a n d th e a c c id e n ta l f ir in g of h a y — o f te n a n im p o r t a n t p o in t f ro m th e p o in t o f v ie w o f in s u r a n c e . M e s s rs . J . B . F i r t h a n d R . E . S tu c k e y , o L th e H o m e O ffice F o r e n s ic S c ie n c e L a b o r a to r y a t P r e s to n , g iv e th e r e s u l ts o f th e i r i n v e s ti g a ti o n o f s a m p le s o f b u r n t h a y f r o m v a r io u s c a u s e s . A n o ta b le d is c o v e r y is th e w a y in w h ic h (in s p o n ta n e o u s s ta c k fires) th e to ta l a c id ity , c a l c u l a te d a s th e p e r c e n ta g e o f la c tic a c id o n d r y m a t e r i a l, in c r e a s e s to a m a x im u m a s th e s e a t o f th e fire is a p p r o a c h e d , d e c r e a s in g , o f c o u r s e , w h e n a c t u a l c h a r r i n g b eg in s'. N o s u c h p h e n o m e n o n a p p e a r s w ith d ir e c tly - f ir e d h a v , a n d a n e x p e r ie n c e d e x a m in e r , th e y s a y , c a n r e c o g n is e a ls o th e p e c u l i a r o d o u r o f s e l f - b u r n t h a y . , A p a r t , h o w e v e r , f r o m th e th e o r y t h a t a c h e m ic a l r e a c ti o n o c c u rs w h ic h n e e d s h e a t i n s u l a tio n a n d a b s e n c e o f a ir , n o a b s o lu te ly d e f in ite c a u s e is a s s ig n e d to s p o n ta n e o u s s ta c k fires.
Ma r c h i o, 19 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E 2 1 7
Films and Chemistry*
Some Applications of the Cinematograph
b y R . J . R A T H B O N E , P h .D ., B .S c ., A .R .I .C ., A .R .P .S .
T
O -D AY it is g e n e ra lly acknow ledged t h a t th e cin em a c an h av e a n im p o rta n t c u ltu ra l influence o n th e life of th e com m u n ity . Suffice to say th a t we h a v e now come to a p p re c ia te th e trem en d o u s pow er of th e film as a m ean s of in s tru c tio n an d a w eapon o f p ro p a g a n d a . T h e S erv ices use films v ery ex ten siv ely to tr a in p e rso n n e l;and th e M in istry of In fo rm a tio n re lie s to a very g re a t e x te n t 011 film s to e d u ca te and m ould p u b lic o p in io n . I n re c e n t y e ars th e use of th e film h a s been e x te n d ed to th e field of sc ien c e. 1 I n m ed icin e, film s of su rg ic al o p e ra tio n s a n d tec h n iq u es form an e sse n tia l p a r t in th e tra in in g of th e stu d e n t.
In biology, th e re e x ist sev eral h u n d re d s of ex ce lle n t films, m an y of w hich have been very w idely seen. ' A fte r th e w ar, w hen m any o f th e now se c re t S e rv ices’ tra in in g films a re m ade a v a ilab le, th e re w ill be a good su p p ly of films on physics an d e n g i
n e erin g .
H o w ev er, re la tiv e ly few good films on c h em istry a re a v ailab le, w hich is su rely a m a tte r 'f o r re g re t. T h e re a re sev eral p os
sible re aso n s fo r th is d e a rth . T h e basic co n cep ts of ch em istry , ato m s, m olecules, valency b o n d s, e tc ., c an n o t be p h o to g ra p h ed , a t le a s t n o t d ire c tly . B u t th e m o d ern tec h n iq u e of m oving d ia g ra m s com p letely overcom es th is difficu lty ; in d eed , alm o st a n y th in g c an b e illu s tra te d on th e screen . A n o th e r difficulty h a s been th a t in th e stu d y of chem ical re a c tio n s colour changes p lay a n im p o rta n t p a r t. T h e co lo u r film h a s an im p o rta n t c o n trib u tio n to m ak e to w a rd s th e solution of th is p ro b lem. F u rth e rm o re , th e re a re few good films on ch em istry , b ecau se no one h as th o u g h t it w o rth th e ir w hile to m ake any.
T h e E d u c a t i o n a l A s p e c t
T h e first a n d m ost obvious a p p lic a tio n is to th e te a c h in g of c h em istry , a n d h ere sev eral asp e cts m ay b e c o n sid ered . C om p lic a te d o r e la b o ra te e x p e rim e n ts, w hich tim e o r eq u ip m e n t do n o t p e rm it th e stu d e n t to c a rry o u t him self, m ay o fte n be d em on
s tra te d by a film. If th e film is w ell m ade, a ll th e s tu d e n ts w ill a t once see th e e x p e ri
m en t fro m th e b e st v iew p o in t, w ith th e im p o r ta n t p o in ts seen in close u p an d re p e a te d if necessary , and th e re is, of course, no d a n g e r o f th e d e m o n s tra tio n going w ro n g o r “ n o t w o rk in g .” A film m ad e re c e n tly by th e R oyal T ec h n ic a l C ollege, G lasgow , on B ro w n ian M o v em en t,2 serves a s a good
• l e c t u r e d eliv ere d a t a jo in t m e e tin g o f th e L ondon S ectio n o f th e B ritis h A ssociation of C h em ists a n d th e Scientific F ilm A ssociation, on D ecem lier 13, 1944, a t th e llo y a l In s titu tio n .
e x am p le of th is ty p e of film. I t illu s tra te s an im p o rta n t phenom enon, a b o u t w hich every science s tu d e n t is to ld , an d is e x p ected to know , b u t v ery o ften h e never" sees it for him self. I t is n o t su g g ested , of course, th a t th e te a c h in g film c a n ev er re p la ce p ra c tic a l w o rk an d “ live ” d e m o n s tra tio n s , b u t it c an w ell su p p lem en t these.
F ilm s c an also h e lp in te a c h in g chem ical th eo ry . M ost science m as te rs w ill ag ree th a t, a t p re se n t, th e re a re 110 tr u e c u rric u lum films. A ll th a t e x is t a re b a ck g ro u n d films— show n to p u p ils as a sp ecial t r e a t a t th e end of term . I t sh o u ld be obvious, how ev er, th a t good d iag ra m m a tic film s could be of g re a t v alu e in illu s tra tin g such p o in ts as p h a se ru le , ato m ic s tru c tu re , a n d , p a r tic u la rly in o rg a n ic c h em istry , th e m ech an ism of re ac tio n s. T h e p o ssib ilities of th e s te re o scopic film open up th e w hole field of s tr u c tu r a l ch em istry to illu s tra tio n 011 th e screen . T h e h isto ry of c h em istry is very rig h tly a n im p o rta n t item in te a c h in g , a n d h e re ag ain th e film could p o rtra y th e step by ste p g ro w th of know ledge in a vivid an d m em orable w ay. M ore film s a re w a n ted on th e lives o f fam ous sc ien tists a n d th e ir w ork.
T h e re have a lre ad y been films on th e lives of P a s te u r. E h rlic h , M adam e C u rie, an d one p ro d u c ed by th e B ritish C ouncil 011 th e life of M ichael F a ra d a y . Som e o f th es e w ere m ost com m endable, o th e rs w ere n o t so good.
F i l m s in I n d u s t r y a n d R e s e a r c h I n d u s tria l a p p lic a tio n s of ch em istry are p a rtic u la rly su ited to ex p o sitio n by film tre a tm e n t. T h e in te r r e la tio n of la b o ra to ry a n d chem ical w orks c an be show n c learly an d d ra m a tic a lly . A c am era sh o t of dye b ein g fo rm ed in a tes t tu b e c an be follow ed by a sh o t of a 1000-gallon v a t in a dye w'orks, o r a shot of a few c ry stals on a c h a r
coal blo ck follow ed by w ork a t a b las t fu rn a c e . A p p lica tio n s , w hich w ould ta k e p ag es o f w ritin g , can b e d e sc rib e d in a few seconds b y such m ethods.
T h e re is a n o th e r type of film w hich th e c h em ist m u st ta k e n o te of, nam ely, th e r e se a rc h film. T h e use of th e cine film as a scientific to o l can re c o rd a n d d e m o n s tra te new re la tio n s h ip s w hich could n o t have b een d e te c te d by o th e r m ean s. I t is im p o s
sible to say w h a t film s c an o r sh o u ld be m ad e, b u t if ch em ists becom e “ film co n s c io u s ” th ey w ill d o u b tle ss find a p p lic a tio n s w a itin g in th e ir ow n sp e c ia l field.
A n o th e r, an d possibly th e m ost im p o rta n t, c o n trib u tio n of films to c h em istry is in th e field of “ social re la tio n s .” O ne o f th e a im s of o rg a n is a tio n s lik e th e B ritis h A sso
c ia tio n of C h e m ists is to im p ro v e th e s ta tu s
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h i o, 19 4 5 of th e p ro fessio n , a n d one w ay of ra is in g
th e p re s tig e of th e ch em ist is to c re a te a b e tte r u n d e rs ta n d in g an d a p p re c ia tio n of ch em istry am ong th e g e n era l p u b lic a n d to m ak e k now n to a ll th e g r e a t p a r t c h em istry p lay s in th e m o d ern w orld. • P e o p le use th e w o rd p la s tic s fre q u e n tly , b u t do th ey know w h a t w o rk goes in to th e ir m a n u fa c tu re ? E v ery o n e h as h e a rd of su lp h a n ila m id e , b u t do th ey know of th e p a r t ch em ists have ta k e n in its d e v elo p m en t? B e a u tifu l dyes fo r te x tile s a re ta k e n fo r g ra n te d , b u t is th e re se a rc h w o rk w hich goes in to th e dev elo p m en t of a new . c o lo u r a p p re c ia te d ? T h e film can do m uch to rem edy th is s ta te of affairs. T h e re is little d o u b t t h a t th e p u b lic w ill see a film a n d ab so rb its m es
sage, w h e rea s books on th e sam e issue m ay n e v er g et beyond th e b o o k stall.
S c i e n t i f ic F i l m S o c i e t y ’s G r o w th I t is n ecessary to c o n sid er th e p o te n tia l au d ie n ce fo r th is la s t ty p e of film. T h e n u m b ers of such films show n now in the p u b lic cin em as a re v ery sm all. T h e re is, h ow ever, a sectio n of th e p u b lic e a g e r to see such films—th is is exem plified by th e S cientific F ilm S ociety. T h ese societies, w hich a re sp rin g in g u p in all p a r ts of th e c o u n try , a re com posed p a rtly of s c ie n tists, b u t v ery larg e ly of m em b e rs of th e lay p u b lic , in te re s te d to see scientific d o c u m e n ta ry films. I n 1940, th e r e w ere only th r e e of th ese so cieties in th is co u n try , one in E n g la n d an d tw o in S c o tla n d . T o-day th e ir n u m b er is n e a rly 50, w ith a to ta l m em b er
sh ip of a b o u t 10,000. T h is a m azin g w a r tim e g ro w th is su re ly a m ea su re of th e in te r e s t d isp lay ed in th e s u b je c t, a n d au g u rs w ell fo r th e fu tu re .
T h e re is one final p o in t to c o n sid er. W h o is to m ak e th es e film s of th e ty p es m en tio n e d ab o v e? F ilm p ro d u c tio n is a r e la tively costly b u sin e ss, a lth o u g h i t should be rem e m b e re d t h a t a very g re a t d e a l c an be ach iev ed on th e less costly sub s ta n d a r d film an d e q u ip m en t. M ost of th e g ro u p s a n d so cieties giving d o c u m e n tary an d sc ien tific film show s use 16 m m . eq u ip m en t.
N e arly a ll th e scientific a n d te c h n ic a l films in th is c o u n try a re in m ost cases a v aila b le only on 16 m m. film. Y et in sp ite of th e im p o rta n c e o f th is k in d of film few p ro d u c ers h av e co n sid ered c h em istry film s as a com m ercial p ro p o sitio n an d fo r th is re a so n i t seem s t h a t p ro d u c tio n w ill h a v e to be sp o n so red m o re actively. L a rg e in d u s tria l o rg a n is atio n s h av e a lre a d y ta k e n step s in th is d ire c tio n , a n d w ill p ro b a b ly co n tin u e to do so. I t seem s d e sira b le th a t th e M in istry o f E d u c a tio n sh o u ld give s u p p o rt, a n d also t h a t le a rn e d so c ieties an d p ro fes
sio n a l b odies sh o u ld becom e m o re a w a re of th e p o ssib ilities of scientific films.
Re f e r e n c e s
1 N a tu re, 152, 623 ; 153, 7S4.
2 N a tu re, 1 5 4 ,155. G. B e l l : T h e S cientific O u tlo o k a n d its P r e s e n ta tio n o i F ilm s.
E g y p t’s Chem ical Industry
R e c e n t G r o w t h o f M a n u f a c t u r e s
U
N T IL 1937, E g y p t re lie d alm o st e n tire ly , fro m th e in d u s tria l p o in t of view , on one c ro p , v iz . : c o tto n ; b u t th e w a r h as b ro u g h t a b o u t a co n sid era b le ex p an sio n in th e in d u s tria lis a tio n of th e c o u n try , in w hich th e ch em ical in d u s try play s an im p o r ta n t p a r t. F o r ex am p le, cellulose p a in t solvents, x ylol, b en zo l, etc ., a re p ro d u c ed by L a b ib N issim ’s P ig m e n t P a i n t F a c to ry , S h m e id le r's C hem ical W o rk s, a n d th e E g y p tia n C hem ical an d D ru g In d u s trie s , L td . U tilis a tio n of b y -p ro d u cts of th e gas in d u s try h a s also s ta r te d , a n d an iron a n d ste el sm eltin g co n cern b eg an p ro d u c tio n in 1942, w h ile S ay ed Y assino B ey ’s glassw o rk s h av e c o n d u cted successful -e x p e rim e n ts in th e p ro d u c tio n o f co lo u red glass. T h e S o ciété M isr p o u r l ’In d u s tr ie P h a rm a c e u tiq u e , w ith a c a p ita l of £E30,000, now em p loys o v er 200 w o rk ers an d h a s ta k e n u p th e p ro d u c tio n of a n u m b er of p h a rm a c e u tic al p ro d u c ts fo rm erly im p o rte d from a b ro ad .
M i n e r a l D e v e l o p m e n t s
Ilm e n ite , g a rn e t, m a g n e tite , zirco n , an d m o n az ite a re o b ta in e d in E g y p t from b lack sa n d b ro u g h t dow n to th e m o u th s of th e N ile, n e a r R o s e tta and D a m ie tta , fro m th e h ills of E th io p ia . T h e m in e ra ls a re e x tr a c te d by p la n ts a t R o se tta a n d a t A le x a n d r ia , a n d sm all-scale o p e ra tio n s involve th e u se of th re e m ag n e tic s e p a ra to rs a n d th re e sm all w et c o n c e n tra tin g tab le s.
P ro s p e c tin g in n o n -ferro u s m in e ra ls is p ro ceed in g in th e d e s e rt ra n g e s b o rd e rin g th e R ed S ea. In th e n e ig h b o u rh o o d of th e R e d S ea p o rt of K o sseir e x te n siv e d ep o sits of lead a n d z in c h av e b e en r e p o rte d a t U m m G h eig , ab o u t 30 m iles so u th , w hile a c o p p er d e p o sit is b ein g ex p lo red a b o u t 100 m iles f u r th e r so u th . M o ly b d en ite is b e in g p ro sp e cte d in th e m o u n ta in s w est of th e oil w ells a t H u rg h a d a , n e a r th e m o u th of th e G u lf of Suez.
On th e N ile above L u x o r ex ten siv e a llu v ia l d e p o sits of tin in th e E d fu d is tr ic t h ave b een p ro sp e cte d by th e D e p a rtm e n t of M ines an d Q u a rrie s, an d licen ces h av e b e en issu ed to u n d e rta k e e x p lo ra tio n fo r c h ro m ite in th e d e se rt som e 60 m iles e a s t o f E d fu .
T h a Sw edish P a rlia m e n t h a s voted in favour of an expansion of th e N o rb o tten s A /B , th e State-ow ned iron w orks n ear L u le a. A new e lectrically-heated fu rn ace w ith a n annual pig-iron cap acity of about 30,000 tons, ra isin g to ta l cap acity to a b o u t 90,000 tons, is to be erected a t a cost of 3,500,000 crowns.
A new T hom as steel p la n t is also to be con
stru c te d a t a cost of 4,500,000 crow ns, y ield ing a s a by-product a b o u t 18,000 to n s of p h o sp h ate fertiliser.
