JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY PART V I949 ~~ ~ EDIT0RIAL RAW MATERIALS To the chemist in his professional capacity all things are chemical. Every portion of the material universe-living or non-living animal vegetable or mineral in earth sea or air-is to him an aggregation of chemical substances which by suitably selected mechanical physical or chemical processes can be separated from one another and obtained in a pure state. Moreover every such chemical substance obtained from natural sources is itself capable of undergoing chemical change and is thus a potential raw material for the produc- tion of other substances including a growing range of synthetic products unknown in nature. Concern has frequently been expressed at the growing rapidity with which man is drawing upon the capital resources of raw materials present in the earth especially on those mineralised products of former vegetable and animal life coal and petroleum.In a paper before the British Association for the Advancement of Science last year Professor J. D. Bernal directed special attention to the dwindling accessible resources of certain chemical elements such as sulphur phosphorus tin and lead which are among the key elements in the material structure of our civilised life. Conservation of raw materials is one of the major problems of the world to-day- one which calls for the application of science and particularly chemistry not only in preventing wastage of capital assets but also in providing improved methods for obtaining the material resources of the world in appropriate forms and directing their applications into the channels for which they are most suited.The working out of the richer ores of many metals has led to improved methods of concentrating poorer deposits. It has also led to a reconsideration of the purposes for which particular metals are employed and hence to progressive changes in domestic and industrial practice. The great abundance of alumino-silicates in the eaI th’s crust and of magnesium salts in the sea may result in a more exten- sive replacement of iron and steel by aluminium magnesium and their alloys for a variety of constructional and other purposes; the present shortage of economically workable lead ores is already [ 403 1 causing a swing over to other metals for purposes where the peculiar physical and chemical characteristics of lead are not of critical importance.The utilisation of plastics as alternatives to metals in certain applications is an example of a change to a different class of material and it is generally admitted that in some instances alter- native substances of an entirely different character may be more appropriate for particular purposes than those which perhaps through accidents of historical development or pressure of com-mercial interests have hitherto been employed. Conservatism in the user often takes a long time to break down but when once he has become accustomed to seeing familiar objects made of a new material he often becomes equally resistant to further change even when the new material is not demonstrably the most appropriate.To the chemist there is nothing immutable in the custom of using certain animal and vegetable materials primarily as food for man or beast. He has no prejudice against the utilisation of agricultural products as raw materials in chemical processes-and not merely in those fermentation processes which convert what is undeniably good to eat into something which a majority consider good to drink! From the scientific point of view there is nothing inherently wrong in using what are normally regarded as food crops as the raw materials of chemical industry or even in certain circum- stances as fuel. Indeed it has been maintained that in the long run it might be wiser to conserve our capital resources of coal and petroleum and to base the chemical industry of the future as far as possible on materials that can be derived from annual crops.What-ever merit there may be in what our American friends call "chemurgy "-a word which we have never liked-the present world shortage of food which seems likely to persist for a con-siderable time makes us wary at present of diverting to industry anything which is reasonably edible. The prejudice against using the casein from milk for making shirt buttons has now a more rational basis than it had in former days of abundance. During the war other factors influenced the pattern of our utili- sation of raw materials-the shortage of shipping space aggravated by sinkings and the special demands on materials for munitions of war-and much consideration was given to the use of more easily available alternative materials and to the prevention of waste.Since the end of hostilities the need to limit expenditure in dollars and other hard currencies has produced a situation which is in many ways similar and the First Report of the Committee on Industrial Productivity recently issued indicates the importance that is being attached to the general question of developing home resources of raw materials and to the problems involved in reducing the depend- ence of the United Kingdom on imported materials particularly from dollar sources. These are the main concerns of the Committee's [ 404 1 Panel on Tmports Substitution and have involved the consider at'ion of improved or alternative means of meeting our national require- ments for food as well as for the raw materials of industries on which the economy of the country depends.It is good to find that the world-wide aspect of the better utilisation of raw materials is being studied by a scientific conference on the conservation and utilisation of resources which opened at Lake Success on 17 August under the auspices of the United Nations. Sectional meetings are being held under the general headings of:- forestry; water; soils crops and livestock; fisheries and wild life; fuels; power; minerals. The Conference is concerned with the improved utilisation and conservation of materials the development of relevant techniques and their applications to particular areas especially the less developed countries as well as with the economic costs and benefits of such techniques and their inter-relations.The terms of reference are very wide and we may hope that the examina- tion of this broad field in its manifold aspects may lead at least to the emergence of agreed principles that will guide the nations of the world in drawing up their individual plans with due regard to the general needs of mankind. At various times we have ourselves been interested in comparing the relative amounts of the various raw materials produced annually in the world with a view to bringing into better perspective the scale of problems of conservation and utilisation of commodities in general by including in one schedule all raw materials irrespective of whether they are normally used directly for food or wholly or partly in the service of industry or agriculture.It seemed desirable to include not only true (primary) raw materials but also products such as base metals cement and sulphuric acid which are the raw materials of other industries. Before the war reasonably reliable figures for the annual world production of most commodities were available especially through League of Nations reports though it was difficult to secure information about certain materials largely used locally by the producer; this applies for example to wood of grades not suitable as saw timber and used mainly as firewood as well as to meat and certain annual crops that are largely consumed by the growers.With these reservations the following figures in millions of metric tons per annum referring to 1935 (or to a year between 1935 and 1939) may be of interest. As one might expect the lead was taken by coal (1,140),with petroleum (226) as a poor second while potatoes (221) were a perhaps unexpected third. These were followed by lignite (188) and milk (180). The list continued with wheat (150) iron ore (l42) rice (133) maize (116) steel (99),pig-iron and ferro-alloys (77.4),oats (68.3) cement (62.7) barley (49-7),wood (saw timber) (48.6) rye (46) millet (Xi),salt (31.2) paper and board (24) wine (21.2) beer (19.8) wood pulp c 405 1 (1 94),cane sugar (1,5.5) apples (13) ~ulpliuri(~ aicl ( 1 2-5),cotton-seed (I lag) phosphates (natural) ( I 1-7) soya bearis ( I 1 -5).'I'hen followed in the range from 10 down to 2 million tons such miscel- laneous materials as beet sugar pyrites ground nuts newsprint paper oranges cotton (ginned) basic slag manganese ore rape seed linseed butter china clay tobacco pears bananas potassium salts (as K,O) sulphur coffee nitrogen compoiinds (as N in synthetic and by-product compounds). Meat appears to come somewhere in this last group but for reasons given above this may give a false impression of the output of this now scarce commodity. It will be noted however that so far no textile fibre other than cotton and no non-ferrous metal has appeared in the schedule.The next in the forrner class were wool (1-71) and jute (1-32); in the latter copper (1.53),closely followed by lead and zinc at 1.38 and 1.33. It is curious to find that grape fruit (1.08)was a little ahead of crude rubber (0.89)and tea (0.84) ! Such familiar metals as tin and nickel came much lower in the list at 0.014 and 0-075 while silver (0.0069) gold (040093) and the platinum metals (0*0000l2)were found towards the end of the schedule. It is well known that some of the more precious and seemingly rare metals are in fact relatively abundant in the earth's crust but so widely disseminated as to make their extraction difficult and costly. The relatively large scale of production of cereals may seem to suggest that notable amounts of chemical products might be obtained from such materials by a proportionately small increase in the area of cultivation or the yield.Here however the problem is bound up with the provision of adequate supplies of fertilisers and with the successful combating of pests as well as with the avoidance of soil erosion or losses of fertility through climatic changes or lack of co-ordination of policy in the production of various crops of livestock and of forests. In all these matters the chemist has an important and perhaps a dominant part to play in the future. The need for pooling scien- tific and technological information and experience is becoming generally recognized and we print in another part of this issue of JOURNAL AND PROCEEDIXGS an Interim Report of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee on what has come to be called "President Truman's Fourth Point "-a call for intensifying and sharing American technological knowledge for the benefit of the under- developed areas of the world.With a growing world population seeking progressively higher standards of life attention is naturally turned to areas where the resources of nature have hitherto been inadequately harnessed and in some instances have hardly been assessed either in respect of their mineral contents or of their potentialities as sources of animal and vegetable materials. THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY AND THE PROFESSION OF CHEMISTRY IN INDIA AND PAKISTAN By Professor ALEXANDERFINDLAY, C.H.E. M.A. I).%. T,L.I>.At the time of my visit to India in the winter of 1947-48 there were some 400 Fellows and Associates of the Institute in the whole hub-continent. For a number of years there had been a fairly steady if not great flow of applications by Indian graduates for election to the Associateship without further examination ; but few candidates passed through the gate of the Institute’s examinations. A number of India’s most eminent chemists were neither Associates nor Fellows of the Institute and it is not possible to form any estimate of the proportion of qualified Indian chemists who sought or gained admission to membership of the Institute. Such member- ship awarded as it was by an outside body independent of local institutions was recognised and held in high esteem by govern- mental and other appointing bodies as a guarantee of high scientific qualification and professional integrity.The Associateship or Fellowship of the Institute moreover was prized as a badge of membership of a fraternity of chemists (now over 11,000in number) extending beyond and transcending national frontiers and political differences. An Indian Local Section of the Institute had been in existence since 1934 but it is obvious that owing to the size of the country a single Section a small number of whose members niet together only once a year could not be effective in maintaining a feeling of solidarity and of creating and pursuing a common aim or purpose. No adequate opportunity moreover could be provided for the discussion of matters of scientific and professional interest and importance for performing the functions to which reference will be made later or for helping and guiding chemists to make their proper contribution to the welfare and prosperity of their country.This fact had indeed been realised by members of the Institute in India and in 1946 and 1947 (JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS, 1946 p. 93; 1947 p. 121) the suggestion had been made that while there might continue to be only one Central Sectional Committee for India Branches should be set up in different centres at which frequent meetings of the members of the Institute perhaps in co-operation with similar Societies might be held. A resolution to this effect was approved at the meeting of the Local Section in January 1947 hut owing to the unsettled conditions in the country to imperfections of the Register] etc.no action was taken. [ 407 1 Besides the Indian Local Section an Tnclinn A(l1im-y Conimittcc has also been in existence for many years. It is the duty of this Committee to examine the qualifications of Indian candidates for election to the Associateship without further examination and to report to the (‘ouncil their opinion of the eligibility of each candidate for election. The Hon. Secretary of this Committee has long been Dr. G. J. Fowler who has also acted as Hon. Corresponding Secretary in India. From time to time requests have been received by the Council that examinations for the Associateship should be held in India.Although the Council has been willing to hold such examinations the number of candidates has been very small. At the request of a large number of prospective candidates it was decided however to hold an examination during the winter 1947-48 and an examination was in fact held at Rangalore in March 1948. Only six candidates appeared. THEFUTURE THE INSTITUTE INDIA OF IN AND PAKISTAY Although at the date of my arrival in India no action had been taken on the resolution passed at the Annual General Meeting of the Indian Local Section in January 1947 I found that interest in the work and organisation of the Institute was not dead. On the contrary I found even in the first few days of my visit in Bombay that there were a number of our members who were anxious to have an active organisation which could arrange for the meeting together of the chemists in a particular area for the discussion of matters of professional importance and for the promotion of the aims and activities of the Institute.Such an organisation also would be able to give advice guidance and help to younger chemists to discuss with them the advantages to be derived from membership of a great professional body and to act as a centre of information regarding the examinations conducted by the Institute and the Regulations for admission as corporate members (Associates or Fellows) or as Registered Students. Complaint was made that the work of the Institute was insufficiently known and that there was no one to whom younger chemists could go for guidance or to whom they might apply for information.It became clear to me therefore during the earlier weeks of my visit that the most important thing to be done was to make the Institute a really live and active organisation which was of course the purpose of the resolution of the Annual General Meeting of the Local Section to which reference has already been made. Instead however of having one Local Section and a number of Branches as had been proposed by the Chairman of the Local Section it seemed to me preferable that there should be a number of independent [ 408 1 Local Sections set up in various centres where considerable numbers of chemists were to be found. These Local Sections could com- municate direct with Headquarters in London as do Local Sections in Great Britain.By this means each Local Section would be given a feeling of independence and sense of responsibility. Moreover as the Local Section would be in direct touch with the Council in London it would be led to realise that it was a vital part of a living organisation and that it was in a measure the representative of the Royal Institute of Chemistry in its own particular area. It would also qualify for receiving at least the minimum grant of k35 (say Rs. 450) per annum towards the expenses of the Section. At the Annual General Meeting of the Indian Local Section at Patna in January 1948 I suggested that to begin with four Local Sections should be set up at Bombay Calcutta Delhi and Madras or Bangalore to serve as centres in west east north and south India respectively.These would replace the existing Local Section which would be dissolved. This suggestion was approved unanimously by the members present and Bangalore was selected as the centre of the Local Section for south India. Conveners were appointed to take the steps necessary to have these Local Sections constituted after the general approval of the Council had been obtained. Last year a fully constituted Local Section was formed in Bangalore under the chairmanship of Dr. G. J. Fowler and at its inaugural meeting an address was delivered by Sir Alfred Egerton. A petition for the formation of the Northern India Section centred on Delhi has been approved by the Council (subject to the formulation and approval of Rules) and a petition for the formation of the Western India Section with headquarters at Bombay will come before the Council in October.It is hoped that a petition for the formation of a Local Section for Eastern India based on Calcutta will soon be received. At a later time when I visited Madras in March 19-18 the chemists in that area expressed the desire to have a Local Section in Madras. There is a fairly large number of members including several very well known and senior Fellows resident in Madras and its neighbourhood and I found the chemists there very interested in the idea of a professional body in India. It seems to me to be most desirable that a Local Section should be established in such an important area and an application for permission to constitute a Local Section there would I am sure receive the cordial approval of the Council.Until I reached Lahore I did not know whether the chemists of Pakistan in Western Punjab and Eastern Bengal would be willing to join the Local Sections set up in the Dominion of India say at Delhi and Calcutta respectively. It was made quite clear to me however both at Lahore and at Dacca that this was not possible [ 409 1 under present conditions ; and chemists expressed the desire to have their own Local Sections. With this desire every sympathy should be shown and on behalf of the Council I promised the chemists of Pakistan that the Institute would give every assistance desired in the organisation of a professional body.Although there is not at present any centre in Pakistan where there is a sufficiently large number of chemists to constitute a Local Section the special position of Pakistan has been recognised by the Council by the appointment of Professor Bashir Ahmad Lahore as Honorary Corresponding Secretary to give help and guidance to chemists in Pakistan and to maintain close touch with Headquarters in London. The setting up of Local Sections in the Dominion of India and later it is hoped also in Pakistan is of importance for the advance- ment of the profession of chemistry and the promotion of the welfare of chemists. It is also of importance in order that the Council may through them be able to obtain the considered views of the chemists of India on the organisation and machinery of the Institute and its further development in India.While the Sections have full freedom to arrange their own activities within the framework of the con- stitution of the Institute reference may be made to some of the functions which the Sections might perform. The Local Sections can act as has already been indicated as a centre of information about the aims and activities of the Institute a centre to which younger chemists can go for advice and guidance regarding their training and where they can receive information about the examinations of the Institute and the Regulations for admission to membership of the Institute. The Local Sections moreover can do much to maintain the interest of younger chemists by means of meetings where they can receive stimulus and encourage- ment from senior chemists by the discussion of various professional problems by lectures delhrered by chemists of standing inside and outside the area of the Section and by visits to works or research laboratories.There are liowever larger questions of national importance which officers and members of Local Sections would do well to consider. Thus in consultation with industrial firms government laboratories etc. they might consider the advisability of encouraging younger chemists with qualifications below those required for the Associate- ship of the Institute to continue their training or their studies with a view to improving their status and it might be securing full qualification by passing the examinations of the Institute.The importance of providing for such further instruction and training was repeatedly raised during my visit to India and the assistance of the Institute was asked for. In this connection I would refer to the collaboration of the Ministry of Education in Great Britain and the Royal Institute of Chemistry in awarding National Certificates in [ 410 1 Chemistry and in Applied Chemistry. The Local Sections of thc Institute in India would in my opinion be doing a work of the highest importance for the welfare of their country if they would in consultation with their own educational authorities consider whether a scheme for the award of National Certificates similar to that existing in Great Britain might not also be instituted in India.While in the past the high standard of qualification demanded for membership of the Institute has been recognised and held in high esteem by Departments of the Government and others requiring the services of chemists the Institute has never really functioned or been recognised as the professional body of chemists in India. In the scheme outlined by Dr. Forrester in 1947 for the constitution of an Indian Section with Branches it was clearly envisaged that the Institute through its Local Section and Branches should assume the responsibilities and functions of a professional body. Whatever developments may take place in the direction of establishing an indigenous professional body for chemists in India members of the Institute in their Local Sections-it may be in consultation also with chemists who are not members of the Insti- tute-should be active in considering how the Royal Institute of Chemistry can act or can gain recognition by public authorities and others as a professional body representing the chemists in India.The future success of the Institute and of the profession of chemistry in India will depend very largely on the energy and enthusiasm of'the members of the Local Sections and especially of the officers of these Sections. A Special Advisory Committee on Indian and Pakistani Affairs was set up in London last year by the ('ouncil and it will be the duty of that Committee to keep in close touch with the work of the Local Sections in India and to give them whatever help they can.Meanwhile it is of importance to consider whether and in what way the examinational and other machinerv for the election of Associates and Fellows should be altered or modified so as to make it more suitable to conditions obtaining in India. EXAMINATIONS Hitherto although the Council has been prepared to hold examinations for the Associateship in India the number of candi-dates has been very small. Even at the examination in March 1948 in Bangalore eleven candidates paid the fee of L5 5s. but only six appeared for examination. In spite of this fact it was suggested to me on more than one occasion that examinations should be held not only at one but at several centres. I always replied that I had no doubt that the Council would be prepared to consider requests for the holding of examinations at one or several centres provided the number of candidates was sufficiently large.[ 411 J It was brought to my notice tlmt appointing bodies freqiiently asked Associates of the Institute who were candidates for an appoint- ment whether they had gained the Associateship by examination or by election on the basis of.university qualifications. While as I pointed out the Council could not hold the view that a chemist who had gained the Associateship by passing the Institute’s examination was necessarily more highly qualified than one who had been elected by the Council on the basis of university or other qualifica- tions there are no doubt some in India as in Great Britain who seem to hold a contrary view.1do not however attach importance to this. The relatively small number of candidates for the Institute’s examinations may be due to the fact that in the past no great need had been felt for increasing the number of highly qualified chemists or for encouraging chemists in Government and industrial labora- tories with only B.Sc. qualifications to improve their status. Under present conditions however it may be found desirable to encourage such chemists to continue their training or their studies and to sit the examination for the Associateship of the Institute. To this end the Local Sections may make a valuable contribution through the advice and guidance which they can give to the younger chemists and through their activity in promoting and maintaining interest in the science and profession of chemistry.This is a matter to which the attention of Local Sections should be drawn and if as a result there should be a sufficient demand for the holding of examinations either in several centres or even in one centre such demand should be given very sympathetic consideration. I would also suggest that if an examination is held only at one centre consideration shoiild be given to the question whether it should not be at one of the more populous centres in the north-Bombay Calcutta or Delhi-rather than at Bangalore. It was pointed out to me on various occasions that potential candidates were restrained from offering themselves for the Insti- tute’s examination because they were ignorant of the standard of knowledge required and there was no one from whom they could obtain advice.There is I think a considerable amount of truth in this. While 1 do not know how one can define the standard of qualification required except perhaps by general reference to some recognised university standard I hope that there will be in each of the Local Sections one or more members university professors or others who will be prepared to advise candidates as to their fitness to sit the examination. This would be a service of very great value and some guidance of a general character could if it were desired be given to such advisers from London. On the subject of examinations I should like to say that the following expression of opinion was given to me by Dr.Fowler “The conditions for holding the examination were quite esceptionallg fa\.oiirable in Bangalore but even so a great deal of care and arrangement was necessary both there and in Imidon. hesitate to think of examinations being held at various centres likely to satisfy all enquirers with the possibility-only too evident- of negligible turn-up. At least let there be further experience in one centre preferably maybe other than Bangalore.” ELECTIOK TO THE AssocIA’rEsHIP WITHOUT FURTHER EXAMINATION There exists an Advisory Committee in India the Hon. Secretary of which is Dr. G. J. Fowler. Applications for election to the Associateship are sent to the Hon. Secretary who after assuring himself that the application form has been properly completed and that the candidate has complied with the Regulations obtains the opinions of the referees.The candidate’s papers along with the opinions of the referees are then circulated among the members of the Advisory Committee. From his study of these each member of the Committee forms his opinion of the eligibility of the candidate for election independently of the other members of the Committee. In cases of doubt a member of the Committee may suggest that the candidate be submitted to an oral examination. There is no c.onsultation among members of the Committee. When an oral examination is suggested the Hon. Secretary makes arrangements for this. The opinions of the several members of the Committee are forwarded to London together with the result of any oral examination.These reports are very carefully considered by the Nominations Examinations and Institutions Committee before a decision on an application is reached. I was informed by the Hon. Secretary that the Advisory Com- inittee does not accept any degree per se as entitling a candidate to election to the Associateship and even when two candidates hold the same degree one may be recommended for election the other not. The Advisory Committee is guided by the character of the referees’ reports and by the impression gained from a scrutiny of the candidate’s papers. The result of any oral examination which may be held is I understand communicated to the members of the Advisory Committee and in certain special cases the papers may be re-circulated.It does seem to me however that the method suffers from the defect that the members of the Committee act independently and not by joint consideration. To arrange for this would no doubt be impossible on account of distance and expense. In connection with the work of the Advisory Committee there must always arise the question of the relative standards of the degrees of different Universities. Views expressed regarding this were somewhat conflicting some maintaining that the standards r 413 3 were etfecti\dy tliv same other\ tlia t the standarcis ixried and in any case were too low and tended to get lower. One could not escape the impression that there is at least some truth in the second Tkw.Again it was suggested that the Council should draw up a list of university degrees which would be regarded as equivalent in standard to the Associateship and the holding of which could be taken as entitling the candidate to election to the Associateship. While it might be possible if thought desirable to indicate generally some university standard for the Associateship it would be inad- visable in my opinon to draw up a list of approved degrees. If candidates are uncertain whether they have attained the standard required for the Associateship they should seek advice fronl members of Local Sections as already suggested or from their teachers who should be able to advise them. In a number of cases the desire was expressed that the Advisory Committee should be done away with and that applications from Indian candidates should be dealt with direct by the Nominations Examinations and Institutions Committee as in the case of British and other Dominion candidates.This is a suggestion which is at least worthy of consideration provided that it is coupled with the requirement that all candidates shall undergo an oral examination or some other test laid down by the Council. If such an oral exam- ination were introduced then I think that it might be necessary for the Council to draw up some guiding instructions for the examiners. Some regard it as desirable that even if the Advisory Committee is retained every candidate should be submitted to oral examination.Whatever views may be held regarding the working of the Advisory Committee it would be unwise to alter or modify the existing machinery without first seeking the advice of the Local Sections in India and of the Advisory Committee itself. THEYKOFESSION OF CHEMISTHYin. INI)IAAND PAKISTAK This Report so far has been concerned with the awakening of general interest in the work of the Institute and the improvement of its organisation in the interest of its members. A larger and more important matter had however also to be considered namely the setting up of a strong professional body of chemists in India and Pakistan and the part which the Institute might play. Highly valued as the Institute's qualifications are one has to remember that the Institute does not enjoy the official recognition which it receives in Great Britain.Moreover while the feelings of the Indians towards the British have perhaps never been more cordial than at present and while there is a widespread desire to have the [ 414 1 help and guidancc of the British there exists quite understandably a considerable sensitiveness against any forcing or apparent forcing of British institutions on them. It did not seem to me that the idea of a professional body similar in function and authority to the Institute had yet taken any firm root in India. At one time the formation of an Indian “Gazetted Service” of chemists had been mooted and an Institution of Chemists (India) was established and there was talk of the affiliation of this body to the Society of Chemical Industry.It was also thought by some that this Institution might develop into the professional body of chemists. At the conference at Patna however it was recognised by the leading chemists present that it could not do so for some time to come at least and when I offered the help of the Institute and suggested that an Indian professional body might be built up on the basis of the Institute’s organisation the majority of those present approved the suggestion. I emphasised repeatedly that if this course were adopted there could be no lowering of the standard of qualification. (I may say here that nowhere did I ever hear any desire expressed or suggestion made that standards should be lowered. On the contrary the desire was to maintain or raise standards and a hope was expressed that the Institute might help in doing this.) It should always be borne in mind that although the great majority of chemists in India are as I believe in favour of building up a professional organisation on the basis of the Royal Institute of Chemistry and are desirous of receiving the help of the Institute they look forward to the creation in due course of an indigenous autonomous Indian Institute or professional body.How this desired goal is to be reached what exactly is the path which one must follow is the problem which has to be solved. Even when the indigenous proCessiona1 body has been established however there will I hope and believe be a desire on both sides for close and cordial collaboration between the Indian professional body and the Royal Institute of Chemistry and for a reciprocity in service to their members.However these matters may develop in the future I should like to look forward to the time when the Royal Institute of Chemistry-the oldest professional body of chemists in the world- may perhaps become the centre of a “Commonwealth” of free autonomous professional bodies of chemists extending it may be even beyond the limits of the British Commonwealth of Nations. I should not leave it unmentioned that there are some chemists in India who being perhaps more interested in the science than in the profession of chemistry are inclined to favour the American type of organisation for chemists and would bring all chemical scientific and professional activities under the Indian Chemical Society.did not however find this view at all widely held. c 415 1 Throughout the remainder of my tour after the conference at Patna my main task was to arouse interest in the idea of a profes-sional body by drawing attention to the many important tasks which it would have to carry out and the responsibilities which it would have to assume prescribing and maintaining standards giving advice to Government Departments and others on matters involving the activities of chemists the raising of the prestige of chemistry etc. I then put before my hearers the decision which had been reachcd at Patna and this decision seemed to meet with general approval.In some places not a little enthusiasm was shown and several chemists qualified to be Associates or even Fellows indicated their intention of applying for membership of the Institute. While I believe that at the time of my visit a considerable amount of interest in the organisation of the profession was aroused it still remains to be seen how long that interest will be maintained and whether enthusiastic words will develop into effective action. Very much will depend on the energy and enthusiasm of the Local Sections the full constitution of which has still to be effected. If the majority of Indian chemists remain firm in their present intention to build up an Indian professional body on the basis of the Royal Institute of Chemistry then it is clear that the Institute will have to undertake very serious responsibilities.It must in fact be accepted that until an indigenous and autonomous organisation is brought into being the Royal Institute of Chemistry will in effect be the professional body of chemists in India. Moreover if this professional body is to be really effective and to represent the general body of qualified chemists in India members of the Institute in India must endeavour to bring as many as possible of the qualified chemists in India into membership of the Institute. In seeking to do so however it is most important to emphasise that the inspiring force must be not the expansion of the membership of the Institute but the strengthening and promotion of the profession of chemistry in India.In any recruiting campaign which may be initiated help should be given by the Council and its appropriate committee. It will be necessary to maintain close touch with the Local Sections and to feed them with all our literature relative to the services of the Institute and to its activities on behalf of chemists. If as I hope the Institute is by the desire of the chemists of India to be called upon to become for the present the professional body in India then it must be prepared to assume in close collabora- tion with Indian chemists the same responsibilities as it has assumed in Great Britain. This it will be able to do only if it receives some sort of recognition informal or official by the people or authorities with which it will have to deal.This I think may not be too difficult to obtain but careful consideration will have to be given to the question of how the necessary recognition is to be sought and how the Institute in India is going in practice to carry out its responsibilities. There are a number of matters on which action may be asked for at a fairly early date. It will be necessary I think to set up a small body of chemists in India members of the Institute to act as a liaison between the Council in London and the professional body in India; to consider all matters concerning the activities of chemists and to inform the Council of all matters in which action may be necessary. This Indian Council of the Institute might be constituted by the chairmen of the Local Sections and others e.g.members of the Advisory Committee who might be nominated by the Local Sections although the Council in London might reserve the right also to appoint members. It is unnecessary to emphasise the importance of the widespread desire of the chemists of the Dominions of India and of Pakistan to build up their professional organisations on the basis of the Royal Institute of Chemistry. By so doing they will be building from the very start on an experienced and highly esteemed organisation which demands for membership a recognisedly high standard of scientific qualification. A great opportunity of service to the profession of chemistry in India and Pakistan is now being offered to the Royal Institute of Chemistry.I hope it will be seized with enthusiasm. THE TEACHING OF CHEMISTRY IN GRAMMAR SCHOOLS A Survey of present-day practice By E. W. MOORE B.Sc. A.R.I.C. II. The Sixth Form Science teaching in the Sixth Forms apart from some General Science courses designed for pupils specialising in Arts subjects is directed mainly to the Higher School Certificate (or as it will be after 1950 the General Certificate of Education “Advanced” level) and to Scholarship examinations for University entrance. Most Sixth Form pupils therefore are potential university students and although some do not achieve their objective these examina- tions rightly or wrongly do determine the content of most of the teaching. There is thus a common core adopted by all teachers of chemistry and Sixth Form courses in different schools show less radical divergences than are commonly met with in the lower Forms.All schools follow a more or less specialised and systematic course of inorganic organic and physical chemistrv. [ 417 1 The objectives of the pupils are professional and vocational and Sixth Forms are composed generally of the better intellectual products of the Lower School and of pupils who have developed special interests or aptitudes for one particular subject or group of subjects. Furthermore these pupils have reached a degree of maturity when they are ready for more intensive studgr and able to undertake effective private study. While it would be wrong to deprive these young students of some measure of the specialisation for which they are eager it is important in planning Sixth Form courses as a whole to see that this does not result in a narrowing of the mental outlook and most schools insist on some cultural activities outside the science studies.The starting point for the chemistry courses depends on whether in the Lower School Pure Chemistry or General Science has been taught If the former then an elementary knowledge of atomic and molecular theories can be assumed and some of the early lessons will be devoted to a revision and extension of these funda- mental theories. An initial difficulty often encountered arises from the fact that the Lower School teaching is necessarily somewhat rigid and incomplete and the mind of the Lower Sixth pupil has first to be “loosened up”; it is not uncommon to find that his first reaction is a weakening of his faith in the knowledge he already has when he comes to realise the limitations of the fundamental laws-constant composition conservation of mass etc.-which he has probably regarded not as limited generalisations but as final and immutable Laws of Nature.This of course is a healthy state of mind though it calls for skill on the part of the teacher to establish a new and broader confidence. If however the pupil has a General Science foundation he will probably have no knowledge of the inductive arguments of the Atomic Theory. It is for this reason that he is sometimes supposed to start with a handicap; but on the other hand he has little to unlearn and he is better able by now to appreciate these arguments and to grapple with them quickly.In addition they can now be presented though for the first time in a much more complete form. It sometimes happens that a Form is composed of both these classes of pupil and in that case the teacher’s difficulties are only too apparent. While in the larger city schools first and second year (and frequently third year) pupils are taught as separate Forms in some of the smaller County Schools all these groups have to be taught in a single Form and often with indifferent equipment. Again the difficulties are obvious and the pupils’ chances of successful progress are seen to be as much a matter of geography as of their own abilities. [ 418 I We will now consider some of the issues arising from the develop- ment of each of the three main branches of the subject and after- wards touch upon some further particular and general matters.Inorganic chemistry at its worst may become a welter of more or less disconnected facts concerning the preparations and properties of the elements and their compounds; and some text-books are apparently written on these lines. It is necessary therefore to employ some systematising devices if chemistry is not to become an intolerable burden on the memory and to lose most of its value as an intellectual training. Most commonly used of course is the Periodic Classification of the Elements though by itself few teachers find this to be adequate; far too many anomalies are encountered among the elements and their compounds.Another device of somewhat limited application (often used in conjunction with the above) is to base the study upon the Electrochemical Series of the Elements. This is particularly suitable for considering the extraction of the elements themselves and for a comparative study of their simpler compounds. It also leads readily to such general topics as oxidation and reduction. Most teachers however find no single method satisfactory and after the idea of the Periodic Classification has been inculcated at an early stage it is rapidly developed to include electrical theories of the structure of atoms to the point at which the three main types of valency linkages can be freely used.As the course develops inorganic chemistry is supported by the whole structure of physical chemistry. Inorganic substances are then dealt with in their periodic groups though not necessarily in numerical sequence. Some commence with say the electro-negative halogens follow this with the electro-positive alkali metals and so work later to the more complex substances in the middle groups. Whatever course is adopted inorganic substances present many exceptions to rule and inevitably examinees find much to be memorised. We shall consider later what provision is made for securing practical familiarity with the substances studied. Over the past twenty-five years physical chemistry has assumed greater and greater importance in Sixth Form courses. Though the major topics such as kinetic theory law of mass action thermal and ionic equilibria are often dealt with independently they are widely used and exemplified in all subsequent work.Indeed physical considerations are now universally regarded as the foundations of all systematic chemistry. Organic compounds are so admirably conformable to rule that the presentation of this branch of the subject is free from one of the major difficulties attending the study of inorganic compounds and most pupils appreciate and enjoy the beautiful logic of the study. There are two main lines of approach. The former begins with a [ 419 1 common substance such as alcohol and from a study of its properties and those of its simple derivatives evidence is deduced for the full structural formulae of their molecules based on the quadrivalence of the carbon atom.This was the method employed by the earlier writers such as Cohen. The other approach proceeds immediately to the notion of homologous series and studies classes of compounds usually beginning with the paraffins and following a more logical though less practical sequence. There is however little divergence in subsequent practice and organic chemistry develops as a study of the characteristic properties of typical groups or radicals. A fairly average allocation of time to chemistry at the “Advanced” level in the Sixth Forms of Grammar Schools is about seven periods of forty or forty-five minutes per week for two years (often extended to a third year for pupils seeking scholarships).The proportion of this time which can be devoted to practical work in the laboratory is less than most teachers feel is desirable if the pupil is to know and not merely know about the whole range of substances covered by his syllabus. It is a very common and justified complaint of examiners that many candidates display little practical familiarity with the substances they discuss. This difficulty is aggravated by the fact that while some schools are fortunate enough to possess Sixth Form laboratories in many schools one chemistry laboratory has to serve for all stages of the work throughout the school. Again some of the topics which have been studied in the past do not readily lend themselves to practical work in school laboratories; there is however a tendency to exclude these from more recently published syllabuses.Finally there is the problem confronting all teachers of co-ordinating laboratory work with the theoretical instruction-a problem which is some- times ignored in university courses. None of these problems is amenable to easy solution. It is to be feared that in some schools practical work is heavily weighted in favour of qualitative and volumetric inorganic analysis which are the only parts tested in practical examinations. Conscientious teachers however include much else besides. Qualitative and volumetric analysis properly taught familiarises the pupil with a wide range of inorganic substances and illustrates many important principles concerning ionic reactions.It is usually supplemented by a range of inorganic preparations and reactions performed either by the pupil or by the teacher. In addition experiments illustrating the main principles of physical chemistry and the chief types of organic compounds are included. Teachers have realised that the methods employed in their university courses are frequently unsuitable for school use where experiments must generally be completed within the limits of [ 420 3 eigllty-or ninety-minute periods. They have cxerciwd their ingenuity in devising simple and speedy methods by which the pupils themselves can establish or illustrate most of the important principles. Innumerable examples of these are to be found scattered throughout the volumes of the School Science Review and through the many text-books written by schoolmasters.The large-scale preparation and purification of a comparatively few organic compounds has given place to the small-scale or the test- tube preparation of a wide range of unpurified compounds. Methods of purification are illustrated in a few typical cases only. It has always been realised that in so practical a subject great importance should attach to the practical examination. In the past however the Higher Certificate examination has been confined as has been said to simple qualitative and volumetric inorganic analysis; and in the latter quite specific instructions are often given for carrying out the operations. Even in this limited field of experiment therefore little is left to the initiative of the candidate and the work is assessed almost entirely upon the accuracy with which the operations are conducted.This arises owing to the difficulty otherwise of producing any standardised scheme of marking. Examinations as a whole and practical examinations in particular tend to suffer from this defect that they test what can readily be measured; and the teaching is influenced in that stress is laid upon those parts which are likely to be tested. Thus at this stage practical examinations while they encourage the acquisition of habits of precision and accuracy in a limited field tend to discourage that adventurous spirit of research and enquiry which is the essence of any experimental science.Scholarship examinations for the older Universities also have their influence in all but the smaller schools. Here however the effect is a different one and is occasioned by the relatively very high degree of specialisation required to attain the standard they set. Many chemistry text-books written for the scholarship candidate professedly treat the subject up to Pass Degree standard. The examinations being competitive and designed to select only the very best pupils to some extent this high standard is inevitable. But from the School’s point of view their effect is often deleterious; the teacher is unwilling to deprive his pupils of all chance of competing for these scholarships and consequently he is tempted to press them as far as they can go.The result is that for many their specialist knowledge is bookish and incompletely assimilated and those wider aspects of culture with which the mind of the young student should also be busied are sadly neglected. No review of Sixth Form work in chemistry would be complete without some discussion of a problem which affects chiefly the older teachers. Chemistry is a living subiect and its boundaries are r 421 1 ever widening-indeed rapidly wiclening. Thc Sixth Form teacher cannot stagnate he cannot rest content with the knowledge he gained in his university years. Few indeed would wish to do so and it is part of the joy of his work that the teacher has a motive for keeping himself abreast of modern developments over the whole range of his subject.But he always faces the problem how modern should he be in the presentation of his subject? How near should he sail in the wake of the great ship of progress? Should his presentation of ionic theory stop at Arrhenius or at Debye and Hiickel? Should valency go on to Lewis and Langmuir or to Sidgwick and Yauling? It is not so much a question of how deeply should he go as of how soon should he adopt in an elementary way the newer outlook. There is of course a danger that in following too closely he may attach importance to what is unsound and ephemeral; but he cannot altogether escape the problem. What is new research to-day may be in the examination syllabus twenty years hence. Many of course adopt an historical development of such topics and indeed many make much of the History of Chemistry.They use it not only to keep the more modern developments in proper perspective and to give some conception of the degree of reliability of modern “knowledge,” but also because of the many opportunities it offers to inspire the young student to emulate the great chemists of the past in their selfless search for truth. It will be seen from this very rapid survey that the problems confronting the teacher of Chemistry are numerous and stimulating ones. It must be ground for satisfaction that so many cultured unselfish and outside their profession largely unknown men have devoted themselves to the task of raising Sixth Form chemistry to its present high standard of achievement and popularitv.SYMPOSIUM ON “RECENT ADVANCES IN THE FERMENTATION iNDUSTRIES” Held at The University of St. Andrews 25-30July 1949 The Scottish Sections of the Royal Institute of Chemistry arranged a second refresher course taking this time as the subject “Recent Advances in the Fermentation Industries.” Again the Symposium was very successful and attracted a large number of chemists from Great Britain and Ireland and a sprinkling from New Zealand South Africa India America Denmark Holland and Italy. The subject of fermentation and the subsequent distillation of the prod- ucts is one which has engaged chemists and before them alchemists [ 422 1 for many ccntiirics. The lectiircs at St. Andrcws covered edible and potable fermentation products industrial fermentation and the microbiological advances dealing with the assay of amino acids and penicillin.An important feature of the week’s activities was that the Biochemical and Physiological Societies arranged to hold their meetings in Dundee and St. Andrews on 29 and 30 July and those attending the Institute Symposium thus ha-d the opportunity of attending the discussions of the other two societies. The week afforded an opportunity for many old friends to meet and for others known to each other hitherto only through their work and their reputation to become personally acquainted. The circumstances were pleasing the atmosphere of the Symposium was cordial arid it was set amidst the historic natural beauty of St. Xndrews with its colleges and ancient buildings world famous golf courses swimming pools and the long stretch of sands reaching out to the estuarj.of the Eden. Dr. David Traill the Convener of the Symposium introduced the Principal of the University Sir James Irvine C.B.E. LL.D. D.C.L. D.L. F.R.S. who opened the Symposium and in his own inimitable way created the right atmosphere for the week’s delibera- tions. The first part of the Symposium dealt with Edible and Potable Fermentation Products. The Chairman was Mr. C. K. Mill and the lectures included :-I ‘Yeast,” Mr. A. Olsen ; “Materials encountered in Malting and Brewing” (a) “Carbohydrates,” Dr. I. A. Preece (b) “Proteins and Amino Acids,” Dr. L. R. Bishop; “A Comparison of British and Continental Brewing (Brewery) Fermentation,” Nlr.Erik Helm; “Panary Fermentation,” Dr. L). ?V. Kent- Jones. The second part of the Symposium dealt with Industrial Fermen- tations and the President Professor J. W. Cook F.R.S. took the chair as Mr. John Rogers was unfortunately indisposed. The lectures included:-“The Production of Industrial Alcohol frotn Molasses,” Mr. E. R. Dawson ; “Acetone-butanol Fermentation,” Mr. E. Gill; “Other Industrial Fermentations,” Dr. G. G. Freeman; “The Use of Fungal Amylase in the Industrial Production of Alcohol and Alcohol Products,” Dr. R. W. Jackson. The subject of the third part of the Symposium was Microbio- logical Advances. Professor D. H. Everett was Chairman. The lectures included:-“Some Aspects of Fungal Metabolism,” Ilr. J. H.Birkinshaw; “Micro-biological Methods of Assay of Vitamins Amino Acids etc.,” Dr. E. C. Barton Wright; “The Assay of Peni-cillin with particular reference to the Micro-Chromatographic Technique,” Mr. C. R. Bond; “Aseptic Technique in Industrial Scale Fermentation,” Dr. A. Parker. On Friday 29 July by kind permission of Messrs. George Younger & Sons Ltd. a number of members visited Younger’s Brewery at [ 423 1 Allotl under the guidance of Mr. A. (‘lark 1)oiill. The party wcrc entertained to lunch by the firm Messrs. George Younger & Co. and spent a very enjoyable day. One hundred and thirty members registered for the Symposium and the attendances were very good throughout the week. At every lecture the chemistry theatre was packed to overflowing.The discussions were lively and showed that every aspect of the subject was of considerable interest to those attending. Throughout the week the social side was not forgotten. Professor John Read F.R.S. lectured on “Historic St. Andrews” on the Sunday evening in a most fascinating and interesting style. His lecture was followed the next afternoon by a tour of the more historic parts of St. Andrews. Bus tours were arranged around the East Neuk of Fife with its picturesque fishing villages its ancient churches and its fertile plains. Another tour included Falkland Palace and the Norman Church at Leuchars. On the Wednesday evening a dinner was held under the Chairman- ship of the Convener. The toast list included “The Royal Institute of Chemistry,” proposed by Mr.C. K. Mill to which the President Professor J. W. Cook replied. “The University of St. Andrews” was proposed by Mr. John Rogers Deputy Chairman of Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. and Principal Sir James Irvine replied. Dr. Dewar proposed the toast of “The Guests” and a visiting American scientist Dr. R. W. Jackson of Peoria responded. “The City of St. Andrews” was proposed by Mr. Elliot Dodds and the Provost replied. The dinner was a very happy function. A golf match was held on the famous Eden Course on 26 July as well as several putting matches and a tennis tournament. The Committee would like to express their appreciation of the help which they received from the Principal of the University and from Professor John Read and the University Staff.The facilities of the University were generously placed at the disposal of the Institute and in the warm sunshine St. Andrews looked its best. The committee of the Scottish Sections of the Institute which organised the Symposium include Dr. David Trail1 (Convener) Professor J. W. Cook Mr. Elliot Dodds Mr. W. J. Skilling Mr. Douglas Lloyd (co-opted) and Mr. A. R. Jamieson. ’The Committee would like to express their appreciation of the valuable work carried ont by the Secretary Mr. Jamieson. PRESIDENT TRUMAN’S FOURTH POINT REPORTOF THE PARLIAMENTARYSCIENTIFIC INTERIM AND COMMITTEE JULY,1949 Preamble President Truman first mentioned the “Fourth Point ” in his Inaugural Speech (20 January 1949).It may be summarised as a call for intensifying and sharing American technological knowledge for the benefit of under-developed areas of the world. The President invited other countries ‘‘to pool their technological resources in this undertaking.” He also referred to the necessity of co-operating with other nations in fostering capital investment in areas which needed development. Subsequent interpretations have made it clear that the programme is intended to be directed primarily to the relatively under-developed areas of the world in Asia Africa and Latin America and that the primary effort and contribution to this development must come from the people themselves in those areas. On 15 March the matter was discussed at a meeting of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee when statements were made by Mr.D. R. Rees-Williams M.P. (Under Secretary of State for the Colonies) Dr. Alexander King (Lord President’s Office and formerly British Scientific Liaison Officer in Washington) and Sir Ias Heilbron F.R.S. At the end of the discussion arising out of these statements it was agreed :-“That this Committee welcomes the proposal in President Truman’s recent inaugural speech for the more extensive employment of American technological aid and capital for the benefit of backward areas of the world and also the assurances that this plan is to be applied in co-operation with other nations. “The Committee also proposes itself to set up a Sub-committee of British Parliamentarians and Scientists to give further detailed considera- tion to the plan and to make specific recommendations as to how British science and technology can most effectively co-operate therein.” This Sub-committee has prepared the following draft Interim Report :-General lhere are two main spheres in which the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee can appropriately offer useful suggestions with regard to the implementation of the Fourth Point.The first sphere is political. President Truman in his speech referred to the need for co-operation between the United States and other countries in the implementation of his plan. There would be great advantages therefore in the opinion of this Committee if the British Government could at an early opportunity issue some statement to indicate the value which it places upon the President’s proposals and the precise steps which it is proposed to take to give all the assistance that can appropriately be given by this country and the Commonwealth in carrying the plan into effect.When the Marshall Aid Plan was first announced the British Foreign Secretary immediately called a meeting of all countries likely to become participants and an organisation was in consequence set up with which the American Government could deal. The results of that bold initial step need not be re-stated here. [ 425 3 It is true that the implementation of President Truman’s. Fourth Point does not lend itself so precisely to such a scheme but it does seem essential that Britain and other countries in the forefront of science and technological development should be first in the field to offer their ready assistance in the carrying out of the plan.Up to date it appears to have been left mainly to the various organs of United Nations to find ways and means of implementing the plan. The Council of Food and Agriculture Organisation for instance is at present engaged in examining the whole question of technical aid for economic development. But there would appear to be a good case for bilateral as ~efl as multilateral co-operation so far as the Fourth Point is concerned; and in this connection we would refer with interest to the fact that the President of Brazil recently visited Washington to see President Truman and to discuss with him an extensive programme of development in Brazil under the Fourth Point programme.There is moreover a special responsibility upon Great Britain in this respect. 1. As the leading Colonial l’ower in the world it is incumbent upon us to discuss ways and means by which the scheme can be utilised to assist in the speeding up of plans for improving conditions in undeveloped areas within our own Empire; 2. As regards the development of backward areas in tropical zones generally Great Britain has long and deep experience which can usefully contribute to the world-wide implementation of the President’s plan ; and 3. Scientific collaboration between Great Britain and the U.S.A. was a noteworthy feature of the last world war and there is accordingly abundant proof that British and American scientists and technologists are able to work most effectively together for the benefit of mankind.For these reasons special efforts should be made to ensure at the earliest opportunity the fullest Anglo-American co-operation in the implementation of the Fourth Point. The first recommendation of this Committee is therefore that conversations should be initiated with the Government of the U.S.A. at the earliest stage (1) To ascertain how British science and technology can collaborate to the fullest possible extent in the world-wide campaign involved and also (2,) To consider the best means by which American technology and capital can be enabled to assist our plans for improving the conditions of under-developed areas within British Colonial territory.The second sphere is scientific. The Sub-committee considered a number of specific scientific and technological projects which could benefit immediately from Fourth Point Rid. Several of these are outlined below as examples only since the list is not intended to be exhaustive. The Sub-Committee has confined itself to projects of a scientific nature. Several members suggested trade and industrial projects for inclusion in the list but these are felt to be outside the particular province of the Sub-committee and would be better put forward by other organisations. In whatever way the Fourth Point Programme is discussed a number of general factors sooner or later make their appearance. These general factors cannot be ignored since the success or failure of the whole Programme may depend upon them.The Sub-committee feels that it cannot discuss these general factors exhaustively but that some reference should nevertheless be made to them so that they are not lost sight of. These factors are outlined at the end of this report. I& of Projects 1. Geological Survey. The value of adequate geological surveys in undeveloped territories is already well known and the Colonial Office is taking vigorous steps to extend such surveys at the present time. Much aerial survey work is being done and as is usual the ground survey is lagging far behind. It is important to realise that much valuable geological information can be obtained by stereoscopic examination of air photographs by geologists who have been specially trained in this work.This new and special technique of photo-geology provides a valuable first line of attack in all kinds of country where the exposed surface strata form topographical features as it gives a bird’s-eye view of the geology and enables a subsequent ground survey to be carried out to maximum advantage and with a minimum of time and effort. It is therefore important that an adequate number of photo-geologists should be employed in order to speed up the geological survey of the undeveloped territories. 2. Tsetse Eradication Schemes. There are various means by which the tsetse-fly can be attacked and of these bush clearing and spraying of insecticides by means of aircraft are the two most important and promising methods.It is known that all species of tsetse require shade of varying degrees for their survival; many thousands of square miles of tropical Africa are covered by bush and scrub which shelter this insect and these stretches of country are denied to man and his domestic animals. In some areas the tsetse has spread owing to the presence of suitable bush and has squeezed the human population with their cattle and other animals into smaller and smaller areas with resultant soil erosion and other evils. Bush clearance is therefore an immediate necessity for the eradication of the fly and the agricultural development of these areas. This can be achieved by mechanical means using the latest type of bulldozer and similar equipment. American aid in the form of suitable heavy bush clearing equipment would be most useful.The supply of helicopters and other suitable aircraft for the spraying of selected tsetse-infested areas is another important need which could be supplied in accordance with President Truman’s Fourth Point. The proposal to supply bush clearing equipment and aerial spraying equipment should be supple- mented by suitable technicians to carry out the work and to train Africans. 3. Production of Animal Fodder. Without a very great improvement both in the quality and in the quantity of fodder in the Middle East no general advance in animal husbandry is possible. This is a project well suited to joint development by Britain and the U.S.A. This country excels in pasture plant breeding and in pasture manage- ment-under British conditions.The U.S.A. which possesses climatic and soil conditions more closely resembling those of the Middle East can produce more suitable fodder species and varieties than are available in this country. Middle East science has little experience of control and direction of research although good individual work has been done. The establishment of research centres in pasture development under joint Anglo-American directorship but staffed largely by nationals of each country shoulti ultimately lead to rapicl progress in food production. 4. Development of Irrigation Schemes. The lack of water is often the main cause of the backward nature of a country and it is therefore of primary importance in many instances to provide c 427 3 water or to improve to the fullest extent the present sources of supply before any material development can be niatle in the prosperity of the country and the standard of living of its people.The great needs for watcr are for (1) human consumption (2)maintenance of livestock and consequently the provision of meat for feeding the people (3) irrigation of the land for the raising of food crops. It is recommended therefore that attention be given to schemes for (1) Providing water from underground sources (2) Conserving water from periodic rainfalls (3) Utilisation of existing rivers. In areas where no water is at present available a survey might be made to ascertain whether underground water supplies exist and could be made available.In countries where there is a rainfall over a short period on the high ground for instance the possibility of erecting dams for preventing the wastage of such water and turning it into irrigation channels might be under- taken. Irrigation of adjoining lands from existing rivers is another possible line of development. The first consideration in ensuring a good water supply would be to improve the primary living conditions of the people and by fostering crop production remove the dangers of periodic starvation conditions. As a natural sequence the possibilities of developing production industries for export trade would then come into consideration and if brought into being would raise the standard of life in the country.Drainage In many lands there are areas of swamp wliicli are not only a menace to life but if suitably drained would provide considerable acreage for the produc- tion of crops for local consumption or export. The drainage of such axeas is in many cases bound up with the eradication of pests detrimental to human and animal life and the problem of developing such areas by drainage should be considered in connection with the proposals for eliminating tsetse fly malarial mosquitoes and other pests. 5. Medical Research to Encourage Euvopean Immigration. While there is a good deal of general medical research being carried out in Colonial territories much remains to be done towards eradicating the principal diseases and ailments from which European immigrants suffer when taking up residence in tropical or sub-tropical territories.This is a specially rich field for Anglo-American co-operation the results of which should lead to a greatly improved flow of scientists technicians and specialists and their families to the backward areas. 6. Survey of Crops. From the point of view of plant pathology the most practical first step would be a survey of the conditions of the most important crops in backward countries. Thus a good idea could be obtained of their present yields and of the factors which are limiting yields. It is necessary to know which are the most important pests and diseases and also what increases in yield could be expected from the application of disease control measures and by the use of fertilisers.After the surveys field experiments would be needed in the different countries and these would call for the appointment of a permanent staff drawn from the Commonwealth or the U.S.A. c 428 I 7. I ’filisatioPiof Tropical Timibevs. Increased provision should be niade for research on the utilisation of tropical timbers. There is much tropical timber at present fairly readily available but for which there are not sufficient commercial outlets. Additional utilisation officers should be appointed to the Forest Departments in the Colonies. In particular there is need for more forest botanists to make proper botanical surveys of the forest trees in backward areas so that the full extent of the resources may be more accurately gauged.8. Stttdy of Disease Vectors. I\ fuller biological study 011 the spot and in the field is urgently required on vectors of disease-notably insects and ticks. The economic and efficient use of the new insecticides can only be achieved when more is known biologically ~ and ecologically. In food production and food conservation the same is true -biological and ecological work is of first importance. Monographs on major \i-orld-wide pests such as maize stock borer and American bollworm-this last a pest of many crops from cotton to citrus-are urgently needed. The Com- mittee notes that the Colonial Office is just making a start with termites. 9. Shortage of Technologists. The shortage of technologists is well known both in America and Britain.Britain could make a specially valuable contribution. We could ensure an increased supply of technologists by embarking now upon the necessary training schemes in this country. The supply of technologists could indeed he one of our main contributions to the Fourth Point Programme if only plans arc made now for their training and subsequent careers. There is a particular shortage of trained chemists and the call-up of scientists for national service is likely seriously to reduce the number of newly- clualified chemists available in the future. The position of chemists is particu- larly difficult because there are no chemical jobs available in the Forces as there are for engineers and medical doctors. In. ,4nnual Report on Colonial Research 1947-48 Command 7493.The research projects listed in this Annual Report should be reviewed in order to ascertain which could be most rapidly helped forward by Fourth Point Aid. At the same time a separate review should be undertaken to see which projects are most likely to be of use to other countries and which could therefore be offered as a positive contribution to the general Aid Programme. 11. -4rnerican Scientific Developnients. Similarly the Annual Report of the Interdepartmental Committee on Scientific and Cultural Co-operation should be studied to ascertain which projects could be made most use of in the Colonial Empire. To quote but onc example the conversion of coffee-bean pulp into appetising cattle feed has been developed at a co-operative experimental station in El Salvador where American and Salvadorean research workers have been collaborating.Thib development should be made available to Empire coffee-growing areas such as Kenya without delay. General Factors The Committee feels that it must emphasise the following general factors upon which the success of any Fourth Point Aid Programme must rest. In a short report it is impossible to discuss these factors exhaustively and indeed it would not be appropriate for the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee to try to do this. The following outlines are therefore only intended to be “signposts ” indicating the principal complementary factors. ~ 1 . f Cu-o~t.ruti??r l:u/crpisc Preside,nt Truman has stated that the de\.elopment should be “a LO-operative enterprise in w-hich all nations work together through the United Nations and its specialist agencies wherever practicable.” This does not presumably mean that the whole of the development should be administered through a single international organisation.Such an organisation would be unwieldy and would fail to take into account regional allegiances already in existence. Thus whilst the United States has considerable interest in South America the \Vestern European countries and in particular this country are specially concerned with Africa. Britain’s major part might therefore be the implementing of development in Africa. Each country making a major contribution should be given its own sphere of Fourth Point influence.2. Need for Ptxopev Planning. Without proper planning development may deteriorate in to mere exploita- tion. Foreign investments requiring extensive guarantees of the kind at present under discussion (see for example The Econonzzst 21 May 1949 p. 937) may well lead to subsequent trouble if not carefully planned and controlled. On the other hand commencement of action clearly need not await a complete cut-and-dried plan. Any plan must be regarded as an organic and developing whole subject to extension modification and revision. Mistakes there will undoubtedly be; the important thing is to recognise them and correct them as soon as possible. 3. Xeed for Research. New application of existing scientific knowledge and the development of new scientific knowledge will both be required particularly in the medical and agricultural fields.In the industrial field the technical problems are likely to be similar to those encountered in industry in already developed countries. The research required therefore involves expansion and reorientation of certain scientific activities in the developed countries. 4. Need jo. Surveys. Proper planning requires not only scientific knowledge but also relc vant factual information such as is provided by surveys of various kinds. Thesc surveys must be organised and pressed ahead as a matter of urgency. If thi5 is not done much of the early work will be conducted without adequatc background information. 5. Scientists and Technologists. We must attract and train competent scientists and technologists for the above tasks.Already the scarcity of scientists and technologists has made itself felt in America. The scarcity in Britain is probably more acute. The Colonial Ofice has recently proposed the employment of some American geologists and geodetic engineers in British Colonial Territories in Africa. The question must be asked why this country is not capable of furnishing these men. One explanation is that the posts in the ordinary Colonial Service have not hitherto been made sufficiently attractive having regard to the hard life and considerable risks to health that employment in the tropics entails particularly in an undeveloped country such as Africa. 6. Native Education. No schemes of development can be effectively and economically carried out without the creation of an educated native population capable of playing an [ 430 ] increasing part in tlic planning and execution of tlic \-ai-ious scheines and iii their administration \\.hen they are running.There is therefore an urgent need for building up local education services. Such education should in certain respects have a more scientific and technical bias than has frequently been the case in the past. 7. Soczological and Political Requirements. President Truman has stated that “the aim should be to help the free peoples of the world through their own efforts to produce more food more clothing more materials for housing and more mechanical power to lighten their burden.” \Ve must recognise that technical development is not in itself enough.The impact of technical development on any human society is now recognised to be very profound. The strains are likely to be greater and the situation more complicated when the development is imposed wholly or partially from outside and at a speed greater than in the past. It is therefore important to study and plan the sociological development of the communities in parallel with their technical development. This in itself is a major research project and one that is as yet relatively uncharted. 8. Population Problems. The extension of the knowledge of preventive medicine and its wider application in themselves create problems of population. The high birth rates of medically backward countries are offset by high mortality rates and any sudden change in these latter rates is likely to lead to rapid increases in the size of the populations thus to some extent nullifying the advantages of tech- nical progress.Better education and a general raising of the standard of living are believed to be controlling factors but a great deal of human suffering may well be averted if the inherent dangers of the situation are squarely 5aced. 9. Racial Problems. In the past many racial problems have arisen through encouragement of immigration to satisfy demands for labour often of a special type e.g. negroes in America Indians in Africa Chinese in Malaya. The resolution of these existing problems will demand all our skill and we must guard against the creation of fresh problems of the same type in the future.10. Administrative Complexity. Considerable administrative complexities may be expected. It is important however to avoid the delay caused by insisting on the creation of a perfectly tidy administrative machine. If Fourth Point Aid is given promptly to one or two projects which can be seen to clearly qualify for it administration can follow on behind. The experience gained in organising these initial projects will point the way for the better administrative organisation which must eventually follow. In this connection the valuable work being carried out by the Institute of Inter-American Affairs indicates how administration can be kept simple and at the same time effective. c 431 1 LECTURE SUMMARY THE PROBLEM OF NITROGEN FIXATION By Professor Y.R. DHAR,D.Sc.,I;.I<.I .C. [Bangalore Section 1 July 19491 The industrial aspect of nitrogen fixation was developed through the efiorts of Cavendish Crookes Ostwald Birkeland and Eyde Nernst and especially Haber and Bosch. Knowledge of microbiological nitrogen fixation is chiefly due to the work of Hellriegcl and Willfarth Beijerinck ancl Winogradsky. In Allahabad the physico-chemical and photochemical aspects of nitrogen transformations have been extensively investigated. “Energy materials ” such as carbohydrates glycerol and even cellulose fats and organic acids and their salts have been found to undergo oxida.tion in air at the ordinary temperature in presence of sunlight or artificial light and the velocity of oxidation is accelerated by the addition of substances such as silica titania iron oxide zinc oxide both in sterile and non-sterile conditions.Glucose is oxidised in air according to the equation C6H&6 + 60 = KO + 6H,O + 676 k.cal. The energy liberated is greater than that required for the combination of atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen according to the equation N + 0 + 43.2 k.cal. = 2N0 and there is consequent formation of nitric oxide and fixation of nitrogen. Dhar and his co-workers* have shown that the million tons of molasses a by-product of the lndian sugar factories could best be utilised in doses varying from 1 to 10 tons per acre for fixing nitrogen not only in ordinary soils but in alkaline soils requiring reclamation.Sot only the energy of oxidation but also the solar or artificial light falling on the soil is utilised in fixing nitrogen. Experiments show that nitrogen increase in soil receiving sunlight is double or more than double the amount obtained in the dark though the Azotobactev numbers are much greater in dark than in light. In improving the nitrogen status of a medium it is not necessary to add nitrogenous manures; instead energy materials like cellulose carbohydrate or fat when added to the medium are oxidised and the energy liberated fixes nitrogen. For carbonaceous enera materials Dhar and his co-workers utilised in their experiments different sugars starch glycerol butter ghee (melted and clarified butter) and cellulosic substances like farmyard manure wheat straw and leaves of plants.The velocity of oxidation with cellulosic materials and fats was found to be less than with carbohydrates and glycerol. Substances like oxides of iron aluminium chromium calcium phosphate and ferric phosphate when mixed with energy materials caused more nitrogen fixation in light than in dark under both sterile and non-sterile conditions. It is interesting to note that with these materials the amount of nitrogen fixed per gram of carbon oxidised-the efficiency of nitrogen fixation-is greater than with soil because all soils contain some combined nitrogen which decreases nitrogen fixation. The total nitrogen content of an Allahabad soil increased from 0.038 per cent. to 0.200 per cent.after three applications of cow manure while on the addition of ammonium sulphate to such soils the nitrogen status did not improve. These results are exactly of the same type as those obtained in the classical Rothamsted experiments with farmyard and artificial manures. * N. R. Dhar Presidential address National Academy of Sciences India December 1935 3; ibid. 1946 15 15; 1948 16 6. Cf.Nature 1936 p. 629. [ 432 1 Plant physiologists have calculated that 35 billion kilograms of cellulose arc added to the earth per annuni. If PO per cent. of this cellulose is oxidisecl in a year and if only 15 milligrams of nitrogen are fixed per gram of carbon oxidised as in our experiments with cellulosic materials 82.5 million metric tons of nitrogen are likely to be fixed annually on the surface of the earth from the oxidation of cellulose.Of this half is likely to be caused by the absorption of solar light. In other words over 40 million tons of nitrogen are fixed per year on the earth’s surface due to light absorption. It is of interest here that in 1937 only 3.54 million metric tons of nitrogen were fixed all over the world by nitrogen industries. Hence it appears that light and this type of nitrogen fixation are the chief source of the nitrogen content of the soil. The Rothamsted view that the symbiotic bacteria in legumes are the source of soil nitrogen is not supported by Allahabad experiments and even the Rothamsted results in which the beneficial effect of farmyard manure persisted in grass plots forty years after its application are in disagreement with the theory that legumes are the source of soil nitrogen.It is well known that legumes leave a residual effect only for three or four years whilst that of farmyard manure is more lasting; moreover legumes do not exist in all fields. The well-known Woburn experiments in which the dung of animals fed with decorticated cotton cake was not found better than the dung of animals fed with corn have been satisfactorily explained by the fact that there is more nitrogen fixation with the corn-fed dung than the cake dung. The value of farmyard manure is due not only to its nitrogen content but also to its power to fix nitrogen from the oxidation of its carbonaceous constituents. Hence the influence of light on nitrogen fixation in nature appears to be next in importance to food production and photosynthesis in the plant kingdom.AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS Following the passing of a Resolution at the Annual General Meeting on 29 April 1949 for the amendment of By-laws 43 and 49 (JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS, 1949,111,232),the proposed variations in these By-laws were duly submitted for approval by the Lords of His Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council and on 15 September 1949 were allowed by Their Lordships in the following form:- In By-law 43 after the words “any British subject” insert “or any citizen of the Republic of Ireland.” In By-law 49 after the words “any British subject” insert “or any citizen of the Republic of Ireland.” The word “Eire” in the original Resolution has been replaced by the words “the Republic of Ireland” in conformity with the change made in the official designation of the State concerned since the date of the Annual General Meeting.The result of these amendments to the By-laws is to make citizens of the Republic of Ireland eligible for admission as Fellows Associates or Registered Students of the Institute in spite of the fact that they are no longer necessarily British subjects [ 433 ] PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNCIL Council Meeting 15 July 1949 Constitutional and Administrative Matters.-It was agreed to confirm acceptance of the cordial invitation of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Section to hold the Annual General Meeting of the Institute in Glasgow on 31 March 1950 and the Council learned with pleasure and satisfaction that arrangements for this and related anniversary meetings were already being discussed with the Officers of the Section Consideration was given to the need to give notice in JOURKAL AND PROCEEDINGS, Part v of vacancies among District Members of Council for 1950-51 and it was decided to submit to a Special General Meeting to be held on 21 October 1949 recommendations for such modifications of the boundaries of electoral Districts as would remove anomalies that had arisen through the formation of new Local Sections since the rules were last published in JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS, 1943 V 198-200.It was agreed to submit to the Special General Meeting a resolution to provide at least for- (a) confirmation of recognition of the combined areas of the Newcastle upon Tyne and North-East Coast Section and the Tees-Side Section as a single electoral District; (b) the constitution of the East Midlands Section as a separate District and the association of the Hull and District Section with the Sheffield South Yorkshire and North Midlands Section as another District ; (c) attachment of the Mid-Southern Counties Section to the Bristol and District Section and the South-Western Counties Section to form a single District.It was recognised that if these proposals were adopted by the General Meeting and the Regulations revised accordingly the number of District Members of Council would be increased by one. This would represent a first step toward realisation of the plan to increase the number of District Members while decreasing the number of General Members of Council; further steps would need to await revision of the By-Laws.In view of the fact that the proposals to be submitted to the Special General Meeting had already received general approval by the Twentieth Conference of Hon. Secretaries of Local Sections (30 April 1949) it was agreed to advise the Committees of the Sections concerned to proceed on the assumption that the resolution would be passed by the General Meeting and on the understanding that all members of the Local Sections involved would be informed [ 434 ] of the outcome of the Gcneral Meeting immediately after it had been held so that adequate time would be left for nominations of Fellows as District Members of Council to be made before the final date 12 December 1949.[Note.-Rules applying to the nomination and election of District Members of Council are printed in this issue of JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS (bee page 450) together with a schedule of Districts from which nominations may be made if the resolution to be submitted to the Special General Meeting is adopted by that Meeting. 1 Following receipt of a report on the constitution and objects of the Athenaeum Trust established in Cape Town the Council agreed to the participation of the Cape Section of the Institute in this organ- isation which had been set up to facilitate the activities of scientific societies in the Cape Province.A request was received from the East Midlands Section for permission to present Membership Certificates at meetings of the Section to newly-elected Fellows and Associates having their registered addresses within the area of the Section. It was recalled that this subject had been raised at several Conferences of Hon. Secretaries of Local Sections during the past few years and that at the Twentieth Conference (JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS, 1949 111,269) divergent views had been expressed about it. The results of a trial of the practice by the Dublin and District Section had not been unfavourable although only four out of eleven Certificates forwarded to the Hon. Secretary of that Section had actually been presented at Section meetings.At the Twentieth Conference emphasis had been laid upon the additional work that would fall on Local Section Secretaries and on the Institute office if the practice were adopted especially in the larger Sections and on the risk of Certificates being held up through non-attendance of newly-elected members at meetings or of Certificates going astray. It had been agreed therefore that where a Local Section particularly wanted to adopt the practice of presenting Certificates at their meetings they should make special application to the Council. In considering the application from the East Midlands Section the Council took the view that as the award of Membership Certi- ficates was made by the Council it was a duty of the Council to furnish members with their Certificates as soon as possible and with a minimum risk of loss.It was felt that this duty could not be properly delegated to Local Sections even if this could be ddne readily and effectively and it was concluded that any advantages that might result from the adoption of the practice were out-weighed by the disadvantages including expenditure of time of the office staff which could be more usefully applied to the realisation of other projects which were agreed to be of special importance. [ 435 1 On these grounds it was unanimously decided not to accede to the request of the East Midlands Section or to entertain other applica- tions from Local Sections for permission to present Membership Certificates at their meetings.In reaching this decision the Council was appreciative of the desire of Local Sections to receive new Fellows and Associates with due ceremony and agreed to suggest to Local Sections that this result might be achieved by other means such as the provision of a Section Membership Book which would be signed by new Fellows and Associates on their first attendance at a Section Meeting when they were formally welcomed by the Chairman. The Council received with satisfaction a report that the Inaugural Meeting of the new Dundee and District Section would be held in Dundee on 14 October 1949. Discussion took place on an Interim Report of the Committee on the Revision of By-Laws (15July) and it was agreed that under powers given by the new Charter provision be made for the establish- ment of a class of Honorary Fellows the number of such Fellows not to exceed 20 at any time their election to be by the Council and no restriction in respect of nationality or the nature of their attainments to be placed on their eligibility.On the question of possible relaxa- tion of the nationality restriction on admission to ordinary member- ship of the Institute a recommendation submitted by the Com- mittee was amended to read “That By-Laws 43 and 49 be amended so as to provide for the admission of British subjects and citizens of countries within the Commonwealth and of citizens of such other countries formerly within the Commonwealth as may from time to time be prescribed by a General Meeting.” This amended recom- mendation was carried nem.con. and it was agreed that the conclusion be referred back to the Committee on the Revision of By-laws for incorporation in their general report to be presented to the Council in October. Finance House and Staff Matters.-The Report of the Finance and House Committee (11 July) referred inter aZia to accounts for payment ; recommendations for re-election to the Associateship and for acceptance of the last annual subscription paid by a senior Fellow as a Life Composition fee ; expenses for the delivery of the first Frankland Memorial Lecture in Dundee on 5 May; disposal of funds belonging to the former Malayan Section ; staff matters ; house matters including proposals for improving the acoustics of the Council Chamber and the external appearance of the building.Charitable Funds.-The Report of the Benevolent Fund Com-mittee (11 July) which was adopted dealt mainly with action taken on current cases and with the Holidays for Children Scheme. Grants totalling Q60 10s. for holidays for 22 children belonging to eleven [ 436 ] farnilies had been made and autlwrity was given for providing UJ) to a further ,tllO in respect of two young children belonging to another family whose holiday arrangements were not yet settled. In the Report of the Residential Clubs Fund Committee (11July) reference was made to developments in “Crossways Trust” and to the form of an Appeal for financial support for the Residential Clubs Fund which had been drafted for circulation to members of the Institute.Procedure for nominating residents to the first of the Residential Clubs at Worthing was approved. Mem bership.-The Report of the Nominations Examinations and Institutions Committee (1 7 June) with subsidiary reports by the Chairman of the committee and by the Registrar were adopted and elections to the Fellowship and Associateship were made in accordance with the recommendations. On an Interim Report of the Committee it was agreed (a) that the name of the Plymouth and Devonport Technical College be added for an initial period of two years to the list of Institutions recognised for training and that the matter be then reviewed in the light of improvements suggested bv the visiting committee ; (b)that the University of Natal which was previously a constituent College of the University of South Africa and is now a separate entity be formally recognised as a centre for training.Letters of thanks were received from members to whoiii con-gratulations on the award of public honours had been sent. Further discussion took place on various aspects of proposals previously submitted by the Membership Committee on raising thc status of the Institute’s qualifications (cj. JOURNAL AND PRO-CEEDINGS 1949 IV 369). It was agreed to refer the whole matter back to the Membership Committee for reconsideration in the light of the discussions by the Council and of the general acceptance by the Council of certain specified principles. Status Privileges and Employment of Mem bers.-A letter was received from the Hon.Secretary of the East Midlands Section referring particularly to the concern felt by the Committee about the position of members of the Institute in nationalised industries. The Council received information on the present relations between the Institute and the organisations of nationalised industries and it was agreed that a confidential statement on the subject should be made by the Registrar at the next Conference of Hon. Secretaries of Local Sections. It was learned that in view of the detailed consideration already given in the House of Lords to numerous points raised on the Patents and Designs Bill it was unlikely that any amendments of substance to the Bill would be obtainable in the House of Commons [ 437 1 but that a iiuii1hi-of Mernbers of P'arliarnt~iitIiad becii nude duly aware of outstanding issues and that the interests of the chemical profession would be adequately supported.Publications Library and other Educational and Scientific Matters.-The report of the Publications and Library Committee (14 June) dealing mainly with routine matters 'was adopted. L%pproval was given to the action of the Manchester and District Section in inviting Sir Charles Goodeve to deliver his deferred Sixth Dalton Lecture in the autumn of 1950 and in not arranging any alternative lecture for November of this year. Cordial approval was given to a proposal by the London and South-Eastern Counties Section to organise a Summer School in 4nalytical Chemistry during a suitable week in August or September 1950.It was understood that the School would include four indepen- dent courses to be run concurrently on special fields of analysis with accommodation for 36 persons at each course. A suggestion that consideration might be given to duplicating the courses if the nuniber of applications warranted was referred to the Committee of the Section. It was agreed to coniniunicate with the Civil Service Com- missioners about the status of the Ordinary National Certificate in Chemistry in relation to other qualifications in view of the omission of that Certificate from among the qualifications prescribed as normally acceptable to the Commission in connection with the appointment of Assistant Experimental Officers.The first Annual Report of the Joint Committee for the award of National Certificates in Chemistry and Applied Chemistry to students in Northern Ireland was accepted and recommendations for the award of Certificates to seven candidates were approved. It was reported that at the final meeting of the Committee on the Education and Training of Laboratory Technicians on which the Institute had been represented consideration had been given to modifications and extensions of the Interim Report including syllabuses of proposed courses of instruction. The Committee had concluded that the general views expressed at the Conference convened in 1946 by the Association of Scientific Workers the Association of University Teachers and the British Association of Chemists could be put into practical effect by inviting the City and Guilds of London Institute to act in consultation with appropriate bodies such as were represented on the Committee as the examining body for nationally recognised Certificates in laboratory arts and techniques.The Committee considered this to be the best way in which to co-ordinate and extend the existing schemes of training and education. It was further concluded that it would be unnecessary to summon a further conference to receive the Final [ 438 ] Ktyort of the Coininittee and that subject to the concurrence of the original three convening bodies the Committee be dissolved and the papers handed over to the City and Guilds of London Institute. In reaching these conclusions the Committee had satisfied itself that the City and Guilds of London Institute would be in a position to secure authorit9tive advice from scientists and technicians on the detailed development of courses of the various kinds that might be required for the training of technicians in science laboratories as well as to conduct examinations on a basis that would command general confidence.At the same time the Science Technologists Association (or any professional institute that might be formed from it) would remain free to prescribe appropriate standards of training and experience for admission to its own membership or grades of membership and for this purpose to attach such weight as it thought fit to certificates issued by the City and Guilds of London Institute or by any other bodies in the general field of work of science laboratory technicians or in particular laboratory arts and techniques.External Relations and Publicity.-Cordial congratulations and good wishes of the Officers and Council were ordered to be conveyed to the Australian Chemical Institute on the grant by His Majesty the King of the prefix “Royal” to the title of that Institute. The confirmed minutes of the meeting of the Chemical Council held on 26 April (see abstract JOU~ISAL AND PROCEEDINGS, 1949 111 252) were received. It was reported that Mr. H. Weatherall had accepted appoint- ment as representative of the Institute on British Standards Institu- tion Technical Committee OSC/5-Soaps for domestic use.It was agreed to nominate Professor W. Bradley as a representa- tive of the Institute on the newly-constituted British Biological Stains Commission. The draft of an address of congratulation was approved for presentation by the President at the celebrations on 25-30 Sep-tember 1949 of the centenary of the foundation of the Queen’s University of Belfast as Queen’s College Belfast. A report was received from Mr. R. B. Pilcher on arrangements made between the Commissioners of Russell Square and the Holborn Borough Council whereby a lease of the Square would be granted to that Council for a period of 25 years with permission to improve the amenities. f 439 1 ACTIVITIES OF LOCAL SECTIONS Birmingham and Midlands.-As a result of the Christmas Lecture.5 for School-children organised by the Section in co-operation with Science Masters and Mistresses of Birmingham and District Grammar Schools the sum of L15 10s.7d. has been donated to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Hull and District.-Mr. R. C. Chirnside (of The General Electric Co. Ltd. and an examiner for the Institute) visited us on 9 January to deliver a lecture entitled “Analytical Chemistry-Chemical Analysis and the Analyst. ” The innovation of tea and biscuits preceding the lecture was well received and added to the success of the meeting. The meeting on 9 February was held jointly with the local section of thc Oil & Colour Chemists’ Association when Mr. P. N. Williams (of Lever Bros.1,td.) gave a lecture entitled “Synthetic Fats,” describing by slides and samples the types of synthetic fats developed in Germany. On 24 February members the Chemical Society joined with us to r\elconie Professor Michael Polanyi F.R.S. at the University College and to hear hi5 philosophical discourse on “The Nature of Scientific Convictions.” Following the lecture Professor Polanyi was entertained to dinner by Professor Brynmor Jones Chairman oi the Section and several members of the Section Com- mittee were able to accept the invitation to be present. Those also present included Professor and Mrs. Espinasse and Mr. K. C. Moore (Director of Education for Kingston-upon-Hull) . Mr. A. L. Bacharach (of Glaxo Laboratories Ltd.) was our guest and lecturer at the meeting on 14 March.“The Production and Use of Laboratory Animals” was his subject and the lecture was developed around an outstanding collection of lantern slides. The subject was of special interest to those with a knowledge of biological and biochemical assays. We were glad to welcomc. several members of British Cod Liver Oils (Hull and Grimsby) Ltd. and to return the hospitality afforded when Mr. Bacharach and the Chairman and Hon. Secretary were shown around their Marfleet factory and entertained to tea. The Annual General Meeting of the Section took place on 9 May and was followed by a lecture by Professor Alexander Findlay entitled “New Lamps for Old Chemical Industry and Natural Resources.” Mr. A. P. Backshell Dr. A.Cheshire Mr. A. J. Goodall and Mr. I,. H. Smith were elected to the vacancies on the Committee. The meeting also elected the following Officers:-Hon. Treasurer Mr. R. S. Howard; Hon. Auditor Mr. S. J. Porter; Hon. Secretary Dr. W. J. Pedelty. It was agreed to continue full co-operation with other local societies in the publication of a joint programme and to hold two meetings on days when late transport is available to take members back to Lincolnshire. A very interesting and enjoyable works visit took place on 1 September to the new factory of British Titan Products Ltd. at Pyewipe Grimsby. The local section of the Oil and Colour Chemists’ Association joined us on this visit. The visitors were received by Ur. A. Bowman and Mr. K. R. Hansford who outlined the processes employed.The party was then con- ducted through the factory. At the conclusion of the tour lunch was served at which Mr. S. J. Reed on behalf of both societies expressed the sincere thanks of all those present. Dr. Bowman on behalf of thc Company responded. The success of the visit was contributed to by the excellent arrangements made for us by the Company. The Committee at its meeting on 1 September elected Mr. A. P. Backshell as Chairman of the Committee and Section for the 1949-50 Session. Mr. Backshell welcomed Dr. A. Cheshire Mr. A. J. Goodail and Mr. L. H. Smith who were attending their first meeting after election. It was decided to arrange a social event for March 1950. Mr. W‘. E. Bibby has kindly consentcd to minute Section meetings and to write up accounts for publication.[ 440 I NOTES PERSONAL Dr. A. H. Cook Fellow has been appointed assistant director of the Brewing Industry Research Foundation. Dr. T. F. Dixon Fellow has resigned the chair of biochemistry in the Royal Faculty of Medicine Baghdad Iraq and has been appointed biochemist to the Institute of Orthopaedics Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital London. Sir Wallace hkers C.B.E. Fellow has received the honorary degree of D.Sc. from the University of Durham. Professor W. Bradley Fellow has accepted nomination as representative of the Institute on the newly-constituted British Biological Stains Commission. Mr. Denis I. Duveen Fellow lately Joint &[anaging Director of Ashe T,aboratories T,td, London has been appointed President of the Reinitz Soap Corporation Long Island City New York.Mr. Ronald Hicks -4ssociate has been appointed sewage works chemist to the Auckland Metropolitan Drainage Board New Zealand. Professor H. \V. Melville F.R.S. Fellow has accepted an invitation by the British Electricity Authority to serve on the Electricity Supply Research Council. Dr. F. Morton Fellow has been appointed to the second chair of chemical engineering in the University of Birmingham. Dr. I. A. Preece Fellow has been appointed editor of the Journal of the Institute of Brewing in succession to Mr. Julian L. Baker Fellow who has resigned through ill-health. Mr. E. E. Quinton Fellow who has been works director of Dunlop (South Africa) Ltd.at Durban since 1942 has been appointed general work! manager of the factory of Dunlop Rubber Co. Ltd. at Speke Liverpool. I>r.H. N. Rydon FelZow has been appointed reader in organic chemistry in the Imperial College of Science and Technology TTniversity of T,ondon. ~~~_______~ ~ THE REGISTER DEATHS Fellows Alexander Thomas Cameron C.M.G. M.A. D.Sc. F.C.I.C. Robert Owen Eames B.Sc. (Wales). John Naish Goldsmith MSc. (Manc.) Ph.D. (Heidelberg). Samuel Davenport Fairfax Harwood M.A. (Cantab.). Wilfred Hermann Hoffert M.A. R.Sc. (Oxon.) F.Tnst.Pet. Archibald Carswell Melville. Gordon Hobbs Piper B.A. B.Sc. (Oxon.) Ph.D. (Lontl.). Associates George Frederick Harrison B.Sc. (N.U.I.) A.R.C.Sc.T. Raymond Arthur Lowry B.Sc. (Lond.).Registered Student Kay Johnstone Steele. REGISTER OF FELLOWS AND ASSOCIATES 1948-FU RTHER CORRIGENDA AND ADDENDUM P. 139. EVANS, Benjamin Beardmore. For A. 1918 read A. 1921 P. 2998. MERRY,John Bentley. For A. 1924 read F. 1924. I?. 313. MURDOCK,Eric Thomas. Before A. 1942 add (c). c 442 3 BOOK REVIEWS A General Survey of The British Pharmacopoeia 1948. A series of lectures by members of the British Pharmacopoeia Commission 1933-1948 and other authorities. Pp. 79. (London ’The Pharmaceutical Press 1949.) 5s. 6d. net. The General Medical Council was authorised by the Medical Act of 1858 to publish “The British Pharmacopoeia” and to alter amend and republish it as often as necessary. The first edition appeared in 1864 and was a unification of the processes and descriptions of the Pharmacopoeias of London Edinburgh and Dublin.Apart from Addenda new British Pharmacopoeias appeared in 1867 1885 1898 1914 1932 and 1948 and each succeeding edition became less of a formulary and more of a book of standards. The transformation is now almost complete. The work of compiling the Pharmacopoeia is entrusted to a Pharmacopoeia Commission which is assisted by a large number of Committees. To quote from Dr. Hampshire the Secretary of the Commission “the endeavour is made to produce a book which will represent the latest achievements of medical science and clinical research while at the same time recognising many older forms of medication which are still in frequent use and still require control.” The Commission has concentrated on drugs of fundamental importance the selection being made on clinical and pharmacological grounds and the form according to best pharmaceutical practice.The edition of 1948 differs con- siderably from that of 1932; it is larger and the new matter is important. In order that the numerous changes should be brought to general notice as quickly as possible the Pharmaceutical Society arranged a series of lectures given by members of the Commission and other authorities who had taken part in the production of the new Pharmacopoeia. These lectures with some added relevant matter comprise the present Survey. They cover “The British Pharmacopoeia 1948 ’’ Pharmaceutical Preparations Parenteral Injections and Tablets Chemical Substances-Part I Chemical Substances-Part 11 Crude Drugs and Biological Substances.This Survey is not a puff for the B.P. It is a plain statement of facts with explanations and criticisms. No Pharmacopoeia can be perfect since it must wait for satisfactory evidence of the claims of new substances before including them and must delay the exclusion of substances of little value till there is general agreement. These two factors are subject to a further time lag due to the production of a printed volume. The lecturers recognise this and their criticisms are constructive and will doubtless be considered by the Pharma-copoeia Commission before another issue. The Pharmacopoeia is more than familiar to many chemists and each new one has to be scrutinised to note the alterations and additions.This is not an easy matter with a book of nearly 1,000 pages. The survey presented by experts in these lectures is invaluable for obtaining an insight into the changes and developments and the whys and the wherefores. No one reads a Pharmacopoeia solely for pleasure. But such a survey as the present can be perused with considerable delight because of the sidelights which are thrown upon medicine pharmacy and chemistry as well as upon the individual substances which can now almost be regarded as nationalised. J. R. NICHOLLS. A Text-book of Pharmacognosy. By G. E. Trease. 5th Edition. Pp. viii + 811. (London Bailliere Tindall & Cox 1949.) 30s. net. The old Muteria Medircc like tnany other older studies has been broken up into several specialised subjects ; one of these is Pharmacognosy.This subject is a scientific study of the history of (in the sense of a completc story about) crude drugs from the vegetable and animal kingdoms. In spite of spectacular advances in chemotherapy and in the synthesis of remedial substances we still rely to a considerable extent on the vegetable materia medica as is evidenced by the appearance of this 5th edition of Trease’s text- book three years after a reprint of the 4th. Pharmacognosy includes the study of all the raw materials from the plant and animal kingdoms which supply the medical man with remedial substances; opium ergot ipecacuanha penicillium spp. and so on. Besides these there are a number of crude drugs with a purely pharmaceutical (as distinct from therapeutic) use-such ancillary materials as gums and waxes agar talc and cochineal-and materials with cosmetic or technical uses e.g.musk chamo- mile henna shellac and dragon’s blood. Furthermore the study of the natural fibres which produce surgical dressings of the commercial starches and of the vegetable insecticides is included. As most of these materials are vegetable in origin a study of them involves a fair amount of applied botany. ,4 large part of this text-book is therefore occupied with descriptions of the macroscopical and frequently the micro- scopical characters of crude drugs arranged in order of Phyla and families. For the more commonly used drugs drawings and photographs are included.These descriptions assist in identifying crude drugs and also in detecting adulteration ;wherever possible a short description of the common adulterants of each drug is given. The botanical and geographical sources cultivation and method of preparation are also described and there are short accounts of the active constituents. In order to give general guidance in this botanical part of the subject short chapters are included on microscopical technique the cell quantitative microscopy and the cultivation coIIection and storage of medicinal plants. The correct identification of a crude drug should be followed by its “evaluation” and in this book are further chapters on constituents the extraction of drugs and their evaluation including methods of fluorescence and chromatographic analysis.There are also short chapters on enzymes and insect pests whose presence often leads to a considerable loss in value of the drug. The author’s aim is to cover the requirements of students reading for pharmaceutical examinations ; hence the book is not a series of exhaustive treatises on each crude drug. Nevertheless there is ample information and many references which should make this book of value to any who handle crude drugs and their pharmaceutical products. J. W. FAIRBAIRN. The Physical Principles of Gas Liquefaction and Low Temperature Rectifica- tion. By M. Davies. Pp. viii + 205. (London New Y’ork and ‘loronto Longmans Green & Co. Ltd. 1949.) 25s. net. Although modern methods of gas separation are based upon physical principles which were recognised and employed by Linde and Claude more than 50 years ago important technological developments leading to greatly improved technical efficiencies have since taken place.These are due almost entirely to a close study of the factors involved in the application of thermo- dynamic cycles to processes operating on a large scale and it is by reason of the emphasis given to this aspect of the subject that Dr. Manse1 Davies’ book has a special significance. The author treats gas liquefaction and rectification as problems in applied thermodynamics and constantly reverts to those practical considerations which have a bearing on plant operation and design. The first four chapters of the book deal with the fundamental theory of gas liquefaction as illustrated by well-known processes of isenthalpic and isentropic cooling.The relevant thermodynamic relationships are clearly stated and an [ 443 1 early opportunity is taken of introducing thermodynamic charts as a con- venient means of working out changes in systems undergoing phase separation. Chapter V contains an excellent account of the reciprocating expansion engine and of the expansion turbine which has now largely superseded it ;the succeeding chapter discusses the design and operation of heat exchangers and accumulators and the general problem of heat leakage. Chapters VII and VIII describe the practice of air separation and include a full theoretical analysis of the rectification process.In the present state of our knowledge it is perhaps inevitable that any book on gas separation should devote a disproportionate amount of space to air. In the final chapter however the author discusses other systems and shows that the methods and plant used in air liquefaction are of general applicability. The book is well illustrated and contains a number of useful thermodynamic charts for air. D. M. N. Photographic Emulsion Technique. By T. Thorne Baker. 2nd Edition. Pp. xiii + 341. (London Chapman & Hall Ltd. 1949.) 38s. net. The author in his introduction states that “This book is intended not only to be a guide to practical emulsion making but as a text-book for technical students industrial chemists and photographers generally who are anxious for their own reasons to prepare emulsions of some special type.” In its 16 chapters the book contains much that is valuable for anyone setting out to make photographic emulsions.The main operations involved are all described often at length. There is too a bibliography at the end of each chapter which will enable the reader to take up the trail among the original literature. Yet the book is unsatisfactory. The straightforward arrangement of the work in emulsion making is not clearly described. For example the washing of an emulsion must be learned by reading three rather widely-spaced groups of paragraphs which occur in the wrong order. The relation between cause and effect recipe and quality is very sketchily shown. Much of the writing is obscure the following quotation being one of many examples “U’hile it has been shown by Trivelli and Smith that in certain precipita- tion series the straight-line relationship between the speed and the average grain size is a special case of a simple exponential function the different curvatures of these relations with difjceerent gelatins suggests tentatively that the sensitivity distribution over the same grain-size frequency range is variable.” S.0. RAWLING. Simple Organic Practice. By H. Middleton. 1’1’. viii + 172. (London Edward Arnold & Co. 1949.) 7s. 6d. This book provides a systematic two-year course in practical qualitati\ e organic chemistry suitable for candidates preparing for the General Certificate of Education (Advanced and Scholarship levels) the Ordinary National Certificate Intermediate Science and the Pre-Medical Examinations.The first half of the book deals with the preparations and reactions of the simple organic compounds and the second half with the identification of the commoner organic compounds. The treatment of the preparations is sys- tematic commencing with aliphatic monohydric alcohols and ending with diazonium salts. The preparation of each group of compounds is introduced by a useful theoretical summary and each of the general methods is illustrated by the preparation of a suitable example-not always the obvious one e.g. nt-xylene is chosen for sulphonation rather than benzene. [ 4.44 1 Refore beginning to work through the practical course the student must be assumed to have commenced the reading of some theoretical organic text- book (e.g.the first line of the text refers to “Ethyl alcohol and some of its higher homologues”) but granted this the book will provide him with an excellent training in organic technique; he is unlikely to gain the false impres- sions that he is dealing with isolated specific cases and will realise that the methods he practises are of wide generality. Nothing is more discouraging to the student than to carry through the comparatively lengthy operations of most organic preparations only to achieve a hopelessly inadequate yield ; but the author has given very precise antl tletailed instructions for the conduct of each experiment and if these are followed carefully even though working with very little supervision the student is unlikely to experience many failures.Quite adequate warnings are given of the dangers that may be encountered and these warnings are repeated each time the dangers occur so that the student may safely deviate from the order of the text. It still happens largely owing to the influence of the older standard text- books that students spend many hours in the preparation and purification of considerable quantities of a single compound and their progress is slow antl costly in materials. In this book relatively small quantities are employed and numerous test-tube reactions are given ; thus taking an example at random in the preparation of aniline the author employs one-sixth of the quantities given by Cohen and about one-third even of those given by Mann and Saunders in their more recent book.There are very useful notes on yields and on the measurement of quantities. For the latter reasonable precision both for weights and volumes is obtained quickly by the use of given depths in a &-in. test tube and quantities are also referred to in terms of a pin-head (“trace”) or a rice grain (“R.G.”). Those who are familiar with Middleton’s excellent ‘‘Systematic Qualitative Organic Analysis” will recognise Part I1 as a greatly abridged version of this book. The abridgment provides an admirable scheme for the rapid identifica- tion of a limited number of compounds by applying some half-dozen tests to assign them to their class and by particularising the member of the class by determining physical constants of the original substance (referred to through- out as O.S.) and of one of its derivatives.In a few instances identification is carried out by chemical tests only e.g. sugars or in the case of some acids and bases by the determination of equivalent weights. For the detection of elements by Lassaigne’s test sodium is not employed but in place of it an alkali-sugar mixture for halogens and sulphur and in some cases nitrogen and an alkali-zinc mixture for nitrogen are used. A useful explanation of the mechanism advantages and limitations of this method is included. An index of compounds is given but an index of organic processes as in the author’s earlier book might usefully have been included.The book is perhaps written with the needs of the Technical College student in mind but it is equally suitable for use in the VIth Forms of Grammar Schools ; indeed it is a book which all teachers of chemistry at this stage qhould examine. E. W. MOORE. r 445 I OBITUARY Herbert William Bolam died recently in his 78th year. Educated at Leith High School and the Royal High School Edinburgh he was apprenticed to Dr. Drinkwater at the Edinburgh School of Medicine from 1888 to 1891. After working for over a year in the chemical laboratories of the University of Edinburgh where he graduated B.Sc. in 1892 and for some months as research assistant to Professor Purdie in the University of St. Xndrews he was awarded an 1851 Kxhibition Scholarship and studied at the University of 1,elpzig from 1893 to 1896 graduating Ph.D. in 1896. licturnint to Scotland Bolam was irom 1896 to 1902 research asAtant to l’rofessor A. Crum Brown. He was also assistant lecturer in chemistry at I.eith Technical College 1898 to 1900 and principal lecturer 1900 to 1904. From 1903 to 193-1 he lectured in chemistry at Queen Margaret College in the lrniversity of Glasgow. In 1915 he was appointed lecturer-examiner in cheiiiistr!. in the University and bccame a member of the Senate in 1923. He was elected a Fellom of the Institute in 1918. William Alan Cash was killed in a motoring accident on 7 July 1949 in his 48th year. He received his early education at Seedley Council School and the Muni-cipal Secondary School Salford and in 1919 entered the employment of National Dyes Ltd.He studied at the Xanchester College of Technology from 1919 to 1924 obtaining the Associateship of the College and passing the examination for the Associateship of the Institute. In 1926 he took up an appointment with National Titanium Pigments Ltd. and was engaged in research and production. He resigned this post in 1930 to enter the employment of Iioneo Ltd. In 1934 he went to British Titan Products Co. Ltd. becoming works manager in 1939 and assistant general manager in 1944. He was deputy managing director of the Company from 1947. He was elected an Associate of the Institute in 1925. Rhys Pendrill Charles died on 2 August 1949 in his 80th year. He received his early education at Llandovery College and studied subic- quently at the City and Guilds of London Central Institute._After a four-years’ apprenticeship to Dr. Morgan Public Analyst for Swansea he was for a short time assistant chemist to the Swansea Haeniatite Iron Co. beforc starting a private practice at Neath. He became Public Analyst to Brecon- shire and the Boroughs of Carmarthen Neath and Methyr Tydfil. About 1909 he came to King’s College London and qualified in due course (Lond.) and J1.D. (Berne). He established a consulting practice as L.M.S.S~A4. in pathology in Harley Street but continued to hold appointments as-Public Analyst and Official Agricultural Analyst. During the 1914-18 war he served with the London Regiment and rose to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel.He was awarded the Territorial IDcxcoration. He was elected a Fellow of the Institute in 1893. Robert Owen Eames died on 26 August 1949 in his 60th year. Educated at the Friars’ School Bangor and at Ruthin he entered the IJniversity College of North Wales graduating B.Sc. in 1911. From 1912 he was for three years assistant analyst at the City Laboratory Liverpool. In 1915 Eames entered the research department of Lever Brothers Ltd. Port Sunlight and a year later was appointed research chemist to British Dyes Ltd. at Huddersfield. During 1917 he was Safety Tnspector under the Home Office and Ministry of Munitions for the explosives section c 446 3 of tlic Company and was suhsequmtlv p'crsonal assistant to the managing director.Froin 1929 to 1935 he held research appointnients with the British Dyestuffs Corporation (Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd.). He retired owing to ill-health in 1935 and settled at Caernarvon where for some years he continued to practise chemistry. He was for nine years a Councillor for the Borough of Caernarvon. He was elected a Fellow of the Tnstitute in 1920. Vincent Edwards died on 9 July 1949 in his 87th year. He entered Uni\.ersity College Jmndon in 1878 to stritly for the metlical prc'fession ancl subsequently became a student at St. Mary's Hospital but ImL to abandon medicine on account of deafness. He then turned to chemistry and worked successively under Professor Attfieltl at the Pharmaceutical Society's I,aboratory as a pupil of Professor Horsley antl as pupil assistant to Professor Heaton at Charing Cross Medical School.He was for seven years chemist to the Dublin and ll'icklow Manure Co. I,td. and then chief chemist for 20 years to Lawes' Chemical hlanure Co. Ltd. Barking. After holding an appointment with British Organic Nitrog-en Co. I,td. at Chester he was controller of the laboratory of British Milk Products Co. I,td. (Cleeve Bros.) in London until 1923. He was elected a Fellow of the Institute in 1896. Amiya Kumar Ghose died on 28 February 1948 in his 41st year. He received his early education at Rarisar Zilla School the South Suburban School Calcutta Krishnagar Collegiate School ancl Calcutta Hindu School. lcntering the Autosh College he graduated B.Sc.of the University of Calcutta in 1927 and in 1930 obtained his M.Sc. in the Ilniversity of Lucknow. He later went to 5tudy in Germany and was awarded the degree of Dr.-Ing. of the Technische Hochschule Dresden. Mean- hile he was for one year a research chemist in the Research Institute of Sir U. N. Brahmachari in Calcutta and subsequently senior chemist in the Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceutical Works Ltd. Calcutta. On his return from Europe he was chief chemist and manager to National Laboratories Ltd. Calcutta for a year before going to Burma in a similar position in the Burma Chemical Corporation Lid Rangoon. On the occupation of Rurnia by the Japanese he returned to India antl after a short period with the Amritsar Distillery Co Ltd. he nas appointed in 1942 deputy chief chemist to 'l'ata ('hemicals I,td.Mithapur where he continued until the time of his death. He was elected an Associate of the Institute in 1945. john Naish Goldsmith died on 26 August 1949 in his 75th year. He was educated at Tunbridge IVells Grammar School and proceeded to Owens College Manchester graduating B.Sc. with Honours in chemistry in 1894 and subsequently M.Sc. He went to Germany in 1894 and was awarded the degree of Ph.D. of the University of Heidelberg in 1898. From 1898 to 1907 he was chemist to the British Xylonite Co. at Manningtree and in the following year established a consulting practice in Chancery Lane London. He was retained by several well-known firms and was frequently engaged in patent cases and the Chancery Courts.After his retirement from active chemical practice in 1935 he contributed numerous articles to the latest edition of Thorpe's Dictionary of -4pfdied Chemistvy arid took a notable share in proof-reading and indexing successive volumes of this work. He was elected a Fellow of the Institute in 1917 and acted as Examiner in the chemistry of paints and varnishes for the Fellowship on sevc~al occasions. [ 447 1 George Frederick Harrison died on 20 August 1949 in his 66th year. After receiving his early education at Carmichael School and the Grammar School Cork he studied at the Royal College of Science Dublin from 1902 to 1905 gaining the Associateship of the College in applied chemistry and being awarded a silver medal.In 1937 he was awarded the degree of B.Sc. of the National University of Ireland. After a year as science master at the Grammar School Cork he became in 1906 chemist to W. and H. M. Goulding Ltd. sulphuric acid and fertiliser manufacturers. He rose to be chief chemist and remained actively associated with the firm for the rest of his life. He was elected an Associate of the institute in 1918. Wilfred Hermann Hoffert died on 1 August 1949 in his 58th year. He received his early education at Highgate Grammar School Whitgift Grammar School Croydon and Manchester Grammar School. In 1911 he entered Jesus College Oxford with an Open Exhibition in Natural Science and graduated B.A. with First Class Honours in chemistry in 1914. On the outbreak of war in 1914 he was commissioned in the Manchester Regiment and was wounded in the Gallipoli campaign.In 1917 he was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps as an Experimental Officer and in 1918 was a member of the British Aviation Mission to America. He was mentioned in despatches. After demobilisation he was granted a research fellowship of the Salters' Institute of Industrial Chemistry and returned to Oxford where he obtained the degree of BSc. in 1920 for a thesis on the chlorination of toluene. After a short period as tutor in chemistry at Christ Church Oxford Hoffert was appointed senior research chemist to Howdler and Rickerdike Eagle Chemical IT-orks Church T,ancs. In 1922-23 he was research chemist at IT M. Fuel Research Station Greenwich and in the latter year was appointed Senior Research Chemist to the Joint Research Committee of the National Benzole Association and the University of Leeds.In 1936 he became Chief Chemist to the National Benzole Company Limited a position he held until the time of his death. He was a Fellow of the Institute of Petroleum. He was elected an Associate of the Institute in 1922 and a Fellow in 1929. Raymond Arthur Lowry died on 27 July 1949 in his 39th year. He was educated at the Strand School Elm Park London and enterecl the service of the Anglo-Persian (now the Anglo-Iranian) Oil Company Ltd. in 1929. From 1929 to 1933 he attended evening classes at the Sir John Cass Technical Institute and graduated B.Sc. of the University of 1,ondon with First Class Honours in Chemistry in 1933.He continued as petroleum chemist in the Company's research establishment at Sunbury-on-Thames until the time of his death. He was elected an Associate of the Institute in 1934. Edgar Henry Rider Salmon died in 1947 at Cachoeira Brazil in his 78th year. He received his scientific training at Finsbury Technical College from 1885 to 1888. After short periods with the Electrical Power Storage Co. Ltd. Poplar and the London TT'hite Lead Manufacturing Co. Ltd. he went to Brazil in 1891 as chemist to the Brazilian Extract of Meat and Hide Factory Ltd. Cachoeira Rio Grande do Sul with whom he remained until 1895. After some years in this country he returned to Brazil about 1904 and engaged in pharmaceutical practice. In 1907 he established a pharmacy at Santo Eugenio Uruguay.He returned to Cachoeira in 1929 and spent the remainder of his life there. He was elected an Associate of the Institute in 1891 and a Fellow in 1896. c 4413 1 Gordon Hobbs Piper died on 27 July 1949 in his ilbt year. He was educated at King Alfred School Streatham and St. Paul’s School London and proceeded with a leaving exhibition in science to Merton College Oxford where he graduated B.A. with Second Class Honours in chemistry in 1932 and was awarded the B.Sc. degree for research. From 1932 to 1934 he was a research student at the Imperial College of Science and Technology and obtained the Ph.D. degree of the University of London. After three years as research chemist to the British Cast Iron Research Association and a short period with Roneo Limited he commenced business on his own account.In 1940 he was appointed an Experimental Officer (Chemist) at the Chemical Defence Research Establishment Porton and in 1942 became research chemist and rubber technologist to the British Rubber Manufacturers’ Research Association Croydon. He was elected an Associate of the Institute in 1932 and a Fellow in 1947. Roy Johnstone Steele a Registered Student of the Institute died in December 1948 in his 40th year. He was educated at Rochester Technical School and in 1926 was appren- ticed to Fraser & Chalmers Ltd. at Erith. In 1928 he commenced part-time study at Medway Technical College Gillingham and in 1931 became a student- assistant at the College rising to be senior assistant and demonstrator.In 1939 he entered the Admiralty Engineering Laboratory \Test Drayton. Herbert Frederick Stephenson died on 19 July 1949 in his 80th year. He was educated at Dulwich Old College and in 1886 proceeded to the Royal College of Science with a Royal Exhibition being awarded the Associateship of the College in 1889. In the latter year he became chief assistant to Professor C. E. Groves chemist to the Thames Conservancy. He was also for many years analyst for the Rotherhithe Gas IVorks and the .lcton Urban District Council and a gas examiner for the County of London. Stephenson subsequently succeeded to the office of chemist to the Thames Conservancy and the Port of London Authority and held these appointments until his retirement in 1945.He was elected a Fellow of the Institute in 1908. Frank Edward Whitmore died as the result of a mountainecring accident in Switzerland on 25 July 1949 in his 27th year. He received his early education at Westminster Koad School and the Grammar School Handsworth Birmingham and entered the University of Birmingham in 1941 graduating B.Sc. with First Class Honours in chemistry in 1943. He continued at the University with a teaching scholarship and was awarded the degree of Ph.D. for X-ray crystallographic research in 1!146. He \vas subsequently granted a research fellowship in radiochemistry. He was elected an Associate of the Institute in 1944. 449 1 ANNOUNCEMENTS EXAMINATIONS-see p. ii. RESIDENTIAL CLUBS FUND APPEAL The attention of members is drawn to the printed Appeal and relevant forms that were sent to them under separate cover during September.Particulars of the Residential Clubs scheme for elderly members and their wives or for their widows have been given in the Editorial to JOURNAL AND ~'ROCEEDINGS 1949 I1 (p. 83) and persons wishing to be considered for nomination for residence in the first of these Clubs were invited to notify the Secretary (JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS 1949 IV 394). The scheme as envisaged is an extensive one and it is expected that some tens of thousands of pounds will soon be needed for obtaining nomination rights in other properties as they are acquired. It is hoped therefore that all members-and their wives-will make such donations as they can to thc Fund and will also consider advancing additional sums as loans.Further copies of the Appeal and the forms will be sent on request. NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF DISTRICT MEMBERS OF COUNCIL Fellows and Associates are reminded that for the election of District Members of the Council to take office from 31 March 1950 nominations should be received at the offices of the Institute on or before Monday 12 December 1949. In accordance with the By-Law 30 (l),the Districts were defined by thc lnstitute in General Meeting held on 7 March 1921 amended on 1 March 1923 on 1 March 1935 and on 1 Narch 1937 and subject to the adoption of a resolution to be submitted to a Special General Meeting to be held on 21 October 1949 (see enclosed notice) the Districts will be defined as follows for the purpose of the election of District Members of Council for 1950-51 and for future years until these definitions have been further amended :-Reference nuiiiher Naiiics and reference letters of 1,ocal Sections whose areas of District.constitute the territory of the District. lZ@nnd. 1. Birmingham and Midlands (C). 11. Bristol and District (D); Mid-Southern C'ounties (13); South-Western Counties (W). 111. ]Cast Midlands (H). IV. Leeds Area (N); Huddersfield (L). v. 1,iverpool and North-\Vestern (0). VI. London and South-Eastern Counties (P); 1Sast Anglia (G). RIanchester and District (Q). 1711. VIII. Newcastle upon Tyne and North-East Coast (S); Tees-side (X).IX. Sheffield South Yorkshire and North Midlands (U); Hull and District (RI). Wales and the County of Moiamouth. South Wales (V); Cardiff and District (E); North Wales (T). [ 450 1 Sroilicn (2. 1. Aberdeen and North of Scotland (A); Uundee and Dis- trict (FF). 11. Edinburgh and East of Scotland (J) 111. Glasgow and West of Scotland (K). Northern Ireland. Belfast and District (€3). Republic of Ireland. Dublin and District (F.) Overseas. [Covering all areas outside Great 13ritain and Ireland]. The following Rules apply to the nomination ant1 election of District Members of Council I. (1) Any five Members whose registered addresses are within any one District in Great Britain or Ireland as defined and adopted by the Institute in General Meeting may nominate one eligible Fellow as a candidate for election as a District Member of Council for that District but no Member shall nominate more than one such Fellow; except that the Committee of any Local Section constituted in accordance with By-Law 94 2(a) may as such nominate one candidate for such election or if there be more than one T,ocal Section in a District the Committees of all the Local Sections in that District shall sit jointly or consult in other agreed manner for the purpose of nominating one candidate for such election.(2) Any nomination made under these Rules shall be delivered to the Secretary at the Offices of the Institute on or before the second Monday in December in the year preceding the date of election and shall be in the following form :-“lye the undersigned Members of the Royal Institute of Chemistry do hereby certify that A.B. of (registered address) a Fellow of this Institute is in uur estimation a fit and proper person to be a District Member of the Council of the Institute and we do hereby nominate him as a candidate for election as a District Member of Council.” (3) Any such nomination may consist of several documents in like form each signed by one or more Members. The Member of Council for the Overseas District is elected by the Council. IT. (1) On or before the fifth day of January in any year the Council shall cause to be sent to every Member in each District in Great Britain and Ireland in the manner prescribed by By-Law 81 a balloting list containing the names of the candidates nominated for election as District Members of Council for such District and the balloting list shall indicate which if any of the candi- dates has been nominated by the Committce or Committees of the r,ocal Section or Sections in the District.(2) Each Member desirous of voting- (a) Shall record his vote for a District Member of the Council by making a cross against the name of the candidate for whose election he desires to vote but no Member shall vote for more than one such candidate. (b) Shall deliver or transmit his balloting list in a sealed envelope bearing on the outside the signature of the Member addressed to the Secre- tary at the office of the Institute so that it be received not later than the first post on the Monday immediately preceding the third Friday in January in the year for which the election is being held.[ 451 J TIT. (1) The envclopcs containing the 1)alloCing list slisll on the day before the third Friday in January in the year in which the election is held be opened by two Scrutineers neither Members of the Council nor candidates nominated for election as District Members of the Council who shall be nominated by the Council in December of the year preceding the election at a meeting convened with notice of that purpose. (2) The Scrutineers shall present their Report to the Council at the meeting on the third Friday in January convened with notice of that purpose. (3) The candidate receiving the greatest number of votes in each District respectively shall be elected and in any case of an equality of votes the Council shall decide the matter by ballot.(4) If at any time after the balloting lists have been sent to Members and before the dissolution of the Annual General Meeting any candidate who would otherwise have been elected has died or has withdrawn his nomination or has in any way become ineligible for Membership of the Council then the candidate having the next greatest number of votes shall be elected or if there be no such candidate the vacancy shall be filled as provided in Rule IV. (5) The election of District Members of Council shall be notified to Members when they are served with the balloting list for the election of General Members of Council at the Annual General Meeting.IV. After the first election any vacancy among the District Members of the Council occurring between the Annual General Meetings owing to death resignation removal or otherwise shall be filled by the election by the Com- mittee of the Local Section in the District concerned of one eligible Fellow; or if there be more than one Local Section in the District the Committees of all the Sections therein shall hold a joint meeting or adopt such other pro- cedure as may be agreed among them for the purpose of such election. If there be a casual vacancy in the case of the District Member of Council for the Overseas District such vacancy shall be filled by the Council by the election of one eligible Fellow.The Fellows whose names are given below are the present Members of Council for the Districts indicated. Those whose names are given in italics will have completed three successive years’ service on the Council and will retire in accordance with By-Law 23. England I. Eric Millward Joiner B.Sc. A.G.I.S. 11. Thomas Malkin Ph. D. D.Sc. )I , 111. Frederick Cecil Bullock B.Sc. IV. Arthur Clarence Francis A.H.-W.C. I v. Bernard Dunstan Wilkinson Luff. I VI. Clifford Walter Herd B.Sc. Ph.D. It )) VII. John Thompson Marsh MSc. F.T.I. VIII. Herbert Edward Blayden BSc. ) ,) IS. [Previously part of other Districts]. Wales. William Dudley Williams R.Sc. A .M.I.Chem.E. M.Inst.Pet. Scotland I. Roy Brow% Strathdee O.B.E.T.D., M.A. R.Sc. P1t.D. 11. Isaac Arthur Preece M.Sc. Ph.D. I1 , 111. David Traill B.Sc. Ph.D. Northern Ireland. Cecil Leeburn Wilson M.Sc. Ph.D. Republic of Ireland. Alfred Godfrey Gordon Leonard B.Sc. Ph.D. F.R.C.Sc.1. Overseas. Charles Forrester K-i-H. Ph.D. A.H.-W.C. F.Inst.F. A.M.I.Chem.E. F.R.S.E. [ 452 1 MEDALS AND PRIZES The Meldola Medal.-This medal is the gift of the Society of Maccabaeans and is normally awarded annually. The next award will be made early in 1950 to the chemist who being a British subject and under 30 years of age at 31 December 1949 shows the most promise as indicated by his or her published chemical work brought to the notice of the Council of the Royal Institute of Chemistry before 31 December 1949.No restrictions are placed upon the kind of chemical work or the place in which it is conducted. The merits of the work may be brought to the notice of the Council either by persons who desire to recommend the candidate or by the candidate himself by letter addressed to “The President Royal Institute of Chemistry 30 Russell Square London IY.C.1,” the envelope being marked “Meldola Medal.” Beilby Memorial Awards.-From thc interest derived from the invested capital of the Sir George Beilby Memorial Fund at intervals to be determined by the administrators representing the Royal Institute of Chemistry the Society of Chemical Industry and the Institute of Metals awards are made to British investigators in science to mark appreciation of records of distinguished work.Preference is given to investigations relating to the special interests of Sir George Beilby including problems connected with fuel economy chemical engineering and metallurgy and awards are made not on the result of any competition but in recognition of continuous work of exceptional merit bearing evidence of distinct advancement in science and practice. In general awards are not applicable to workers of established repute but are granted as an encouragement to younger men who have done original independent work of exceptional merit over a period of years. Consideration will be given to the making of an award or awards from the Fund early in 1950 and the administrators-the Presidents Honorary Treasurers and Secretaries of the three participating institutions-will there-fore be glad to have their attention drawn to outstanding work of the nature indicated not later than 31 December 1949.A11 communications on this subject should be addressed to the Convener Sir George Beilby Memorial Fund Iioyal Institute of Chemistry 30 Russell Square London W.C. 1. Sir Edward Frankland Medal and Prize 1949.-Registered Students arc informed that the Council will be prepared to consider the award in February 1950 of a Medal and Prize (Ll0 10s.) for the best essay’ not exceeding 3,000 words contributed by a Registered Student of not more than 22 years of agc at the time of forwarding the essay. The essay may deal with any subject having a bearing on chemistry or chemical work provided that it does not deal with any purely chemical technical or historical subject.The object of the essay is to induce Students to develop a sense of professional public spirit and to devote thought to questions of professional interest and to the position of chemists in the life of the community. Essays will be valued partly for literary style and technique but mainly for the thoughts and ideas contained therein. (See the comments of one of the Assessors for thc 1945 competition JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS, 1946,111 136.) Each essay must be sent to the Honorary Secretary of the Local Section in the area of which the competitor resides (see list of Local Sections at the end of the JOURNAL) not later than 31 December 1949 and must be accom- panied by a signed declaration that it is the independent work of the contributor.The Committee of each Local Section will be asked to select from those received not more than three essays considered to be worthy of the award. The selected essays will be referred to Assessors appointed [ 453 1 by the Council on I\ hose repvrt the t otincil \2-ill decdr \\ hcthcr dn(l to H lion1 an award shall be made. The award mill not be mad? more than once to any individual competitor. The Medal and Prize will be presented at the next Annual General Meeting or at a meeting of the Local Section to which the successful competitor is attached. The Newton Chambers Prize Essay Competition 1949. In 1945 Mtssrs. Newton Chambers & Co. Ltd. offered to the South Yorkshire Section (now the Sheffield South Yorkshire and North Midlands Section) of the Institutc a sum of LlOO per annum for seven years for the award of an annual prize for contributions to the subject of Chemistry and Industrial Welfare.‘Thc object of the award is to encourage young chemists to make greater use of their knowledge of chemistry and their facilities for cxperiniental work to enhance the existing knowledge of Industrial ITelfare. Applications to compete for the Prize for 1949 are invited under the following conditions :--I. The 1949 competition is open to every Fellow Associate or Registered Student of the Institute who had not reached his 36th birthday by I January 1949. 2. The 1949 Award is offered for an essay paper or papers published or unpublished embodying the candidate’s own observations or experi-mental work on some aspects of the application of chemistry to the promotion of Industrial Welfare.A critical examination of existing knowledge is admissible to the competition providing that the conclu- sions reached constitute an addition to the knowledge of the subject. 3. Each candidate must transmit to the Hon. Secretary Sheffield South Yorkshire and North Midlands Section Royal Institute of Chemistry (K. C. Barraclough B.Sc. F.R.I.C. The Brown Firth Research Laboratories Princess Street Sheffield 4) to reach him on or before 31 December 1949 (a) A formal letter of application to enter the competition stating his name address date of birth and status (Fellow Associate or Registered Student) in the Institute; (b)two copies of each essay or paper submitted together with a brief statement in duplicate indicating in what respect the essay or paper advances knowledge of the application of chemistry to the promotion of Industrial Welfare; and (c) a declaration by the candidate that the work is his own or in the case of joint papers a statement signed by the candidate and his collab- orators as to the extent to which the results and conclusions are the work of the candidate..i. The decision of the Committee of the Sheffield South Yorkshire and North Midlands Section on any matter connected with the award of the prize is final. The Committee may at its discretion divide thc Prim between two or more candidates or may withhold the award if no entry of sufficient merit is received.5. The Committee may require a candidate to attend for intenicw in connection with his application. 6. ’i’he Committee reserves the right to publish the successful essay or paper (if not already published) in whatever form it thinks desirable. SCIENTIFIC COURSES AND CONFERENCES Course of Lectures at Acton Technical College.-A course of twelve lectures on “Certain Aspects of the Modern Chemistry of Oils and Fats” will be given during the Autumn Term 1949 on Fridays at 7.30 p.m. [ 454 j ‘I he remaining lectures are :-’Two lectures on Micro-analysis applied to Oils and Fats by Mr. C. Wha.lley (14 and dl October). Two lectures on Synthetic Fatty Acids and Synthetic Fats by Mr.P. N. ‘Ll’illiams (28 October and 4 November). Two lectures on Drying Oils by Dr. I,. A. O’Neill (1 1 and 18 November). Three lectures on Some Aspects of the Biochemistry of Fats by Dr. 1:. L. Warren (25 November to 9 December). Further particulars and registration forms may bc. obtained from the Principal Acton Technical College High Street Acton l,ondon W.3. A series of special advanced courses on Plastics to be held during the Session 1949-50 began 20 September. ’The alternative courses which have been arranged to cover the requirements of the Associateship of the Institutc of Plastics will be of value to industrial chemists and engineers engaged in the plastics and associated industries. They comprise a two-year course on the Chemistry and Technology of Plastics and a two-year course on Plastic Tool and Mould Design.Further particulars and registration forms may be obtained as above. Courses in Microchem ist ry at Battersea Polytech nic.-Post-graduate lectures and practical courses in Microchemistry will bc held under the super- vision of Dr. P. F. Holt during the 1949-50 session as follows :--Autumn Term (26 September to 16 December 1949) Inorganic Qualitati\,e Analysis. Spring Term (9 January to 31 March 1950) Organic Microchemical Methods. Summer Term (24 April to 14 July 1950) (Juantitative Organic and Inorganic Analysis. Fee 10s. per Term. Further particulars and enrolment forms may be obtained from the Head of the Chemistry Department Battersea Polytechnic London S.W.11. Post-grad u ate Courses at Birmingham Central Technical College. -(1) Twelve lectures on “Physical Methods for determining the Size and Shape of Macromolecules in Solution,” by Dr. G. A. Gilbert on Friday evenings beginning 7 October 1949. (2) Ten lectures on “Fundamentals and Applications of Heat Trans- mission,’’ by Dr. S. J. Green llr. R. Long and Mr. R. Scott on Wednesday e.i.enings beginning 12 October. (3) Post-graduate course in “Chemical Works Organisation,” on Monday Thursday and Friday evenings throughout the Session. Further particulars and forms of application for admission to the Courses may be obtained from the Iiegistrar Central Technical College Suff olk Street Birmingham 1. Post-graduate Course in Analytical Chemistry at The College of Tech-nology Bristo1.--A special course of six lectures on “Some Recent Develop- ments in Analytical Chemistry,” by Mr.W. P. Thistlethwaite will be given in the Lesser Hall of the College on Fridays 14 October 18 November. 16 December 1949 13 January 10 February 10 March 1950 at 7.15 p.m. Fee for the course i2 2s. Early application should be made to the Registrar College of Technology Unity Street Bristol 1. Courses at Chelsea Polytechnic.-The following courses are announced :-(1) Biochemistry.-Four groups of five lectures on Biochemistry to be given by Dr. E. M. Crook and Dr. F. L. Warren during the Autumn and Spring Terms on Monday evenings began 3 October 1949. [ 455 1 The lectures are designed for students who ha\-e a knotvledge of chemistry to degree standard and wish to acquire a knowledge of general biochemistry.Fee for the whole course 30s.; for each part 7s. 6d. (2) The Chemistry and Technology of Fats.-A series of nine post-graduate lectures on “The Laboratory and Commercial Methods of Separating Fats and Fatty Acids” will be given during the Autumn Term on I:riday evenings beginning 14 October 1949. The course has been planned and arranged to meet the demands of post- graduate students research workers industrial chemists and others interestcd in the subject. Fee for the course 15s. (3) The Chemistry and Microscopy of Food Drugs and Water.-A special course of lectures and practical work based on the syllabus for the Fellowship of the Royal Institute of Chemistry Branch E to be given for 1st year students on Tuesdays and Thursdays during two complete sessions began 27 September 1949.Responsible Lecturer Mr. R. G. Minor; Lecturer in Materia Medica Mr. E. S. Mayer; Lecturer in Bacteriology Mr. A. \Y.G. Chetham; Assistant Lecturers and Demonstrators Mr. A. J. M. Bailey and Mr. W. R. Rankin. Course Fee for each Session k3 3s.; Laboratory Fee 5s.; Membership Is. (4) Dairy Technology.-Two series of lectures on special aspects of Dairy Technology (each series comprising four lectures) will be given in the Chemistry Lecture Theatre on Tuesdays at 7.16 p.m. First series 15 November to 6 December 1949. Fee 5s. Second series 14 February to 7 March 1950. Fee 5s. The lectures are designed to provide up-to-date information for persons holding managerial or executive posts in the dairy industry for dairy labora- tory workers food chemists Public Health Officers Public Analysts and others of professional standing interested in milk.Further particulars of the above Courses may be obtained from the Principal Chelsea Polytechnic Manresa Road London S.W.3. Imperial College of Science and Technology.-A course of ten lectures by Dr. J. H. Burgoyne on “Gaseous Reactions leading to Ignition” will be given in the Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry Department on Mondays beginning 10 October 1949 at 2.30 p.m. There will be an introductory lecture by Professor Sir Alfred Egerton F.K.S. Fee for the course L2 12s. 6d. Application for admission should be made to the Deputy Registrar City and Guilds College Imperial College Exhibition Road South Kensington London S.W.7.A further course on “Ignition and Flame Propagation in Gases” will be given on Monday afternoons in the Spring Term 1950. Post-Advanced Courses in Chemistry in the Merseyside Area.--Particulars have been published of lectures to be given during the 1949-50 Session at thc City College of Technology Byron Street Liverpool the Municipal Technical College Gamble Institute St. Helens the Southport Technical College Mornington Road Southport the Municipal Technical College Victoria Square Widnes and the Wigan and District Mining and Technical College. Details may be obtained on application to the Principal at any of the above Colleges.Special Courses at the Northampton Polytechnic.-A course of twelve lectures on Ceramics their Production Testing and Utilisation to be given on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. began 5 October 1949. [ 456 3 Section &-Two iectnres on ihr l’rotluction of Ceramics;. Section B-Seven lectures on the ’I-esting of Ceramic.; ant1 the Deter- mination of their Constitution. Section C-The Utilisation of Ceramics. Fee for the course 21s. 12 course of 21 lectures on Kecent Trends in Fuel Technology will be given on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. from 4 October 1949 to 7 March 1960. Fee for the course 30s. Full particulars of the above courses may be obtained from the Head of the Department of -4pplied Chemistry Northampton Polytechnic St. John Street I .ondon E.C.1. Courses at Sir John Cass Technical Institute :-(1) (’ourse of eight lectures on Recent Developments in the Chemistry of Antibiotics by Mr. F. A. Robinson on Friday evenings began 7 October 1949. i;ee €or the course Ll. A further course in this series on Kecent Developments in the Chemistry of Vitamins and Analgesics will be held on Friday evenings during the second term. (2) Course of nineteen lectures on Chemical Plant The Operation of some Unit Processes on Friday evenings began 7 October 1949. Fee for the Course i1 10s. (3) Course of lectures on Advanced Organic Chemistry (Part II) by Mr. A. G. Lidstone on Wednesday evenings throughout the Session beginning 12 October 1949. Fee for the Course i2. (4) Course of twenty-four lectures on Statistical Methods m Scientific and Industrial Research by Mr.D. R. Read. (a) Twelve lectures on Mathematical Statistics on Monday evenings at 6.45 p.m. began 26 September 1949. (b) Twelve lectures on Design of Experiments on Monday evenings at 6.45 p.m. beginning 9 January 1950. Fee for the whole course LZ. (5) Course of twelve lectures on Industrial Law by Mr. Eric Walker Barrister-at-law on Thursday evenings at 6 p.m. began 29 September 1949. Fee for the course Ll. (6) Course of ten lecture-demonstrations in Microchemical Analysis suitable for analysts and advanced students of chemistry. Lecturers Mr. D. W. Wilson and Mr. F. Holmes. On Thursday evenings beginning 19 January 1950. Fee for the course LI 10s.Applications for further particulars of the above courses and enrolment forms should be made to The Principal Sir John Cass Technical Institute Jewry Street Aldgate London E.C.3. Course of Lectures on the Design of Experiment.-The ninth series of Post-graduate Lectures under the auspices of the Oil and Colour Chemists’ Association will be given at 6.30 p.m. on Thursdays 6 13 and 20 October 1949 in the Lecture Theatre of The Royal Institution 21 Albemarle Street J,ondon W.l by Professor M. G. Evans F.R.S. on “The Design of Experi- ment the Development of Experimental Methods and Theoretical Ideas in a Field of Research.” Admission by ticket only (price 10s. for the course) obtainable from Mr. John Hannaford O.C.C.A. Aldwych House Aldwych London U7.C.2.[ 457 3 Electronics Symposium.-A symposium on the .application of Electronics to research and industry will be held by the Electronics Section of the Scientific Instrument Manufacturers Association at the Examination Hall Queens Square London W.C.1 from Wednesday to Friday 2-4 November 1949. Admission by ticket obtainable on application to the Secretary of the Association 17 Princes Gate London S.W.7. University of London.-.4 course of three lectures on “The Chemistry of the Transuranics and Other Newly-Discovered Elements” will be given by Professor H. J. EmeEus F.R.S. in the Chemistry Theatre University College Gower Street London W.C.l on Mondays 31 October 7 and 14 November 1949 at 5.15 p.m. Admission free without ticket.A course of three lectures on Biochemistry dealing particularly with Biologically Labile Methyl Groups will be given by Professor V. du Vigneaud on 28 and 31 October and 2 November 1949 at 5.30 p.m. in the Meyerstein Theatre Westminster LMedical School Horseferry Road \Vestminster London S.W. 1. MISCELLANEOUS Congress on Analytical Chemistry.-A representative gathering of chemists and others interested in the modern developments of analytical chemistry has met under the chairmanship of Sir Robert Robinson O.M. P.R.S. to consider the desirability of holding an international congress on the subject in Great Britain. A General Committee and an Executive Committee have been formed to proceed with the organisation of such a Congress which is planned for the summer of 1952.A grant towards the preliminary expenses has been made by the Society of Public Analysts and Other Analytical Chem- ists and it is hoped to have the support of many other bodies to whom the development of analytical chemistry is vital. The Hon. Secretary of the Congress is Mr. R. C Chirnside F.K.I.C. Kesearch Laboratories of The General Electric Co. Ltd. Wembley Middlesex. The Chemical Society Research Fund -The Research Fund of the Chemical Society provides grants for assisting research in all branches of chemistry about i700 per annum being available for this purpose. Applications from Fellows of the Society will receive prior consideration. ipplication forms may be obtained from the General Secretary The Chemical Society Burlington House Piccadilly London W.1 and should be returned not later than 1 November 1949.Scholarships for Technology in the United States.-About fifty post- graduate scholarships for the study of technology at universities and techno- logical institutions in the United States are being offered to students in Great Britain who hold a good honours degree in pure science or technology and are now working in industry or research associations or are teachers in universities or technical colleges. Successful candidates will be expected to take up their awards in February 1950. Full particulars may be obtained from the University Grants Committee 38 Belgrave Square London S.W.1. British Standards Institution.-B.S. 1561 1949-Silver Anodes and Silver Salts for Electroplating-prepared by the Chemical Engineering Industry Standards Committee has been published recently.Copies may be obtained from the offices of the Institution 28 Victoria Street lj-estminster London S lV.1 price 2s. net post free The Institution acts as the agent in the IJnited Kingdom of all overseas national standards organisations For all information about home and overseas standards application should be made direct to the Institution at the above address. [ 458 ] COMING EVENTS ’l‘hc follo\ving list has been compiled from the latest information available. The Institute cannot hold itself responsible for changes that may be made of which it may receive no notification. October 10 THE INSTITUTE (Hull and District Section) “Leather its Constitution and Properties.” Dr.M. P. Balfe at the Royal Station Hotel Hull at 7.30 p.m. THE INSTITUTE (Mid-Southern Counties Section) “Some Aspects of Respiration in Bacteria.” Mr. E. C. Baskett at the Cathedral Hotel Salisbury at 7.30 p.m. 1 1 THEINSTITUTE (Huddersfield Section) “Aromatic Nitration.” Professor C. K. Ingold F.R.S. at Field’s CafC Westgate Huddersfield at 7.30 p.m. THE INSTITUTE (Mid-Southern Counties Section) “Some Aspects of Kespiration in Bacteria.” Mr E. C. Baskett at the Municipal Technical College Bournemouth at 7.30 p.m. TIIEINSTITUTE (South-Western Counties Section jointly with the Society of Chemical Industry South-Western Section) Visit to Works of English China Clays Lovering Pochin and Co.Ltd. at Lee Moor and Marsh Mills. SOCIETYOF CHEMICAL (Fine Chemicals Group) “Biological INDUSTRY Polymerisation with special reference to Polysaccharide Synthesis.” Professor M. Stacey at The Royal Institution Albemarle Street London W.l at 7 p.m. SOCIETY INDUSTRY OF CHEMICAL (Plastics and Polymer Croup) “Recent Progress in the Chemistry of Phenolic Resins.” Mr. S. R. Finn Dr. N. J. L. Megson Mr. E. J. W. Whittaker at the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine Manson House 26 Portland Place London W. 1 at 6.30 p.m. INSTITUTION CHEMICAL “The Preparation of Ammonia OF ENGINEERS Synthesis Gas from Wood Fuel in India.” Mr. I<. W. Rutherford and Mr. I(.Ruschin in the Rooms of the Geological Society Burlington House Piccadilly London W.l at 5.30 p.m.ASSOCIATION SHEFFIELDMETALLURGICAL “Britain’s 13nergy -A New Conception.” Sir Claude D. Gibb C.B.E. F.R.S. at the Royal Victoria Hotel Sheffield at 6.15 p.m. 12 THE INSTITUTE (London and South-Eastern Counties Section) “(&anti-tative Common-Sense and the Chemist.” Dr. E. c. Wood in the Small Hall Community Centre Slough at 7.15 p.m. OF CHEMICAL (Food Group Microbiological Panel) : SOCIETY INDUSTRY “Aspects of the Mineral Metabolism of Micro-organisms.” Dr. D. J. D. Nicholas Dr. S. W. Challinor and Dr. A. Pollard in London. iNsTITUTE OF FUEL (Scottish Section) Annual General Meeting. Films at the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders 39 Elmbank Crescent (;lasgow C.2 at 6 p.m. INSTITUTE “Bitumen Horizons.” Mr.A. W. Jarman, OF PETROLEUM at Manson House 26 Portland Place London W.l at 5.30 p.m. [ 459 3 October 13 THE INSTITUTE (London and South-Eastern Counties Section) “The Biochemistry involved in Egg Shell Formation.” Professor C. Tyler at Acton Technical College High Street Acton London \2‘.3 at 7 p.m. SOCIETYOF CHEMICAL (Bristol Section) “Industrial Health INDUSTRY Hazards.” Dr. T. A. Lloyd Davies in the Chemistry Department The University Woodland Road Hristol 8 at 7 p.m. OIL AND COLOUR CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION(Scottish Section) Lecture and Film on “Modern Processing of Oils and Resins.” Mr. H. C. Worsdall at St. Enoch Hotel Glasgow at 7 p.m. 14 THE INSTITUTE (Dundee and District Section) Inaugural Meeting. CHEMICALSOCIETY (jointly with the University College of Exeter Scientific Society) “Diffraction of Neutrons by Crystals.” Dr.Kath- leen Lonsdale F.R.S. in the Washington Singer Laboratories Prince of Wales Road Exeter at 5 p.m. CHEMICAL “The Nature of Solution.” Professor ANDERSONIAN SOCIETY W. €7. K. Wynne- Jones at the Royal Technical College George Street Glasgow C.l at 3.30 p.m. 17 THEINSTITUTE (London and South-Eastern Counties Section jointly with the Society of Chemical Industry London Section) “Plastics and Corrosion.” Dr. H. Barron at the County Technical College Essex Road Dartford at 7.30 p.m. ALEMBICCLUB “Compounds of the Inert Gases.” Mr. H. M. Powell in the Physical Chemistry Laboratory Oxford at 8.15 pm. 18 SOCIETYOF CHEMICAL (Agriculture Group jointly with tlic INDUSTRY Society of Public Analysts and Other Analytical Chemists and the Fertiliser Society) “Fertiliser Analysis with special reference to Available Phosphoric Acid.” Dr.E. M. Crowther Mr. G. Taylor O.B.E. Mr. W. C. Hanson and Dr. J. H. Hamence in the Chemistry Department Imperial College of Science and Technology Imperial Institute Road South Kensington London S.W.7 at 2.30 p.m. OF THE RUBBERINDUSTRY INSTITUTION (Scottish Section) “Infra-red Spectroscopy.” Mr. Mann at the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders 39 Elmbank Crescent Glasgow C.2 at 7.30 p.m. 19 THE INSTITUTE (East Midlands Section) “Electrostatic Hazards in Chemical Industry.” Professor E. G. Cox at the Midland Hotel Derby at 7.15 p.m.THEINSTITUTE (London and South-Eastern Counties Section) “Rockets and Chemistry,” by Dr. J. G. A. Griffiths; Film ‘‘Rocket Flight.” -It the Wellcome Research Institution 183 Euston Road London N.11’.1 at 6.30 p.m. SocrETY OF CHEMICAL (Northern Ireland Section and Food INDUSTRY Group) “Agricultural Chemistry in Northern Ireland.” Professor R. G. Baskett O.B.E. in the Agricultural Lecture Theatre Elmwood Avenue Belfast at 7.30 p.m. SOCIETYOF CHEMICALINDUSTRY (Newcastle Section) “Antifouling Paints.” Mr. 0. D. Hunt in the New Chemistry Building King’s College Newcastle upon Tyne. CLUB “Occupational Diseases.” Dr. James at The Univer- ALCHEMISTS sity Glasgow W.2 at 4 p.m. [ 460 I October 19 THE INSTITUTE (Birmingham and Midlands Section) “Absorption Spectrophotometry applied to Metallurgical Analysis.” Mr.E. J . Vaughan in the Medical Theatre The University Edmund Street Birmingham at 6.30 p.m. 20 THE INSTITUTE (Belfast and District Section jointly with the Pharma- ceutical Society of Northern Ireland) “The Use and Production of 1,aboratory Animals.” Mr. A. L. Bacharach in the Rooms of the Pharmaceutical Society 73 University Street Belfast at 8 p.m. ?’HE INSTITUTE (South-Western Counties Section) Meeting at the Tech- nical College Plymouth. C,HEMICAL SOCIETY:Tilden Lecture “Acetylene and Acetylenic Com- pounds in Organic Synthesis.” Professor E. R. H. Jones in the Main Chemistry Lecture Theatre Imperial College of Science ant1 Technology South Kensington London S.W.7 at 7.15 p.m.CHEMICAL (jointly with the University College of Hull Chemical SOCIETY Society) “The Mechanism of Drug Action.” Professor A. R. Todd F.R.S. in the Science Lecture Theatre University College Hull at 6 p.m. SOCIETY: CHEMICAL Meeting for the reading of original papers. In the Chemistry Department The University Manchester at 6.30 p.m. CHEMICAL SOCIETY(jointly with the University of Nottingham Chemical Society) “The Scattering of Light by Solutions.” Dr. E. J. Bowen F.R.S. in the Lecture Theatre Department of Chemistry The Univer- sity Nottingham at 6.30 p.m. OF MININGAND METALLURGY: INSTITUTION Meeting in the Rooms of the Geological Society Burlington House Piccadilly T>ondon W.1 at 5 p.m. 21 THE INSTITUTE: Special General Meeting in the IAecture Theatre London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Keppel Street Idondon W.C.1 at 5.30 p.m.Special Lecture “The Development of Chemical Processes.” Dr. Frank Roffey at 6 pm. following the above meeting. (See leaflets enclosed.) THE INSTITUTE (Glasgow and West of Scotland Section) “Recent Macromolecular Adventures with the Electron Microscope.” Professor W.T. Astbury F.R.S. at the Royal Technical College Glasgow at 7.15 p.m. CHEMICAL SOCIETY(jointly with the Birmingham University Chemical Society) “The Oxidation of Aldehydes in Solution.” Professor C. E. H. Bawn in the Main Chemistry Lecture Theatre The University Birmingham at 4.30 p.m. CHEMICAL SOCIETY(jointly with The Institute Mid-Southern Counties Section and the Chemical Society University College Southampton) “Medical Aspects of Radiation Chemistry.” Dr.Edson in the Physics T>epartment University College Southampton at 7.45 p.m. 22 BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY Meeting at King’s College Strand T,ondon w.c.2. 24 SOCIETY INDUSTRY OF CHEMICAL (Food Group jointly with the Institute of Brewing London Section) “The Microbial Synthesis of Fats.” Professor H. Lundin in London. October 25 SOCiETY OF (.;HEM LCAL ~NUIJSTKY (c‘hemical ISnginecring (iroup) “Chemical Engineering Problems in the Sea-Water hfagnesia Process. ” Mr. H. W. Thorp and Dr. W. C. Gilpin in the Rooms of the Geological Society Burlington House Piccadilly London W.1 at 5.30 p.m. SOCIETYOF DYERSAND COLOURISTS (Scottish Section) “The Linking of Science and Craftsmanship in Textile Printing.” Mr.K. J. Hannay at St. Enoch Hotel Glasgow at 7 p.m. 26 THE INSTITUTE (Bristol and District Section jointly with the Plastics Institute) “Phenolic Plastics.” Mr. N. J. L. Megson in the Chemistry Lecture Theatre Technical College Gloucester at 7 p.m. SOCIETYOF CHEMICAL (liood Group Kutrition Panel ant1 INDUSTRY Agriculture Group) “Genetic Factors affecting the Nutritional Value of Animal Products and Crops.” 1)r. J. Hamnioncl and Mr. li. f-I. Richens in T-ondon. ALCHEMISTS’ CLUB “Kinetic Studies and Aromatic Substitution.” Professor Brynmor Jones at The University Glasgow W.2 at 4p.m. 27 CHEMICALSOCIETY: “Editing for the Chemical Society.” llr.K. S. Cahn in the Chemistry Lecture ‘Theatre The University I,iverpool at 4.30 p.m. C,HEMICALSOCIETY “The Chemistry of Metallic Oxides.” Dr. J. S. Anderson in the Chemistry Department IJniversity College l-)undt.c at 5 p.m. CHEMICAL SOCIETY “Aromatic Nitration. ” Professor C. K. Ingold F.R.S. at University College Cardiff at 7 p.m. 28 THE INSTITUTE (London and South-13astrrn Counties Section jointly with Cambridge University Chemical Society) “Chemotherapy and Essential Trace-Elements.” Professor A. Albert at the University Chemistry Laboratory l’embroke Street Cambridge at 8.15 p.m. CHEMICAL SOCIETY “The Art of Making Sulphate of Ammonia.” Dr. 81. P. Appleby M.B.E. in The University Glasgow at 3.30 p.m. CHEMICALSOCIETY(jointly with The Institute South Wales Section at University College of Swansea Students’ Chemical Society) “Aromatic Nitration.” Professor C.K. Ingold F.R.S. at University Collegc Swansea at 5.30 p.m. SOCIETYOF CHEMICALINDUSTRY (Chemical Engineering Group) Visit to Beet Sugar Factory Felstead Essex. INSTITUTEFUEL(Scottish Section) “Fuel Efficiency on the Firing OF Floor.” Demonstration at Aberdeen at 6 p.m. 31 -ALEMBIC CLUB “Microwave Spectroscopy.” Professor E. Bright IYilson Junr. in the Physical Chemistry I,aboratory Oxford at 8.15 p.m. November 1 THE IKSTITUTE (Huddersfield Section) “Some Nutritional Problems concerning Bread.” Dr. D. W. Kent- Jones. 2 CHEMICAL SOCIETY “Some Biologically Active Phenazine Derivatives. ” Mr. J. G. Belton in the Department of Chemistry Universitv College Dublin at 7.46 p.m.462 1 November 3 ’I‘HEINST~XLJX~.: (1,oncion arid South-Lastern C‘ounties Sectiun) “Careers for Chemists.” 1)r. N. Booth at Brighton Technical College Brighton at 7 p.m. CHEMICAL SOCIETY:Meeting for the reading of original papers in the Rooms of the Society Burlington House Piccadilly London vc’. 1 at 7.15 p.m. CfrEnfIcAL SOCIETY (jointlywith The Institute Rristol and District Section and the Society of Chemical Industry Rristol Section) “What is a Chemical Bond?” Professor C. A. Coulson in the Department of Chemistry The University SVoodland Road Bristol 8 at 7 p.111. (‘HERI~CAL SucTizTY (jointly with the University of Sheffielcl Chemical Society) “Some -1spects of the Organic Chemistry of Fluorine.” l>r.C. I\-.Suckling in thc Chemistry Lecture ’Theatrc ‘The University Sheffield at 5.30 p.m. 4 P HE INSTITUTE (London and South-Eastern Counties Section jointly with the Society of Chemical Industry London Section and Food Group) Visit to Messrs. Huntley and Palmers Ltd. Heading at 2.30 p.m. “Some Recent lrends in Bakery Research.” Dr. J. €3. hl. C,oppock at The University Reading at 5.30 p.m. BODIESIN XORTHERN CHARTEREDCHEMICAL IRELAND:Joint Xnnnal I>inner in the Royal A\renue Hotel Belfast. 7 SocirrY OF CHEMICALINDUSTRY (1,onclon Section l;ood Group and Agriculture Group) Jubilee Memorial 1,ecture “The Cow-Mankind’s Benefactress.” Mr. E. B. Anderson at The Royal Institution Albe- marlt Street Idondon W.1 at 6.30 p.m.8 ‘I’HE INSTITUTE (London and South-Eastern Counties Section) ‘‘Careers for Chemists.” Dr. N. Booth at Norwoocl Technical Institute Nor- wood London S.E.27 at 7 p.m. TNSTITUTION OF CHEMICALENGINEERS (jointly with Physical Society Low Temperature Group) “Heat Transfer at Low Temperatures.” In the Rooms of the Geological Society Burlington House Piccadilly London W.1 at 5.30 p.m. BRADFORD CHEMICALSOCIETY:‘‘The Evaluation of Transformer Oils.” Dr. J. .A. Ham at the Technical College Bradford at 7.15 p.m. 9 ‘rHE ~NSTITUTE(London and South-Eastern Counties Section) “By Sea and Air to South American Oil.” Mr. J. S. Parker at the County School Ridgeway Road Isleworth at 7 p.m. THE INSTITUTE (Manchester and District Section jointly with The Chem- ical Society and the Society of Chemical Industry Manchester Section) Symposium on “Some Chemical Aspects of Atomic Energy,” by mem- bers of the Chemistry Division Atomic Energy Research Establishment Harwell.In the Chemistry 1,ecture Theatre The University Man-Chester at 10.30 a.m. 10 THISINSTITUTE (with the co-operation of the Imperial College Chemical Society) Meldola Medal Lecture-“The Synthesis of Purine Nucleo- tides.” Dr. James Raddiley (Meldola Medallist 1947) in the Main Chemistry Lecture Theatre Imperial College of Science and Technology Imperial Institute Road South Kensington London S.W.7 at 5.30 p.m. (See leaflet enclosed.) [ 463 1 Novernber 10 THE INSTITUTE (London and South-Eastern Counties Section jointly with West Ham Municipal College Chemical Research Club) “By Sea and Air to South American Oil.” Mr.J. S. Parker at West Ham Municipal College Romford Road London E.15 at 7 p.m. CHEMICAL SOCIETY (jointly with the University College of Hull Chemical Society) “Surface Films.” Professor N. K. Adam F.R.S. in the Science Lecture Theatre University College Hull at 6 p.m. CHEMICALSOCIETY(jointly with the University of Nottingham Chemical Society) “Organic Compounds of Fluorine.” Professor M. Stacey in the Lecture Theatre Department of chemistry The University Nottingham at 6.30 p.m. II SOCIETY OF CHEhIICAL INDUSTRY (Fine Chemicals Group) :“The Chemistry of Antihistamine and Related Drugs.” Dr. D. W. Adamson in the C‘hemistry Lecture Theatre King’s College Strand T,ondon W.C.2 at 7 p.m.CHEMICAL SOCIETY(jointly with The Institute Aberdeen and North of Scotland Section and the Society of Chemical Industry) Tilden Lec- ture “Acetylene and Acetylenic Compounds in Organic Synthesis.” Professor E. R. H. Jones in the Chemistry Department Marischal College Aberdeen at 7.30 p.m. 12 BIOCHEMICAL Symposium at the Idondon School of Hygiene SOCIETY and Tropical Medicine. 14 SOCIETYOF CHEMrcAL ~NDUSTRY(Yorkshire Section jointly with Brad- ford Chemical Society) “Rotproofing.” nr. E. Race at the ’Technical College Bradford at 7.15 p m. 15 THE INSTITUTE (Bristol and I hstrict Section) Social Evening and Film Show in the Grand Hotel. 16 THEINsTITuTE (London and South-Eastern Counties Section) Annual General Meeting followed by discussion of Section and Institute affairs.At the Royal Society of Medicine I Wimpole Street London W.l at 6.30 p.m. SOCIETYOF CHEMICALINDUSTRY (Chemical Engineering Group and Newcastle Section) “Planning and Design of a Chemical Factory.” Dr. G. F. Whitby at Newcastle upon Tyne. 17 THEINSTITUTE (East Midlands Section) :“Some Aspect of C’arbohydrate Chemistry.” Professor E. T,. Hirst F.K.S. at the (’ollege of Tech- nology T,eicester at 7.15 p.m. THE INSTITUTE (Hull and District Section) “The I>evelopment of Chemical Processes.” Dr. F. Roffey at the Royal Station Hotel Hull at 7.30 p.m. SOCIETY : CHEMICAL Centenary I~xture “Radiation Induced Polymerisa- tion.” I>r.M. Magat in the Lecture Hall The Tnstitution of Mechanical Engineers Storey’s Gate London S.W.1 at 7.15 p.m. INSTITUTION Meeting in the Rooms of the OF hfINING AND METALLURGY Geological Society Rurlington House Piccadilly London W. 1 at 5 p.m. 18 THEINSTITUTE (Glasgow and West of Scotland Section) “Sonic Aspects of Chromatography.” Dr. Neil Campbell at the Koyal ’Technical College Glasgow at 7.16 p.m. r 464 7 November 18 THE INSTITUTE (Huddersfield Section) Annual Uinner. THE INSTITUTE (London and South-Eastern Counties Section) Dinner-Dance at the Connaught Rooms Kingsway London W.C.2 at 7 p.m. CHEMICAL SOCIETY (jointly with the University College of Swansea Students’ Chemical Society) “The Formation and Reactions of Free Radicals in Solution.” Professor M.G. Evans F.R.S. at University College Swansea at 5.30 p.m. 19 INSTITUTION ENGINEERS OF CHEMICAL (North-Western Branch) “The Growth of the Chemical Industry in the Manchester District.” Mr. N. Swindin at the College of Technology Manchester at 3 p.m. 21 ALEMBIC CLUB “Synthesis of Nucleotides.” Professor A. R. Todd F.R.S. in the Physical Chemistry Laboratory Oxford at 8.15 p.m. 22 THE INSTITUTE (London and South-Eastern Counties Section jointly with Welwyn Garden City Scientists’ Club) “Leather Its Constitution and Properties.” Dr. M. P. Balfe at The Cherry Tree Welwyn Garden City at 8 p.m. SOCIETYOF CHEMICAL (Chemical Engineering Group jointly INDUSTRY with the Institution of Chemical Engineers and the British Iron and Steel Research Association) “Submerged Flame Combustion.” Mr.N. Swindin in the Rooms of the Geological Society Burlington House Piccadilly London W.l at 5.30 p.m. 33 SOCIETYOF CHEMICALINDUSTRY (Food Group Microbiological Panel) “Recent Work on the Bacteriology of Pasteurisation.” Mr. E. B. Anderson and Dr. L. J. Meanwell in London. ALCHEMISTS’CLUB “Chemurgy.” Dr. I?. N. Woodward at The Univer- sity Glasgow W.2. at 4 p.m. INSTITUTE 84 ’IHE (Bristol and District Section) “The Production and Use of Laboratory Animals ” Mr. A. L. Bacharach in the Chemistry Department The University Woodland Road Bristol 8 at 7 p.m. THE INSTITUTE (London and South-Eastern Counties Section) Brains Trust-“The Chemical Protection of Crops.” At Medway Technical College Gardiner Street Gillingham at 7.30 p.m.SOCIETYOF CHEMICALINDUSTRY (Northern Ireland Section) Jubilee Memorial Lecture-“Photography in the Service of the Scientist.” Z)r. H. Baines. in the Technical College Belfast at 7.30 p.m. 25 THE INSTITUTE (Bristol and District Section) Social Evening and Film Show at Urch’s Caf6 Gloucester. CHEMICALSOCIETY (jointly with The Institute South-Western Counties Section and the Society of Chemical Industry) “Corrosion Inhibitors.” Dr. U. R. Evans F.K.S. in the Washington Singer Laboratories Prince of Wales Road Exeter at 5 p.m. CHEMICAL SOCIETY “Modern Theories of Chemical Valency.” Sir John Lennard- Jones K.B.E. F.R.S. in The University Glasgow at 7.15 p.m.SOCIETY: CHEMICAL Meeting for the reading of original papers. In the Chemistry Building King’s College Newcastle upon Tyne at 5 p.m. CHEMICAL (jointly with the Chemical Society University College SOCIETY Southampton) “Macro-Molecular Studies with the Electron Micro- scope.” Professor W. T. Astbury F.R.S. in the Physics Department University College Southampton at 5 p.m. 465 ] November 28 THE~NSTITUTE(London and South-Eastern Counties Section jointly with Woolwich Polytechnic Scientific Society) “The Minor Constituents of Coal.” Dr. A. C. Monkhouse at Woolwich Polytechnic London S.H.18 at 7.30 p.m. 29 SOCIETY OF PUBLIC ANALYSTSAND OTHER ANALYTICAL CHEMISTS (Physical Methods Group) Annual General Meeting. “The Mass Spectrometer.” Dr.J. G. A. Griffiths in the Chemistry Lecture Theatre Imperial College of Science and Technology South Kensing- ton London S.W.7 at 6 p.m. ~NSTITUTION OF THE RUBBERINDUSTRY (Scottish Section) “Latex Testing.” Dr. Paton at 25 Charlotte Square Edinburgh at 7.30 p.m. SOCIETYOF DYERSAND COLOURISTS(Scottish Section) “The Dyeing of Nylon in Unions with other Fibres.” Mr J. G. Grundy at St. Enocli Hotel Glasgow at 7 p.m. 30 CHEMICAL Symposium on “Fluorine Chemistry,” arranged by SOCIETY Professor H. J. Emcldus F.R.S. In the Lecture Theatre The Royal Institution Albemarle Street London jV.1 at 2.30 p.m. and 1 p.m. CHEMICAL SOCIETY “Some Recent Advances in the Physical Chemistry of High Polymers.” Dr. G. Gee at Tinil ersity College Cardiff at 7 p.m.December 1 SOCIETY INDUSTRY OF CHEMICAL (Bristol Section jointly with the Cheniical Engineering Group) Jubilee Memorial Lecture “Photography in the Service of the Scientist.” Dr. H. Baines in the Chemistry Depart-ment The University TYoodland Road Bristol 8 at 7 p.m. 2 CHEMICAL BODIESIN GLASGOW. Rainsay Chemical Dinner. 5 THEINSTITUTE (Hull and District Section jointly with the Hull Section of the Oil and Colour Chemists’ Association) “Absorption Spectro- photometry.” Ah-. N. H. E. Ahlers at the Royal Station Hotel Hull at 6.30 p.m. THE INSTITUTE (London and South-Eastern Counties Section jointly with the Society of Chemical Industry London Section) “Fibreglass.” Mr. A. ill. Robertson at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Keppel Street London W.C.l at 6.30 p.m.6 THE INSTITUTE (Huddersfield Section) “The Nature of Scientific Con-viction.” Professor M. Polanyi F.R.S. SOCIETY INDUSTRY OF CHEMICAL (Chemical Engineering Group) “Under-ground Corrosion of Ferrous Metals Causes and Prevention.” Dr. W. H. J. Vernon and Dr. K. R. Butlin in the Rooms of the Geological Society Burlington House Piccadill? Tnndon M7.1 at 5.30 p.m. 7 SOCIETY INDUSTRY OF CHEMICAL (Food Group jointly with the Society of Public Analysts and Other Analytical Chemists) “Properties of Pectin and its use in the Food Industry.” Dr. J. N. K. Jones Miss M. Olliver Dr. V. L. S. Chorley and Mr. R. W. Xoney in London. 8 PLASTICS (Scottish Section) “Acrylic Plastics with special INSTITUTE reference to their use in Building and Lighting Appliances.” Mr.R. Dew at the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders 39 Elmbank Crescent Glasgow C.2 at 7 p.m. 1466 ] December 9 THE INSTITUTE (Glasgow and West of Scotland Section) Meldola Medal Lecture-“The Synthesis of some Natural Products by the use of Acetylenic Precursors.” Dr. R. A. Raphael (Meldola Medallist 1948) at The University Glasgow at 7.15 p.m. SOCIETY INDUSTRY OF CHEMICAL (Fine Chemicals Group) “A Synthesis of L-Thyroxine.” Dr. B. A. Hems in the Chemistry Lecture Theatre King’s College Strand London W.C.2 at 7 p.m. OF ENGINEERS 10 INSTITUTIONCHEMICAL (North-Western Branch) “The Composition of Fractionating Column Products under Various Reflux Conditions.” Mr.J. S. Forsyth and Mr. N. L. Franklin at the College of Technology Manchester at 3 p.m. 13 THEINSTITUTE (London and South-Eastern Counties Section) “Chemistry of Bioluminescence and its Importance in Animal Behaviour. ” Dr. H. A. Klasens at Philips Electrical Ltd. New Road Mitcham Junc- tion at 7.15 p.m. SOCIETY INDUSTRY OF CHEMICAL (Plastics and Polymer Group) “Poly-merisation by Friedel-Crafts Catalysts.” Dr. A. G. Evans in the Rooms of the Chemical Society Burlington House Piccadilly London W.l at 6.30 p.m. INSTITUTION ENGINEERS: OF CHEMICAL “Fluid Flow through Granular Beds.” Dr. J. M. Coulson in the Rooms of the Geological Society Burlington House Piccadilly London W.1 at 5.30 p.m. CHEMICAL BRADFORD SOCIETY:“Some Applications of Chemistry to Wool Textiles.” Mr.G. E. Styan at the Technical College Bradford at 7.15 p.m. OF CHEMICALINDUSTRY I4 SOCIETY (Food Group Nutrition Panel) “The Nation’s Manufactured Foods-Soups as Food.” In London. 15 THE INSTITUTE (East Midlands Section). “Humour and Humanism in Chemistry.” Professor John Read F.R.S. at the Technical College Nottingham at 7.15 p.m. SOCIETY INDUSTRY OF CHEMICAL (Road and Building Materials Group) “The Rheology of Building Materials.” Mr. A. G. Ward in the Lecture Room Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents 17 Knights-bridge London S.\V. 1 at 6 p.m. OIL AND COLOUR CHEMISTS’ L\SSOCIATION (Scottish Section) “Improved Film-forming Materials from Dehydrated Castor Oil.” Mr.R. Wilson at St. Enoch Hotel Glasgow at 7 p.m. INSTITUTION AND METALLURGY: OF MINING Meeting in the Rooms of the Geological Society Burlington House Piccadilly London W,1 at 5 p.m. 1G BIOCHEMICAL Meeting at Guy’s Hospital London. SOCIETY [ 467 1 GENERAL NOTICES (For notices Yelating to matters of immediate importance see “Announcements” on pp. ii and 450.) Notice to Associates.-Regulations and forms of application for the Fellowship can be obtained from the Registrar. Appointments Register.-An Appointments Register is maintained by the Institute through which Fellows Associates and some senior registered students can be informed of vacancies. Facilities are aSforded by this Register free to authorities and firms requiring the services of qualified chemists.Prospective employers and Fellows and Associates who desire to make use of this service should communicate with the Registrar. Li braries.-The comprehensive Library of the Chemical Society Burlington House Piccadilly W.l to the maintenance of which the Institute makes substantial contributions is available to Fellows Associates and Registered Students wishing to consult or borrow books from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays (Satudays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Books can also be borrowed by post. Books may be borrowed from the Science Library Science Museum South Kensington S.W.7 on production of requisitions signed by the Registrar or the Secretary of the Institute. The use of the Goldsmiths’ Library of the University of London is also permitted to Fellows and Associates on application being made through the Office of the Institute.The Library of the Institute is open to Fellows Associates and Registered Students from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on week-days (not including Saturdays). Lantern Slides for Lecturers.-A list of slides of portraits of great chemists and other scientists throughout the ages can be obtained on application to the Secretary. As the slides are frequently in demand members are requested to notify their requirements at least 14 days before the date on which the slides are to be used. Joint Su bscri pt ion Arrange m en ts.-Fellows Associates and Registered Students who wish to participate in the arrangements whereby they can maintain on favourable terms their membership of the Chemical Society and the Society of Chemical Industry and also if desired of the Faraday Society or the Society of Public Analysts and Other Analytical Chemists with sub- stantial privileges as to publications (see special article JOURNAL AND PRO-CEEDINGS 1945,Part IV P.148) can obtain further particulars and necessary forms from the Conjoint Chemical Office 9 and 10 Savile Row London W.I. Benevolent Fund.-Contributions for 1949 may be sent to the Honorary Treasurer 30 Russell Square London W.C. I. Forms for Deeds of Covenant may be obtained from the Secretary. Covers for the Journal.-Members who desire covers (2s. each) for binding the JOURNAL in annual volumes should notify the Secretary AND PROCEEDINGS of their requirements.Covers for the years 1939 to 1948 inclusive are available. Changes of Add ress.-Fellows Associates and Registered Students who wish to notify changes of address are requested to give so far as possible their permanent addresses for registration. When writing from an address different from that previously given they are requested to state if the new address is to be used in future and whether the change affects the Appointments Register. All requests for changes should be addressed to the Registrar and not to the Honorary Secretaries of Local Sections. In order to facilitate identification Fellows Associates and Registered Students are asked to give their full initials on communications addressed to the Institute. In the prevailing circumstances they are also asked not invariably to expect formal acknowledgments of communications addressed to the Institute unless replies are necessary.[ 468 2