THE INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. FOUNDED 1877. INCORPORATED BY ROYAL CHARTER, 1885. JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 1931. PART VI. Issued under the supervision of the Publications Committee. RICHARD B. PILCHER. Regisfrar and Secretary. 30, RUSSELLSQUARE, W.C. I.LONDON, December, 1931 Publications Committee, 1931132. LEWIS EYNON (Chairnaaaa), G. C. CLAYTON (Presidertt), H. V. A. BRISCOE, H. B. BROWN, W. F. BUIST, W. J. A. BUTTERFIELD, A. M. CAMERON, F. D. CHATTAWAY, A. COULTHARD, W. R. FEARON, C. S. GIBSON, F. W. HARRIS, J. HAWTHORNE, T. P. WILDITCH, L. E. HINKEL, H. H. HODGSON. J. G. KING, PATRICK H. KIRKALDY (Hoe. Treaszrver), D. JORDAN LLOYD, H. M. MASON, W. D. ROGERS, E.RUSSELL, F.J. WILSON, WILLIAM WARDLAW, 327 Proceedings of the Council. NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 1931. Benevolent Fund.-At the meeting of Council held on 20th November, the Benevolent Fund Committee reported that the total amount of contributions received for the Fund for the year 1931 showed a decrease of fl13, while the disbursements in annuities, grants, loans, etc., were increased by LZIO. The Council, therefore, decided that the help of Fellows in control of staffs should be secured, if possible, in order to promote further “group contributions” to the Fund, and accordingly a letter was sent to a considerable number of such Fellows early in December, when the receipts showed an increase of Ez3 on those received at the corresponding period in X930; but the disbursements had increased by L274. The Committee felt that at the present time many members found it difficult to subscribe substantial sums individually, and it was thought that they would like to subscribe small sums periodically towards such “group contributions.” The replies were, in the main, sympathetic, but not altogether encouraging, owing to the circumstances that many salaries had been decreased and income tax would be due in the near future, while many members had made arrangements for the payment of an annual subscription by their banks, or preferred to subscribe individually.The Committee feels diffidence in making a special appeal at a time when other claims are so pressing, but hopes that all Fellows and Associates who are able, will do what they can to assist in relieving the distress of those who are in urgent need.Professional Interests.-The Council has represented to the Colonial Office that administrations under its jurisdiction should be advised to refrain from the employment of officers unqualified in chemistry to carry out work of a chemico-legal nature in places where properly qualified officers are available. The Council recognises that, in certain partly developed countries where the appointment of a whole-time chemical officer is not justified, it may be necessary for administrative purposes to appoint officers, not being properly qualified chemists, 328 to perform , locally and temporarily, certain functions under specific ordinances.The attention of the Council has been directed, however, to cases in which chemical investigations have been entrusted to medical men and others who have not received the training and experience in chemistry necessary for the proper performance of such work. The Council has suggested, therefore, that it would further the interests of efficient administration if such arrangements were discontinued, and the work entrusted to professional chemists possessing the necessary qualifications, skill and experience. Public Analysts and Official Agricultural Analysts.- In common with other Local Government Officers, some Public Analysts and Official Agricultural Analysts, have been asked by their Local Authorities to agree to a percentage reduction in their emoluments.It is felt, however, that as part-time officers who have to bear overhead and other expenses which are not also subject to reduction, the rate of the “cut,” if any, should be modified, otherwise they would be penalised to a greater * extent than whole-time salaried officers. Australian Chemical Institute.-The Council has been informed by H.M. Privy Council that His Majesty the King has been pleased to approve the grant of a Charter to the Australian Chemical Institut e. The Council has conveyed to the Australian Chemical Institute the congratulations and best wishes of the Institute of Chemistry of Great Britain and Ireland on this occasion, together with an assurance that the Institute will be glad at all times to co-operate with the Australian Chemical Institute in the furtherance of the interests of the profession of chemistry throughout the British Empire.The Fourteenth Streatfeild Memorial Lecture was given at the Institute, on 18th November, by Dr. J. Vargas Eyre, who selected as his subject ‘(Recent Advances in the Fermentation Industries.” Professor G. G. Henderson, F.R.S., who presided, in the unavoidable absence of the President, reminded the meeting that the Lecture was inaugurated to keep alive the memory of Frederick William Streatfeild, to whom was entrusted so much of the chemical education of students at Finsbury Technical 329 College, and that when the College was closed the Institute was asked to ensure the continuance of the scheme under which the lecture was delivered.The Publications Committee hopes to be able to publish Dr. Vargas Eyre’s lecture as a separate monograph early in 1932. At the conclusion of the lecture, a vote of thanks was passed to Dr. Vargas Eyre, on the motion of Professor Gilbert T. Morgan, seconded by Mr. Julian Baker, both “old students” of the College, and Dr. Vargas Eyre was presented with the Medal (the gift of the City and Guilds of London Institute), and a portrait of Streatfeild. The Third S. M. Gluckstein Memorial Lecture was given at the Institute on 18th December by Sir Frank E. Smith, K.C.B., C.B.E., F.R.S., Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, who dealt with ‘‘The Chemist and the Community.” Professor Henderson, Vice-president, who occupied the Chair on this occasion, reminded the members that the lecture was given under a scheme inaugurated by the chief chemist and laboratory staff of Messrs.J. Lyons & Co., to keep alive the memory of the late Mr. Samuel M. Gluckstein, who delivered, before the London Section of the Institute in 1927,a valuable lecture entitled “Chemists and Dividends,” which was sub-sequently widely circulated, and has since served as a type of lecture, much needed and appreciated in these times, whereby the place and value of the chemist in industry and commerce might be more fully realised. The lecture will shortly be published and issued to Fellows, Associates and Registered Students, as a separate monograph.Sir Robert Robertson, in moving a vote of thanks, said that it had been his privilege to occupy the Chair when Mr. Gluckstein had given his lecture, and he had been greatly interested in the lectures given by Dr. Lampitt and Dr. Dunstan under the scheme. Sir Frank had given them a most inspiring lecture based on his wide experience. He had feared that he was intending to compliment chemists too much on what they had done in the past, but he had also indicated various lines on which they still had much to do. He was especially glad that the importance of fundamental work had been emphasised, because he felt that 330 few young chemists took full advantage of the opportunities afforded them of keeping in touch with the latest developments of pure research, by attending the meetings of societies devoted to that object.When the lecture was printed they would all give it that careful study which it so much deserved. Dr. Lampitt, in seconding, said that he felt sure that, if Mr. Gluckstein had still been with them, he would have urged the continuance of fundamental work even in times of industrial depression, feeling sure that the ultimate result would be for the benefit of the community; he would also have been much gratified to think that he had been the means of suggesting the delivery of lectures such as that to which they had just listened. Professor Henderson, at the conclusion of the proceedings, endorsed the view of Sir Robert Robertson that the lecture would afford pleasure to a much larger circle when it was published, and expressed the hope that Sir Frank would be successful in using his influence to secure the adoption of his views in high places.Gift.-The thanks of the Council have been accorded to Mr. Patrick H. Kirkaldy, Hon. Treasurer, for his generous gift of an oak pedestal writing table, which has been placed in the Library of the Institute, 331 Local Sections. Aberdeen and North of Scotland.-A meeting of the Section was held in the Chemistry Department, Marischal College, Aberdeen, on 11th December, when Dr. A. R. Martin delivered a paper entitled ‘‘The Significance to Chemists of the Dielectric Constant of a Substance.” Dr.J. F. Tocher, Chairman of the Section, presided over a good attendance. Dr. Martin gave a lucid exposition of the theoretical con-siderations in relation to the determination of the dielectric constant of substances. He showed how the ability of dielectrics to increase the quantity of electricity required to charge a condenser to a given potential is explained on the assumption that, under the influence of the electric field, the material forming the dielectric takes up an electric moment, which, per unit volume, is proportional to the field acting. He also dealt with the inter- pretation of this hypothesis from the molecular standpoint, discussing the two types of molecules-polar and non-polar. Measurements of permanent di-pole moments, Dr.Martin said, could be applied to the determination of the structure of simple molecules and also to some problems in organic chemistry. For example, the space relationships of the oxygen and hydrogen atoms inthe water molecule could be diagrammatically represented by joining each of the hydrogen atoms to the oxygen atom by straight lines at an acute angle to each other, and not as might be thought by having a straight chain H-0-H. Similarly, the tetrahedral form of the ammonia molecule with the nitrogen atom at the apex could be confirmed. Dr. Martin also demon- strated how the manner of attachment to the benzene ring of simple groups like methyl and nitro radicles could be found. It was of interest to note also that the problem of electrical saturation threw some light on the state of the solvent in the immediate neighbourhood of an ion, eg., the question of hydration. On the motion of Dr.Tocher, Dr. Martin was warmly thanked for his address. 332 Belfast and District.-At a meeting of the Local Section, held in the Physics Lecture Theatre of the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, on 30th October, Mr. R. G. Baskett, Lecturer on Agricultural Chemistry, Queen’s University, read a paper on ‘‘Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition,” illustrated with lantern slides. Mr. Baskett outlined briefly the early work on the science of animal nutrition, directing particular attention to the researches of Thaer, Kellner and Armsby. He said that upon the findings of these workers the present-day standards for rationing were based. During recent years there had been a great advance in the development of all classes of livestock and intensity of production had increased enormously. This speeding up of production had brought to light certain deficiencies in rations, which under older methods of production had proved satisfactory. The two main factors responsible for these deficiencies were the possible lack of vitamins and inadequate supply of inorganic constituents.The lecturer described the main symptoms of vitamin deficiency and quoted results of recent work on the relationship of carotene to vitamin A. An account was then given of experi-ments, carried out in Northern Ireland, on the feeding of mineral supplements to pigs and poultry.The results of these experiments emphasised the importance of the inorganic ingredients of rations for rapid growth or heavy production. Modern research had shown that there was a close relationship between disease and nutrition. This point was illustrated by an outline of the work of Theiler and his colleagues on the deficiency of phosphorus in the diet of South African cattle. In conclusion, Mr. Baskett drew attention to the recent work on the composition of pasture, and pointed out that as the result of this work it was now known that a well-managed pasture had a much higher food value than had been hitherto realised. Bristol and South Western Counties.-Mr. Frank Southerden presided over a numerous attendance at the meeting held in Bristol University, on 20th November, when Professor W’.E.Garner gave a lecture on “Detonating Substances.” 333 The lecturer gave an account of experiments carried out on the decomposition of lead azide and mercury fulminate. In these experiments the rates of decomposition of single crystals with known area were measured in a vacuum. Decomposition of solids always occurs on the surface of the unchanged material and at a rate dependent on the area. From the rates of decomposition at several temperatures it was shown how the critical increments of the reactions in the cases of lead azide and mercury fulminate could be obtained. These were 47.6 and 29.4 Kg.Cal. per mol.of substance respectively. Since the heats of decomposition were considerably greater than these quantities, the decomposing molecules liberate sufficient energy to set up an energy chain. Methods of calculating the length of the reaction chain were discussed, and the conclusion was reached that the chain length was made up of, roughly, a million steps, in the case of lead azide and of a thousand steps in the case of mercury fulminate. These reaction chains on the surface of the solid were examples of line detonation. The conditions under which the thermal decomposition passed into detonation were dealt with, and it was shown that azide and fulminate crystals exhibit considerable points of difference. The fulminate crystals, after being heated for a period of time, the length of which decreased with increase in temperature, began to crack, and the rate of decomposition accelerated.Detonation always occurred while the cracks were being formed. In the case of azide, however, there was no evidence of crack formation. From the temperature coefficient of the time required for detonation, it was deduced that in the case of azide, detonation set in when four adjacent azide groups decomposed simultaneously. The lecture was illustrated by lantern slides and experiments. A discussion ensued, in which Messrs. E. Lewis, A. W. M. Wintle, J. Wilson, N. J. Hassid and others took part, and a successful meeting was closed by Mr. Wintle, who occupied the Chair at the conclusion of the meeting, and proposed the vote of thanks accorded to Professor Garner.The next meeting will be held on Friday, zand January, at 7.30 p.m., in the Chemical Department of Bristol University, when Dr. A. C. Monkhouse will give a paper on “The recovery of phenols in the Ruhr district.” 334 Edinburgh and East of Scotland.-A meeting of the Section was held, jointly with the Local Section of the Society of Chemical Industry, in the North British Station Hotel, Edinburgh, on 26th October,-Mr. W. R. Guy in the Chair. The Chairman having intimated that Dr. J. G. Mackay had been obliged to resign the Honorary Secretaryship of the Section, the meeting accorded him a vote of thanks for his work. Mr. Walter Smith was appointed as his successor.Mr. W. R. Guy then vacated the Chair in favour of Mr. Adam Tait, who invited Mr. Guy to read a paper entitled (( Housing the Industrial Chemist.” Mr. Guy dealt with the design and equipment of industrial laboratories. The general principles of construction, both indoor and outdoor, were discussed, and an account was given of the laying-on of water, gas, steam, compressed air, etc. The design of laboratories for teaching industrial chemistry was considered, and stress was laid on the superiority of methods of teaching involving a general study of the fundamental processes of industrial chemistry on the semi-works scale. A brief historic sketch was then given of the development of the chemical laboratory in industry to the present high level required by modern industrial research work.Emphasis was given to the improved attitude of present-day manufacturers towards progressive process development. The lecturer concluded by advising students to aim at obtaining a sound knowledge of chemistry, physics and physical chemistry while in training; he suggested that the requisite knowledge of engineering could be gradually acquired during works practice. The paper was followed by a discussion, in which Dr. Kermack, Dr. Harris, Messrs. Merson, Williams, Rutherford Hill, and Elder, and Major Bruce took part. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to Mr. Guy for his address, and to Mr. Tait for taking the Chair during the latter part of the meeting. The second meeting of the session was held, jointly with the Local Section of the Society of Chemical Industry, the Photo- graphic Society and the Royal Scottish Society of Arts, in the rooms of the last-named Society, at Royal Terrace, on 26th and 27th November, when an exhibition was arranged of laboratory and electrical apparatus, research chemicals and products of local industries. 335 A display of fire extinguishing appliances suitable for dealing with outbreaks of fire due to various causes was also given, and films, kindly lent by Scottish Oils, Ltd., Highways Construction, Ltd., and Bakelite, Ltd., were shown on both evenings.Glasgow and West of Scotland.-The Annual General Meeting of the Section was held at the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, on 23rd October, when the Committee of the Section was elected:-Mr. Hugh Findlay (Chairman), Mr.F. W. Harris (Vice-chairman), Mr. A. R. Jamieson (Hon. Secretary), Dr. Stotherd T. R. S. Mitchell (Hon. Treasurer), Messrs. J. G. Duncan and H. L. Watson. The Chairman expressed the regret of the Section that Dr. Gordon had decided to retire from the post of Honorary Secretary, and thanked him very sincerely for all he had done during the past five years that he had held that office. He was glad that Dr. Gordon had accepted nomination as District Member of Council, and hoped that the Local Section would thus still have the benefit of his guidance and experience. The thanks of the Section were also accorded to Mr. J. C. MacCallum for his services in connection with the proposed 1931Ramsay Chemical Dinner.While it had been decided to postpone the Dinner, they hoped that the arrangements would hold good for next year. By the courtesy of Messrs. Courtaulds, Ltd., Coventry, a cinematograph film depicting the manufacture of Rayon was shown at the conclusion of the business meeting, and the Physics Department of the Royal Technical College kindly gave a Radio- Gramophone Recital during the exhibition of the film. On 20th November, the Section held a joint meeting with the Local Section of the Society of Chemical Industry and local Fellows of the Chemical Society, at St. Enoch’s Hotel, when Professor J. C. Philip, F.R.S., Chairman of the Bureau of Chemical Abstracts, gave an interesting address on the Abstracting of Chemical Literature.A report of this meeting was published in Chemistry mad Industry, 27th November, 193-1, pages 976-977. On 4th December, at the Ca’doro Restaurant, Glasgow, the members of the Section were invited to participate in a discussion on professional matters. Mr. Hugh Findlay, Chairman of the 336 Section, presided, and the Registrar of the Institute attended by invitation. Dr. P. F. Gordon opened a discussion 011 ‘‘Co-operation with regard to Chemical Literature.” Dr. Gordon appealed for further support for the work of the publishing societies, as being of national importance. He referred to the great scope and variety of chemical work, and suggested that the Society of Chemical Industry should control the publication of all papers read before specialised industrial chemical bodies, and that the Chemical Society should deal with the purely scientific and academic work.Professor R. M. Caven agreed that the Chemical Society should deal with pure science, and the Society of Chemical Industry with applied chemistry generally. Professor F. J. Wilson suggested that difficulty would arise, because certain papers of interest to industrial chemists, which were read before the Society of Chemical Industry, really came within the domain of pure science. Dr. Stotherd T. R. S. Mitchell raised the question of the cost of the JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGSOF THE INSTITUTE,and referred to the somewhat meagre reports of the proceedings of Local Sections.The Registrar reminded the meeting that a Joint Committee of the Chemical Society, the Society of Chemical Industry, and the Institute had been looking into the question of “co-opera- tion,”-especially in connection with the question of the cost of publication. He understood that the Joint Committee had directed its attention to the question whether the business of the societies concerned was conducted on economic lines, and particularly whether one of them had funds to spare for the others; but he was not in possession of any information regarding recent proceedings of the Committee. The net cost of the JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGSTHE INSTITUTEOF was about L400,-a sum that would be of little use to the publishing societies.THE JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS the meanswas whereby the Fellows and Associates were kept in touch with headquarters throughout the year. If the reports of meetings of Local Sections were meagre in some cases, he could only say that the Publications Committee printed what was received from the Local Sections themselves; but that, in general, it was understood that, when the papers given before Local Sections dealt with technical matters, they should be offered, in the first place, to the recognised technical journals. The Institute endeavoured to encourage its members to support the work of the other Bodies, but there were no less than sixteen societies and institutions connected with chemistry, all doing useful and necessary work, which a chemist might join, according to the nature of the branch of work in which he himself was engaged.He (the Registrar) believed that all the Bodies concerned were doing good work, and that they were ready at all times to co-operate for the common good. Mr. A. K. Jamieson opened a discussion on “The Formation of a Science Party in Parliament,” on the lines suggested by the League of Science, of which the Hon. Secretary is Mr. W. P. Dreaper, a Fellow of the Institute, and asked whether the Council had considered the matter. The Registrar said that he was aware that Mr. Dreaper had been advocating the formation of a Science Party for about 20 years. Mr. Dreaper’s aim was to attempt to increase the number of Members of Parliament who were interested in the advance of scientific thought and enterprise, in order that such members should form themselves into a Committee to consider matters which might be the subject of legislation involving scientific interests.In time, the party might have direct representation and become a power in the land. The Registrar said that, personally, he felt some sympathy with the movement, although he had heard the view expressed that men of science, as such, would rarely make satisfactory Cabinet Ministers. He recalled that Lord Playfair and Sir Henry Roscoe had been Members of the Privy Council, and that there had been Cabinet Ministers who were indirectly interested in chemistry, and others who took a pride in the fact that they studied a little chemistry in their youth. However, there had always been a small number of representatives who could be appointed Chair- men of Committees of the House of Commons, when legislation involving scientific interests was under consideration.He knew that the President, Dr. Clayton, during his previous seven years” experience in the House of Commons, had served on such Committees. Lately, the British Science Guild and the Associa- tion of Scientific Workers had suggested that they should secure representation of science in the House of Commons, and he 338 thought that the Universities frequently returned members who possessed a broad scientific outlook, while occasionally a leader of industry, with some knowledge of science, was elected to represent an industrial centre.Among other professional men -medical, legal and engineering-there were usually some Members of Parliament who had had scientific training. The fnstitute was fortunate, at the present time, in that Lord Henley was a member of its Council, and had recently represented the views of the Institute on the Poisons and Pharmacy Bill in the House of Lords; while Dr. Clayton would, he felt sure, do what he could to represent the views of chemists, when necessary, in the House of Commons. The League of Science was anxious that professional bodies, such as the Institute, should endeavour to encourage other members to stand for Parliament, and the subject would shortly come under the consideration of the Legal and Parliamentary Committee.It was not easy, however, to find men who had the inclination to relinquish the pursuit of their science in favour of a career in Parliament; but, if any Local Section had such a man in view, he felt sure that it was desirable to ensure, so far as possible, that the profession of chemistry was always represented in the House. The meeting proceeded to consider the question as to “What Interpretation should be put on the Salary Statistics,” recently issued by the Institute. Dr. Mitchell suggested that certain returns should be excluded from such statistics,--such as scholarships and grants to members who were working as research students. Mr. A. E. Caunce felt that some of the returns had been reported on a scale higher than had been anticipated.He thought that the returns were valuable and should be obtained fairly frequently . Professor F. J. Wilson enquired what percentage of the members had made such returns. Mr. T. Cockburn thought that it would be useful to obtain some idea of the average earnings of other professions. The Chairman and other members were in favour of showing the return for various branches of work-academic, industrial, governmental-as had been done in 1920 and 1921, and reference was made to the university scale for lecturers and demonstrators, and to the report of the “Carpenter” Committee, which dealt with the salaries of professional Civil Servants. 339 The Registrar said that about 65 per cent.of the members had made returns. He said that it was difficult to obtain returns of salary statistics if the questionnaire was too elaborate. He suggested that the figures should be regarded as affording a general indication, and nothing more than a general indication, of the earning capacity of members. In considering the returns, it was only fair to exclude the few low figures, at the beginning, and the unusually high figures, at the end, of each series. It was reasonable to suppose that a Fellow earning less than L300 a year was only occupied either in part-time employment or that he had had exceptionally bad luck and was, likely enough, in some temporary employment, “marking time” until he could improve his position.The percentage of Associates earning less than L500 a year (62 per cent.) might be regarded as rather high; but many members who had done well and had deserved well proceeded to the Fellowship, and the returns received from the Fellows were decidedly better. They indicated, at least, that there were prospects for the highest and most enterprising talents. He thought that the ultimate earnings of a professional man consti- tuted the important measure of his success, although many men of science were actuated rather by the desire for success in their scientific work than by material gain. It was fairly satisfactory to be able to show that over 46 per cent. of the Fellows who made returns were earning between L~OOand LI,OOO a year, and that a further 35 per cent.were either their own masters or in positions carrying salaries of over LI,OOO a year. It was not easy to obtain statistics with regard to other professions. The British Medical Association had specified certain minimum scales for certain appointments, but medical men had frequently an uphill fight, because people were less inclined to employ them while they were young. Barristers usually had to work as juniors for many years before they were really successful, and a large proportion of solicitors and accountants never became principals. The main object of the salary statistics was to ascertain the earning power of the profession, as well for the guidance of the members as for that of the prospective chemist, his parents, and those who were responsible for his education.The statistics enabled a Fellow or Associate to ascertain how he stood in comparison with the general run of his professional brethren of the same age and grade. The publication of the figures had acted as a spur to 340 those who had found themselves at a disadvantage, and this should be for the good of the profession as a whole. There was, perhaps, a tendency on the part of some to neglect opportunities of improving their positions while they were young. bb Local Examinations.” Mr. Sorley was invited to open a discussion on the subject of holding examinations of the Institute locally. He felt that the Council should endeavour to arrange examinations in Scotland, especially on account of the expense incurred by Scottish candidates.Those who could not secure admission to the Associateship by reason of high academic qualifications were largely those who had to comply with the requirements of the Institute by means of evening classes. Such candidates could not afford the expense involved. He had made enquiries, and he found that there were about 35 candidates who would be ready to take the examinations in the next two years if Local Examinations could be arranged. Professors Henderson, Caven, and Wilson, and Dr. Gordon supported the proposal. The Registrar said that the general policy of the Council in the past had been to encourage the system of holding local examinations, provided that a reasonzble number-say about 10 -candidates were willing to present themselves at a centre, and that satisfactory supervision could be ensured.He knew that such supervision could be ensured in Glasgow. Those who had had personal experience of the examinations of the Institute knew how important the examiners considered the practical work of the candidates. If the Council was not able to send a member of the Board of Examiners to a local examination, the Board looked for a detailed report of the actual performance of the candidates in the laboratory. He felt that a good case had been made out, and that it would be well for the Local Section to address a representation to the Council on the matter. He ought to make one reservation, however, namely, that in the examination in the Chemistry of Food and Drugs and Water, candidates should present themselves in London, because of the importance placed on the examination in therapeutics, phar- macologv, and microscopy by the Ministry of Health.‘‘ Supplemental Charter.” The Registrar, having been asked to report on the present position regarding the proposal to petition the Crown for a 341 Supplemental Charter, said that the Council obtained the views of the members by postal vote, with the result that a considerable majority was in favour of proceeding with the petition. Since then, conferences had taken place between representatives of the Institute and other bodies, which, for one reason or another, had intimated that they objected to the proposal.Then, the Pharmacy and Poisons Bill, which would, in some measure, have cleared the way for the proposal, had not passed into law owing to the change in Government ;so that the matter was in abeyance. He dealt briefly with the history of the proposal and the argu- ments for and against it, expressing his own view that if the petition were granted, the public in time would come to under- stand what was meant by the term “Chartered Chemist” and the present confusion, between those who were practising chemistry and those practising pharmacy, would be eliminated. The Council did not want to go forward unless there was a reasonable chance of success or, at any rate, a reasonable chance of making progress. “&Lectures.” Finally, Professor Wilson, supported by Dr.Hopper, suggested that special lectures given under the auspices of the Institute should occasionally be given before Local Sections. The Registrar said that the Council arranged annually for three lectures to be given at headquarters,-the Streatfeild Memorial Lecture, the S. M. Gluckstein Memorial Lecture, and one other. It was left to the Local Sections to make their own arrangements for lectures. Headquarters was sometimes asked to suggest the names of lecturers, and when lectures of unusual importance were read, the Council was asked that they might be published as separate monographs. It should be understood, however, that such proposals were subject to the concurrence of the Council. The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the speakers.On 15th December, in the Burlington House, the Local Section held a dance which was thoroughly enjoyed by all present. Huddersfie1d.-A meeting of the Section was held on 10th November in the Technical College, Huddersfield, when Mr. H. W. Moss, Chairman of the Section, presided over a well-attended meeting of members, students and friends, and the 342 Registrar of the Institute delivered his lccturc on “Alchemists in Art and Literature.” A vote of thanks was passed to the Registrar, on the motion of Dr. J. Bruce, seconded by Mr. G. R. Jones. Irish Free State.-The Annual General Meeting of the Section was held in Trinity College, Dublin, on 25th November, Professor W.E. Adeney presiding. The Committee for the session 1931-32 was elected:-Professor W. E. Adeney, Dr. J. Bell, Mr. B. G. Fagan, Dr. A. G. G. Leonard, Dr. J. H. Millar, Professor A. O’Farrelly, and Mr. J. W. Parkes. Mr. George Brownlee and Mr. P. O’Callaghan were elected Hon. Auditors. Mr. B. G. Fagan delivered an address on “Water in its Relation to Public Health.” Rain water, collected under suitable conditions, is the purest natural water we have, but is, nevertheless, contaminated with impurities varying with the locality of collection. Rain falling on the sea far away from land is much purer than that collected on land. In the proximity of towns, atmospheric impurities cause a corresponding rise in the impurities of rain water. Pure rain water, owing to its soft character, has a marked tendency to act on leaden pipes and cisterns, the introduction of this poisonous metal rendering the water dangerous to health owing to the cumulative poisonous action of lead on the human system.Alkaline silicate added to such water prevents oxidation of lead, iron and aluminium. Rain water falling on calcareous land takes up calcium and magnesium as bicarbonates, and also as sulphates and chlorides; these salts render the water hard, temporary hardness being produced by the former salts, permanent by the latter. By filtration through sodium silico-aluminate (permutit) the water is completely deprived of its hardness, and the permutit can be regenerated by treatment with a solution of common salt.Hardness may also be removed by treatments with lime and sodium carbonate, but such treatment necessitates subsequent filtration to remove the sludge formed. In this respect the pennutit process has the advantage, there being no sludge, and the total hardness being reduced to zero. Impurities derived from animal sources are most objectionable in a drinking water ;besides introducing intestinal bacteria, they 343 can yield poisonous chemical products in certain stages of their decomposition. Decaying vegetation gives rise to soluble vegetable contami- nation, a class of impurity which is not very serious per se, but which, if present in excess, may give rise to gastric disorders. It is undesirable in a potable water as it constitutes food for the growth of micro-organisms and low forms of aquatic life. An instance of this occurred in Dublin about fifteen months after the opening of the new reservoir at Roundwood.A certain amount of vegetation was submerged when the reservoir was being filled, and this gradually decayed, giving rise to soluble organic matter in the water-quite noticeable in the increased colour of the water. Simultaneously, large numbers of daphniz, a form of crustacean, made their appearance in the supply, feeding on the vegetable organic matter. In time the excess of organic matter gradually fell off, and the daphniz disappeared. The City of Dublin water supply is an upland surface water of very soft character; the chlorides are low and the form of the nitrogenous matter indicates vegetable contamination only.The catchment area of the supply lies in a mountainous region of the lower Cambrian formation, situated twenty-six miles from the city. The lower reservoir, which has a capacity of two thousand million gallons, was completed in 1865; the upper, which holds thirteen hundred million gallons, in 1923. The Vartry river enters the upper reservoir at a point five miles from the outlet to the lower reservoir. The water, therefore, has ample time for mixing and storage before passing to the lower reservoir, where it undergoes further storage before delivery to the sand filters. About 16.5 million gallons are filtered daily, and this is conveyed by pipe line to Stillorgan, where a ten-days’ supply is stored.Rivers are principally fed from surface waters, and are often contaminated by domestic and industrial sewage. As inland towns increased in size the pollution of rivers became so serious that limits had to be laid down for the effluents which could be discharged into them. Professor Adeney, in his evidence before the Royal Commission on Sewage Disposal, stated that “the most important change which occurs in an unpolluted water, when it is mixed with sewage or other water-borne refuse, is the more or less rapid absorption of its dissolved oxygen.” It is obvious, then, that a river water can be of a very impure nature, and should on no account be used as a drinking supply unless 344 carefully treated by storage and filtration, or filtration followed by chlorination.Water derived from deep wells is usually remarkably free from organic impurity owing to natural purification by filtration. It may, however, have acquired considerable hardness. The Metropolitan Water Board, London, obtains daily some 40 million gallons of such water from wells,and borings. Shallow wells frequently constitute the source of supply to villages and country houses. These are extremely liable to pollution, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall. Unless far removed from manured land and habitation they must always be regarded with suspicion. It is the duty of the sanitary authority to ensure that the community has at its command a supply of wholesome drinking water.While this was generally the case in large towns, in the lecturer’s experience, it was quite otherwise in rural districts. Some years ago he had occasion to condemn 15 out of 17 public wells in one district. A community may develop a certain tolerance to a polluted water which does not actually contain disease-carrying bacteria ; but if an individual in the community contracts a disease such as typhoid, an epidemic ensues, and such a danger always accompanies the use of a water which, although it may have been drunk with impunity for a considerable time, has been found on examination to be polluted. The lecturer dealt with the methods of purification of water supplies by storage, filtration and chlorination, as well as the methods of examination necessary to keep a constant check on the purity of a public water supply.Mr. Stringer, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Fagan, said that he had himself experienced harmful effects from a drinking water which was used with impunity by residents in the locality. Mr. Arup, in seconding, said that he would like Mr. Fagan’s opinion on the relative merits of bacteriological and chemical testing of water. Professor O’Farrelly, Dr. Gilmour, Mr. Callaghan, Mr. O’Sullivan and the Chairman participated in the discussion. In replying to points raised in the discussion, Mr. Fagan said that the colour in the Rathmines water supply was due to colloidal clay carried in when the river Dodder burst its bank 345 and flowed into the reservoir; the sand filters did not remove the clay, but the colour was gradually falling off.In his opinion, chemical examination of water gave more information than bacteriological; in the latter case the taking of samples should be very carefully supervised. It was possible to detect the presence of one part of lead in a million, and one part of copper in one hundred million parts of water. Leeds Area.-The Annual General Meeting of the Section was held on a3rd November at the Great Northern Hotel, Leeds,-Mr. H. M. Mason in the Chair. Messrs. A. C. Francis, T. Hayes, H. J. Hodsman and A. T. King were elected to serve on the Committee for three years; Mr. G. Hagues was elected to serve on the Committee for two years.Dr. H. Burton was elected Honorary Secretary in the place of Mr. H. J. Hodsman on his retirement from that office. Messrs. J. T. Thompson and J. N. Wishart were elected Honorary Auditors. The thanks of the Section were accorded to Mr. H. J. Hodsman for his valuable services as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer. Mr. Arnold R. Tankard read a paper on “The Food and Drugs Act, 1928.” Mr. Tankard said that if every interested person were allowed to interpret the Act in his own way, each could say that the Act was a good one; but many terms and phrases were capable of more than one interpretation. He therefore advocated the establishment of a statutory authority to decide interpretations, and thus obviate costly and unsatisfactory legal proceedings.Speaking generally, public analysts found the Act faulty in many particulars. Dealing with Section I-Sub-sections (I) and (2): “No person shall mix, colour, stain or powder . . . any food or drug so as to render it injurious to health,” and “no person shall sell” an article so mixed, etc., Mr. Tankard asked: What exactly was meant by the term “injurious to health”? He thought that it was nonsense to hold that the legal mind must be satisfied regarding “injury” before a case could be said to have been made out. It should not be possible for anyone manufacturing foodstuffs to make additions which may, even doubtfully, have 346 deleterious properties. All mixings and colourings should be prohibited unless specifically allowed.If anyone thought that the danger was unreal, let him consider the chemical substances which have been advocated, with many others, for adding to flour to “improve” it:- Phosphorus disulphide, Phosphorus penta-sulphide, Phosphorus tri-chloride, Phosphorus penta-chloride, Phosphorus pentoxide, Sulphur dioxide, Sulphur trioxide, Sulphur dichloride, and Chlorine. The public was not adequately protected by an Act which did nothing to stop this interference with our staple foodstuffs until it was proved in Court beyond all legal doubt that a substance had been added which was injurious to health in the quantities found in the food. Mr. Tankard also wanted to get rid of the costly business of employing experts on both sides, each convinced that his own view only was right.A Standing Advisory Committee or competent Court of Enquiry should decide such questions. Under Section z : No person shall sell to the prejudice of the‘I purchaser any article of food or any drug which is not of the nature, or not of the substance, or not of the quality, of the article demanded by the purchaser.” Everything hinged on the interpretation of natzwe, substance and quality. In nature and substance a food should obviously be of the type indicated by the name under which it was sold; but what “quality” of food or drug does a purchaser demand when asking for a particular article? He submitted that the article should be- (I) Of normal composition; (2) Natural in character, and free from chemical additions and other forms of unnecessary interference; and (3) Truthfully described on labels and in advertisements.There were four provisos in part z of Section z :-No offence shall have been deemed to have been committed ‘I (a)where any ingredient has been added to the food because it is required for the production or preparation thereof . . . in a 347 state fit for carriage or consumption, and not fraudulently to increase the bulk or conceal the inferior quality thereof .,’ If such proviso were necessary, there should be definite regulations for its application, but in his-Mr. Tankard’s-opinion the proviso was out of date. No public authority could hope to get a conviction in the case of artificially coloured jams, sugar, mustard, or pepper, although it was unquestionable that in some of these cases the colour was added to conceal inferior quality. The proviso (c) “where the food .. . is unavoidably mixed with some extraneous matter in the process of collection or preparation” is dangerous as it is, since any allowance of such a nature should be definite and not left to legal minds to decide whether the admixture was unavoidable. The presence of dirt (in the form of manure) in milk had on occasion been held to be unavoidable in this sense. Proviso (d) allowed water to be added to spirits up to the point where they were diluted to 35 degrees under proof; but if a notice were exhibited on the premises where such spirits were sold, stating that a larger dilution had been practised, it was held that no offence had been committed.This was clearly contrary to the intention of the Act. Section 4exonerated a vendor of food if he supplied a mixed article, provided that it was duly labelled as a mixture. Whyshould this be so? A vendor should supply what was demanded, and only supply the mixture if it was agreeable to the purchaser. This section might be expanded in order to require the vendor to declare faithfully the composition of all mixed or compounded foods in accordance with standards approved by the proposed Standing Advisory Committee. Section 5 might usefully be incorporated in Section z (I). This provided that a person was guilty of an offence, if he abstracted any part of an article so as to affect injuriously its nature, substance, or quality, unless he made disclosure of the alteration.The Section permitted an act which injuriously affected the quality of a food, provided the purchaser was told what had been done. An intelligent purchaser would probably object, but the less intelligent should be protected. Section 6 perpetuated the existence of substances which had largely ceased to exist-such as milk-blended butter or margarine- cheese. Butter and margarine should be definitely standardised with a water-content of not more than 15per cent. for the former and 12 per cent. for the latter. Cheese should be milk-cheese 348 only, and labelled clearly if it was prepared from skimmed milk.If not, it should conform to the 45 per cent. fat standard on the dry matter of the cheese. Section 7 (I) empowered the Minister of Agriculture to make regulations as to certain foodstuffs, and Sub-section z empowered the Minister of Health to make regulations as to other foods. All such powers should be placed in the hands of one authority- the Minister of Health-and he should make standards and regulations on the recommendation of the proposed Standing Advisory Committee. Section g should be enlarged, or a new section should be inserted in order to provide that all factories and other places where foods were made, handled or stored, or in any way dealt with, should be required to be registered with the Local Authority of the district and regularly inspected. Hotels and restaurants should not be excluded from the provisions of this section.Some authorities had already obtained powers for the registration of potted meat factories and places where ice crearn was made and sold. Section 30, which dealt with the warranty clauses, should be simplified, and in all cases where warranty was pleaded the warrantor should attend the Court. It should be in the power of the Court to dismiss the summons against the retailer, and to convict the warrantor forthwith in cases where the food had been packed and the retailer could not have tampered with it. A Local Authority should have power to send its inspectors into the area of any other Authority, and by arrangement to take samples of food which may be in transit to the area of the first Authority, and, if on analysis the food were found unsatisfactory, it should be possible for proceedings to be taken by that Authority.There should be a clearer definition of the place of delivery, and provision should be made for the appearance in court of any wholesaler or middleman concerned. Section z had been so weakened, by the interpretation of the provisos referred to and by the case-law built up under this section, that many foods might be seriously altered in quality with impunity, if the vendor or maker cared to uphold his contention in court. Even where there were standards, as in the case of milk, it could be contended successfully that a poor sample was as it came from the cow, and even if it did not faith- fully represent the product of the herd of cows in question, it was 349 pure milk within the meaning of the Act.The purchaser had a right to obtain a normal article of the type asked for-un- adulterated, and without misleading labels. The purchaser was not necessarily a person who knew what was satisfactory, nor one who was able to decide whether he was prejudiced or not. The criterion should be that of the quality expected by the intelligent buyer. Mr. Tankard then dealt with the conditions with which he contended food offered for sale should comply- (I) Normal Composition. (a) Milk. Over 10,000 samples of milk analysed during the last twenty years in the City of Hull had the following average composition :-Fat, 3.66 per cent. ; Non-Fatty Solids, 8-81per cent.These figures included all samples, whether regarded as adulterated or genuine. In the light of such figures, which could be matched in the case of other large areas, what justification had a man with a good herd of cows for selling milk of the minimum legal composition-3.0 per cent. fat and 8.5 per cent. of other solids? The great majority of milk producers never sold milk of the minimum composition; they took care of their herds, and, with good milking stock, produced milk of good quality by observing reasonable milking hours and by efficient milking. The Courts heard stories of bad weather, time of the year, period of lactation, and so on, but it would usually be found that a neighbouring farmer had no difficulty in producing good milk at the same time.The truth was that cow’s milk, in our climate, was usually good, if the farmer knew his business and was an honest man-as most were. He suggested that a standard for milk should be at least 3-25 per cent. fat in summer and 3.5 per cent. in winter, and 8.7 per cent. of other solids at all seasons. It was regrettable that the recently appointed Com- mittee of Enquiry into the working of the Law relating to Foods did not include milk in its terns of reference. (b) Cheese. Cheese containing less than 10 per cent. of fat in the dry matter of the cheese had been sold without any qualification, and Local Authorities were in most instances unable to prosecute the vendors.Cheese of normal composition con- tained a minimum of 45 per cent. of fat in the dry matter, and this minimum standard had actually been fixed by the Cheshire cheese makers, who had asked Local Authorities to prosecute when 350 Cheshire cheese makers fell below that standard. It was notorious that so-called cream cheeses, which normally contained at least 70 per cent. of fat in the dry matter, frequently fell below the standard for fat which good milk cheese showed, but as there was no official standard for the article it was difficult for Local Authorities to take action. Cream provides a similar case. There was no standard for potted meats 01-for sausages, and although some Local Authorities had been successful in stopping the addition of starchy material to these foods, unless properly described, others had hesitated to take the matter into the Courts in the absence of a standard.Potted meats should have no extraneous addition. There should be legal standards for milk, cream, cheese, chocolate, jam, ice-cream, cocoa, potted meat, vinegar, and for all mixtures and compounded foods-pastes, sausages, shredded suet, etc., and these standards should be set up by the Ministry of Health, after due enquiry by a competent Advisory Committee, in order to protect the consumer. (2) Natuyal in Character. During the last 20 years there had been a tendency to interfere unnecessarily with the natural purity of foodstuffs. The addition of bleaching agents and so-called “improvers” to flour, the facing, oiling and colouring of rice and pearl barley, the blueing of sugar with ultramarine, the colouring of “smoked” fish, the bleaching of dried fruits with sulphur dioxide, and similar processes had become trade customs which seemed to be im- possible to eradicate ;yet all this bleaching, colouring, polishing, facing, sterilising, oiling, preserving, and “improving ’’ of our foods could not benefit the consumer.In many cases these practices did great harm, and parts of edible material which contained valuable constituents were removed. The abolition of the practice of adding chemical preservatives was a step in the right direction. (3) Tmthfully described. Misdescription was one of the greatest evils connected with foods at the present time-“lemonade powder,” made from lemon essence and sweetened coloured tartaric acid, advertised as “made entirely from fresh lemons ’’ ;egg powder, with illustra- tions of baskets of eggs, the composition of the powder being that of an acid phosphate or cream of tartar baking powder, with a large excess of maize or rice-flour, together with colouring- matter; tinned cream, containing less than 25 per cent.fat, labelled “Pure Thick Rich Cream”; and shredded suet, labelled “with a little rice-flour,” when the addition was sometimes over 20 per cent. He, Mr. Tankard, had seen a sample of sweetened coloured maize flour labelled “Table Cream,” with the words “Does not contain milk or cream” in smaller type.This was merely a blancmange powder. In order that the Act of 1928 should be made to conform with modern requirements, there should be a Statutory Advisory Committee to lay down standards and definitions; there should be clauses enabling a prosecuting authority to bring to Court all concerned in the manufacture and sale of an unsatisfactory foodstuff; and Local Authorities should have power to follow up foods which were made outside their own areas, but imported into their areas. The Act should include all such things as meat extracts, infants’ foods, diabetic foods and proprietary foods of all kinds, as well as patent medicines and disinfectants. The Chairman (Mr. H. M. Mason) pointed out that many sections of the public were concerned in food legislation- administrators, manufacturers, retailers and consumers, and each sought the incorporation of provisos to safeguard its own interest.The Acts thus became complicated, vague, weakened and ineffective when applied. If penalties were made very severe the proof should be very explicit. As the penalties became more serious, the Courts tended to look for the more complete proof before conviction. He asked how Mr. Tankard would deal with a new addition not contained in his suggested official schedule ? Professor N. M. Comber said that scientific agriculturalists would agree that Mr. Tankard’s suggested standard of quality of milk was reasonable. It would be difficult at present to enforce it universally, owing to the ignorance of many dairy farmers as to the relation between soil characteristics and quality of milk.Thus defaults occurred, of which the farmer was unaware. Much educational work was needed before such farmers would be able to deal with the difficulty. Mr. T. W. Evans agreed that the casein content of milk was dependent on the phosphate content of the soil. Mr. E. Goodson drew attention to the existence of standards of food in Australia fifteen years ago. 362 Mr. A. C. Francis held that some additions to foodstuffs actually increased the value or palatability of the product. Dr. R. B. Forster advocated the compulsory and accurate labelling of materials, but feared the hostility of the Press, which derived much revenue from advertisements of proprietary goods.Dr. H. W. Bywaters thought that Mr. Tankards proposals would not meet the difficulty owing to the divergence of expert opinion. Different standards existed, and the cheaper articles might be good and nutritious. He held that in some cases, e.g. the use of potash in cocoa manufacture, the addition was bene- ficial rather than injurious. Care would be necessary in fixing standards if injustice were to be avoided. Mr. C. H. Manley supported Mr. Tankard’s contentions and cited several examples of foods where standards were called for and easy to define. He commented on the smallness of the scientific element on the Ministry of Health Committee recently set up and suggested that at present the diet of cattle and poultry received more consideration from the law than that of men and women.Mr. H. B. Marston pointed out that, although it might be desirable to use cocoa butter only in the manufacture of chocolate, yet actually there was insufficient cocoa grown to supply the needs of the chocolate industry. Again, glad cherries could not be produced if washing with sulphurous acid was forbidden. Mr. E. C. Craven pointed out that the fixing of standards would be useless unless accompanied by standardisation of analytical methods. He envisaged the need for a greatly increased body of inspectors and analysts. Mr. J. A. Craven said that the colour manufacturers would welcome standards of colouring matters. Natural colours were not always purer and less injurious than artificial colours.Mr. H. W. Watson felt that standards might in some cases favour unscrupulous makers, and labelling might be used to defeat the arm of the law. Another speaker said that the knowledge of vitamins and catalyst poisons, showing the profound physiological effects of small quantities of substances, pointed to the folly of tampering with foodstuffs. Diseases of civilisation might really be un-wittingly caused by the cumulative effects of such additions. Professor Challenger enquired as to the attitude of the 353 Institute towards food legislation. * He thought the discussion showed that British legislation was behind that of some of the Dominions and foreign countries.Perhaps we were too individualistic, but it seemed that there was a clear case for dealing with flagrant cases of adulteration. The Chairman, in closing the discussion, enquired whether any beneficial effect could be traced to the suppression of the use of boric acid in foodstuffs. He suggested that as regards standards of quality, the attitude of manufacturers depended on their class of trade. Makers of low class products were hostile, because their business might be destroyed. Makers of medium class goods would favour standardisation, because standards were usually fixed on a moderate basis, and such manufacturers could make a virtue of their attainment. Makers of high-class goods would be indifferent, or even hostile, because they were placed on a level with their competitors in the lower grades. Mr.Tankard, in reply, said that the question of new and unknown additions would not arise. The standards he contem- plated would not provide for the use of any additions without previous express authorisation. He accepted the contention of Professor Comber regarding the farmer’s difficulty, but thought that the law was too considerate to the producer. The consumer should be the first consideration. He was sure that standards of quality were necessary, and existing experience, e.g. with condensed milk, had shown that their establishment produced beneficial results. Methods of analysis could be worked out. He dissented from the opinion given in favour of the addition of potash and glucose to confectionery and jam.Makers ceased to find glucose essential as soon as it became dearer than cane sugar. He felt sure that the suppression of boric preservatives was a good thing. As regards the attitude of the Institute, it would entrust technical matters to such a body as the Society of Public Analysts, while urging the importance of the adequate training of those concerned with manufacture and the administration of the law.* * The Institute has not officially expressed opinions on technical points, such as are the subject of this paper and discussion, but a Memorandum recently addressed to the Departmental Committee on Food deals with matters of administration, and was published in JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS,Part IV, pages 232-245.364 On the motion of the Chair, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Tankard for his paper. Liverpool and North-Western.-The 104th Ordinary Meeting of the Section was held at St. George’s Restaurant, Redcross Street, Liverpool, on 8th October, when Mr. E. Gabriel Jones retired from the chair in favour of Professor T. P. Hilditch, who then delivered an address on 6b Catalysis and Faraday, or Cleanliness and Godliness.” He said that the recent centenary celebrations in connection with Faraday’s electrical work recalled his many discoveries in other fields. The following words from his conclusions upon catalytic action were considered in the light of their meaning at the present time: “The only essential condition appears to be a perfectly clean and metallic surface .. . the gases cannot produce any effect unless the condition of a clean pure metallic surface be fulfilled.” The literal truth of these assertions was exemplified by instances from modern industrial catalytic processes and, it was pointed out that, in his views on catalysis as upon other matters, Faraday was, in Tyndall’s words, “more than philosopher, he was a prophet.” Some reference was made, in a digression, to other attractive phases of Faraday’s personality than those strictly connected with his scientific work, and the remaining portion of the address was devoted to considering the use which had so far been made of the services placed at the disposal of the manufacturer by discoveries in the field of catalysis.The criticism was expressed that the results to date of the application of these and other scientific improvements were not so beneficial, from the widest social standpoint, as they ought to be. The view was expressed that it was by no means sufficient to invent a new process or introduce improvements: it was also urgent to see that scientific advances were utilised for the general good. Members were urged to make it their business to study, not only the improvement of chemical processes, but also the wider questions of the many economic and social factors con- nected with the wise utilisation of new knowledge. It was suggested that chemists owed to science and to the community the duty of seeing that the applications of science contributed in the fullest sense to the well-being of all.The matter was summed up by a paraphrase, or parody, of Faraday’s dicta on catalysis, as follows :-“The essential condition appears to be a perfectly clean social outlook. Catalytic processes, applied chemistry, or any other scientific discoveries, cannot produce any good effect unless the condition of a clean pure social outlook be fulfilled.” (It is hoped that arrangements may be made for a discussion on the paper at a future meeting.) At the same meeting, Mr. F. Robertson Dodd suggested that members should be supplied with badges bearing their names. The meeting generally approved the idea: it was believed that it would enable new members to become known more rapidly to members of the Section.The matter is under consideration. A meeting of the Section was held on 12th November, at St. George’s Restaurant, Red Cross Street,-Professor T. P. Hilditch in the Chair. Mr. R. L. Collett, Assistant Secretary of the Institute, delivered an address entitled “Some Lines of Advance.” and opened a discussion. In dealing with the subject of co-operation, Mr. Collett said that, side by side with the movement towards closer union between the Societies, there was another movement leading to the formation of new bodies. It seemed to him to be strange that among those who lamented the multiplicity of societies were often to be found the most enthusiastic supporters of the more recently formed bodies.He hoped that all would agree that the field of work of each Society or Institution should be clearly recognised, so that each should be left as free as possible to develop towards the full attainment of the objects for which it was founded and existed. After briefly reminding the meeting of the history and present position of the Institute, and the reason for its foundation, Mr. Collett summed up what appeared to him to be arguments which had been put forward for and against the Proposed Petition for a Supplemental Charter. He also dealt with the Council’s attitude towards chemical education and training, both in the Universities and in the 366 Technical Colleges ; with National Certificates ; with the recent agreement with the Association of British Chemical Manu- facturers regarding contracts of service, and with the results of the recently published Salary Statistics.He suggested that it was better policy to point to the fact, which was shown by the report, that over 35 per cent. of the Fellows of the Institute seemed to be receiving remuneration exceeding LI,OOO per annum, than to lay public stress on bad cases of under-payment. It was desirable that the public should be made to realise that the services of a really good chemist could not be obtained cheaply. Dr. Brislee expressed the hope that steps would be taken towards uniformity of chemical literature, and also spoke on the question of employers giving facilities for the continuance of study both to students and also to fully qualified chemists.Professor Heilbron and Mr. Hanley also took part in the discussion. A vote of thanks to Mr. Collett was proposed by the Chairman and seconded by Professor Roberts. The Chairman suggested that the discussion should be con- tinued at a future meeting. On the afternoon of the same day, Mr. Collett addressed a meeting of the Liverpool University Chemical Society, on “The Professional Spirit .” On 10th December, the members of the Section enjoyed a social evening, with vocal and instrumental music rendered by members and friends. Messrs. J. Hanley and F. J. Smith were responsible for the arrangements. London and South Eastern Counties.-On zIst October a lecture was given by Dr.J. Watson on ‘‘Preservation of Stone and Timber.” Dr. L. H. Lampitt presided. In his opening remarks, Dr. Watson outlined the amount of serious damage which has been done to our cathedrals, churches and public buildings by the decay of the stonework and timber. He gave a summary of the remedial measures which had been tried in past years, and showed in what respects they had failed. The causes of decay then came under review and were dealt with fully, such as atmospheric pollution by dust, carbonic acid gas, sulphurous gases, soot, etc. Attention was also called to the 357 fact that disintegration had been going on concomitantly in the insides of the stone columns, as was exemplified in St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Church of St.Bartholomew the Great, showing that more than one factor was at work to cause dis-integration, and that there was more reason to think that the internal circulation of water in the stonework, carrying with it chlorides, nitrates, and sulphates dissolved from the soil under and around the building, had more to do with the decomposition of the cementitious film which binds the siliceous particles of sandstone, than the intrusion of sulphur dioxide from the atmosphere. Sulphate of lime had been found at a depth of some inches in the stone which would not have occurred with gaseous action, as the surface would have been attacked first and the interstices thereby filled. Timber was also dealt with, and the author’s experiences were given as to how the work was being carried out in the restoration of many churches.He suggested that more damage was being done owing to lack of technical supervision. Figures were given showing the amount of atmospheric pollution, both particulate and gaseous, which was going on in all our large cities and towns through the proximity of industrial concerns and electric power stations, and the difficulty of dealing with this satisfactorily on a purely physical basis. The aid of the chemist was required to find a reliable method of overcoming this in order to safeguard the health of the people and the permanence of our public buildings. As so many of our buildings were now being erected in re-inforced concrete, the author reviewed the failures due to the lack of chemical knowledge in the use of right materials in construction.He suggested that some system of classifying the concretes made from different cements and aggregates should be adopted for future guidance. This had been done for stone, and they had now detailed facts to work on, with at least 140 different kinds even of the various strata in the same quarry. The classification for concretes would in future be of inestimable benefit to all engaged in the building industry. In conclusion, an outline of the tests to which stone, concrete, etc., should be submitted, was proposed as a basis for obtaining more definite and reliable information as to the lasting qualities of various building materials. A very interesting discussion followed.358 The Annual General Meeting of the Section was held at the Institute on 18th November, when the following Officers and Committee were elected:-Chairman, Dr. L. H. Lampitt ; Vice-Chairmen, Mr. E. B. Hughes and Professor J. C. Drummond; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. C. A. Adams; Hon. Secretary, Mr. J. R. Nicholls ; Committee, Messrs. L. Balmforth, A. W. Barratt, M. Bogod, A. J. C. Cosbie, F. G. Edmed, F. R. Ennos, L. Eynon, F. B. Gatehouse, E. Hinks, C. L. Hinton, A. C. Hoare, A. S. Houghton, H. T. Islip, Miss D. Jordan Lloyd, Messrs. W. Partridge, C. E. Sage, Dr. J. Watson and Miss W. Wright. The business of the meeting was followed by an enjoyable smoking concert, to which the following contributed:-Mrs.Boseley, Miss Boseley, Messrs. L. K. Boseley, H. E. J. Cory, R. N. Cunningham, Miss Elson, Messrs. W. Harmsworth, J. G. Maltby and J. Netherway. Manchester and District.-The Annual Conjoint Meeting of the Manchester Sections of the Institute, the Society of Chemical Industry, the Society of Dyers and Colourists, together with the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, was held on 6th November at the College of Technology. The meeting, on this occasion, was arranged by the Society of Dyers and Colourists, whose Chairman, Mr. F. Scholefield, presided. An unusually large audience assembled to hear Dr. Hermann Mark, of Ludwigshaven, give an address on '' Modern Conceptions of the Cellulose Molecule and their significance in relation to the technical and dyeing properties of the fibre.Dr. Mark stated that our knowledge of the structure of cellulose, in a purely scientific sense, had advanced considerably in recent years. He showed that by a combination of chemical and X-ray data a cellulose model had been developed which agrees well with the reactions known up to the present. He stated that the model had certainly not been developed to its ultimate degree of perfection and that doubtless certain alterna- tions would be made in it during the next few years. Nevertheless, it appeared to afford an explanation of the more important technical problems. The lecturer showed how the high absolute value of the tenacity of natural cellulose and alterations in its plastic deformation could be explained by his model, as well as its 359 relation to dyeing properties and changes during manufacturing processes.The lecture was illustrated by models and by numerous X-ray photographs. A lengthy discussion followed, and the lecturer replied to the points raised. A vote of thanks, proposed by the Chairman of the Manchester Section of the Institute, Mr. J. H. Lester, and seconded by Dr. T. Callan, Chairman of the Local Section of the Society of Chemical Industry, was accorded to Dr. Mark. The Sixth Annual Dinner and Dance took place on 3rd December, at “The Manchester” Ltd. About 240 members of the Institute and of other Manchester scientific societies were present, including the Chairmen of the Local Sections of the Society of Chemical. Industry, the Oil and Colour Chemists, and the British Association of Chemists. The Chairman of the Local Section of the Institute, Mr.J. H. Lester, read a letter from Dr. G. C. Clayton, President of the Institute, in which he expressed his regret at his inability to be present, The Toast of “The Guests” was acknowledged by Professor H. J. Creighton of Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. The duties of M.C. were carried out by Mr. W. D. Rogers and Dr. W. J. S. Naunton, while Messrs. E. N. Marchant, J. G. Sherratt, N. Stratford, H. Swann, and Drs. W. Hubball and B. P. Ridge acted as stewards. Professor T. M. Lowry will read a paper before the Section on 11th March, 1932, instead of 10th March as previously announced.Manchester and District Students’ Section.-The Annual General Meeting of the Students’ Section will be held in the Clarion Cafk, 50a, Market Street, Manchester, on 5th January, 1932, and will be followed by a smoking concert and social evening. Ordinary and Honorary Members are reminded that sub- scriptions (5s.) for I932 are due. Newcastle and North-East Coast.-The Annual General Meeting of the Section was held on 18th November, at the Newcastle Chemical Industry Club-Dr. A. A. Hall presiding. The Committee’s Report and a programme for the ensuing 360 session, including two joint meetings with the Society of Chemical Industry, were approved. Professor Clemo was elected to the Committee, and Mr.N. J. Ivison was appointed Honorary Secretary, on the retirement of Mr. F. H. Walker from that office. With these alterations, the Committee was elected as follows:-Dr. A. A. Hall (Chairman), Mr. M. A. W. Brown, Dr. R. D. Haworth, Mr. F. Nicholls, Professor G. R. Clemo, Messrs. N. Dawson (Hon. Treasurer) and N. J. Ivison (Hon. Secretary). One vacancy remains to be filled at a later date. On the motion of Mr. Bloxam, seconded by Dr. Hall, a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Walker for his invaluable services as Honorary Secretary during the past seven years. South Wales.-The following lectures- have been delivered before Joint Meetings of the Local Sections of the Institute and the Society of Chemical Industry :-On 30th October, at the Technical College, Cardiff, Mr.R. D. Owen, A.I.C., read a paper on:- ‘‘ The Chemistry of Dairy Products.” The lecture, illustrated by lantern slides, dealt with the chemical properties of milk, and the manufacture of cream, butter, cheese and condensed milk. The necessity for cleanliness and scientific control was emphasised. On 6th November, at Thomas’ Cafe, Swansea, Dr. A. F. S. Sladden lectured on :-“Chemistry in the Service of the Doctor.” The lecturer restricted his remarks to the subject of physiological chemistry, and the service which the biocfiemist rendered in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, taken in conjunction with clinical examination. Typical analyses and methods of analysis of the normal constituents of urine and blood were given, and the variations found in certain pathological cases were indicated.The application of colorimetric methods in this field of work is noteworthy. A keen discussion followed in which Professor Coates and Drs. Hartshorne and Edwards participated. A vote of thanks was accorded to Dr. Sladden. On 20th November, at the Mayfair Caf6, Cardiff, Dr. J. H. 361 Quastel, Director of Research, Cardiff City Mental Hispital, read a paper on:- (‘Dyestuffs and Biological Action.” The work of Ehrlich and Baeyer was outlined, and an account given of the directive action of acid and basic dyestuffs on enzymic biochemical reactions such as the oxidation and reduc- tion products of fumaric acid. The lecturer speculated on the probable enzymic character of certain little known disorders, such as mental diseases, and indicated that the present methods of pathological investigation of dead tissue in these cases failed to shed any light on the enzymic activity of the living subject.Dr. Quastel indicated the great difficulties to be faced in this branch of biochemical research, and gave some account of the methods adopted in dealing with the subject. The Annual General Meeting of the Section was held at Thomas’ Cafk, Swansea, on 27th November,-Dr. L. E. Hinkel in the Chair. The Annual Report and Financial Statement having been received and adopted, the Officers and Committee were elected for the ensuing session. Professor J. E. Coates was elected Chairman; Mr.R. H. Jones, Hon. Secretary; and Mr. E. A. Rudge, Assistant Hon. Secretary. Committee : (Swansea) Messrs. J. W. Adye, E. Anderson, E. E. Ayling, C. M. W. Grieb, G. Made1 and E. A. Tyler; (Cardiff) Mr. T. Evans, Dr. J. H. Quastel and Dr. H. B. Watson. The Chairman, having intimated that the Registrar, who was present, would be glad to hear the views of members on any matter which they wished to discuss, Mr. Grieb referred to the desirability of encouraging Associates to proceed to the Fellow- ship, and inquired what inducements could be offered to those who contemplated applying for the Fellowship. The Registrar said that he thought it was natural that most professional men should aim at the higher grade of membership in their professional institutions.Service on the Council of the Institute was restricted to Fellows, who were also entitled to register students. Generally speaking, a perusal of the salary statistics showed that Fellows derived more substantial recogni- tion than Associates for their services. The meeting was followed by an informal dinner, at which Professor J. E. Coates presided. 362 The toasts of “The King” and “The Guests” having been honoured, Mr. W. C. Mitchell, B.Sc.Eng., M.Inst.C.E., Director and Manager of the National Oil Refineries, Ltd., at Skewen, proposed the toast of “The Institute.” Mr. Mitchell said that, as an engineering student, he had had training in chemistry under Professors Armstrong and Meldola, and, speaking as a Civil Engineer, he was glad to know that the Institute was seeking to obtain for its Fellows and Associates the title of “Chartered Chemist,” which would bring chemists into line with engineers- Civil, Mechanical and Electrical-and other professional men.He claimed for engineering a greater antiquity than that of chemistry. He rejoiced in the excellent relations which existed between chemists and engineers, and wished the Institute continued prosperity and success in its good work. The Registrar, in acknowledging the toast, referred briefly to the history and growth of the Institute, and defended the claim of chemistry to greater antiquity than engineering. He suggested that chemistry was a science; engineering was an art, which could not be practised without science.An excellent instrumental and vocal entertainment was provided by members of the Section. 363 Notes. British Standards Institution.-During recent years the British Engineering Standards Association has prepared British Standard Specifications and established British Standards not only for use in the engineering field, but also for a growing range of materials in the building, chemical and textile industries. The need for regularising the extension of the original functions of the Association has been under consideration from time to time, and became imperative when representatives of chemical industry, as a result of a conference convened by the Association of British Chemical Manufacturers, invited the Association to widen its scope to include chemical standardisation generally.The building industry also desired a substantial extension of the work of standardisation within that industry, and urged that the title of the Association should be more in conformity with its wider scope. At the Imperial Conference, held in October, 1930,the desire was expressed that there should be a single centralised national standardising body in each of the countries forming the British Empire. It was therefore decided to re-organise the work of the Association into four main divisions of equal standing responsible for the preparation of British Standard Specifications in the engineering, chemical, building and textile industries, each of the divisions being under the control of a representative Divisional Council.The Council of the Association, therefore, after securing the approval of the members, applied for, and was granted, a Supplemental Royal Charter authorising these changes. In future the name of the Association will be the “British Standards Institution,” and its activities will be under the control of a General Council with four subsidiary Divisional Councils. The work of the Engineering Division will, as hitherto, be delegated to Industry Committees dealing with the main branches of the engineering industry, such as civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, etc., and will represent the larger portion of the Institution’s activities. 364 The development in the standardising movement which has taken place since the first Committee was set up, in 1901,as the Engineering Standards Committee, by the Institution of Civil Engineers, is a clear indication that industry as a whole has increasingly recognised the economic value of the work.There are now 600 Committees and over 400 published British Standard Specifications. The term "British Standard " has been registered by the Institution as its standardisation mark. The Institution is not a profit making concern, and, apart from the grants received from the Government and the amount derived from the sale of its publications, it has to look to the associated industries and other Institutions for the funds necessary to carry on the work.Beit Fellowships.-The Trustees for Beit Fellowships for Scientific Research have given notice that the Nineteenth Election of Fellows will take place on or about the 12th day of July, 1932. Candidates must be under 25 years of age. Not more than three Fellowships will be awarded. The Beit Fellowships were founded and endowed by Mr. Otto Beit to promote the advancement of science by means or' research. The annual value of every Fellowship is E250; the tenure of the Fellowship is for two years, subject to a favourable report from the Trustees at the end of the first year by the supervising professor. Every Fellow (man or woman) must be of European descent by both parents, and shall have taken a degree in any Faculty in any University in the British Empire approved by the Trustees, or have passed the examinations which would have entitled him or her to have taken any such degree or shall be in possession of any Diploma or Associateship of any college approved by the Trustees.Further particulars can be obtained from the Rector, Imperial College, South Kensington, London, S.W.7. TheWellcomeResearch Institution.-On 25th November, Lord Moynihan, President of the Royal College of Surgeons, laid the Corner Stone of the New Wellcome Research Institution, which is in course of erection at the junction of Gordon Street and Euston Road, London. The Institution will embrace a Bureau of Scientific Research, Physiological and Chemical Research Laboratories, provided with the most modern scientific equipment, and Museums of Medical Science.365 The Ramsay Memorial Laboratory of Chemical Engi-neering, at University College, London, was formally opened by H.R.H. Prince George, on 26th November, the ceremony being attended by a large number of representatives of profes-sional and technical institutions. The Ramsay Laboratory of Chemical Engineering was insti- tuted at University College, London, in 1923, as a tribute to the memxy of Sir William Ramsay, who held the chair of General and Inorganic Chemistry at the College from 1887 to 1913. The new laboratory, towards the cost of which leading firms in chemical industry have contributed a capital sum of over fla6,ooo, and have guaranteed an income of E4000 for a number of years, is equipped with plant and machinery presented by manufacturers of chemical plant, and provides accommodation for about fifty students and research workers.The department provides post-graduate courses in chemical engineering, dealing primarily with the scientific principles underlying the operation of processes on an industrial scale and with the influence of economic factors on production, including training in engineering drawing and in workshop practice, with research on problems connected with the transference of pro- cesses from the laboratory to the industrial scale. The Science Museum Children's Gallery .-A new Gallery in the Science Museum has recently been opened, the general aim of which is to exemplify as simply as possible the development of applied science and its influence on social progress, thus providing a general elementary introduction to the main collections in the Museum.The Gallery contains a series of working models illustrating the conversion of energy, a succession of dioramas illustrating the evolution of transport, and a series of scenes demonstrating the evolution of methods of artificial lighting, and tableaux of craftsmen,-the potter, the flint-knapper, and the nail-maker,- supplemented by an exhibition of films of present-day craftsmen at work. Many of the exhibits can be set in motion by the visitors pressing a button or turning a handle. The Annual Chemical Dinner, in which nearly all British institutions and societies interested in chemistry participated, was held at the Connaught Rooms, on 10th December,-Mr.Eric Macfadyen, President of the Institution of Rubber Industry, in the Chair. 366 Sir Frank E. Smith, K.C.B., C.B.E., F.R.S., Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, was the guest of the evening. After the loyal toasts, Sir Frank Smith proposed the toast of “Chemistry,” which was acknowledged by the Chairman. The 22nd Annual Exhibition of Scientific Instruments and Apparatus will be held from Tuesday, the 5th, until Thursday, the 7th January, 1932,from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on each day at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, South Kensington, S.W.7. Tickets are obtainable from the Secretary, I, Lowther Gardens, Exhibition Road, London, S.W.7. During the Exhibition, discourses will be delivered on 5th January at 8 p.m., by Mr.C. C. Paterson, O.B.E., on “Photocells: The Valves which Operate by Light”; on 6th January at 8 p.m., by Mr. T. Smith, on “Photographic Shutters and their Properties”; and on 7th January at 8 p.m. “Reminiscences,” by Sir Oliver Lodge. Professor W. Palmer Wynne, F.R.S., has been appointed Emeritus Professor of Chemistry in the University of Sheffield. Professor J. H. Andrew has been appointed Professor of Metallurgy in the University of Sheffield in the place of Professor Cecil H. Desch, F.R.S., who has succeeded Dr. Walter Rosenhain, F.R.S., as Superintendent of the Department of Metallurgy at the National Physical Laboratory.Professor Arthur Lapworth, F.R.S., has been awarded the Davy Medal of the Royal Society. Mr. George Herbert Frank, Fellow, who received the Edward Medal in recognition of his attempt at rescue on the occasion of the explosion at the chemical works of Messrs. Hickson & Partners, at Castleford, in July, has also received an award from the Carnegie Hero Fund Trustees. North Wales.-A local group of Fellows and Associates in North Wales is making arrangements for periodical social meetings, possibly with other scientific men. Members who are desirous of participating in such meetings should communicate with Mr. J. B. C. Kershaw, F.I.C., “Oaklands,” Conway Road, Colwyn Bay.367 Obituary. KENNETHVERNONCHRISTIE, who died on 22nd November, at Carshalton, Surrey, in his 27th year, was educated at Swindon and North Wilts. Secondary School, and proceeded on a County Scholarship to Manchester University, where he graduated, in 1937, with honours in chemistry. He continued at the University under Professor F. C. Thompson, and presented a thesis on “The Influence of the Replacement of Silica by Tungstic Oxide upon the Tin Content of Tin, Calcium, Iron Silicate, Slags and the Retal Product from Smelting” on which he was awarded the degree of M.Sc. Shortly after, he was appointed Assistant Works Chemist to the Straits Trading Company, where he continued until 1930. He was elected an Associate of the Institute in 1928.WILLIAM SMITH HANNAH died at Beddington, Surrey, on 7th November. Born at Paisley in 1873, he was educated at the Allan Glen’s School, Glasgow, studied chemistry at the Anderson College-now the Royal Technical College--under Professors Dittimar and Henderson, and passed the examination €or the Associateship of the Institute in 1894. In 1895 he was appointed chemist to the Sussex Portland Cement Co., Ltd., Newhaven, eventually becoming manager. On the closing of the Newhaven works, in 1915, he was appointed manager of the Beddington factory of the British Portland Cement Manufacturers, Ltd. From 1916 to 1918, with the consent of the Company, he was employed in the Trench Warfare Depart,ment of the Ministry of Munitions, spending the greater part of the time as manager of the shell filling factory at Selby, Yorkshire.At the end of the war he resumed his duties as cement works manager at Beddington, and during the last four years was engaged in investigations which culminated in the first production, on a commercial scale in Great Britain, of white Portland cement, for the invention of which he was a joint patentee. He was elected an Associate in 1894 and a Fellow in 1902. SIRTHOMAS HILLdied recently at Parkstone, Dorset, in his EUSTACE 66th year. The son of the late Dr. Alfred Hill, F.I.C., he was educated at King Edward’s School and Mason College, Birmingham, and at the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated M.B. in 1887 and B.Sc. (P.H.)in 1888. Having worked for several years as assistant to his father he held appointments as medical ofTicer, Birmingham Isolation Hospital, and Deputy Medical OEcer of Health for the City; Medical Officer of Health, South Shields (1890-1893) ; County Medical Officer of Health for Durham, and professor of Public Health in the University of Durham ( 1911-1920), from which University he received the honorary degree of M.A.in 1921. During the war-he served as Lieutenant-Colonel, Officer Commanding Durham R.A.X.C. (V.), and mas appointed an O.B.E. in recognition of his services. He was a rnember of the Consultative Council of Medical and Allied Services to the Ministry of Health, and President of the Society of AXedicalOfficers of Health (1921-1922). He was the author of many papers on chemical and public health subjects. On his retirement in 1330 hs received the honour of knighthood.He was elected an Associate of the Institute in 1888,and a Fellow in 1899.PHILIPHOLLANDdied in London on 9th November, aged ninety years. He studied chemistry at the Government School of Mines, London, from 1861 under Hofmann, with whom he remained as honoraryassistant for two years, being engaged in research work on urea and ethylmine, but, owing to an accident while preparing phosphorustrichloride, he wm obliged to relinquish this work in 1864, and went to Natal. Two years later, however, he returned and became an assistant in Dr. AngusSmith’s laboratory, where he was largely engaged on water analysis. From 1872 until 1882 he conducted an independent practice, and was for some time Public Analyst for Southport.Later, he continued practice in London. He was the author of various papers contributed to the Chemical News arid other journals. He was elected a Fellow of the Institute in 1887. WILLIAM LOWE died at Heswall, Cheshire, on 12th November, FOULKES in his 82nd year. He studied at the Royal School of Mines from 1871 until 1875, obtaining the Associateship of the School in Metallurgy. In 1877 he was appointed Assayer to the Chester Goldsmiths Company, and, in 1914, Assay Master to the Chester Assay Office. In 1878 he was appointed public analyst for the City and County Borough of Chester; in 1879, for the County of Flint; in 1880, for the County of Ctaernarvon; and in 1883, for the Counties of Anglesea md Denbigh. At the time of his death he held these appointments, and also the appointments of Official Agri- cultural Analyst to the same Local Authorities.He was the aiithor of “Hall-marking arid Assaying at the Chester Assay Office,” and of various paper,+contributed to il’l~eAnalyst. He was elected a Fellow of the Institute in 1878. WALTER FRANCISREID died at Kingston-on-Thames, on 18th November, at the age of eighty-one years. The son of a Leeds manu- facturer, he studied at the Royal School of Mines, Berlin, where he graduated about the year 1879. After some experience in prospecting for the Argentine Government, he devoted his inveiitive geriius to technical problems bearing on the corrosion of iron, the result of which was the preparation from nitrocellulose of a smokeless sporting powder, which was afterwards produced by the E.C.Powder Go. Later he was engaged in the manufacture of mirrors, and was associated with improvements in silvering by a process for the reduction of an alkaline silver solution by an organic reagent. An original member of the Society of Chemical Industry, he was Chairman of the London Section, 1903-04; he was a Member of the Council for many years and President of the Society, 1910-11. He was awarded the Medal of the Society in 1925. He was elected a Fellow of the Institute in 1885. JOHN died at Edinburgh on 18th November in BALDWINSHOESMITH his thirty-sixth year. Educated at Burnley Grammar School, he worked for three years under Mr.Raymond St. George ROSS,Public Analyst for Burnley, before proceeding to the Victoria University, Manchester, where he graduated with first-class honours in chemistry in 1919. He continued at the University, and was engaged on research work under Professor Lapworth for two years, and in 1921 joined the staff of the Chemical Department of the University of Edinburgh. He was elected an Associate of the Institute in 1919. THOMAS died at Redcar, as the rcsult of an accident, on the TWYNAM 29th November, in his 73rd year. Educated alj Bedford Modern School, and subsequently in France and Belgium, where he devoted specialattention to chemistry, physics and metallurgy, he joined the firm of Jones and Aldred, analytical chemists in the City of London, with whom he remained for three years.He then became technical assistant to Sidney Gilchrist Thomas, and later to Percy C. Gilchrist, F.K.S. During this period-l87%189O--his work was mainly devoted to metallurgical investigations with special reference to the manufacture of steel and copper. After some months in the laboratory of Mr. Edward Riley he was appointed assistant analytical chemist to the Indian Government, in the Chemical Department of the Royal Engineering College, at Cooper’s Hill, Staines, under Professor Herbert ILlcLeod, F.R.S. In 1901, he went to Leeds, as Secretary to Mr. Benjamin Talbot of the Talbot Continuous Steel Processes, Ltd. In 1906, the Company was transferred to Middles- brough, under the name of Steel Developments, Ltd., of which Company Mr.Twynam was Director and Secretary until his death. He was elected a Fellow of the Institute in 1897. 369 Books and their Contents. Since the publication of the JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS, Part V, 1931, the following books have been presented by the authors and publishers. Copies may be seen in the Library of the Institute. “Bacteriological Technique , The Essentials of .” R. F. Hunwicke, with an Introduction by W. G. Savage. Pp. 108. (London: Williams & Norgate, Ltd.). 10s. 6d. Laboratory equipment and apparatus; culture media ; methods of cultivation and study of micro-organisms; anaerobes; microscopy;examination of milk and milk products, water, meat and canned foods; vaccines; diagnosis of certain diseases ; testing disinfectants ; animal inoculations.“Chemical Analysis by the Emission Spectrum, Foundations and Methods of.” W. Gerlach and E. Schweitzer. Pp. 123. (London: Adam Hilger Ltd.). 12s. 6d. Nature, application and foundations of chemical spectrum analysis ; analytical sensitivity and the practicability of identifying a spectrum-line; electrical and optical apparatus ; qualitative and quantitative analysis ; experiments on the refinement of the method by photometric intensity measurements; special problems. “Chemistry, Life and Civilisation.” A popular account of modern advance in chemistry. H. T. S. Britton. Pp. vi+248. (London: Chapman & Hall Ltd.).10s. 6d. An outline of the many applications of chemistry, intended to be read before commencing systematic study of the subject: general ideas of matter, energy, elements and compounds ; the sun, atmosphere ; chem-istry of the human body ; vitamins, hormones, anaesthetics ; clothingand paper; agriculture, fertilisers and the nitrogen industry; metals and alloys ; the generation of power. “Glycosides, The.” E. F. Armstrong and K. F. Armstrong. Monographs on Biochemistry, edited by R. H. A. Plimmer and Sir F. G. Hopkins. Pp. vii+123. (London: Longmans Green & Co.). 12s. 6d. Natural glycosides: phenols, hydroxyanthraquinones and hydroxy -coumarins; mustard oils, cyanophoric glycosides, nucleosides, indican, pentosides;glycosides of the soluble plant pigments : anthoxanthins and anthocyanins ; glycosides with physiological action : digitalis, stro-phanthin, saponin; uronic acids; function of glycosides in plants;utilisation of carbohydrates in plants ; bibliography.370 ‘I Safety in Mines Research Board, Publications of the.’’ Vol. VI. Pp. 510. (London: H. M. Stationery Office.) Report and papers relating to research into coal dust, firedamp and other sources of danger in coal mines. “Surgical Practice, The Laboratory in.” E. C. Dodds and L. E. H. Whitby. Pp. ix+187. (London: Constable & Co., Ltd.). 8s. 6d. General investigations and treatment ; blood transfusion; specifictherapy ; operations associated with various pathological conditions ; genito-urinary infections ; renal function; investigations in diseases of the gastro-intestinal tract; biochemical investigations on the pancreas and liver ; the thyroid; exudates, transudates, body fluids, pus ; notes on various tests and on the collection of specimens for examination; laboratory techniques.Mr. Arthur R. Warnes, Fellow, has kindly presented to the Library a copy of his book on “ Building Stones, their Properties, Decay and Preservation,” published by Messrs. Ernest Benn Ltd., London, 1926. Portland Cement. .-The British Engineering Standards Association-now the British Standards Institution-has pub-lished Specification No. 12-1931 Portland Cement (Superseding No. IZ-I~Z~),which has been prepared by Technical Committee of the Public Works Industry Committee (upon which the Institute was represented) and is recommended for adoption.Manholes for Chemical Plant.-The Technical Committee of the Chemical Division of the British Standards Institutioii has prepared a draft B.S. Specification for Manholes for Chemical Plant for Pressures up to 250 lbs. per square inch, on which criticism is invited. Copies of the draft can be obtained on application to the Registrar of the Institute. Pharmacopoeia Commission.-The Commission has re- ceived a report from the Sub-committee on Ergot with a request that it be published. Although but a short time remains in which it will be possible for the Commission to deal with any suggestion regarding the‘ Pharmacopceia, the Commission will be glad to receive criticisms of the report and to give them careful consideration.The conclusions reached by the Sub-committee concerning the principal questions which have occupied their attention are as follows:- 371 (I) That ergotoxine is to be regarded as the active principle for which ergot preparations are administered, and that all preparations should be standardised from this view-point. (2) That the colorimetric method carried out as recom-mended permits an accurate estimation of total alkaloid in ergot and in liquid extract of ergot. (3) That the colorimetric method has advantages over gravi- metric methods, in that smaller amounts of material suffice, and the assay is more quickly completed. (4) That the biological methods are subject to a considerable margin of error, and the evidence is that this margin is at least as great as that due to the variation in the relative proportion of ergotoxine and ergotinine in the total alkaloid. (5) That there is a very wide variation in the alkaloidal content of Ergot of Rye, and it is therefore additionally important to fix a standard for the alkaloidal content of Liquid Extract of Ergot and prepared Ergot. (6) That the following standards should be adopted:- Extractum Ergotae Liquidurn 0.05 per cent.of total alkaloid & 0.01per cent. Ergota Praeparata 0.10 per cent. of total alkaloid & 0.02 per cent. 372 The Register. At the meetings of Council held on 20th November and 18th December, 1931, z new Fellows were elected, 14 Associates were elected to the Fellowship, 43 new Associates were elected, and 41 Students were admitted.New Fellows. Francis, Wilfrid, M.Sc.Tech., Ph.D. (Sheff .), 16, Walnut Avenue, Hartford, Northwich, Cheshire. Watts, Gordon Edward, M.A., Ph.D. (Cantab.), B.Sc. (Lond.), 2, RoyalCrescent, Brighton. Associates elected to a Fellowship. Aiyar, Swaminatha Subrahmanya, B.A. (Madras), M.Sc., Ph.D. (TVis-consin), Chemical Examiner, Bombay Customs, Bombay, India. Ayling, Ernest Edward, M.Sc. (Lond.), University College, Singleton Park, Swansea. Burrage, Leslie James, M.Sc., Ph.D. (Lond.), 32, Emerson Road, Ilford. Callendar, Leslie Hugh, B.Sc., Ph.D. (Lond.), A.R.C.S., D.I.C., 10, West Lodge Avenue, London, W.3.Clark, William Samuel, O.B.E., 8, Lichfield Road, London, E.6. Downs, Edmund, M.Sc. (Vict.), 32, Alundi Road, London, S.E.3. EMOS,Frederick Raine, B.A. (Cantab.), B.Sc. (Lond.), 10, Whitehorn Gardens, Addiscombe. Frederick, Robert Charles, R.N. Medical School, R.N. College, Greenwich, London, S.E.lO. Mackinney, Herbert William, c/o Canadian International Paper Co., Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada. Pugh, William, B.Sc. (Lond.), Ph.D. (Cape), The University, Cape Town. Spearing, Colin Everett, M.A. (Cantab.), A.C.G.F.C., Anglo Persian Oil Co., Britannic House, Finsbury Circus, London, E.C.2. Strafford, Norman, hI.Sc. (Lond.), The Woodlands, Crescent Road, Crumpsall, Manchester. Vogel, Arthur Israel, D.Sc. (Lond.), D.I.C., Chemistry Department, University College, Southampton.West, Professor Ralph Winton, D.Sc. (Lond.), A.R.C.S., Chemistry Depart- ment, Northern Polytechnic, London, N. 7. New Associates. Amstell, Simon Victor, M.Sc. (Lond.), Carmelite House, Swaffham, Norfolk. Ashcroft, Ralph, A.R.T.C., 18, McKellar Avenue, Ardrossan, Ayrshire. Budgen, Mrs. May Louise, B.Sc. (Lond.), 43, St. Andrews Avenue, Sudbury, Middx. Carrington, John Herbert, B.Sc. (Lond.), 8, Greenway Road, Timperley, Cheshire. Cordingley, Harold, B.Sc., Ph.D. (Leeds), Hawkesworth Avenue, Guiseley, Leeds. Dalvi, Prabhakar Dattaram, M.Sc. (Bombay),c/oSuperintending Engineer, Jaipur State, Jaipur, India. 373 Davies, Miss Christina, B.Sc. (Glas.), The Croft, Carmyle Avenue, Carmyle, nr. Glasgow.Davies, Edwin Braithwaite, M.Sc. (N.Z.), 71, Fairlie Terrace, Kelburn, Wellington, N.Z. Dear, Cecil William, B.Sc. (Lond.), 26, Petherton Road, London, N.S. Douglas, Gordon Watson, B.Sc. (Leeds), State Laboratory, Bhopal,Central India. Flsegel, Albert Victor Louis George, M.Sc. (N.U.I.), 34, Parade Mansions, Hendon Central, London, N.W.4. Freeman, John Albert, B.Sc. (London), 40, King’s Avenue, Hounslow. Gillies, George Denholm, B.Sc. (Lond.), 12, Bernard Avenue, London, W.13. Goldberg, Alan August, B.Sc., Ph.D. (Lond.), D.I.C., 99A, Hornsey Lane, London, N.6. Hancock, Eric Gray, B.A., B.Sc. (Oxon.), 46, Beclands Road, London, S.W.17. Hanway, Kevin James, B.Sc. (N.U.I.), Santry Lodge, Santry, Co. Dublin.Harris, Walter Bevan, B.Sc. (Leeds), 20, Barrowby Avenue, Austhorpe, Leeds. Harvey, Frank Emery, B.Sc. (Bris.), Three Tunnys, Paulton, Nr. Bristol. Hooper, Miss Olive Mary, B.Sc. (Lond.), Alfreda, Roydon, Ware, Herts. Jarman, Maurice Bevan, M.A., B.Sc. (Oxon.), 53, Norton Avenue, Norton- on-Tees. Jelley, Edwin Ernest., B.Sc. (Lond.),c/oResearch Laboratory, Kodak Ltd., Wealds tone. Kefford, George William, B.Sc. (Lond.), 77, Broomwood Road, London, S.W. 1 1. Kerr, Finlay Donald, A.H-W.C., 74, Restalrig Road, Leith. Little, Andrew Harold, B.Sc. (Lond.), 21, Princo’s Avenue, Old Trafford, Manches ter. Lumb, Clarence, B.Sc. (Lond.), 30, Green Lane, Burnley Road, Halifax. McGowan, Harold, B.Sc. (Lond.), A.R.C.S., 18, Park View Road, Welling, Kent.McHugh, Miss Dorothy Alicia, B.A. (T.C.D.), 24, North Circular Road, Dublin. McLean, Hector Murray, A.H-W.C., 58, Hallgarth Street, Durham. Mehta, Thakorbhai Naranji, B.A., B.Sc. (Bombay), D.I.C., OrganicChemistry Research Laboratory, Imperial College, London, S.W. 7. Morris, Colin John Owen Rhonabwi, B.Sc. (Wales), 20, Llanbleddian Gardens, Cardiff. Noble, Ernest Gilbert, B.Sc. (Lond.), A.R.C.S., 7, Marine Parade, Sheerness. Pickup, Richard, B.Sc. (Mane.), c/o The Eastern Smelting Co., Penang,Straits Settlements. Pinches, Leonard Francis, B.Sc. (Lond.), 228, Abbey Hey Lane, Gorton, Manchester. Prentice, Walter Haston, A.H.-W.C., 27, Melbourne Road, Broxburn, W.Lo thian. Spinks, John William Tranter, B.Sc., Ph.D. (Lond.), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.Staynes, Miss Gertrude Margaret, B.Sc. (Lond.), 33, Highfield Street, Leicester. Steiner, Ernest Rudolf, B.A. (Oxon.), 60, The Drive, Ilford. Thrasher, Eric George, B.Sc. (Lond.), A.R.C.S., 8, Rugby Road, St. Thomas, Exeter, Devon. Walters, William Albert, B.Sc. (Lond.), 80, Gwyddon Road, Abercarn, Newport, Mon. 374 Watson, Douglas Irvine, B.Sc. (Lond.), Mandora, Effingham Road, Surbiton. Wickham, Cyril George, B.Sc. (Lond.), A.R.C.S., D.I.C., 10, Lismore Road, London, N.17. Wilkinson, Donald Graham, B.Sc., Ph.D. (Liv.), Rirkby, Liverpool Road, Gt. Crosby, Liverpool. Young, Robert Lees, A.H-W.C., 39, Woodburn Terrace, Edinburgh. New Students. Beynon, John Henry, Fairwood House, Three Crosses, Dunvant, Swansea.Brews, Miss Vera Annie Lawson, 15, Inman Road, London, S.W.18. Denny, James Leslie, 64, Gloucester Road, Kew Gardens, Surrey. Dugdale, Hugo James, Merlyn, The Street, Fetcham, Surrey. Duke, John Reginald Claude, 130, Bath Road, Hounslow, hliddx. Dunkin, Miss Florence, 335, James Reckitt Avenue, Hull. Etches, Kenneth Charles, 1, Cayton Road, Hull. Gartshore, John Ferguson Cockburn, 12, Clouston Street, Glasgow, N.W. Grove, Walter Patrick, 77, Surbiton Hill Park, Surbiton, Surrey. Hargreaves, Leonard Charles, 22, Palmerston Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham.Harper, Stanley Hugh, 32, St. Luke’s Road, Brighton. Hewitt, Charles Harold, 86, Morris Road, Washwood Heath, Birmingham. Howells, Daniel Clifford, 45, Pinged Hill, Kidwelly, Carm.Loftus, William Robert, 119, Upper Meadow Street, Belfast. Manson, Thomas, 25, Kilmaurs Road, Edinburgh. Marshall, Alan Thompson, 48,Hurstbourne Gardens, Barking. hlcGeckie, William Thornhill Barrie, 10, Cavendish Avenue, London, N.3. McGill, John Heron, Mochrum, Mill Road, Irvine, Ayrshire. McGregor, John Fulton, 12, Barfillan Drive, Glasgow, S.W.2. McKim, Thomas, 134, Glasgow Road, Paisley. Morrison, Angus Reid, 77, Ibrox Street, Glasgow, S.W.l. Muir, Andrew, Grasmere, Dynamite Road, Stevenston, Ayrshire. Philpot, Stanley Hope, Gaika, Red Lion Lane, Shooters Hill, London, S.E.18. Porter, Hubert Thomas, 29, Fillebrook Road, London, E.1 1. Robinson, Rupert Eardley, 17, Albany Terrace, Runcorn.Royds, John Arthur Lindsay, The Lawn, Gills Hill Road, Radlett. Salkeld, Charles Edward, 306, Clapham Road, London, S.W.9. Schollick, Francis, 118, New Bank Road, Blackburn. Smith, Douglas Gregory, 8, Normandy Road, Birchfield, Birmingham. Taylor, Neil James, 69, Bridge Lane, London, N.W.ll. Todd, William, 63, Grey Mare Lane, Ashton New Road, Manchester. Trickey, William Thomas, 124, Haydon Park Road, London, S.W.19. Watson, Edward Henry, 55, Wiverton Road, London, S.E.26. Webb, John, Vincent Cottage, Stapleton Street, New Wortley, Leeds. Whiteley, Sidney, 27, Bute Avenue, North Shore, Blackpool. Wild, Richard, Inglenook, Sipson, Yiewsley, Middx. Wilkinson, William Rouning, 45, Selby Road, London, E.13. Westmoreland-White, Miss Beryl, 61, Moyser Road, London, S.W.16.Wise, Frank Edward, 31, George Street, London, W.l. Woods, Sidney Charles, 49, Tennyson Road, Small Heath, Birmingham. Woodhouse, George, 109, Plymouth Grove, C-onM. Manchester. CHANGE OF NAME. Ephraim Galinsky, Associate, to Harry Ephraim Glynn-by Deed Poll. 375 Fellows. William Smith Hannah. Sir Thomas Eustace Hill, O.B.E., M.B., Ph.D. (Edin.). Philip Holland. William Foulkes Lowe, A.R.S.M. Walter Francis Reid. Thomas Twynam. Associates. Kenneth Vernon Christie, M.Sc. (Manc.).John Baldwin Shoesmith, B.Sc. (Vict.). 376 General Notices. Nomination of General Members of Council.-At tention is directed to the By-laws relating to the nomination of Members of Council:-By-law 26.!1) Any twenty Members, not being Members of the Council, may nominate one eligible Fellow as a candidate for election as a General Member of the Council, but no Member shall nominate more than one such Fellow. (2) Any nomination made under this By-law shall be delivered to the Secretary six weeks at least before the Annual General Meeting, and shall be in the following form: “We, the undersigned, Members of the Institute of Chemistry of Great Britain and Ireland, do hereby certify that A.B., of (registered address) , a Fellow of this Institute, is, in our estimation, a fit and proper person to be a General Member of the Councilof the Institute, and we do hereby nominate him as a Candidate for election as a General Member of the Council.” (3) Any such nomination may consist of several documents in like form, each signed by one or more Members.(The name of every candidate nominated in accordance with By-law 26 will be included in the Balloting List.) By-law 24 (2). No person who has been elected as a District Member of the Council for any year of Office shall be eligible for election as a General Member of the Council for that year of Office, and if such person is elected as President, Vice-president or Treasurer for that year of Office he shall vacate his Office as a District Member of the Council and the vacancy shall be filled up, as on a casual vacancy. The General Members of Council who retire at the next Annual General Meeting, 1st March, 1932, in accordance with the By-laws and are ineligible for re-election, are as follows:- Members of Council. Edward Richards Bolton.Harold Bush Brown. Charles Stanley Gibson, O.B.E., M.A., M.Sc., F.R.S. Thomas Percy Hilditch, D.Sc. George Nevi11 Huntly, B.Sc., A.R.C.S. James Grieve King, Ph.D., A.R.T.C. Herbert Levinstein, M.Sc., Ph.D. Hamilton McCombie, D.S.O., M.C., M.A., D.Sc. Forsyth James Wilson, Ph.D., D.Sc. Nominations for the new Council must be delivered at the Institute before 4.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 19th January, 1932. The Annual General Meeting of the Institute will be held on Tuesday, 1st March, 1932. 377 District Members of Council,-The District Members of Council who will continue in office are as follows :-(i) Birmingham and Midlands : Joseph Robert Johnson.(ii) Bristol and South-Western Counties : Edward Russell, B.Sc. (+) Liverpool and North-Western : Walter Ferguson Buist, B.Sc. (IV) London and South-Eastern Counties : George Stubbs, C.B.E. (v) Manchester and District : William David Rogers, B.Sc., A.R.C.S. (vi) North-East Coast and Yorkshire : Harry Malkin Mason, M.Se. (vii) Edinburgh and East of Scotland: Robert Bruce. (viii) Glasgow and West of Scotland : Peter Ferguson Gordon, Ph.D. (Glas.). (ix) Wales and the County of Monmouth: Leonard Eric Hinkel, D.Sc. (x) Northern Ireland : Jesse Carl Albert Brierley, M.Sc. (Mane.). (x!) Irish Free State: William Robert Fearon, M.A., Sc.D. (xu) The Overseas Dominions and elsewhere abroad : Edward John Way. Examinations for 1932.-The arrangements for examina- tions during 1932 are as follows:- Dates of Examinations.Entries close. 4th to 9th April Monday, 8th February, 1932. or 11th to 16th April } (Note-books: 18th March.) 12th to 17th September Monday, 11th July, 1932. or 19th to 24th September} (Note-books: 2nd September.) Candidates for the Associateship will be examined in January, April and September, and candidates for the Fellowship in April and September. Notice to Associates.-The Council desires to encourage all Associates to qualify for the Fellowship. Copies of the regulations and forms of application can be obtained from the Registrar. Appointments Register.-A Register of Fellows and Associates who are available for appointments , or are desirous of extending their opportunities, is kept at the offices of the Institute.For full information, inquiries should be addressed to the Registrar. Fellows and Associates are invited to notify the Institute of suitable vacancies for qualified chemists. Students who have been registered as Students of the Institute for not less than six months and are in the last term of their training for the Associateship may receive the Appointments Register of the Institute, provided that their applications for this privilege be endorsed by their professors. 378 Lists of vacancies are forwarded twice weekly to those whose names are on the Appointments Register. Fellows and Associates who are already in employment, but seeking to improve their positions, are required to pay 10s.for a period of six months. Members and Students who are without employment are required to pay 6s. 6d. for the first period of six months, and, if not successful in obtaining an appointment, will thereafter be supplied with the lists gratis for a further period, if necessary. The Institute also maintains a Register of Laboratory Assist- ants who have passed approved Preliminary Examinations and, in some cases, Intermediate Science Examinations. Fellows and Associates who have vacancies for Registered Students and Laboratory Assistants are invited to communicate with the Registrar. The Library.-The Libraryof the Institute is open for the use of Fellows, Associates and Registered Students between the hours of 10a.m.and 6 p.m. on week-days (Saturdays, 10a.m. and I p.m.), except when examinations are being held. The library is primarily intended for the use of candidates during the Institute’s practical examinations. The comprehensive Library of the Chemical Society is avail- able, by the courtesy of the Council of the Society, for the use of Fellows and Associates of the Institute wishing to consult or borrow books, from 10a.m. to g p.m. on week-days (Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), except during August and the early part of September, when the hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registered Students of the Institute are also permitted, at present, to use the Library of the Chemical Society for reference purposes, but not to borrow books. Members and Students of the Institute using the Library of the Society are required to conform to the rules of the Society regarding the use of its books. The Science Museum, South Kensington.-The Director and Secretary of the Science Museum, South Kensington, has notified the Council of the Institute that arrangements have been made for the issue of books and periodicals on loan to scientific workers introduced by approved institutions.Books which can be obtained easily from other institutions are not ordinarily lent by the Science Library. The Science Library, however, contains some 360 periodicals specially devoted to chemical science, and arrangements have been made (by means of a form of requisition obtainable from the Registrar of the Institute) for borrowing any of these, and of the remainder of 379 the 8,000 periodicals in the Library which may not be available elsewhere. Covers €or Journal.-Members who desire covers (IS.zd. each) for binding the Journal in annual volumes, are requested to notify the Registrar of their requirements, indicating the years for which the covers are required. Arrangements may be made with Messrs. A. W. Bain & Co., Ltd., 17-19, Bishop’s Road, Cambridge Heath, London, E.2, to bind volumes of the JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGSon the following terms: buckram cover, IS. 2d.; binding, 2s. gd.; postage and packing, gd.; in all, 4s. 8d. Lantern Slides €or Lecturers-A collection of slides is kept at the Institute for the use of members who wish to give lectures.Enquiries should be addressed to the Registrar. As 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. Changes of Address.-In view of the expense involved through frequent alterations of addressograph plates, etc., 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. The Chemical Club.-The Chemical Club provides a pleasant and useful social centre for gentlemen engaged in, or connected with, the profession of chemistry or chemical industry. The Club is conveniently situated in Westminster, and in addition to the usual restaurant, billiard and card rooms, bedroom accommodation is available on the premises of Whitehall Court.The attention of members resident in the provinces is particularly directed to the usefulness of the Club to those who visit London on business. The annual subscription is very low for a Club of this kind, being, for Town Members E3 3s., for Country Members (those having no residence or place of business within 20 miles of Charing Cross) &? zs., and for Overseas Members, LI IS. Candidates for membership must be proposed by one and seconded by two members of the Club who know them per- sonally. Full particulars and forms of application can be obtained from the Secretary, Chemical Club, 2 Whitehall Court, London, S.W.1, or from the Assistant Secretary of the Institute.ATTENDANCES AT MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL AND COMMITTEES, 1sT MARCH TO 20~~DECEMBER, 1931. Council Council in Committees Committee A G. C. Clayton, Pres.* F. D. Chattaway, V.P. L. Eynon, V.P. .. G. G. Henderson, V.P. E. Hinks, V.P. .. B. F. Howard, V.P. A. Smithells, V.P. .. P. H. Kirkaldy, Trens. E. R. Bolton .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 0 ..61 .. 8 8 ..40 . . 8 7 . . 6 7 . . I 0 . . 7 7 .. 6 0 40 7 28 3 4 3 6 30 21 2 0 26 0 3 3 1 25 0 3 8 5 5 1 10 H. V. A. Rriscoe . . .. .. . . 2 0 8 0 H. B. Brown .. .. .. .. 3 4 19 3 W. F. Buist . . .. .. .. .. 0 0 19 0 W. J. A. Butterfield .. .. . . 7 6 5 3 3 A.M. Cameron .. .. .. . . 0 2 5 0 N. M. Comber . . .. .. ..11 0 0 A. Coulthard .. .. .. .. 5 1 12 0 A. E. Dunstan .. .. .. .. 1 2 16 0 2 W. R. Fearon .. .. .. . . l o 5 0 A. G. Francis C. S. Gibson .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 8 l 8 o 16 7 16 1 5 F. if'. Harris .. .. .. .. 0 0 21 1 J. Hawthorne .. .. .. . . 2 0 6 1 I. M. Heilbron .. .. .. ..40 2 0 Lord Henley T. P. Hilditch L. E. Hinkel .. .. .. .. .. *. .. .. .. ..00 ..40 . . 2 2 2 7 5 1 0 0 G. N. HuntrlyG. King. .. J. G. King .. H. Levinstein H. H. Hodgson .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 7 2 ..43 .. 2 4 . . 0 0 .. 8 8 4 1 19 2 21 2 0 0 0 12 1 1 P. Lewis-Dale .. .. .. . . 5 5 2 0 3 H.M. Mason D. Jordan Lloyd .. .. .. .. .. .. ..40 ..4 4 6 6 0 2 H. McCombie . . .. .. ..00 0 0 1 W. J. S. Naunton . . .. .. . . 1 1 0 0 G. H. PerryE. K. Rideal .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 5 1 4 1 18 2 4 1 B. P. Ridge . . W. H. Roberts ,. . . .. .. .. .. ..41 ..11 2 2 1 1 W. D. Rogers E. Russell . . . . .. .. .. .. .. . . o o ..88 5 7 0 3 G. Stubbs .. .. .. .. _. 4 1 18 1 2 W. Wardlaw .. .. .. . . 5 1 7 0 E. J. WayJ. Weir .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . 4l 7 o 2 0 1 0 F. J. Wilson .. .. .. . . 3 0 * Ex-oficio member of all Committees. 7 0