WHAT OUR CHEMISTS ARE DOING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2747, 15 April 1916, Page 2

WHAT OUR CHEMISTS ARE DOING

WORK IN THE WAR

MANUFACTURE OP ENEMY

PRODUCTS

A great deal lias been heard of tho shortcomings of the profession of chemistry ln_ Great Britain and very little of its successes. Tho men who succeed and tho men who know are for the most part silent. Very few, perhaps, quite realise tho great resources we have for training chemists, or the' oxtent to which this profession is organised, or the variety and usefulness or the work that British chemists are doing. An interesting liglit was recently thrown upon the work of the profession by Mr. Richard B: Pilcher, registrar ai«L secretary of the Institute of Chemistry of Great Britain and Ireland, in an interview with a repre-' sontativo of the Loudon ".Observer." H.O showed that things are much more hopeful than is generally imagined. He pointed out, in the first place, that there is, and has been, for a long period of years -a definite "effort to eduoate studonts ill chemistry. "In all the universities and colleges, courses of training have been provided with the object of enabling students to prepare for the profession. A large number pass through these courses and take degrees and qualifications with the view of practising the profession of chemistry. "The branches of the profession may be divided into:— . "1; Analytical and consulting chemists in private practice. "2. Chemists engaged in industry, both in laboratories and in control of plant. "3. Chemists in Government and county and municipal appointments. "4. Teachers of chemistry, including professors in - universities and colleges and science masters in the schools.

"Bach, university has mapped out a definite coursc for candidates tailing; degrees in science, with chemistry as one of the subjects, and the Institute of Chemistry has published regulations giving particulars of the training regarded as necessary for men intending to follow this profession. Succeeding councils of the institute, ' comprising members representing different branches of 'the profession, have framed and reframed these regulations in accordance with the progress of the science.

"As to the organisation of 'chemists, there are, apart from the Royal Society, which is concerned with all departments of science, four main societies:— "1. The Chemical Society, established in 1811 for the general advancement of 1 chemical science.

"2. The Institute of Chemistry, whose main objects are to promote the better education of persons desiring to become professional, consulting, -and technological chemists, to examine candidates and to register such as have been'found to be competent, and generally to maintain .the profession at ~a high standard of scientific and' practical proficiency by insisting on the observance of rules with regard to professional cdnduct.

"3. The ■ Society of Chemical Industry, which aims at the advancement of applied chemistry and chemical engineering in all branches..'/ "4. The Society of Public Analysts and other Analytical Chemists, t'he object of which is to cultivate the study of analytical chemistry, to study questions relating to the adulteration of ■articles of foodj .'drugs. - and. commercial products and its' to promote the efficient and proper administration of laws relating to the repression of adulteration. ■' Position of Manufacturers. "While it is much to be deplored that industries have not taken greater advantage of the available scientific talent, it is the fact that an increasing number of undertakings now employ chemists both for laboratory work and for control of plant, while others have the advantage of constant touch with consulting chemists with special experience in various branches of industry. Indeed, in numerous instances the manufacturers have foreseen the necessity of having" their sons trained to assist them, or they have made their chemists members of the directorate, while many chemists are . works managers. ;"In all chemical industries—and very many industries' are chemical—it- is essential that chemists should be in control of the operations of manufacture. The owners should offer such ments as will attract men of the highest ability on whom they can rely, and should be cmistantly on the alert to discover promising lieutenants. They are to be obtained, but m us t b e encouraged by every means to do their best., "The selection of-'the best available at fully adequate remuneration has almost invariably proved a sound investment ; the saving of fifty or a hundred pounds in salary cannot possibly compensate for the mistake of passing ovor the right man.' Whereas it was apparently difficult at one time to find chemists combining business ability with their'scientifio attainments, the number of such men is steadily increasing, and tho result should bo a brighter outlook for industries in which -they secure positions of control for which they are well qualified. "We are inclined to point to our failures and to ..overrate them, while little is 'said of the concerns ■ which advance with steady progress. . However, I believe , that out of all the criticism of failures good results'-will come, and. that as one result of the war has been to bring chemists to the fore and to make the country appreciate their services, there is a better time Voming both for our industries and for the chemists

"Here is an example of the benefit derived from employment of- chemists. In 1914 I received a letter from the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, at Sydney, forwarding a second donation of a hundred guineas to the building fund of tho institute. In this letter the general manager said: —

'It may interest you to know that each of our factories has its laboratory and staff of analysts, and that their check on the work costs us some £20,000 a year. This system and this staff we have been' gradually building up for tho last thirty years, with a very manifest cffect on the earning power of the business; indeed, since 1900 the reduction of wastes "has amounted to between £75,000 and £100,000 a year, and followed on very largo savings effected between 1883 and 1900. "From these figures you will see that we may reasonably be expected to take an interest in the progress of the institute and, generally, in the application of science to the processes of manufacture. , ; Government's Sympathy, "There is also a hopeful outlook in the attitude of tho Government towards science.. It has been evidenced by their desire to help the dye industry and also in the appointment of an advisory council for tho promotion of scientific and industrial research which has power to dispenso grants. "So far as tho war is concerned, the supply ot chemists lias feeii fully equal, up to tho. present, to tho demands ill every direction. If the public could only be told the full extent of the services that have been rendered by British chemists in the present conflict they would be astonished. "Chetnists are required and are employed in all matters relating to the production of armaments, munitions. I ana materials of war, to eauipmeut and

food, and in numerous other ivays, whilst attached to , the Government Departments are distinguished members of the profession acting in advisory capa<cities and rendering valuable assistance in the consideration of inventions and ideas for tlio further prosecution of the war and in devising now measures of offence and defence.

Quo of the principal activities of the institute of Chemistry during the past year has liccn directed to the work of ensuring a supply of glass, for laboratory apparatus and other purposes, of which we were threatened with a shortago, owing to the fact that hitherto u had been obtained from enerav countries. .

~ " T .' !o G'ass Research Committee of tho institute has succeeded in supplying formulas to the manufacturers, and the necessary glass ivare, vessels, and instruments arc now being produced in large quantities by British firms, wlio have good reason to believe that they will hold this branch of industry in the future.

. Apart from this, laboratory porcelain vessels, filter paper, and chemical re-agents are being produced by British firms, and in all cases the work has progressed under the direct control of highly-scientific men. This is an indication that manufacturers are taking advantage of the aid that science can afford, and it makes' the outlook hopeful for the future of. British industry."