The sun., 1917-08-28

chemical journal tie ZsifschriH fir
an0etcdndte Chemie there have ap-
peared some highly significant aru-
cles on the production Of fats and oils
from which, glycerinc can be made.
The problem is evidently vital one,
for on the supply Of glyccrine depends
obviously the production OF nitro
glycerine, the basis Of much OF the
explosive used in propelling heavy
shot and shell from the guns. Nitro
glycerine Is also required for the ex-
plosion Of mines on tie battle fronts.
In addition great quantities are
needed by the miners in their work
and to less extent by workers in the
building trades.
Briefly, glycerine is essential TO the
conduct Of the war, and 1t must be
had in probably increasing amounts.
The present problem is how to obtain
It, The blockade has cut OF the supply
from the outside. and since the United
States embargo on grains certain
sources of oil from which glycerne
can be made in one way or another
have also been curtailed II not wholly
eliminated. In these circumstances 1t
is beginning to be realized in Germany
that the question is most grave. How
to maintain the absolutely necessary
output Of oils IL the subject of nu-
merous articles written In accordance
with expert warnings and technical
suggestions. There is one feature or
these Investigations which may not be
without special significance. The Ger
man official chemists make no men
ton of the need of nitroglycerine for
naval purposes. for submarine opera
tions, torpedoes and mines. A desire
to conceal the extent Of the shortage
is probably the motive Of this silence.
In pre-war times Germany imported
80 per cent. OF the oils and oil seeds
and fats required for the special pur-
pose of'manufacturing glycerine. The
exact figures Of supply and demand
or Of production in general during the
past year have not been published,
but some conception of the serious
danger caused by shortage OF this
kind may be given by some OF the
occasional statistics which appear In
the chemical journals. For instance,
the manufacture of soap is prohibited
of machine Oil, of grease for railways
and vehicles: that is, the supply on
hand must be delivered to the War
Office. The scarcity comes out In other
| ways. In Austria the oil and fat con-
| troll has bought up all used coffee
grounds to extract from them the Il
per cent. of Oil which they contain.
More than 1000 "fat retainers" have
| been attached to the sewage outlets OF
different towns. These grounds when
treated chemically yielded yellow fat
suitable for munition purposes. Indi-
rcctly the scarcity Of fodder has leo
to a decline Of fat production. Cattle
have suffered In weight and stamina
so that carcasses and milk yield lest
fat. The deficiency has made 1t neces
sary to utilize kitchen refuse. The
Zeitschritt fir praktische Chemie latel,
published a complete account of thu
methods Of collecting and disinfectint
garbage and making II into food
stun for cattle. The production O.
butter this year declined 100000 ton!
through lack OF fodder.
The far reaching effects of thii
scarcity seriously handicap the Ger
man military position. The handi
cap is certainly tremendous, and th'
great power of the blockade Is directed
to a vital spot. According to La Ma
ture last week, "the consequence II
that the Germans have run short o
glycerine, which they need for wa
purposes-for dynamite and mines a
the 'front.' In peace time, as thi
paper says. 10000 tons are used. Il
which 100000 tons must be added 70
war. As much as 100000 tons o
fat are needed for human consump
ton and 100000 tons in the form o
lard and other edible fats.
The problem is, therefore, to provid
regularly the 500, 900 tons OF glycerin
from a store of fat that is inevitably
limited one. Germans are quite pre-
pared to admit that rationing will no
, accomplish the object; that Govern
ment scissors which shear more or les
at random, cutting here and sparin
there, can hardly succeed without res
ervations Government did not Gu
| enough or cut too much In conse
uuence the shortage Of glycerine
cumulatively serious.
Modern chemistry, which has bee
carried in Germany TO It's highes
point Of excellence, has now tas
which may prove too much even 10
superhuman energies. Early in tn
war it professed to aim at the produe
ton of fats and oils for human foo
and was in fact often successful in thi
, detail. But Its real aim is not at tn
creation OF edible oils and fats, bu
, at supplementing the present produe
, ton OF glycerine by the extraction
fat from all natural sources GlyceI
inc, not food, is its end. and in II
, attempt to increase the supply it ha