davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-06-23

the pavement with his discarded car
bons. The second type of electric fur
mace does not have an arc; it works
just like the incandescent lamp, only
here the object is to develop heat
rather than light by virtue Of the re-
sistance offered to the passags of the
current. Sometimes this resistance is
developed in the very material under
treatment, which then becomes an ac-
tual part Of the circuit; sometimes the
circuit includes special high-res
ance member for the purpose, and the
heat is applied to the charge by juxta-
position, IS in the arc furnace,
But, in either event, we have got to
have the ends Of this resistance ele-
ment in the circuit Joined to the re st
Of the circuit by means of a connec-
ton that will not melt under the heat
to be developed. Unlike the arc fur
mace, the resistance furnace Is flexible;
by appropriate choice Of the resistance
member, we can make It operate at
any temperature we wish. But when
we begin to exceed q thousand degrees,
we begin to get In realm In which
the only satisfactory substance for
connecting the resistance member In
he circuit is platinum. So platinum
for this purpose we must have, under
penalty Of seriously restricting the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-06-23

less, as soon as it Is added, sometimes
In an absurdly slight amount, prestol
the solution straightway froths up,
there is grand commotion, and re-
action involving every molecule in the
solution takes place. What we wanted
to happen does happen. And the little
catalyst may be found in the bottom
Of the beaker, just as it was when
we put 1t in, to all appearances. chemi-
cal and otherwise, unchanged"
In some cases we know that the cats-
lyst acts through an intermediate re-
action. That is to say, we have q com.
pound of elements A and B. and AM
other of elements C and D. We want
to get the A and the C together in a
new compound; but the substances ABB
and CD will not react. We introduce
some of fifth element. E; this steals
the A from ABB, and then allows the
CD to attack it and hook the A up with
the c, releasing the D. This at once
takes up with the free B, and we have
the new compounds AC, which we
wanted, and BID. which we don't care a
rap about, and finally our catalyst E
Is left over--given back to Us, TO use
over and over again. This last is the
feature common to all catalysis; the
catalyst Is never used up.
Well, platinum is q catalyst. In the
presence OF certain preparation
known as platinum sponge, numerous
reactions will take place which would
not otherwise proceed. In this partic-
ular case there Is no intermediate re-
actlon, but we know none the less how
the thing works. The platinum sponge
mas the property of absorbing an in
credible amount Of any gas. It is
divided into extremely fine particles:
and each particle surrounds itself with
a thin Aim Of the gas in the process
Of absorption. Then, since reaction ia
largely matter Of exposed surface.
the gas, whose surface Is thus made
out OF all proportion to Its volume or
mass, will react with substances to
which it would ordinarily pay no At
tention.
Now 1t Just happens that the par
tlcular reactions that are stimulated bv
the catalytic action of platinum are re-
actions without which we cannot pos
slbly get along in peace, and which
become doubly indispensable in war.
In word, they are the reactions lead
ing to the manufacture of sulphuric
and nitric acids.
OF normal years production OF sui
phuric acid In the United States, 51.e per
cent is used as . reagent in the manu-
facture Of fertilizer; III PER cent goes
to the refiners Of petroleum; 1913 per
cent finds application in the manufac-
ture of other acids, including nitric;
81 per cent 10 used in picking iron
and steel; 80 per cent goes to the
manufacturer Of textiles; the balance,
listed as having found miscellaneous
use, 10 employed, among other things,
in eleetroplating, which makes modern
printing possible, and in copper REIN
ing, which without it could not be con
Quoted on sufficiently large scale to
satisfy the demands of the electrical
engineer. In every case che acid is alb
solutely essential to the continuance
of the industry in which it is used. So
this acid we'll deserves the name of
universal reagent" which It has re-
ceived; it 10 one OF the strongest and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-06-23

are capable Of taking care of more
than 1000 patients each. There arc
three great embarkation hospitals and
two permanent base hospitals. At the
thirty-two army camps and canton
ments fully equipped hospital is in
operation and at each training camp
there has been a steady diminution
in the rate of sickness and mortality.
Undoubtedly there was a great deal
OF sickness in the training camps soon
after the first draft call last autumn.
The War Department, under the press
ure of demands from abroad, was not
fully prepared for the influx of recruits
at the training camps. The tents and
environments were crowded. Measles
came, and following that came pneu-
monia. There was temporary short
age Of nurses. The Quartermaster
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-06-23
Metal Essential in Munitions and Chemistry and Electric
Points for Which There Is Yet No substitute-The
Greatest Pre-War Source Was in Russia

most essential props Of our eiviliza-s
When we go to war we need exnlo-
sives. These are made from nitric ac;a
and certain organic compounds. Again.
we have several ways of making This
acid. One is out of the question in
This country because it calls for more
electrlc power than we can spnre fuel
TO generate, and more than we can de-
velop IN the present state of our water
powers: A second proceeds through
the action OF sulphuric acid on sodium
nitrate. And third calls for the cata-
both the available processes cali for
platinum, directly or indirectly:
The situation would be an incon- :
venient one, even if there were no fac
Tor involved save that Of demand. I'm
fortunately this is not the case; the
question OF supply is by far the more
desperate one. In a normal year the
words output of platinum would be,
q Urine IN excess of q quarter of
miliIon ounces, and of this Russia
would produce we'll over 80 Der cent
Last year Russia succeeded in mininc,
put $4,000 ounces, and it meant little
20 US what quantity she mined, because
it here. es"s
IN default OF the customary supply
from Russia we have had to turn.
since 1915. to the Colombian Republic
the only other producer ON scaIe.
worth mentioning at all. Now, any one
knows that accelerating South Amer
lean business man is q tough PROPOSE
sioh' further, business conditions are
this particular country, and MINING il
very crude. Even it it were possible
lot US to go in and take hold our
selves we could not make production
Jump very high. AS it is, we are to
congratulate ourselves that the Colom-
plan mines have increased their output
from 1900 ounces in 1916 to 25.0OC
ounces IN 1917. But in a commodity :
where supply has never been more than
wv? jumps ahead OF a hungry demand
IL ls gong to hurt to cut the amount
available for the use of the non-Teu-
tonic world from 100000 ounces q veal
to $4,000 ounces-all in three years
ihat $4,000 ounces is literally all thcrela
is. We. get it all; it can't be refined
IN south America, 80 in spite Of tbs
fact that they don't love US and that
German agents have tried to intensity
this feeling, the Colombian producers
country to be refined. But 25.o0e
ounces instead Of ten times that
amountl
For two decades or more the price
OF platinum has been fluctuating, with
steady upward trend - more and.
more necessary work has been found
for it to do. When it passed gold inls
value it began to be used for jewelry,s
and there has been steady increase IN
this tendency 40 normal demand ar d.
wartime scarcity have forced the price
skyward, until now we are told that
something like half the nations total
platinum stock stands in the form of
personal adjournment Certain manu-
featuring jewellers are trying to make
out = case for the continuation Of this
ratio. mainly by means Of reckless ,
statements that there is plenty Of
platinum or everybody; but those Who
know have awakened to the true nature,
Of this insidious and selfish propaganda
and have taken steps to eomhas L.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-06-23

utility of the electric furnace
In the aggregate these and simila,
demands for platinum bulk fairly large
Ihey are. howev'~, far outranked by
the needs Of the chemist. who would
De utterly helpless to carry on his work
were he deprived of this metal. His
needs fall into two categories, which
must be discussed separately.
We have seen that platinum /. ma,
susceptible to attack by acids, the m ost
common Of reagents; we have seen
that its melting point is verv hiph .
We have seen that it is not subject r.
serious failure at high temperatures
which do not reach the vicinity Of ,ts
melting point, and we have seen that
exposure to the air does not cana. u
TO be covered with a coating Of oxide
NOW, there are plenty of substance
glass, for one-which arc immune In
ordinary acids at ordinary tempera.
lures, but few, II any Of them. stand
up satisfactorily under heat and az
posure to the air.
This means that the chemist is going
70 want lot of laboratory utensils ~
! platinum. He isn't even going to con-
nne his demands to crucibles and such
things He has got to have scala nan.
that 90 not change in weight when ex-
posed to the air. Everywhere he turns
IN his work he is going to feel the need
of platinum to work in.
We have not mentioned. os vat u,
specific industry, because IL has not
oeen in order for US to do so. W.
are coming to the point, however.
where we must do this. in CONSIDERING
the role Of platinum as a catalvst
Catalysis is the formidable name
gwen to chemical process which is
wei enough understood In its WORK.
ings, but concerning the reasons for
which we are not entirely clear ELL
wood Hendrick has hit the thing of
IN his inimitable style, and we can
DO no better than quote him,
LET US take two bodies that, accord
ing to all the rules and all our reason.
ing, should combine when we bring
them together. They should, but they
do not. OF course. there 10 a reason
for this, but what we are after Is the
reaction. We heat the vessel, and
shake 1t, and nothing happens. Then
we add the catalyst. which ia for
eign body. and to all appearances it
has no relation to what we have or
the combination ws wxnts nsvsrths-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-06-23
F I T

Grafton and disciplinary measures.
Not the least achievement Of the
surgeon generals establishment has
been the cure of 800 cases Of chronic
alcoholism. This number of weak
willed men have been taught to lead
normal and temperate lives.
In statement by the War Depart
ment on June II announcement was
made that $4,000, 600 is being expended
for new hospital buildings in this
country and much Of the work has
been finished. This activity ranges
from the establishment of q 1,ooo-bed
hospital for the treatment of tuber-
culosis ct Azalea, N. c., and . similar
institution at Denver, to a two-million
| dollar hospital for general army pur-
poses at Fox Hills, N. Y.
Professional Journal
Speaks for Him
A recent editorial in "The Journal
of the Southern Medical Association.
gives the professional Wow of General
. Gorgas. Discussing, with unbe.ief. the
/ suggestion that Gorgas might be re-
tired at sixty-four, this medical pub
iication pays a tribute which may we'll
end this brief summary of the work of
the Gorgas Of to-day. The editorial
says:
President Wilson is somewhat
younger in years than General Gorpas.
and since he has one of the best doctors
IN the country to see him every day,
to keep him we'll, he may be expected
to continue his wonderful degree Of
efficiency for many years. General
Gorgas is his own doctor and he is en-
gagged in the small undertaking OF
keeping a million and a half boys and
young men from catching measles.
pneumonia and some diseases that do
not affect the respiratory organs that
affiict those who have not learned how
to take care of themselves-and he
is doing both jobs better than any man
before him ever dic
of course, no one has considered it
possible for General Gorgas to be re-
tired during this war. Millions of
mothers and fathers and other rela-
tives and friends of our soldiers thank
God every day that General Goreas is
directing the army of doctors who are
lighting diseases that are as dangerous
and that are as insidious enemies to
mankind as the Huns. They feel COM
forted every day on realizing that
Gorgas is safeguarding the health and
lives of their boys.
aside from the fact that there is
no one who could so ably take the
place Of General Gorgas as surgeon
general, the United States and the
Mor owe him such dept of gratitude
/ that he could not be retired until his
labors during the present war have
been completed. His conquests over
disease have been more brilliant and
eral who has fought battles against
man. Gorgas has brought health and
happiness to millions, while vars
against man have made countless thou
sands~mourn."
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-06-23
Medical Corps Larger
Than Pre-War Army

This reveals . part of the story of
administrative expansion. Next one
will turn naturally to the field, where
base, general and emergency hospitals
hold the sick and wounded in this
country and abroad, and where army
nurses and physicians, who have given
up the practice of lifetime, have
responded to the call of Gorgas and
undertaken new work of humanity.
Before the war there were approx
mately 435 officers Of the Medical Corps
in regular service. The enlisted per-
sonnet was less than 5000. There
were approximately 1913 nurses and
$500 physicians on the reserve list.
They were inactive.
In Washington there were four gen-
eral officers in addition to Gorgas. A
little group Of clerks attended to the
routine of administration. The sick
and death rate in the army was low
and the small staff sufficient.
The force Of the Medical Depart
ment to-day is larger than the entire
standing army of the United States
prior to the outbreak Of the war. There
are more than 10000 medical officers
in active service. There are 10000
enlisted men and 10000 nurses. The
corps Of nurses is being gradually in
creased as the training schools turn
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-06-23

Medical Corps of 10000 Officers 10000
Nurses Larger Than the Whole United States
the War-Incudes Greatest Surgeons and Physi-
in Nation

and often skips up stairs without wait
ing for the elevator At his desk he is
dynamo Of action. Without austerity
or pompousness, he is firm, frank.
quick to perceive and quick to act.
II the War Department retires Cor
gas it must be for some reason not
apparent to the layman--and If it re-
tires him undoubtedly such action will
bring a demand for an answer to the
question "Why" That both the public
and the medical profession desire the
retention of General Gorgas is already
revealed by preliminary discussion Of
the proximity of the usual retirement
date. In the service to-day there are
dozens of officers called back to active
duty from the retired list.
Going back to the low, long building,
not unlike the structure one sees at
the environments, where the heart Of
the medical department, whose pulse
is felt in France, throbs to-day, there
is found initial evidence Of expansion.
When war came Surgeon General Cor
gas and his small staff occupied only
three rooms in the State, War and
Navy Building. Within a few days he
moved to an annex across the street.
Recently he moved into building con-
structed for the Medical Department.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-06-23

cannot be tolerated. The entire value
of the operation rests in the delicacy
and accuracy with which it Is per-
formed, and this in turn rests upon
perfect contacts. In such cases we
must have the platinum or 90 out Of
commission altogether. The aggregate
demand for platinum in this direction
Is not staggering one, since once a
contact is put in it lasts a long time
and may even be recovered after hav-
ing outlived the rest of the apparatus
that is, metal is not actually used up
as is the raw material of the ordinary
manufacturing process. But, whatever
IT may amount to, the demand for re-
placements and new installations is one
that must be met; and it Is at best far
from q trivial one.
Another interesting development is
the use Of platinum in electric lamp
bulbs. The principle of the incandes-
cent lamp is q familiar one, but there
are doubtless q good many folks to
whom It has never occurred that. since
the flsment is inside an alright and
non-conducting envelope Of glass there
must be some arrangement for gettinS
the current through to it In other
words, the glass bnlb must be pierced
by conductor.
This introduces . complication. The
passing of the current will heat this
conductor, and, in turn, the surround
ing glass will get warm. Both metal
and glass will expand. Now II the
glass expands faster than tho metal it
will shrink away from the latter and
the joint, carefully sealed In manu-
facture, will cease to be alright. Then,
of course, the vacuum inside will be
destroyed and the lamp will cease to
function, even If the bulb or the fla
mont does not collapse. On the other
hand, II the metal expands faster than
the glass it will press against the glass
and crack it by virtue Of the very fact
that the Joint is tight one. So the
only way out is to have metal whose
"coefficient Of expansion" is very close
ly equal to that Of the glass.
BY great good fortune-or is It bad
fortune ?---platinum is such metal.
Accordingly, it has been, and still is
to . certain extent, used in the base Of
incandescent lamps to make tho con-
tact between the external and internal
circuits. But, broadly speaking, by al
Toying metals with different expansion
coelilcients No can produce . combina-
ton Of any desired sxpansibillty--
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-06-23
Sixty three Hospitals With Capacity Men Country
Sight-Enormous Work Being Done in France Chief
Energetic When He Cleaned Up the
Panama Canal Zone

In the days of temporary concern,
Surgeon General Gorgas was frank with
the public. He issued weekly health
statement covering all Of the training
camps. If there existed a shortage of
winter clothing, superinducing disease,
the surgeon general said so. although
tho implied criticism may not have
oeen welcome to the responsible Of
ficials. If the hospitals were made
quately provided with nurses and
equipment Gorgas admitted it and
promised correction-making good the
promise. If his recommendations
against crowding had not been fol-
lowed, Gorgas said that too, and the
chips fell as they would.
At one time there was presented to
General Gorgas an unfavorable report
on health conditions at one of the
Southern camps and the question of
publicity came up. A subordinate hint
ed that the report might be stoned
down" or withheld until conditions
were more favorable.
"Why?" asked Gorgas. "It's the
truth, isn't it? Well, then, let it be
made public and we'll correct the con-
ditions."
Instances Of this sort inspire the con-
fdence Of American mothers and
'athers who have intrusted the health
OF their sons to Gorgas and the men
about him. When he promised an
army practically free of disease, al
belt that army had been gathered
from the four corners of the country
and comprised all manner of men
the American people believed him.
1t was recurrence Of the faith had
when Gorgas began to drive the mos
quito and yellow fever from the Pan
ma Canal Zone. He did it, and with
out Gorgas a Goethals could nsve1
have built the canal and could have
only awaited the fate of De Lessons
whose workers were stricken by the
thousands.
One of the principal achievements
OF Surgeon General Gorgas has been
that of attracting to his aid in wax
work surgeons and physicians of ma
tional and international reputation
The staff Of the surgeon general in
cludes names of men renowned in the
fields of surgery, medicine, neurology
psychiatry, psychology, orthopedics and
the treatment of every known disease
| and disorder.
This list includes the Mayo brothers
Bevin, Yerkes, Binnie, Billings, Pearce
Bailey, Longcope, Mixter, Haggard
Mcclure, Ochsner, Cushing, Brewer
Grille, Hart, Finney, Beasley, Murphy
| and SO on, men eminent in their pro-
fession, with many others Of almost
equal prominence and reputation.
Every man who enters the army
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-06-23
By ]. Malcolm Bird
Associate Editor, Scientific American

Associate Editor, Scientific American
4 GOOD deal of attention has been
~ paid Of late to platinum, both
in the news columns and by the
reviewers: but, on the whole, there
seems to have been a great deal of
a'k with very little said. The subject
mas been hitched up in a vague and
general way with that very vague gen.
erality munitions" which may mean
anything, from arnica and shoes and
Tooth paste to airplanes and big shells
and tanks. The careful reader must,
indeed, have discovered that without
platinum we can't have munitions, and
mat without munitions we can't have
much Of q war, and he may have OBJ
serve" that there is or Is not short
ags .. platinum, according to who is
most successful in getting himself be-
l'ersd; but he may be forgiven If his
knowledge breaks down at this point.
Perhaps, first Of all, some Of us will
want to know just what platinum Is.
ia's want can be met with the state
ment that It is a white metal which in
general appearance is much like sill
yer or aluminium or Rabbit metal, for
mat matter, or any other white metal.
lake everything else, platinum has it's
own particular charscteristics, but it
distinguished from most things by
inc fact that practically all Of these
urn out to be virtues, hardly any of
them vices.
10 begin with, platinum is q chemi-
"a aristocrst; It is extremely choice
spout Its associations. To be sure, it
wv travel, as alloy, with several other
Meals, ana it is always eager to be
se'ssd on and carried OF by an alkali.
nut It Is totally unwilling to have any
.a'ns to do with such plebeian mem
0sss Of the chemical community as
.ads and oxygen. Save under extraor-
unary circumstances. no acid IL able
!" break down its barrier Of reserve,
"u u can be exposed to the air in
ssuniteiy without any oxidation to
speak of.
tnis aloofness is bound to interest
wv sechnoloyist. Is We shall presently
w. but 1t Is no exclusive possession
platinum. Gold has it in almost
.saai measure. and platinum has sew
sssa brother elements whose behavior
Nsfd the ordinary reagents IL Just
Mont the same Is lie own. But com.
1.on ceases whom " look at the
say.'eal properties Of platinum. It IL
49, o-s-''ot steel hard. but much harder
aa sold or silver--and when alleged
~. MN about 2 per cent Of its near rela-
49, Iridium, II becomes almost steel
49, ats melting point Is high--7o0
ss above that Of copper, 200 de-