The New York herald., 1921-09-25
ENCE is DOING TO BETTER HUMAN LIVING

AA Il i ~
several forms of bacteria, notably in proc
esses for making grain alcohol from wood
waste and corn cobs, and fermentation
methods for acetone were well tried during
the war. Glycerine frofA sugar is another
example. Usually such processes are in
termittent, but we are learning how to
cause the bacteria to cling to some suck
inert substance as coke so the liquids
may be poured on or drained off without
disturbing the colonies.
Two lines of research are in progress
which seem certain to yield results of the
most Importance to man. One of these is
dealing with the fundamentals of the living
cell upon the functioning of which life
itself depends. This is the work of the
biologist, who often calls in the chemist.
The other is mainly the task Of the chem
ist, and concerns that difficult fight upon
pathogenic organisms within the human
body
The several points of similarity between
the two organisms make it no easy thing
to destroy the one without injury to the
other. Add to this the handicap imposed
by the extremely sensitive balance within
the body and we see how bold is the
chemist in attacking the problem at all!
Progress has been made in Jnis field
because we are learning more about living
cells and because the chemist is finding
out so much about the molecule and atom
that he is learning how to build them to
order. Thus knowing the action of a cer
tain chemical compound or group of atoms
on a toxic material or pathogenic organ
ism, he sets about to construct molecules
4, tai, xx,sI
In the past we have used natural drugs
only. Then came synthetic drugs, which
were more uniform in quality than the
natural product. Now has come non-habit
forming drugs and medicines which do
not occur in nature, but are made with
predetermined service to perform. We are
just beginning to make real progress in
this research, but the chemist has much to
which he may point with pride to justify
his great confidence in the future.
Preservation of Buildings
And Fittings accomplished
Another task is to make the works of
man more enduring under all climatic con-
ditions The rapidity with which Cleo
patra's Needle began to dsintegrate in the
atmosphere of New York is an old story.
also show the i'll effects upon them which
came with the burning of coal in large
amounts. Rusting, rotting, corrosion, pro-
ceeds on every hand. Chemists have found
how to minimize rusting in water pipes.
They simply give the oxygen in the water
all the iron it wants before 1t reaches the
pipes. The saving is already In the mil
lions
ofxy1 oil hain
fected constantly. improvements are being
made in our protective coatings, water
proofing compounds and metal platings.
Our concrete structures will become better
as the chemist learns more of how cement
acts and the engineer provides us with the
means for really mixing concrete Re-
search will show us how to obtain strength
without excessive mass just as has been
done with the motor car and the flying
machine.
Mechanics has done much to lessen work
on the farm, but there is still lot of back
breaking work. or the world old indus
tries the others seem to have derived more
help in making the days work less
fatiguing. The crop has been made more
certain because the chemist has provided
fertilizers and insecticides and fungicides.
But how to reduce work?
Well, in one case-sugar cane in Hawaii
weeds are exterminated by putting down
paper which they cannot penetrate while
the cane can. The method Is successful
because the young cane is both strong and
bayonetlike Maybe some day we will kill
weeds by spraying or a novel method
which. as in the case of the paper, re-
duces the cost of growing the crop and in
creases the yield.
Whatever may appeal to you as the out
standing unsolved problem Of the future,
you may count on IL chemistry will have a
part in the solution. This Is because
chemistry studies materials and the sub
stances OF the earth. Applied chemistry
takes things as they are found and changes
them to better suit your requirements.