Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-18
TASTE BLINDNESS"
/. FOUND IN HUMANS
Dr.. BIakeslee of Carnegie In
stitution Describes Discov.
cry to Scientists.
BY HOWARD w. BLAKESLEE,
Associated Press Science Editor.

BY HOWARD w. BLAKESLEE,
Associated Press Science Editor.
NEW HAVEN, Conn, November 18.-
Discovery of widespread taste blind
ness among human beings was re-
ported to the National Academy of
at Yale University yesterday.
Another discovery. also reported, gives
promise of taking the poisonous effects
out of powerful medicinal drugs, with
out losing curative properties.
The taste blindness was reported by
DR.. Albert F. Blakeslee of the Carnegie
Cold Spring Harbor. N. Y.
and DR.. Arthur L. Fox of the Du PonG
company. 1t has been identified thus
far in confusion about the various sour,
bitter and salty phases Of taste. Many
tests were given to persons of all ages
with a distinctly bitter substance.
phenyl THO carbamide.
Describe Taste Differently.
"a few" said Dr. Blakeslee. could
not detect the bitterness. Some said 1t
was sour, some called 1t peppery and
others described 1t as astringent, like
alum"
One man was so completely taste
blind that he could not distinguish the
difference between quinine sulphate and
hydrochloric acid.
Still more varied was the amount OF
taste substance required before a flavor
could be recognized and named. Some
persons detected strong taste in amounts
OF flavoring substances which to others
we're merely plain water.
DR.. Blakeslee pointed out that pre-
viously reported experiments have
shown similar differences in ability to
recognize odors and said:
Evidence Is thus given for the belief
that humans are born with innate Diff
ferences in respect to all their senses
and that different people live in diff
ferent worlds therefore so far as their
reactions are concerned"
Differences Hereditary.
The differences, he added, are SO
largely hereditary that parentage can
be guessed by some Of them.
The drug discoveries were reported
BY DR.. Treat B. johnson, head Of
chemistry at the Sterling Chemistry
at Yale. The substances
are all hormones, or near hormones.
The hormones are the peculiar chemi-
Gals produced by endocrine glands
which regulate growth, energy and
sometimes even complexion Of human
beings.
gen, nitrogen and oxygen are strung
together, end to end or in groups to
form the drugs. The diagrams made
ring" and other ReoTnetrical figures.
The discovery was that one ring"
common to all the drugs could be
lifted out bodily, fearranged by alter
ing It's atoms, and then replaced in
the chemical without destroying the
drug.
George r. Cowgirl Of Yale reported
to prove that the minimum
amount Il vitamin b needed by 1884,
pound man daily 10 between six and
seven grams.
DR.. oscar Riddle of the Carnegie In
stitution showed with ring dove and
pigeon experiments that sex differences
are partly based upon metabolism, the
rate at which the body produces energy.
Male bodies produce energy at higher
rates than female.
New Map Aids Moon, Study.
The sides of the moons face, now dis
torted to human sight by the satellites
curvature, are being lifted just a
little into better view by new kind
Man sees fully onlya small part Of
the middle of the moons face, that
part directly in line with his eye.
toward the edges Of the
moon he is really looking down the
constantly steepening sides Of q hill,
because the moon is globe.
The moon may, described today by
DR.. F. E. Wright and DR.. F. @. pease
Of the Carnegie Institution of washing
ton, is equivalent to taking an atrplane
on the moon and flying short distance
toward the edges to get look straight
downward to see what the lunar topo-
graphy looks like II directly under
meath.
Projected on Ball.
This seemingly impossible trick Is
feasible because of the moons noding
motion, scientifically called its libra
ton. Very slowly, with motion re-
quiring ySAys for each shake Of his
head. the moon turns his face back
and forth over q distance OF about 10
degrees.
AS result the moon presents slight
" different face toward the earth each
year. Ordinarily it would take about
noon faces. But a new device set up
On top Of Mount Wilson, Calf, along
Tide the 10o.inch telescope reduces this
lifetime" to a few hours.
A photograph Of the moons face IL
projected like q movie still upon q
screen which is q round, white ball,
about half the size of an automobile
hood. This ball represents a miniature,
Artificial moon
Under Carnegie Institution.
BY use of some unique devices the
photograph can be varied to produce
exactly the same views on this moon
screen as would come from flying about
he moon to look straight down from
angles q few degrees to one side Of the
:enter.
The resulting map will be the first
exhibiting accurately all the informa-
ion available from the views which
rave been visible at one time or an
other to mans eyes, but which never
lave been put into one complete picture
before.
The work is In charge Of the Com
nittee on Study of the Surface Feature
If the Moon, appointed by DR.. John C.
Merriam, president OF the Carnegie
institution Of washington.
MERGER OF METHODIST
CHURCHES is POSSIBLE