are only available to a very limited extent in the literature and the present investigation will furnish valuable information, which might be of use in general toxicological work and in toxicological problems of industrial hygiene in particular. Metal poisoning is an important phase of this last-mentioned science. All of the common metals and most of the rare metals (31 in number) have been under investigation. Besides this, most of these compounds were tested as to their curative action on animals infected with trypanosomes. This investigation is nearing completion and the results will be published in the near future. Digest of Comments on the Pharmacopoeia of the United States and on the National Formulary. The preparation of material for the Digest of Comments has been continued and during the year Hygienic Laboratory Bulletin No. 98, including a compilation of the comments for the calendar year ending December 31, 1913, was prepared, printed, and distributed. An additional volume, for the year ending December 31, 1914, will be published as Hygienic Laboratory Bulletin No. 105. These bulletins continue to be favorably commented on in the pharmaceutical and chemical literature not only of this country but also of foreign, even non-English-speaking countries. United States Pharmacopoeia revision. The cooperative work in connection with the revision of the Pharmacopoeia of the United States and the National Formulary has been continued during the year, and both of these books are now in press. Nearly 300 pages of proof for the Pharmacopoeia have already been corrected and it is expected that this book will be available for distribution before the end of the present calendar year. One member of the division is also a member of the committee on National Formulary and of the committee on nonofficial standards for drugs and medicines, the two committees directly responsible for the revision of the National Formulary. This book, it is expected, will be published simultaneously with the Pharmacopoeia of the United States. In connection with work of the council on pharmacy and chemistry of the American Medical Association, which is making efforts to correct some of the many abuses existing at the present time in connection with drug therapy, the members of the division have assisted in the compilation and revision of the book, New and Nonofficial Remedies, which was published in January, 1915, and are now at work on a revision of the list of "Useful drugs," a publication of the council adopted as a foundation for instruction in medical schools and as a basis for examination by State examining and licensing boards in materia medica subjects. DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY. The work of the division of chemistry has consisted of laboratory investigations and scientific work connected with field studies of sewage disposal and industrial waste. Prof. E. B. Phelps, in charge of the division, has acted also as sanitary advisor to the international joint commission. Laboratory work. The work of the laboratory proper has been under the supervision of Sanitary Chemist Albert F. Stevenson. The routine work has comprised the examination and analysis of sewage effluents and industrial wastes in collaboration with field investigations; examinations of the Washington City sewage and of samples of water from the Potomac River in connection with the Potomac River investigation; examinations of drugs and other preparations for the purveying depot; examinations of match materials for the Office of Commissioner of Internal Revenue; miscellaneous examinations and analyses; preparation of solutions and reagents and incidental work of a chemical nature in connection with other divisions of the service, field investigations, and work of the divisions of the Hygienic Laboratory. There have been examined 903 samples of water, sewage, and industrial wastes; 29 drugs and other preparations; 8 specimens of match material; 149 samples of milk, and 45 specimens of a miscellaneous character. In addition to the routine analytical work the following special investigations have been carried on from time to time during the year. Relations between rate of heat loss from a moist, warm body at 37° C. and temperature, humidity, and velocity of movement of the surrounding air. The experimental portion of this investigation was completed in Boston during the previous year and furnished a large mass of data which required an elaborate mathematical analysis for its proper presentation. This work has been completed and is now in final form. The relation as finally formulated furnishes a fundamental physical basis for a further discussion of the general ventilation problem. Skin temperature and humidity between skin and clothing.-The determination of these two physical values is essential in any discussion of the dissipation of body heat from the human body, which, in turn, is a fundamental factor in ventilation work. Considerable attention has been given to the development of apparatus for this purpose. This work has thus far not been wholly successful and is being continued along new lines. Disinfectants.-Work on the preparation of a cheap and efficient disinfectant has been continued as time permitted throughout the year. Some determinations on the keeping qualities of pine oils, prepared disinfectants, and final water emulsions have developed unexpected difficulties in that there appears to be a constant deterioration in the oil itself after distillation. The nature of the problem has made it impossible to hasten the work and the difficulties presented have necessitated a thorough study of various commercial pine oils, both freshly distilled and of various ages, with a view to the determination of the true cause of the results noted and, if possible, of a remedy therefor. It has been found that redistillation of the old oils restores the initial high germicidal properties. This work is practically completed. Determination of minute quantities of metals of the copper and arsenic groups. An investigation into the chemical composition of materials entering into the manufacture of enamel kitchen ware and an independent investigation of copper and other metallic content of oysters both indicated the necessity for more delicate and reliable methods for determining copper, arsenic, and antimony in minute quantities when mixed with relatively large quantities of other metals of these two groups. A complete study of this whole matter was therefore undertaken and a satisfactory method of separation and analysis under these conditions has been developed which is far more sensitive and reliable than any method hitherto available. The work of the original investigation will now be proceeded with. Diffusion coefficient of dissolved oxygen in water at various temperatures and degrees of salinity.-This fundamental physical constant is of direct interest and value in connection with stream pollution and studies on the self-purification of streams. Its determination involves a most elaborate apparatus, the construction of which has necessitated many special studies. The apparatus has been completed and active experimental work upon the primary problem is under way. Determination of mineral contents of water by methods of electrolytic conductivity. The development of a simple and rapid method for the so-called mineral analysis of water would greatly simplify this somewhat laborious process and encourage the making of more frequent analyses of this kind. An attempt has been made to apply the principles of electrical conductivity to this problem with a measure of success, with the crude apparatus available, which justifies the construction of more perfect and elaborate apparatus. The latter is now being constructed and certain essential electrical measuring devices are being provided. Determination of volatile sulphide in sewage and sewage effluents. This important chemical determination, which has a direct bearing upon sewage disposal problems, both as a measure of results obtained and an index of the type of biochemical processes at work, has not hitherto been utilized because of its inherent difficulties. An investigation of the analytical procedures has led to the development of a simple and satisfactory technique which readily furnishes the desired information. This technique will be furnished to the committee on standard methods of water and sewage analysis, American Public Health Association, for use in the compendium of standard methods issued by that association. Nitrates in sewage filter effluents. While satisfactory methods exist for nitrate determination in water, these methods are of no avail in sewage and present methods of use are both time consuming and unsatisfactory. A new method depending upon the oxidation of the organic compound O-Tolidine has been developed and submitted to systematic test and has been found to satisfy all the requirements of a rapid and accurate method under all the various complicating conditions of sewage analysis. This method will likewise be made available to the committee on standard methods of the American Public Health Association. Cooperative work with the committee on standard methods of water and sewage analysis, American Public Health Association.— The division chief, as chairman of a subcommittee on dissolved oxygen, has organized a cooperative study of various current methods for the determination of dissolved oxygen in water and submitted a report to the parent committee recommending certain changes in the existing standard method. Some cooperative work was also done at the laboratory for the subcommittee on stability and oxygen demand of sewage and sewage effluents, the results of which work were transmitted to the chairman of that committee and have formed a portion of his report to the general committee. sewage effluents and industrial wastes in collaboration with field investigations; examinations of the Washington City sewage and of samples of water from the Potomac River in connection with the Potomac River investigation; examinations of drugs and other preparations for the purveying depot; examinations of match materials for the Office of Commissioner of Internal Revenue; miscellaneous examinations and analyses; preparation of solutions and reagents and incidental work of a chemical nature in connection with other divisions of the service, field investigations, and work of the divisions of the Hygienic Laboratory. There have been examined 903 samples of water, sewage, and industrial wastes; 29 drugs and other preparations; 8 specimens of match material; 149 samples of milk, and 45 specimens of a miscellaneous character. In addition to the routine analytical work the following special investigations have been carried on from time to time during the year. Relations between rate of heat loss from a moist, warm body at 37° C. and temperature, humidity, and velocity of movement of the surrounding air.-The experimental portion of this investigation was completed in Boston during the previous year and furnished a large mass of data which required an elaborate mathematical analysis for its proper presentation. This work has been completed and is now in final form. The relation as finally formulated furnishes a fundamental physical basis for a further discussion of the general ventilation problem. Skin temperature and humidity between skin and clothing.-The determination of these two physical values is essential in any discussion of the dissipation of body heat from the human body, which, in turn, is a fundamental factor in ventilation work. Considerable attention has been given to the development of apparatus for this purpose. This work has thus far not been wholly successful and is being continued along new lines. Disinfectants.-Work on the preparation of a cheap and efficien disinfectant has been continued as time permitted throughout th year. Some determinations on the keeping qualities of pine oil prepared disinfectants, and final water emulsions have develope unexpected difficulties in that there appears to be a constant det rioration in the oil itself after distillation. The nature of the pro lem has made it impossible to hasten the work and the difficult presented have necessitated a thorough study of various commerc pine oils, both freshly distilled and of various ages, with a view the determination of the true cause of the results noted and, if p sible, of a remedy therefor. It has been found that redistillation the old oils restores the initial high germicidal properties. 1 work is practically completed. Determination of minute quantities of metals of the copper arsenic groups. An investigation into the chemical composition materials entering into the manufacture of enamel kitchen ware. an independent investigation of copper and other metallic conten oysters both indicated the necessity for more del methods for determining copper, arsenic, and a quantities when mixed with relatively large metals of these two groups. A complete study te and reli |