BUREAU OF CHEMTSTBY. 213 



As a supplement to the chemical and physical examinations which 

 have heretofore been requested, the bureau was asked to undertake 

 examinations by way of factory inspection. A large amount of work 

 has been done for the Quartermaster's Department upon the water- 

 proofing, mildewproofing, and firep roofing of various materials, and 

 a large quantity of such materials has been tested. Many examina- 

 tions of bag, strap, harness, belting, upper, and sole leathers have 

 h-en made, and investigations have been conducted on the suitability 

 of leathers for certain special purposes. Also, a great number of 

 samples have been tested. In addition, much work has been done 

 for this department on the baling of goods and on shipping containers 

 for overseas. 



Very excellent cooperative arrangements have been established with 

 the Sanitary Corps of the Army. A predetermined plan, which in 

 practice has proved satisfactory, was developed almost with the 

 organization of the food section of that corps. The field laboratories 

 of the bureau were placed at the disposal of that section for use in 

 making nutritional surveys at the cantonments, for the elimination 

 of waste, and for the improvement of the dietary. In this connection 

 the bureau's field force examined a large variety of materials, var^nng 

 from garbage to the foodstuifs that are privately purchased by the 

 enlisted men in the zones about the cantonments. The Sanitary Corps 

 placed in those laboratories, in which the volume of work required 

 was excessive, officers well trained in methods of chemical analysis, 

 some of whom Avere formerly members of the Bureau of Chemistry. 

 The bureau has cooperated also with the Sanitary Corps in the matter 

 of the dehydration of fruits and vegetables, and this corps has placed 

 in the laboratories of the bureau men to assist in the securing of prop- 

 erly prepared and satisfactory deh,ydrated products. For the Sur- 

 geon General of the Army the bureau has undertaken to manufacture 

 and supply the rare sugars which are required in some quantity and 

 variety for the use of the bacteriologists of the Medical Corps. 



Much of the chemical research and development work required 

 by the Bureau of Aircraft Production has been placed under the 

 supervision of the Bureau of Chemistry. This work has become so 

 extensive that a number of men have been detailed to it by the 

 Bureau of Aircraft Production. In this manner the Bureau of 

 Chemistry has assisted in securing photographic chemicals and, as 

 indicated elsewhere (p. 15), it has undertaken the production of 

 sensitizing dyes which are so necessary in photographing under cer- 

 tain adverse conditions of illumination. Through its field labora- 

 tories it has examined many shipments of castor beans and castor 

 oil offered for entry with a view to determining whether they are 

 suitable for use in the preparation of lubricants. It has assisted in 

 the study of airplane " dopes." It has investigated and reported 

 upon the operation of a number of plants producing materials 

 required in airplane manufacture, especially certain alcohols and 

 ketones. 



Laboratory space and manufacturing equipment have been turned 

 over to the various branches of the War Department for their use. 



Several members of the bureau have served on important com- 

 mittees of the War Industries Board, and in a number of instances 



