268 



NATURE 



[November 4, 1915 



It is claimed that a Swedish engineer, M. Wulff 

 Normelli, has invented an ammonium nitrate explosive, 

 Normellite, which has a bursting effect 25 per cent, 

 better than that of any other explosive. It is claimed 

 also to be safer than most explosives, being very in- 

 sensitive to shock. This latter is characteristic of 

 ammonium nitrate explosives, which require a power- 

 ful detonator, and frequently a priming of the loose 

 explosive. Since Favier took out his patents in 

 1884-85 for an ammonium nitrate powder containing 

 naphthalene, paraffin, and resin, very many explosives 

 of this class have been introduced. The hygroscopic 

 nature of the salt necessitates enclosing the explosive 

 in some waterproof envelope. On account of the low 

 temperature on firing and the production of little or no 

 flame-producing gases, this class of explosives is par- 

 ticularly favoured for use in fiery coal mines. With 

 the nitrate all kinds of combustible materials are em- 

 ployed, such as di- and tri-nitrotoluene, dinitro- 

 naphthalene, charcoal, etc. Other nitrates are fre- 

 quently substituted for a portion of the ammonium 

 nitrate. Roth in 1900 took out patents for the use of 

 aluminium powder in such explosives, the idea being to 

 utilise the high temperature attained by the oxidation 

 of this metal, and thus greatly increase the power. 

 Ammonal is sucli a mixture, containing, in addition 

 to the nitrate and aluminium, trinitrotoluene and char- 

 coal. It has been claimed that ammonal is a very 

 powerful explosive, and is more effective than 

 a similar weight of cast picric acid (lyddite) 

 in breaking up a shell. It is therefore not improbable 

 that Normellite is an explosive of similar type to 

 ammonal. 



The council of the Chemical Society has sent to 

 every fellow a letter directing attention to the Govern- 

 ment scheme for the organisation and development of 

 scientific and industrial research. In accordance with 

 this scheme, a Committee of the Privy Council has 

 been appointed, and also an Advisory Council of 

 scientific men whose primary functions are to advise 

 the Committee of Council on — (i) proposals for insti- 

 tuting specific researches ; (ii) proposals for establish- 

 ing or developing special institutions or departments 

 of existing institutions for the scientific study of 

 problems affecting particular industries and trades; 

 (iii) the establishment and award of research student- 

 ships and fellowships. The council of the Chemical 

 Society considers it to be the urgent duty of every 

 fellow to render all assistance possible to the Advisory 

 Council by suggesting suitable subjects for research. 

 As pointed out in the White Paper, the results of all 

 researches financed by public funds will be made 

 available under proper conditions for the public advan- 

 tage, and the council feels assured that every fellow 

 will place patriotic duty before private gain at such a 

 time. Suggestions for purely scientific researches 

 will be appreciated, but those having a direct bearing 

 on chemical industry and its promotion will naturally 

 receive a preference. Suggestions should be sent to 

 the council of the Chemical Society, Burlington House, 

 W. ; those suggestions which are considered suitable 

 to receive the financial aid indicated by the scheme 

 will be forwarded to the Advisory Council. 

 NO. 2401, VOL. 96] 



The committee which was constituted last year to 

 promote testimonials to Profs. Perry and Harrison on 

 their retirement from the staff of the Imperial College 

 (Royal College of Science) has now completed its 

 labours. We are informed that in each case there was 

 a gratifying response to the appeal to former students 

 and colleagues for subscriptions, and that the com- 

 mittee has thereby been enabled to carry out its 

 purposes completely. The testimonial to Prof. Harri- 

 son, who had been associated with the department of 

 mathematics and mechanics during thirty-two years, 

 has taken the form of an illuminated address, accom- 

 panied by valuable personal gifts. In the case 0/ 

 Prof. Perry, former students of the Finsbury Tech- 

 nical College desired to be associated with the testi- 

 monial, in recognition of his valuable services to that 

 institution prior to his joining the staff of the Royal 

 College of Science in 1896. The governing body of the 

 Imperial College having readily consented to act as 

 trustees, the aim of the committee was to establish a 

 permanent memorial of Prof. Perry's work in the form 

 of a medal or prize to be awarded annually at each 

 of the two institutions. In view of Prof. Perry's 

 desire that the testimonial should not include a per- 

 sonal gift, the whole of the subscriptions became 

 available for the founding and endowment of medals. 

 Dies have been prepared from designs by Mr. Charles 

 Wheeler, of the Royal College of Art, and these, 

 together with a stock of medals, and a certificate for 

 4I per cent. War Loan Stock, have recently been 

 placed in the custody of the Imperial College. A 

 silver medal will be awarded annually to a student of 

 the Imperial College for distinction in mathematics 

 and mechanics, and at the Finsbury College a similar 

 award will be made for distinction in mathematics 

 and engineering. The governing body has expressed 

 its high appreciation of the committee's decision in 

 associating the Perry medal, and the administration 

 of the fund, with the Imperial College, and has stated 

 that the gift is regarded as a fitting testimony to the 

 inspiring personality of one who took such a pro- 

 minent part, both in the Royal College of Science and 

 in the Imperial College, in the teaching of mathe- 

 matics and mechanics. Prof. Perry has also expressed 

 his gratitude for the honour which has been conferred 

 upon him by the subscribers, and by the Imperial 

 College. The obverse of the medal is a striking por- 

 trait, and a plaster copy of the original large model 

 has been presented to Prof. Perry. 



The report of the Government Museum at Madras 

 for 19 14-15 is a record of steady progress. The pre 

 historic collections of Mr. R. Bruce Foote have been 

 rearranged, and the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain 

 sculptures, which include an important collection from 

 the Amaravati Stupa, have been classified. Consider- 

 able stores of Roman coins which are being discovered 

 year by year, including those of the Emperors Nero, 

 Trajan, and the Empress Faustina, illustrate the 

 important trade intercourse between Rome and 

 southern India in the early period after the Christian 

 era. 



The Museum Journal of the University of Phila- 

 delphia for March, 1915, but only recently received, is 



