February 27, 1919J 



NATURE 



5'3 



portions which depend on the metal tem- 



perature and concentration of the acid. The compfete 

 analysis "f such a mixtun is both difficult and tedious« 

 In the case of iron, however, the last 

 gaseous products just mentioned have not been de- 



1. and tin- chi. 1 products requiring estimation are 

 nitrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen, and .1111- 

 raonia. 



The authors describe- a method of collecting and 

 analysing the gases yielded b) a 0-30 gram sample 

 dissolved at too° C. Under these conditions they 



e that the whole of the iron is ultimately con- 



i into ferric nitrate. They discuss the pi 

 and secondary reactions which they consider occur; 



I iculai . ill. ability of ni 



and ammonia with nitric oxide and nitrogen peroxidi 

 is shown. They find thai thi reaction ol pun 

 iron under) almost discontinuous 



(about -'.| 

 100 c.c), ami that much ol igen and am- 



monia 1 idi and nitric pi 



as the acid strength increases from 23 to 25. 

 an' thi ps of products, and they find 



that : ween the i ! nts given by 



the two groups is approximately independeni 

 secondary reaction between the members of each 

 group. By plotting as ordinal'- the weight of iron con- 

 sumed in forming nitrogen and ammonia, ai 



Strength in grams per ieo c.c, a 

 characteristic curve is obtained which they term "the 



on curve," and this expresses the principal 

 ' lion. 

 In the second part of their investigation thi 

 examined in several typical cases the relation 1" 

 the reaction curve and the degree of strain in the 

 sample, and found that the curves are always sh ed 

 to the right with increase in strain. Wires deformed 

 bv twisting yielded progressively advancing n 

 curves, and measurable changes in the gas analyses 

 were found to be produced by an amount of ei 

 which, if developed as heat, would nol raise the i< m- 

 ial 1° C. Similar 1 ui ves 1 n 



ed with drawn wires. The results are inter- 

 preted by the authors as indicating that cold working 

 - places in two stages : (1) The elastically stn 



lis are brought into an interlocked condition; 

 and (2) the rrvstal structure is then progressively 

 broken up with the production of amorphous material. 

 The method has been used by the authors to investi- 

 gate the removal of cold work from iron by heat treat- 

 ment, and in the case of the sample used it was 

 found to be complete at 520 C. The results described 



[ considerable interest, and the method appears 

 decided promise. FT. C. H. C. 



THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH HILL. 



'p iir texl of the Ministi j ol I fealth Bill, 

 1 to the Hou • 



Hon- on February 17, has since been pub- 

 \. fori shadowed b) Dr. Addison in his 

 speech to the members of the Medical Parliai 



rior to its introduction, the Hill differs 



-ni' originally pi 



last Parliament. That it does differ to some extent, 



however, particularly in bearing -itrns of having been 



worked al and polished, fs worthj ol mention. The 



now Bill no of finality, and suggests 



that most of thi Stati Departments performing health 

 functions ih' Local Government Board, the Board 

 of Education, and the Insurance Come 

 espei ialh have arrived at arrangements more or 

 less all parties. The position a- be- 



the two first-named, for example, i- shoXi 



2574- VOL. I02 1 



i.iken. 

 ■ason 



10 dissatisfaction, and concessions no doubt have 



! individual- con- 



Spea rally, the measure is a hope- 



i inspires the feeling thai we are well on 

 1! way to the establishment of the Ministry. 

 I I I" 1 >r Iddison is significant of 



this also, as is the translation of Sir Georgi Newman 

 i< the Local Government Hoard, and the granting 

 to him of the title ol " Chiel Medii with 



i! status ol .' Seci etai ) ol thi Hoard. 



par: ol the Bill which has been carri '1 over 

 red from it- predecessor is that relating to the 



« 'I 1 onsultatfc tmi ; 1 . and Dr. 



m, b; iii- utterances, has shown himself to 

 led to this idea, and expei rant of re- 

 rom Che work to 1"' dom b\ 

 bodies. Doubtless he has every right to bi 

 1. The Consumers' Council at the Ministry 

 hich yarded as moi 1 1 n less 



igh ii was occasionally sneered at, 

 must have assisted th< Food I ontrollei considerably. 

 1 1 thai the Ministry of 



Health 1 onsultath 13 less help- 



ful. Indeed, since they are to consist of carefully 

 I experts on matters having a bearing on 

 national health, they are almost bound to be more 

 valuable. In any event, the consultative committee 

 idea has this to recommend ii : that it will popularise 

 hi .dili work. The committe< - will serve as a most 

 ive link between the Department doing: the work 

 and those for whose benefit the work is done. The 



1 1 lartmenl and the workers will be less cloistered; 

 thi worker- and those who are worked for will I" 

 more intimate!) assoi iafc d The public will see and 

 hear of what is being done, and will comi to 

 recognise the necessity for assisting in. and taking 

 advantage of. the efforts made. So far there have 

 1' en iT'innrkablv few comments on the Bill, but on 



chole tho reception ha- been entirely favourable. 



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