542 

addition, by the removal of one-third of the benzol 
from coal gas, allowing the average benzol to be 
2°25 gallons per ton of coal, another 12,000,000 
gallons would be obtained. These supplies are 
independent of the small quantity in coal tar. 
Mr. Butterfield estimates that some 5 gallons of 
pure benzene and 1°5 gallons of pure: toluene are 
obtainable from this source per 100 tons of coal 
carbonised. 
Benzene, toluene and xylene, which are obtained 
from the heavier fractions of benzol and the 
lighter fractions of naphtha, are the raw materials 
from which many nitro-compouads are produced 
for the manufacture of explosives, and for the 
preparation of bases such as aniline, toluidine, 
xylidene, etc., which are the starting points for 
the manufacture of large classes of dye-stuffs and 
drugs. Congo red, indigo, the large number of 
aniline dye derivatives, fuchsine, and eosine, are 
among the most important of the derivatives of 
the benzene hydrocarbons. Nor must the heavier 
oils be overlooked. Phenols yield valuable 
disinfectants, and phenol itself is the raw material 
for the manufacture of salicylic acid, many dye- 
stuffs, and the important explosive picric acid 
(Lyddite). Naphthalene and anthracene are both 
important as parent bodies from which valuable 
dyes are prepared. 
Referring to the production of trinitrotoluene, 
Mr. Butterfield mentions that great stores of this 
explosive had been accumulated in Germany prior 
to the outbreak of war, and that for one or two 
years prior to the commencement of hostilities its 
shipment to this country appears to have been 
hindered, on the ground of its being dangerous. 
Without a powerful detonator there is, however, 
no danger in shipment. 
The problem of the establishment of the 
synthetic colour and drug industries in this 
country on a scale commensurate with our own 
requirements is considered briefly. The author 
sees no inherent objection to the directorate of 
such an undertaking consisting wholly of 
financiers and business men, providing that the 
control of the working is delegated to an advisory 
or managing board constituted of technical 
chemists, with at least one engineer accustomed to 
the design and supervision of works plant. 
These industries appear to offer ample scope 
for the investment of capital, with ultimate 
prospect of very high returns on the investment. 

THE MANCHESTER MEETING OF THE 
BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 
He meeting of the British Association, to be 
held in Manchester next September, will 
present some novel and some exceptional fea- 
tures. The special encouragement that will be 
offered this year to the large class of students 
and teachers of the district in which the meeting 
is held, to join the association by offering ‘them 
associates’ tickets at a reduced fee is a novel fea- 
ture which, if it proves to be successful, may be 
repeated in future years. The reduction in the 
NO. 2385, VOL. 95] 
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[JUEM 156° 195 

number of days over which the meeting extends, 
the absence from the programme of the formal 
excursions to which the members are accustomed, 
and the omission of garden parties and some of 
the evening entertainments, are exceptional fea- 
tures which have been necessitated by the cir- 
cumstances arising from the war. 
After the outbreak of war some discussion arose 
as to the wisdom of holding the meeting at all 
this year. The decision to hold the meeting was 
reached after consultation between the council 
in London and the local executive committee. 
There was some difference of opinion, but, by a 
very large majority, it was decided that the op-' 
portunities afforded by the British Association for 
the discussion of scientific matters and for the 
conference of men of science are of such national 
importance, at the present time, that the meeting 
ought not to be abandoned. 
At the same time it was felt—and on this point 
there was unanimity—that many of those features 
of the association’s meetings which are of the 
nature of social entertainment and festivity would 
be out of place, and should be reduced to a 
minimum. 
Since this decision was reached, great efforts 
have been made, under the leadership of distin- 
guished men of science in the country, to organise. 
the resources that British science affords for the 
most pressing services of the State. This organi- 
sation should include not only the branches of 
science that deal with the direct physical, chemi- 
cal, and technological problems bearing upon the 
conduct of the war, but also with those that deal 
with the educational and economic changes the 
need for which the war has demonstrated. 
Proper organisation of our forces is undoubtedly 
essential, but no less essential is. the provision 
of opportunities, such as the meetings of the 
British Association afford, for the public and pri- 
vate conference of our experts from all parts of 
the British Isles. It is anticipated, therefore, 
that the decision of the council and local executive 
committee to hold the meeting will meet with a 
hearty response from the scientific men of the 
country, and there is reason to believe, from the 
names that have already been sent in, that the 
meeting this year will prove to be one of the most 
interesting and memorable in the history of the 
Association. 
The first important change in the arrangements 
that will be noticed is that the whole business of 
the meeting will be included in the week begin- 
ning September 6. The inaugural meeting will be 
held in the Free Trade Hall on Tuesday evening, 
September 7, and the final meetings of the sec- 
tions on Saturday morning, September 11. For 
the first time in the history of the association, 
therefore, there will be no British Association 
Sunday. 
Prof. Schuster, Sec.R.S., the president-elect, 
will deliver his address at the inaugural meeting 
on Tuesday evening, and in the same hall on 
Thursday evening Mr. H. W. T. Wager, F.R.S., 
will deliver a discourse on the behaviour of plants 
