B.— CHEMISTRY. 55 



the production of the blue natural indigo, but enabled indigoes of every 

 shade of the spectrum to be prepared as commercial products. The 

 determination of the structure of cocaine revealed the molecular complex 

 which conferred on this substance its power to act as a local anaesthetic, 

 and has led to the production of a number of other substances possessing 

 this valuable property, but without the special disadvantages attaching 

 to the use of the natural substance. Examples of this kind are numerous 

 and should be increased. A systematic examination of our forest products 

 would undoubtedly lead to the discovery of many others, and would 

 provide opportunity for the investigation of many other important 

 problems, such as, for example, the utilisation of forest grasses as a source 

 of power alcohol. 



Systematic team-work research by organic chemists in close association 

 with botanists is required, and now that the Forest Production Research 

 Board of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is in active 

 operation, no doubt this branch of its work will receive attention. 



Petroleum. 



The complex hydrocarbons which form the main constituents of crude 

 petroleum belong to a section of organic chemistry at present too little 

 explored. Although many millions have been made through the produc- 

 tion and sale of petroleum products, it is safe to say that the percentage 

 of profit devoted to research in oil products has been infinitesimal. It is 

 true that in the United States large sums are given by the oil interests 

 towards research in other subjects, but until quite recently none of these 

 was, curiously enough, given for the purpose of improving our knowledge 

 of the science on which the utilisation and isolation of petroleum products 

 depends. The reason is not far to seek. The apparently inexhaustible 

 supplies of petroleum rendered it unnecessary to devise means for 

 economical working. The crudest and most wasteful methods were 

 employed, because economy and the conservation of the natural product 

 were not paying propositions. This applies not only to the methods 

 used in fractionisation, but to those employed for the purpose of ' cracking ' 

 the higher boiling fractions into liquids of lower boiling-point. For at 

 the present moment it is the fraction up to 200° C. which is the important 

 product, because it is the ' petrol ' of the internal-combustion engine. 

 Time was, before the introduction of this particular machine, when the 

 light fraction from crude petroleum was a drug on the market, and in 

 many cases was actually set on fire at the refinery because no use could 

 be found for it. In those days the chief product was the kerosene fraction 

 which was used as lamp-oil. At the present time the rapid increase in 

 the use of the motor-car for personal and commercial transport indicates 

 that at no distant period, if progress continues to be made in the same 

 direction, the amount of the ' petrol ' fraction will be insufficient for the 

 world's needs. This point has already been reached in America, where 

 approximately 70 per cent, of the world's consumption of petrol (gasoline) 

 is effected. During 1925 the consumption of petrol in the U.S.A. 

 approached 800,000,000 gallons a month, which is about twelve times 

 the amount consumed in this country. It has been stated that one in 

 every five persons in the States — men, women, and children — possess a 



