RECORDS OF MEETINGS 353 



same room, but further observation may show that such infection may 

 rarely take place. 



The paper was discussed by Professors Winslow and Bristol. 

 The Section then adjourned, the members visiting and examining the 

 laboratories and lecture rooms of the Department of Zoology, College 

 of the City of New York. 



William K. Gregory, 



Secretary. 



LECTUEE. 



15 March, 1912. 



F. S. Archenhold : Astronomy, Education and Culture. 



SECTION" OF ASTEONOMY, PHYSICS AND CHEMISTEY. 



18 March, 1912. 



Section met at 8 :15 p. m., Vice-President Poor presiding. 

 The minutes of the last meeting of the Section were read and ap- 

 proved. 



The following programme was then offered : 



Louis H. Friedburg, Products of Chemical Art. 



Summary of Paper. 



Dr. Friedburg said in abstract: There are three lines along which 

 synthetic chemistry is to-day advancing. First, the production of 

 things found in nature; for example — wintergreen oil, vaniline and 

 camphor. Second, ennobling one substance into another; for exam- 

 ple — transformation of cellulose into artificial silk. Third, prepara- 

 tion of substances which are similar to natural substances, but which 

 are not found in nature; for example — celluloid and bakelite. 



There are some important discoveries which have been made by acci- 

 dent, such as that of glass 2,600 years ago. The chemist must be alert 

 enough to recognize the value of such accidental discoveries. 



The speaker described in a very interesting and entertaining manner 

 the manufacture of parchment paper, mercerized cotton, gun cotton, 

 collodion and artificial silk. He showed on the screen many beautiful 

 examples of the Lumiere colored photographs, and the glass caterpillar 

 or spinneret which is used for making the artificial silk fibres. Eeau- 

 mur in 1784 first suggested the possibility of artificial silk. Celluloid 



