Indianapolis Times, Volume 47, Number 2, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 March 1935 — Page 11

It Seems to Me HEWOOD BROUN THEY arc praying for Clark Gable in Cadiz, O. It seems to me that most of the stars of stage and screen may often And themselves standing in the need of prayer. But the reasons assigned for these particular petitions are peculiar. The Rev. Famuel K. Williams. Methodist minister, in Mr. Gable’s home town said in his last sermon. “May God forgive us. may God forgive the one who tutored h:m in this village to act the part of a villain in which he is said by natives to have excelled.”

Here is confusion. Either Mr. Williams or Mr. Gable is all wrong. Or perhaps the error lies with the natives of Cadiz. The finest work of moral castigation lies in portraying a villain up to the hilt. Ours is a more moral country because of the numberless performances given throughout the nation by "Uncle Tom" troupes. Many of the finest ladies in the lard got that way by trying, moderately successfully, to live up to the example of Little Eva. Bui an even greater number of nvn have made the grade as upright and worthy citizens because

Herwood Broun

thrv were shocked into righteousness by the horrid example of Simon Legree. Bankers, editors, business t v,rn and manufacturers even today suddenly find themselves stopped short of some harsh decision bv the memory of Legree and at such times tbe V exclaim. “No. I will not impose that wage cut. On the rontrarv I will double all the salaries in my plant '* This has happened so frequently that I am surprised that the Rev. Samuel K. Williams never heard of it. I fear the clergvman of Cadiz is not well acquainted with the manner in which art mav lend its aid to morality. It seems to be his notion that human kind 1= improved only bv being shown bright and shining examples of rectitude. nan Xeressarg In Define Devil I ARK him to examine his own technique. Naturally he has preached about the saints and martvTS on many occasions. But even more frequently. I venture to predict, he has ascended the pulpit to i ome out whole-heartedly against the devil and all his works. And ir. order to preach against the devil it is first necessary to define and describe him. The Rev. Mr. Williams will find that of all his sermons against satan thf*e which went the best painted the most graphic picture. They included the horns and the tail. They admitted the fascinations and. possibly, even the charm of the tempter. If old Nick is no more tnan a setup where would there be any glory in knocking him for a loop? Clark Gable I think is entitled to the same latitude of judgment. If he undertook to make evil characters glamorous it was simply to emphasise the fact that all is not *oia which glitters. Undoubtedly it was his endeavor to show that vice as well as virtue may wear a lovely face and that neither in Cadiz nor even in the state capital, Columbus, is it safe to trust to appearances. The Rev. Samuel K. Williams spoke harshly when he railed Clark Gable, “an arch corrupter of youth by demonstrating the art of lust upon the screen.” I do not wish to be equally severe with the good clergyman, but I must say that his statement indicates a lack of faith. He has almost fallen into the dire heresy of saying that Cadiz can't take it. m n m Assumed Guise nf Woman IN da vs of old when the devil sought to tempt holy hermits in the desert he would often assume the guise and semblance of a woman. Now do you assume for a moment that when the devil went in drag he presented to the resolute gaze of the hermits ladies who were lank, or fat or lacking in sex appeal? On the contrary’ each recluse gazed upon the mirage of Cleopatra or fair Helen who set all Troy ablaze. But though she launched a thousand ships the good intentions of all the hermits remained on even keel. That was their martvTdom and their triumph. So let it be in the rase of Cadiz. If the parishioners of the Rev. Samuel K. Williams can look on Clark Gable and see him plain they will be forever insulated against the wiles and evil ways of drug store cowbovs and Cadiz city flickers. Mr. Williams say’s o Gable in his youth that he was shy of girls and adds. “In his awkward appearance was nothing especially to be desired.” The Lord moves in mysterious ways. Even now the gawky Ohio lad may be an instrument in his hands. He has conjured up in the home town boy anew pulchritude and passion. But not for the glory of Clark Gable or the magnates of Hollywood. On the contrary the Lord has afforded an opportunity for the Rev. Samuel K. Williams and every other Cadiz Christian to say, “Oh that old Clark Gable —phooey!” iCopvrieht. 1935*

Your Health -BY DR. MORRIS FIJHBEIN-

THE liver is one of the largest organs in your bodv. Furthermore you have seven times as much liver tissue as you actually require, and that's of greatest importance, because the liver is frequently damaged by poisons of various kinds. The liver is supposed to be responsible to some extent for secretion and excretion of bile, for taking part in destruction of wornout blood cells, for developing substances which are concerned in coagulation of blood, for storing of fat which it gets from food and releases as required by the body, and for aid in digestion of some protein substances. It also acts as a chemical factory in changing sugars into a substance called glycogen, which is used up in the muscles, and also for converting glycogen into glucose as required for the body. m a m THE liver also acts to break down poisons coming W from the stomach and intestines, as well as other parts of the body, and helps to remove various foreign substances from the blood. Finally, it is believed to have a part in regulating concentration of the fluid material in the blood and in regulating heat of the body. Thus the liver is. in even* sense of the word, the chemical factors* and storehouse of the human body, and it is attracting increasing attention from physicians because it is involved in so many human disorders. Among recent advances have been development of means for looking at the liver, using the injection of a substance called thorium dioxide, followed by an X-ray picture. Functions of the gallbladder may be studied by passing a tube down into the intestines and thereby securing some of the secretion of the gallbladder for direct study. a a a IT is possible, by examining blood and urine, to determine from the substances that are present the extent to r.hich the liver is carrying on its functions in relationship to the bile. Work of the liver in taking care of damaged red blood cells is measured by studies of the blood directly. It is also possible to give drugs of various kinds, which are now known to be broken down in the liver, and thereafter to test the bile, the blood, and the urine for presence of these drugs. All these tests are technical, time-consuming, and sometimes expensive, but they give the physician definite information about conditions concerning which he might otherwise merely have to guess. The tests are being studied in large numbers of eases and after suitable standards have been developed they are likely to come into much wider use than at present. Q—From what source is the name meerschaum derived and where does it come from. Has it any other use than for smoking pipes? A—lt is a German wo*d—literally translated seafoam, that originated from an ancient nouon that it is petrified seu-ioam. The mineral comes chiefly f-om Asia Minor, but Is found also in Spam, Moravia. Turkey, Morocco and the United States. It* principal use is in the manufacture of tcbacco pipes, cigar holders, etc., but m Spain it is used as a building stone, and m Algeria as a bath soap..

Fnll Leased Wir* Service of United Press Association

The LOVE LETTERS of NAPOLEON to MARIE LOUISE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE The Lion Quakes was counting on the results of a conference between the belligerent powers, which was taking place at Chatillon-sur-Seine. Caulaincourt attended it as plenipotentiary, with F.umigny as his attache. “Lord Aberdeen's attitude seems straightforward and almost conciliatory,’ wrote Caulaincourt. “but Stadion and Humboldt take a stand of arrogant hostility, while Razumowsky is brutal and implacable.” There was no longer any question of the “natural frontiers” of France, as mooted by the Allies at Frankfort; the 1791 frontier, before Napoleon’s conquests, was taken as a basis of negotiations. So the conditions of peace had been laid down: and envoy was awaiting the reply. "We must have peace —and peace at once.” Marshal Berthier declared when Napoleon tendered him the fateful document with a despairing gesture. “What! You ask me to sign such a treaty as this, to violate the trust reposed in me and—after all our struggles and our victories, after all the blood that has been shed —to leave France smaller than I found her! Impossible! If we abandon the Rlvne frontier, it means that France is curtailed!" That night he never closed his eyes. Constant, his faithful servant. shared his vigil. “Every one wants peace.” Constant observed. "They’ll find soon enough,” the Emperor answered gruffly, “that it's a dishonorable peace.” On Feb. 9. the conference adjourned for ten days. The hopes of peace evaporated while sickness played havoc with Napoleon's little army, and the Young Guard melted away. On being informed that Blucher was marching on Paris along the valley of the Marne. Napoleon shook off in the morning of Feb. 9 the torpor in which defeatist talk had kept him enthralled. He hastened to his maps, bent over them, marked them w’ith pins headed w’ith wax of different colors. To Maret. who brought him the conditions laid down by the Allies, he observed: “That is not the question. I am just working out a wav of beating Blucher. He is advancing along the road from Montmirail. I shall beat him tomorrow’.” Ar.d nosting Marshal Victor at Nogent-sur-Seine, and Oudmot at Bray, he made for Sezanne with Ney and Mortier, who were presently joined by Marmont. nan ON Feb. 10, in the morning, Marmont crossed the PetitMorin and delivered a surprise attack on the Russian Corps under Alsufief. Brought to bay along the road from Chalons to Paris, which he had been ordered to cover. Alsufief was crushed. He himself was taken prisoner, together with another general. Napoleon treated them as his guests that same evening at an inn in Champaubert. which has given its name to the battle. Ma bonne Louise. Victory! I have destroyed 12 Russian regiments, taken 6000 prisoners, 40 guns. 200 ammunition wagons, captured the commander-in-chief and all his generals: moreover, I have not lost 200 men. Have a salute fired at the lnvalides and the news published at every place of entertainment. I am following up Saeken. who is at La Ferte-

-The-

DAILY WASHINGTON MERRY-GO-ROUND By Drew Pearson and Robert S. Allen WASHINGTON. March 13.—President Roosevelt has a surprise up his sleeve for “The Man” Bilbo. The little, red necktie-wearing Mississippian will officially be let in on the secret after the hotly-disputed work-relief bill is safely out of the way. Reason for this precaution is the practical certainty that Bilbo is not going to be pleased with the surprise. And no one around the

White House is anxious to garner a vote acamst the Administration. The surprise package awaiting Bilbo is the news that the President has decided to name lameduck Senator Hubert D. Stephens to one of the two long-pending vacancies on the RFC board. Bilbo defeated Stephens last year after a bitter fight. One of the highlights of the contest was Bilbo's promise to his fellow Mississippians that if elected he would ‘ run every Stephens’ appointee out of W r ashington.” Now to have his foe himself appointed to one of the choicest jobs in the New Deal is going to be gall and wormwood to Bilbo. * a a \MONG persons urgently in need of relief these days are Harry Hopkins and his staff. The Federal Emergency Relief Administration is tired of marking time. For weeks its personnel has been trying to spread three hours’ work over a whole day. much as their “cases'* try to make one square meal do lor a day. They have spent their spare time reading newspapers, writing poetry, or talking about the MeCarran amendment, wondering when the Senate finally would pass the $4 800 000.000 work-relief bill so they can get busy. a a a COTTON share-croppers of Arkansas. many of them ousted from their tenant farms under conditions of extreme hardship, have found an unexpected ally in one of the most powerful insurance companies in the United States—Metropolitan Life. Furthermore Metropolitan Life

The Indianapolis Times

j|?| • ■ Jsr\ .Jj&u. A lfl|y Jbh@& |Hi

Following ud the advantage he had gained at Montmirail. Napoleon swept after the fleeing enemy troops. The result was a complete crushing of the Silesian army comprising the combined Prussian and Russian forces, numbcrmg some 80,n(m mcn victory within the short span of four days after the beginning of operations. Pans thrilled with excitement, and its streets resountied wun cheers as war prisoners of the powers filed through them. The illustration above pictures the scene as the captured enemy hosts trooped under guard through the French capital.

sous-Jouarre. I expect to reach Montmriail at midnight hard on his heels. NAP. Champaubert, the 19th, 7 p. m. (February, 1814 1 The next day, when the Emperor's bulletin was received in Paris, cheeis broke out. At the opera, where “Armide” was beingperformed, the orchestra and the chorus-singers struck up the air of “Victory Is Ours.” Victory indeed smiled on the French the next day and the next but one—every day, in fact. On the Brie plateau in the district of Epernay, Montmirail overlooks the valley of the Petit-Morlin. Saeken and Yrrck were converging upon that tcwnlet when, on Feb. 11 Napoleon appeared and took up his position at Marchais. Trusting to the fact that the Allied troops outnumbered the French three to one, Saeken attacked the village, which was defended by Ney, while Mortier and Friant counter-attacked the Russians. at l’Epine-au-Bois and Guyot's cavalry hurled themselves on his rear. The rout of the Prussians and Russians was complete. Mon amic. today I attacked the large Russian and Prussian enemy forces one league in front of Montmirail. I beat them, put them to flight, took the whole of their artillery, captured 7000 prisoners, more than 40 guns; not a man of this routed army escaped. I am not feeling very well. Tout a toi. Give a kiss to my son. NAP. 11th, 8 p. m. (February, 1814). (In the handwriting of a secretary) ; From the farm of l'Epine-sous-Bois, between 3fontmirail and Vieux-Maisons. Have a salute of 60 guns fired and the news given out at every place of entertainment. Gen. Saeken was killed. The room from which he wrote this letter was cluttered with dead bodies which had to be removed to enable the Emperor to take a little rest. The pursuit in the dark had come to an end. Saeken took advantage of this respite to

is particularly siding with the Negro share-croppers. Reason is the fact that Metropolitan owns large areas of Arkansas cotton land, taken over as a result of defaulted mortgages. On this land it has established Negro tenants, helped them with tools and seed to raise cotton. But the cotton curtailment program of the AAA has swathed them hard. What has been particularly disastrous is alleged discrimination on the part of white planters against Metropolitan and its colored tenants. Whenever possible, it is claimed, acreage reduction is worked out at the expense of Metropolitan's land. ana MEANWHILE reports of threats by dispossessed cotton tenants cause more and more alarm to AAA officials. The Southern Tenant Farmer Association has been aggressively organizing. Ward Rodgers, one of its leaders, has been convicted of "anarchy.” A stringent Sedition Bill has passed the Arkansas Legislature and is pending in the Senate. Observers recently returned from Kansas have informed New Deal officials that the calling out of troops would not surprise them. Note—Huey Long, during his attack on Senator Robinson, was urged by some of his friends to use the plight of the Arkansas cotton croppers as ammunition against the Senator from Arkansas. Huey, however, shied away. He has similar potential trouble in Louisiana. i Copyright, 1935. bv united Feature Syndic*,*. 2z>*si

INDIANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1935

slip away toward ChateauThierry under cover of the Prussian rearguard. a a a ON Feb. 12, the Emperor attacked General Saeken, who had retreated to Chateau-Thierry, although the French w’ere outnumbered three to one. Overthrown and with their ranks broken, the Prussian Generals Horn and Jurgass w’ere driven back into the funnel-shaped Valley of Chateau-Thierry, where their rout added to the congestion of the retreat. The Russian General Frendenrich, attempting to stem the tide, was sabered and taken prisoner. Yorck's army thronged the approach to the bridges in a confused mass, w’hose crossing was covered by the battalions of Prince William of Prussia, until they were out to pieces by a bayonet charge. From the suburb of Chateau-Thierry, February 12. 1814. I have been in the saddle all day, ma bonne Louise, I have had the whole of the enemy rearguard captured. 4 Russian and 3 Prussian battalions strong, and two guns. Everything was laken, even the general in command, he is a Russian major general. The enemy lost the whole of his artillery, all his baggage and twothirds of his army, and was compelled to take flight across the Marne at Chateau-Thierry, on his way to Soissons. All his field hospitals and his line of communication to Chalon and Vitry were captured. Adieu, mon amie. Nap. Leaving Mortier. Due de Trevise, at Chateau-Thierry to harry the remains of the beaten army, Napoleon turned against Blucher, who had compelled Marmont to fall back from Etages to Montmirail and was attempting to cut off Marshal Victor, posted at Sezanne, from the small imperial army. At daybreak, Feb. 14, Blucher was driving Marmont’s 4000 men before him, when, suddenly, 7000 cavalry hurled themselves upon him. They belonged to the guard. Napoleon had just arrived, with Ney and Nansouty. a an BEATEN in front and outflanked, Blucher and Kleist took to flight. They were driven back to Champaubert. Ma Bonne Louise, I have some good news to give you. I have beaten Gen. Gleist, who had 36 battalions with him; I took 8000 prisoners and killed 4000 of his troops; I took 10 flags and

SIDE GLANCES

'etraiTY ie* service, isc. ntr, BEa.tr t~prrsr>:

“You better hang up if her mother answers the phone.”

three guns without having more than 200 or 300 dead and wounded. The cavalry of my Guard covered themselves with glory. Have 30 guns fired and an article inserted in the Moniteur. Tout a toi, NAP. Montmirail, the 14th, 9 p. m. (February, (1814) In a graphic epitome the “Bulletin Officie!” summed up the operations as follows; “Thus in four days’ time, this Silesian Army, comprising the Russian Corps under Saeken and Langeron, the Prussian Corps under Yorck and Kleist, close upon 80,000 strong, was beaten, dispersed, annihilated.” The Battle of the Marne fought and won, there remained the task, of stemming on the Seine the tide of the main Bohemian army which had swept over the Yonne and the Loing. Two marshalls, Oudinot and Victor, were falling back before it when suddenly they were ordered to make a stand. With his guns coming up posthaste, his infantry in wagons, his cavalry at the trot, the Emperor came up. From the South there pushed up toward the Seine Kellerman, Treilhard and some troops withdrawn from Spain. a a a ON the 17th, Napoleon marched on Nangis. Here Wittgenstein had three Russian divisions, those “Tatar monsters who dishonor their Sovereign.” Their fate was settled in a trice. Turned on the left by Kellerman, on the right by Michaud, crushed by Drouot's guns, their squares were smashed, and two divisions taken prisoner. Ma bonne Louise, I had two letters written to you on the battlefield to give you some good news. I have taken 6000 Russian prisoners, I defeated Witgenstein’s Corps, taking 15 of his guns and 50 artillery wagons. Several Generals have been captured, my troops are following up the enemy in the direction of Montereau, Provins and Bray. By tonight, the whole of the big enemy army will have retreated across the Seine in great disorder. Adieu, ma bonne enamie. A kiss to my son, I have given the necessary instructions to enable you to have 30 guns fired. Nap. Nangis, the 17th. 4 p. m. (February, 1814> On Feb. 18 the Austrians under Bianchi were attacked at Montereau by Gen. Chateau, who was beaten off. But Napoleon hastened up with Pajol. Ma bonne Louise, I am feeling tired. I have had a splendid day;

By George Clark

I defeated Bianchi’s corps, two divisions strong, and the Wurtemburgers; I captured 4000 of them, killed 2000, took six guns and large quanties of wagons; but best of all I carried the bridge at Montereau before they could cut it. I debouched on the cne ny; I captured four Austrian colors, one general and several colonels. Adieu, mon amie. Tout a toi. NAP. Montereau, Feb. 17, 6 p. m. (1814). tt a tt WHEN the Congress of Cha-tillon-sur-Seine, momentarily suspended, resumed its sittings. Caulaincourt received instructions dated Feb. 17: “Providence has blessed my arms. Yesterday, I broke up Prince de Schwarzenberg's army, which I hope to destroy before it has recrossed our frontiers. Your conduct must be “he same. You must do everything for peace. I want peace ... on the basis of the Frankfort proposals.” Only on the 21st did the imperial dispatch reach Caulaincourt, who in the meantime incurred the anger of Napoleon by not standing firmly to his guns. The day before, at Nangis. Napoleon had been sent an officer under a flag of truce by Schwartzenberg to beg for an armistice. “The despicable wretches fall on their knees at the first setback” he wrote to his brother Joseph. “Now that fortune is again on my side. I am free to make my own terms. The enemy is disheartened. I therefore hope to be able to make peace.” It is in this frame of mind that he writes to Marie Louise: Ma bonne amie, My affairs are going so well that Schwartzenberg asked me for an armistice last night. I hope we shall have peace in a few days’ time, a lasting peace, worthy of me and worthy of France. Give a kiss to my son and believe in all my love. Adieu, ma bonne Louise, NAP. Nangis, the 18th, 7 a. m. (February, 1814) Tomorrow—The allies plead for peace. (Copyright, 1935. in France by Bibliotheque Nationale: in all other countries by United Feature Syndicate. Inc. Reproduction either in whole or in part prohibited. All rights reserved.) BISHOP CASIDY TO SPEAUT SERVICES Interparochial Meeting Is Scheduled Tonight. Bishop Thomas Casady will speak on “How Christ Defined the Church's Work in the World ’ at the interparochial service at 8 tonight at the Advent Protestant Episcopal Church. Bishop Casady was to speak on ! “Personal Preparation for Christian Living” this noon at the Christ Church. “I think w r e have too much preaching, too little witnessing and too little studying. We need a spiritual awakening in America,” Bishop Ralph S. Cushman, Denver, Colo., declared at the Broadway Methodist Episcopal Church preaching mission last night. SHORTRIDGE SENIORS TO HONOR INSTRUCTOR Year Book to Be Dedicated to Mrs. Nell Merrick Thomas. The Shortridge High School senior class has voted to dedicate the Senior Year Book to Mrs. Nell Merrick Thomas, of the Shortridge English department, it was announced today at the school. Mrs. Thomas is co-sponsor of the junior class and it was through her encouragement that the first junior vaudeville was presented eight years ago. LOCAL WOMAN HONORED Mrs. Logan Hughes to Be Guest at Homemaking Parley. Mrs. Logan G. Hughes. 1728 Cross-dr. Woodruff Place, president of the Indiana Congress of Parents and Teachers, will be guest of honor at the opening session of the Midwest Conference on Homemaking in Chicago, next Tuesday. Definite plans will be made at the conference to guide homemakers in intelligent buying of merchandise .through an organized movement.

Second Section

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice. Indianapolis, 14.

Fair Enough WASHINGTON, D. C.. March 13.—There is something very pathetic about the disillusionment of a county-seat statesman who works his way up through the grades from pound-master to coroner to county commissioner and judge and, finally, comes to Washington as a member of Congress to find himself *a nobody in a strange city. Arriving at the capital, he discovers to the distress of his soul that Congressmen are as common as policemen, though somewhat less respected, and

that his position in the community is no more distinguished than that of a member of the lower house of the state Legislature in Springfield, 111. To emphasize his inferiority, he is not allowed to rear up on his legs and deliver orations in the chamber except by very special permission which is sparingly and grudgingly given, and has to pay for his own haircuts and the people who live in the big houses and throw refined souse parties for the lobbyists, attaches, bureau chiefs, nightblooming Senators and a few select journalists never invite him in to

break furniture and make passes at the pretty ladies on terms of social equality. In Washington nobody ever heard of him. If. in desperation for some recognition, he w’ere to corner an ordinary citizen of the capital in some saloon and declare, “Sir, I am a member of the United States Congress ” the citizen, at his most charitable, would be likely to say merely that it is never too late to mend. ana Sits Under Rigid Discipline HE was interviewed by the press, invited to address the Parent-Teachers' Association and the Ladies’ Auxiliary to the State Retail Druggists* Union and consulted on the future of the republic. In Washington, during school hours, he sits under a discipline so rigid that the newsboys sometimes raise a hand for permission to recite or leave the room. It takes a man about a year to realize that he doesn't have to bring a written excuse from his parents if he absents himself from class owing to the fact that he was plastered last night and a strange dog had his head over in a corner of the bedroom, gnawing on his ears, this morning. In the Senate, the statesmen get free mineral water, a liftury which they assumed for themselves many years ago, and have never relinquished. They receive free barber service, too, including fragrant waters and hair tonic, although not that tonic of Huey Long’s, described by General Hugh Johnson as fit to grow bristles on a billiard ball. They may orate almost at will, knowing that their remarks will be heard by the clerks and the chair at least. And they have authority to act on all appointments, treaties and impeachments. The Congressman, on the other hand, either buys his haircut or cuts his own with a horse-clipper. He must either buy his own mineral water or use tap water to dilute the stimulants which he offers to his constituents who come to call. And, until a year or so ago, he had only one office-room, an arrangement which allowed him no privacy. a an Congressmen Merely Take Orders Senator gets $7900 allowance a year for • office-help, for example, whereas the member of the lower house receives only SSOOO with which to lighten the burden of supporting his sisters and his cousins and his aunts. True, in theory, the Congressman could increase his own allowance if he had the gumption. But he is become so docile and whipped in spirit that he hasn't the confidence to initiate legislation any more, but merely takes orders. Some Congressmen are so cowed, so impressed with their humbleness now that they do not even recognize the privileges which they do possess. One honorable member was complaining to your correspondent that the Senators, in addition to free mudpacks and mineral water, enjoyed free parking, greasing and washing in the Senate garage constructed at great public expense. For more than two years he has been parking his car on the streets not realizing that the garage was a joint garage for members of both houses. He just assumed that such luxuries were not for the likes of him. . _ , (Copyright. 1935, by United Feature Syndicate Inc.l

Today s Science —by DAVID DIETZ-

THE chemistry of the hormones, those highly active substances whose secretion in minute amounts by the ductless glands of the body plays so active a part in the scheme of life, constitutes one of the most important problems facing the scientist Os the host of hormones that occur in the body, some known certainly to exist, others only vaguely sensed, chemists have succeeded in making only two by synthetic or laboratory methods. Four more nave been isolated in crystalline form but of these four, scientists understand clearly only the chemical structure of two of them. Science, therefore, has exact chemical knowledge of only four hormones and, as Dr. Vincent Du Vigneaud. professor of biochemistry at the George Washington University Medical School says, "the field of the chemistry of the hormones is in reality quite in its infancy.” Dr. Du Vigneaud takes the position that a hormone may not be said to be completely understood until it has been put together by synthetic means in the laboratory. ana THE two hormones which biochemists have succeeded in synthesizing are epinephrine and thyroxine. Their synthesis. Dr. Du Vigneaud says, ‘‘represents the high point of the application of organic chemistry to the endocrines. The beautiful work that led to their isolation, their proof of structure. and tneir synthesis serves as a stimulus for the attack on the other hormones.” / Epinephrine is the veteran of known hormones and its story takes us back to the end of the nineteenth century. In 1894, Oliver and ScaefTer, demonstrated that the adrenal gland contained a "bloodpressure raising principle.” Abel succeeded in isolating a derivative of the hormone responsible for this action in 1901 and shortly thereafter it was obtained in crystalline form by Takamine. Within the next few years, a number of workers contributed to the solution of its chemical formula. Subsequent study with the synthetic varieties showed that the left-handed form was 14 times as active as the right-handed form. This serves to emphasize the fact that it is necessary to know the molecular structure of a hormone as well as to know the atoms which go into its molecule. a a a THE conquest of thyroxine was a much slower affair, as Dr. Du Vigneaud points out. Kendall succeeded in isolating thyroxine in 1914. This was 19 years after a quite potent fraction of the tyroid had been obtained. Twelve years more elapsed before Harrington and Barger demonstrated the structure of thyroxine but the two research workers achieved its synthesis in a surprisingly short time thereafter. Thyroxine consists of two benzene rings held together by an oxygen atom. Attached to one ring is a hydroxyl group and two atoms of iodine. Attached to the other are two lodine atoms also and a complicated chain containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. As in the case of epinephrine, thyroxine was found to exist in two optical forms. The synthetic form was a mixture of both whereas the one which occurs in the body is the left-handed form. *

yf fj

Westbrook Fegler