International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1950)

the emulsion was removed from cellulose nitrate base film by washing in a hot caustic soda bath. The washed film was then cut to lengths and packed. The soda-ash residue that remains along with the film may react with it to generate more heat than is usually the case. Also, because of higher temperatures which prevail in certain parts of the plant, heat may not be dissipated as rapidly as desired. Under such conditions, material may self-ignite when it would not do so in normal storage. Question of Excessive Nitration Our paper was written with an eye toward the prevention of fire in libraries and film exchanges. We still believe that under conditions prevalent in such installations, new film will not self-ignite. Mr. Spray's contention that excessive ni STATEMENT OF THE OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, CIRCULATION, ETC., REQUIRED BY THE ACT OF CONGRESS OF AUGUST 24, 1912, AS AMENDED BY THE ACTS OF MARCH 3, 1933, AND JULY 2, 1946 (Title 39, United States Code, Section 233). Of International Projectionist, published monthly at New York, N. Y., for October 1, 1950. 1. The names and addresses of the publisher, editor, managing editor, and business managers are: Publisher: International Projectionist Publishing Co., Inc., 19 West 44 St., New York 18, N. Y. Editor: Henry B. Sellwood, 19 West 44 St., New York 18, N. Y. Managing Editor: R. A. Entracht, 19 West 44 St., New York 18, N. Y. Business Manager: R. A. Entracht, 19 West 44 St., New York 18, N. Y. 2. The owner is: International Projectionist Publishing Co., Inc., 19 West 44 St., New York 18, N. Y. R. A. Entracht, 19 West 44 St,. New York 18, N. Y. 3. The known bondholders mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities are: None. 4. Paragraphs 2 and 3 include, in cases where the stockholder or security holder appears on the books of the company as trustee or in any other fiduciary relation, the name of the person or corporation for whom such trustee is acting; also the statements in the two paragraphs show the affiant's full knowledge and belief as the .circumstances and conditions under which stockholders and security holders who do not appear upon the books of the company as trustees, hold stock and securities in a capacity other than that of a bona fide owner. R. A. Entracht, Business Manager Sworn to and subscribed before me this 10th day of October 1950. (Seal) Anne Corracan Notary Public, State of New York, No. 315824300, Qualified in New York Commission expires March 30, 1952. tration may be a cause of spontaneous ignition is interesting and should not be dismissed without careful study. However, there is the belief that because of the modern quality control methods used in the manufacture of nitrate film, a uniform product results. Besides, if variation in the degree of nitration does exist, it has not been proven that the autogeneous ignition temperature will be affected. These two factors would have to be studied to confirm or deny the correspondent's hypothesis. We do know that Bureau of Standards investigators were unable to cause the spontaneous ignition of new film at ambient temperatures of up to 120° F. We wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Spray that all nitrate film should be stored in insulated facilities under controlled temperature conditions. Engineers . . . have devised insulated racks which can, without the aid of sprinklers, contain a film fire to the reel in which it originated. Organizations storing quantities of nitrate film should consider, as a long-range project, the equipping of their facilities with this type of rack. Such a program may take years to execute, however, and will not reduce the danger of film fires in the near future. For that reason we recommend that procedure as outlined in the paper as being the only practical first aid solution to the problem for the immediate future. By JOSEPH H. SPRAY ft is noted that the words "the soda ash residue that remains . . ." ignore my previous statement that ". . . this film was clean and free of any extraneous matter when it was ignited." There is absolutely no sodium hydroxide (or soda ash, as some call it) present on the washed and dried film because the material receives a very thorough cleaning, both mechanically and by washing; and it is well known that sodium hydroxide is very soluble. Furthermore, any minute trace that might be present would cease to exist as sodium hydroxide and would be converted into the products of reaction between it and the gelatin, and any that might still then be left would be changed into sodium carbonate, also very soluble. The chance of accidental contamination with sodium hydroxide is quite remote because of the method of the washing of the film. Mr. Cummings describes the control in nitration as so accurate that there would be very little chance of over-nitration. Perfection-Minus in Controls Without going into too involved a chemical explanation, it is readily conceivable that cotton, being a natural product, does not always produce cellulose in exactly the same way; differences due to soil, weather, accidental injury to the plant and other factors would tend more or less to alter the cellulose, and it is quite possible that under these varying conditions some cellulose of the cotton might be susceptible to further nitration. The writer has seen a blowout occur right at the nitrating spot in a chemical plant. The operators thought nothing of it, saying that it was a thing to be expected. The nitration kept right on regardless of the blowout because the plant was constructed in such a way that it could take care of it. Why did the blowout occur if the control is so perfect? It is realized that spontaneous combustion due to high nitration is fortunately rare, but who knows exactly how rare? The point to stress is that with such a substance as cellulose nitrate, the storage conditions should be such as to insulate the fire when it does occur, a general point on which both the writer and Mr. Cummings agree. Cost of Tuberculosis in 1950 By DAVID T. SMITH, M D. Each year at this time IP is glad to devote space to aid the sale of that "mighty mite," the Xmas Seal, which has done so much for so many afflicted with the dread scourge of tuberculosis. Everybody is delighted with the steady decline in the death rate from tuberculosis from approximately 200 per 100,000 in 1900 to less than 30 in 1949. Unfortunately, the death rate is no longer a trade guide to the seriousness of the tuberculosis problem in this country. We must shift our vision from ihe dead to those who are living and suffering with the disease. The number of living patients has not declined proportionately to the decrease in death rate. In many areas, where the usual methods of case findings have been supplemented by mass X-ray surveys, temporarily at least, the number of new reported cases has been increasing while the death rale was declining. Tuberculosis remains the No. 1 health problem in the United States. Although it is not at present the No. 1 killer, it is the No. 1 killer which is known to be preventable. Cost of the tuberculosis control program in the U. S. has been estimated bv the National Tuberculosis Association at $350, 000,000 yearly. This enormous cost cannot be eliminated until we have eliminated tuberculosis. Temporarily we must spend more to find persons who have the disease but may not know it and may be spreading tuberculosis as well as losing their own health. We must find these persons in order to reduce in the future the enormous cost of treating patients with active disease. Funds Woefully Inadequate Funds raised by the Christmas Seal campaign cannot be used for the treatment of active tuberculosis. Not only are Seal Sale funds totally inadequate to take care of the cost of treating tuberculosis (the $20,000,000 raised last year would provide not more than two week's care for the estimated 500,000 persons with active tuberculosis in this country) but they are needed for other purposes. Seal Sale funds are used for education, stimulation of case finding, stimulation of rehabilitation programs and for statistical, social and basic laboratory research, all of which are essential for the discovery of newer and better methods which will speed the elimination of tuberculosis from the United States. Thus, money spent for Seak today will in the future help to cut down the tremendous costs of tuberculosis. 30 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST November 1950