AbstractsChemistry

The experimental work described in this thesis concerns three separate problems. The thesis is therefore presented in three sections: section one, "The Diffraction of X-rays by Frozen and by Vitrified Gelatin Gels"; section two, "The storage of Human Blood at Low Temperatures; section three, "The Diffraction of X-rays by Impregnated Charcoal". [...] The original problem was to study the effect of rapid cooling as applied first to gelatin gels and later to the preservation of plant cells by quick freezing methods. The technique and results of this work suggested that similar methods might be applied to the problem of the preservation of whole blood at low temperatures. At that time the problem of the preservation of whole blood was very pressing. However, with the development of methods of preservation of blood serum and the increased use of serum 1n place of whole blood for most war casualty transfusions, the necessity for whole blood decreased. This problem was then discontinued. At this time it was suggested that X-ray diffraction photographs might give some information as to the nature of the metal deposit in impregnated gas mask charcoals. The last section describes experiments designed to determine the chemical and physical state of the metal in metallic impregnated charcoals. [...]