Paris newspapers told the story today of an immigrant Jewish scientist who discovered synthetic acetone, important in the manufacture of explosives, and turned down a huge offer for the formula by England with the explanation that he wanted to give it to France without compensation.
The scientist, who died in December, 1938, was affiliated with the Pasteur Institute. He was Prof. Schoen, who came to France from Riga, where his father was a druggist, 30 years of age and lived here ever since.
After Prof. Schoen’s death, the Paris Soir said, his assistant was approached by British representatives and the formula was turned over to them for 100,000,000 francs. During his lifetime, the newspaper said, Prof. Schoen had worked in the Pasteur Institute for a salary equivalent to $30 per week.
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