SES! hati il i ay int ii : i balnesssiartt ih Oy Hy i 0 iit Sarteey eit cise SESS SSE See SSE aaa ee : as = —— =2 SESS a EEESaS SSS Saotetstets Sistas es sees S875 StS SSS eee 7 SESS SaaS Sees pete asic ies eseeeseeee Seeestaee FoI aes = Sa peseae= ES Fert = SSS = Se. sstsetelst Saag tase sesseeosaesteee 2S SSS See See Stents see = a2 SSS ma: Fas = eet eas et ——— SS = acace ean ese mates =r tH ty Hs Hi i td Mi Hits Pere art eee Sees a ee SS 7 Bt te Hitt ; ( Aaa ttita tata ( i 1 : ites CEN} Way Ny i eae ey ¢ Hil health He i RAI i i Hi Ht f Hn it if silt ae ee : i | i: , ; SHEN Sie pee eee queais SSS SSS SSS win Expedition, C. H. E1gznmann, 100 Isolation, Physiological, in Plants, A. W. BELLAMY, C. M. CHILD, 362 Jacobi, Dr. Abraham, F. H. Garrison, 102 James Watt Centenary, 271 Jellicoe, Admiral, The Grand Fleet, A. M., 21 JONES, A, , “Working up’? ina Swing, ’20 Jonzs, L. R, KE. F. Suiru, C. 8. Reppy, Black Chalf of Wheat, 48 K., G. F., Dolomieu sur la minéralogie du Dau- phiné, IK, Lacroix, 373 KaraPetorr, V., «Working up’’ in a Swing, 70 Karrer, E., 17-year Locust Population, 211 KARPINSKI, L. C., New Activities in the History of Science, 213 Keith, A., ” Menders of the Maimed, T. W. Topp, 307 KELLEY, FB. J., Substitutes for the Words Homozy- gous and Heterozygous, 458 KxLtoae, V., Births and Deaths in Civil Popula- tion of France during War, 304; Emil Fischer after the War, 346 Kentucky Academy of Science, A. M. Peter, 95 Keyes, C., Orogenics of the Great Basin, 413 Kinnicutt, L. P., Sewage Disposal, G. W. FULLER, 71 Kuopsts¢, P. E., ‘‘Working up’’ in a Swing, 70; Courses in Physical Measurements for Students of Chemistry, 199 Knowtton, A. A., An Unusual Mirage, 328 Krecxer, F. H., Limicolous Oligochaeta for Labor- atory Use, 89 KunKet, B. W., Instinetive Behavior in the White Rat, 305 L., E. R., The Poor Diener, 43 vi SCIENCE Labor, American Federation of, and Scientific Re- search, 15; and Science, 230 Laboratory “Instruction ‘in Chemistry, A. A. BLANCHARD, 112 Lacroix, A., Dolomieu sur la Minéralogie du Dau- phiné, G. EF. K., 373 Lampert, A., Medicine a Factor in War, 8 Lane Medical Lectures, 367 La Rug, C. D., Monkeys as Coconut Pickers, 187 Leather from Aquatic Animals, 389 Ler, A., Field Sanitation in China, 435 Lerps, M. E., Industrial Research in Small Hstab- lishments, 445 Lrzs, J. H., lowa Academy of Science, 72 LEFEVRE, Ge Introductory Course in Zoology, 429 Leguminosae, Nodule Organisms of the, R. Han- SEN, 568 Library, American, Association, Agricultural Sec- tion, E, R. OBERLY, 167 Liu, F. R., Tandler and Keller on the Free- martin, 183 Linum, R. 8., Surface Films in Passive Metals and in Protoplasm, 259, 416 Limicolous Oligochaeta for Laboratory Use, F. H. KRECKLER, 89 Lister Institute, 35 Locust, 17-year, Population, H. Karrer, 211 Loes, J., Electrolytes and Colloids, 439 Lozs, L., Wound Healing in Experimental Tissue, 502 Lowy, A., Chart of Organic Chemistry, Aromatic Series, 93 Lusk, G., National Laboratory of Human Nutri- tion, 97; A Medical School, in the War and after, 403 Lyman, T., Helium Series in the Ultra-violet, 481 M., A., The Grand Fleet, Admiral Jellicoe, 21 Marching in Step, W. WEAVER, 162 McAdie, A., G. P. Paynz, Uniformity in Symbols, 411 McCuutocy, L., HE. F. Smirx, Bacterium Solana- cearum in Beans, 238 Math. Soe., Amer., E. J. Movunron, 353; F. N. COLE, 487 MURS, C. J., New Miocene Formational Names, 591 Medal, Distinguished Service, 86; of the Royal Geographical Society, 135; The Mary Clark- Thompson, 272; Willard Gibbs, 325; Elliot, 473 Medical, Foundation for New York City, 61; Edu- cation and Practise in China, 246; Welsh Na- tional School, 299; Education in the United States, 323; School, in the War and after, G. Lusk, 403; School of Vanderbilt University, 521 Medicine a Factor in War, A. LAMBERT, 8 MeceEATH, J., L. J. Coun, Somatic Variation, 525 Mexuvs, I. E., L. L. Ruoprs, Seed-borne Diseases of Grain, 21 Merrint, G. P., Cumberland Falls Meteorite, 90 Mercatr, M. M., Metealf and Bell upon Sapidae, 19 Meteorite, Cumberland Falls, G. P. Merrit, 90 Meteorological Soc., Amer., Organization of, C. F. Brooks, 180, 546 Meteorology, Notes on, C. F. Brooks, 91, 164, 350, 374, 483 Micueuson, A. A., F. R. Mounron, T. C. Coam- BERLIN, Report of Committee on Earth Tides, 258; H. G. GauE, Rigidity of the Earth, 327 ConTBENTS AND InpDBx. Mrynr, A, W., Preservation of Cadavers, 570 Mier, D. C., Amer. Physical Soc., and Amer. Inst. of Elec. Engineers, 342; Chicago Meeting, 477 Mitter, G. A., Teaching of Science from Histor- ical Point of View, 489 Miniikan, R. A., R. A. Sawyer, Ultra-violet Spec- trum, 138; New Opportunity in Science, 285 Mineral Production of the United States in 1918, 246 Mirage, An Unusual, A. A. KNOWLTON, 328; A Wall-side, W. M. Davis, 372 Miyaké, T., Konehtigaku "Hanron Jokwan, L. O. Howakrb, 527 Mobilization, Scientific, in Italy, G. Anrrrr, 169 Monkeys as Coconut Pickers, 187 Moopiz, R. L., Mammals of Porto Rico, H. E. Anthony, 91: Evolution of the Earth, J. Barrell and others, 140; Opisthotonos, 275 Morsz, E. 8., Chinese Lamp in Yucatan Mound, 276 Morse, E. 8., Living Lamellibranchs, F. N. Banc, 415 Motion of a Gravitating Needle, C. Barus, 214 Movu.ton, HE. J., Amer. Math. Soe., 353 Names, New Miocene Formational, C. J. Maury, 691 National, Research, Fellowships, 15; Council, G. H. Cuevencer, 58; Nutrition Committee, 156; Department of Health, 106; Academy of Sci- ences, New Haven Meeting, 486; Henry Draper Committee, 538; Committee on Mathematics, 562 Natural History Societies, New England Federa- tion of, J. H. HMERTON, 272 Naturalists, Amer. Soe. of, 324 Naturalist ’s Place in his Community, W. HE. ALLEN, 448 Nature Study, Vacation, 389 Neal, H. V., Sect, of Zool. Amer. Assoc. Adv. of Sci., 478 Nerve Cell Pigments, D. H. Douury, F. V. GuTHRIE, 190 New York, Aquarium, Collecting Boat for, C. H. TOWNSEND, 134; Botanical Garden, 455 Nichols, Professor Edward L., Retirement of, 269 Nicuous, G. E., Biology Course in American Col- leges, 509 _Nicuots, J. T., Turtles of New England, H. L. Babeock, 115 Nicuous, W. H., Research and Application, 217 Nipuer, F. E., Variations in Electrical Potential of the Harth, 23 North Carolina Academy of Science, B. CUNNING- HAM, 262 North Pacific Ocean, Exploration of, W. E. Rirrer, 119 Not Ten but Twelve, W. B. Smiru, 239 Nunn, R., Tennessee Academy of Science, 594 Nutrition, Human, National Laboratory of, G. Lusx, 97; Committee of National Research Council, 156; National Institute of, H. P. ARMSBY, 242: Problems of Food and, 520 OBERHOLSER, H. C., North American Diving Birds, A. C. Bent, 329 OserLy, E. R., American Library Association, Agricultural Section, 167 O’Connell, M., Cretaceous Silicispongim, A. W. GRABAU, 231 Nuw Sal Vou. L Ohio Academy of Science, H. L. Rice, 117 Opisthotonos, R. L. Moopir, 275 Ornithologists’ Union, ‘American, T. S. Paumer, 408 ; i Orogenies of the Great Basin, C. Kryzs, 413 Osporn, H., B. and Cooperation between Govern- ment and. Laboratory Zoologists, 27 Osler Presentation, F. H. GARRISON, 244 Osmosis, Device for Illustrating, H. ©. CoE, 542 Paleobotany, in Great Britain, A. C. Srwarp, 43; Needs of, G. R. WIELAND, 68 Paumer, L. S., Carotinoids as Fat-soluble Vitamine, 501 PatmeEr, T. S., American Ornithologists’ Union, 408 Paraffine, Imbedding in, L. H. Scuatz, 436 Parker, G. H., Elementary Nervous System, H. B. Torrey, 163 Parsons, C. L., Engineering Science and the War, 333, 365, 383; Amer. Chem. Soc., Buffalo Meet- ing, 24, 48; Philadelphia Meeting, 62, 205, 282, 421, 446, 464, 505, 547, 572, 575, 595 Patent Reforms, B. RussEuu, 202 Payne, G. P., A. McApiz, Uniformity *1 Symbols, 411 Praru, R., An Appeal, 524 Prrer, A.M. , Kentucky Academy of Science, 95 Physical, Measurements, Courses in, for Students of Chemistry, P. E. K1opsree, 199; Soc. Amer., and Amer. Inst. of Elec. Engineers, DC MILuER, 342; Chicago Meeting 1D, C. MILLER, 477 Physics and Scientific Education, A. Gray, 377 Pirrce, W. D., Insect Transmission of Disease, 125 PIERgon, E. M., R, A. DutcHEr, A. Bizster, Raw Lean Beef, 184 Popular Science at University of California, 324 Port Hudson, La., Clays of, F. V. Emerson, 460 P-tato Disease Conference, 227 Price, W. A., Snow Doughnuts, 591 Priestley, Ji oseph, House of, 495 Public, The Press and the Investigator, C. H. RowELL, 146; Ruin in New Mexico, 431 Quotations, 115, 230, 277, 306, 328, 347, 372, 396, 436, 460, 526° Railway Fares, Reduced, 586 Rainbow, An Unusual Form of, H. M. Rersz, 542 Ramsay Memorial, 107 Ransom, B. H., Cooperation between Government and Laboratory Zoologists, 27 Rapp, C. W., Bean Seed and Blight, 568 Recompense of Scientific Workers, 460 Red Cross, and Professor Richard P. Strong, 343; Societies, League of, 454 Reppy, C. 8., L. R. Jones, E. F. Smira, Black Chaff of Wheat, 48 Rersz, H. M., An Unusual Form of Rainbow, 542 Research, and Application, W. H. NicHots, 217; in England, Organization of, 299; Scientific and Industrial, in England, 436 Ruopss, L. L., I. E. Menyus, Seed-borne Diseases of Grain, 21 Ricr, H. L., Ohio Academy. of Science, 117 RioHarpson, W. D., Singing Sands of Lake Michi- gan, 493 SCIENCE Vii RicuTMyer, F. K., Sigma Xi and the Future, 75 Rieger, W. F., Auroral Displays, 347 Rirrer, W. E., Problems of Population of North Pacific Area, 119 Roserts, H. F., Agricultural Botany, 549 Rockefeller, Institute of Medical Research, 107, 455; and the War, 273; Foundation, 328; and National Research Council, 134 Romeere, A., A Practical Long-period Seismograph, 141 RoweEtu, C. H., The Press, the Public and the In- vestigator, 146 RUSSELL, B., Patent Reforms, 202 RUTHERFORD, E., Atomic Projectiles and their Col- lisions with Light Atoms, 467 | Salaries at Yale, 496 Salpidae, Metcalf and Bell on, M. M. Mercatr, 19 Sand Dunes, Conservation of, 405 Sanitation, in China, A. Len, 435 Scales of the Jordania, T. D. A. CocKERELL, 569 Scuarrner, J. H., Reversal of Sex in Hemp, 311; Snow- Rollers, 371 Scuatz, L. H. , Imbedding in Paraffine, 436 SCHUCHERT, G, World-Power and Evolution, E. Huntington, 211 Science, New Opportunity in, R. A. MILLIKAN, 285; and the Army, 306; and the Press, 347; Teaching of, from Historical Point of View, G. A, Miuurr, 489; and Industry in New Zealand, 537 Scientific, Events, 13, 35, 60, 84, 104, 133, 154, 179, 204, 226, 246, 271, 299, 323, 341, 365, 388, 405, 431, 453, 477, 495, 520, 537, 561, 585; Notes and News, 16, 37, 62, 86, 108, 135, 157, 181, 206, 228, 248, 273, 301, 325, 348, 368, 390, 408, 433, 456, 479, 499, 522, 540, 563, 588; Books, 21, 43, 71, 91, 115, 140, 163, 187, 211, 231, 253, 278, 307, 329, 348, 373, 415, 437, 527, 593; Societies Meet- ing at St. Louis, 536 Scientist, Responsibilities of the, G. E. Hatz, 143 Seed-borne Diseases of Grain, I. H. Mrenuus, L. L. Ruopes, 21 Seismograph, A Practical Long-period, A. Rom- BERG, 141 Srwarp, A. C., Paleobotany in Great Britain, 43 Sex, Reversal of, in Hemp, J. H. ScHarrner, 311 Suetpon, H. H., Charcoal Activation, 568 Shell-shock in the Battle of Marathon, D. A. WorcEsTER, 230 Sigma Xi, at Syracuse University, 36; and the Fu- ture, F. K. Ricurmyer, 75; Address to, 175, 549 Singing Sands of Lake Michigan, W. D. RicHarp- son, 493 SurrH, E. F., L. R. Jonus, C. 8. Reppy, Black Chaff of Wheat, "48; L. McCoutiocH, Bacterium Sola- nacearum in Beans, 238 SmirH, H. M., Cooperation between Government and Laboratory Zoologists, 1 Smith, T., and R. W. Cheshire, Small Telescope Ob- jectives, H. S. Wuirr, 437 SmirH, W. B., Not Ten but Twelve, 239 Snow,-Rollers, L. E. Woopman, 210; B. F. Yan- ney, 306; C. F. Tauman, J. H. Scuarrner, K. M. DaLLENBACH, 371; W. A. Pricz, 591 Snyper, H., War Flour, 130 Vill Societies and Academies, 262; Iowa Acad, 72; Anthrop. Soe., 84; Ky. Acad., 95; Meteorol. Soc., 180, 546; Chem. Soc., 24, 48, 62, 205, 217, 247, 253 282, 298, 290, 421, 441, 464, 505, 536, 547; N. C. Acad. 265; Nat. Hist. Societies, 272; Ceramic Soe., 300; Soc. of Naturalists, 324; Physical Soc., 342, 477; Math. Soc., 353, 487; Address before Astron. Soc., Math. Soe. and Math. Ass., 399; Crystal. and Miner. Soe., 497; Soc. of Zoologists, 497; Astron. Soc., 507; at St. Louis, 536; Tenn. Acad., 594 Solar Eclipse of May 29, A. C. D. CromMELIN, 518 Somatic Variation, L. J. Cour, J. Mecratu, 525 Sparrow, C. M., Double Use of the Term Accelera- tion, 482 Speare, A. T., Fungus Parasite of the Cicada, 116 Special Articles, 23, 48, 71, 93, 116, 141, 166, 190, 214, 238, 259, 279, 311, 331, 352, 375, 397, 416, 439, 461, 484, 502, 528, 544, 570 Starr, I., Jr., Undergraduate Research in Medical Schools, 308 State, Academies of Science, D. D. WuitNEY, 517; Parks and Iowa Policy, 406 STEBBINS, J., Amer. Astron. Soc., 507; Grants for Research of Amer. Assoc. for Adv. of Sci., 559 STEENBOCK, H., White Corn versus Yellow Corn, 352 Steindachneridion, C. H., and R. 8. EigznmMann, 525 Surgeons and Physicians, Congress of, American, President’s Address, 313; Matters of Scientific Interest in, 407; of Surgeons, American, 432 Surface Films in Passive Metals and in Protoplasm, R. 8. Linuig, 259, 416 Swing, “< Working up?? in a, A. T. Jonss, 20; V. KARAPETOFF, P. EK. Kuorstse, 70; Problem of the Boy in the, H. Crew, 139 Symposium before Zool. Soc., 1, 4, 27, 29; Bot. Soe. and Phytopath. Soc., 51 TausoT, H. P., Boys’ Book of Chemistry, C. R. Clarke, 91; A Survey of Recent Chemical Litera- ture, 253 TALMAN, C, F., Snow-Rollers, 371 Tennessee Academy of Science, R. Nunn, 594 Topp, T. W., Menders of the Maimed, A. Keith, 307 TORREY, H. B. , Elementary Nervous ’System, G. H. Parker, 163° TOWNSEND, C. H., Collecting Boat for New York Aquarium, 134 Trans-Atlantic Flight, Meteorological Aspects of, C. F. Brooxs, 91, 374; R. DC. Warp, 114 Tropical Research Station i in British Guiana, 37 TuRLEY, H. E., Fruit Fungi in the Chicago Market, 375 Ultra-violet, Spectrum, Extending the, R. A. Miniikan, R. A. Sawyer, 138; Helium Series in the, T. Lyman, 481 Undergraduate Research in Medical Schools, I. Srarr, JR., 308 Uniformity in Symbols, A. McAprm, G. P. Paynr, 411 University and Educational News, 18, 40, 65, 88, 111, 137, 161, 182, 208, 229, 251, 274, 303, 327, SCIENCE CONTENTS AND InpEx. 344, 370, 393, 411, 434, 458, 480, 500, 524, 541, 567, 590 Valence of Nitrogen in Nitrous Oxide, W. T. Hawt, 209 Van Names, W. G., Zoological Aims and Oppor- tunities, 81 Variations in Electrical Potential of the Earth, ¥F. E. NipHer, 23 Velocity, Nature of, T. L. Davis, 338 Visibility of Bright Lines, L. BELL, 331 Voleanic Eruption i in J. ava, 13 Wapron, C. B., Auroral Display, 347 Wand, H. B., Cooperation between Government and Laboratory Zoologists, 1; Animal Parasites and Human Disease, A. C. Chandler, 593 Warp, R. DEC., Walter Gould Davis, 11; Meteorol- ogy and the Trans-Atlantie Flight, 114 WASHBURN, EH. W., International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, 319 Watt Centenary, 60 WEAVER, W., Marching in Step, 162 WELD, iy, AD), > Weights i in Original Observations, 461 Wenvr, GL. , Jacques Danne, 340 Wheat, "Black Chaff of, E. F. ’ Sure, L. R. JoNnEs, C..8 Reppy, 48; Leptosphaeria Tritici of, L. W. DURRELL, 252; *Branny Coats of, 427; Winter G. T. Harrineton, 538 WHETZEL, H. H., Coordination of Scientific Efforts, 51 Whipple, G. C., Vital Statistics, L. I. Dusiin, 187 Waite, H.S., Small Telescope Objectives, mM Smith, R. W. Cheshire, 437 Wairtney, D. D., "State Academies of Science, 517 WIELAND, G. B., ‘Needs of Paleobotany, 68 Winds, C. F. Brooxs, 483 Winter, of 1918-1919, C. F. Brooxs, 165; Wheat, Germinating, Freshly Harvested, G. T. HARRING- TON, 528 Woop, H. O., Proposed International Geophysical Union, 233; Organization of American Section, 255 Woopman, L. E., A Snow Effect, 210 Woopwarp, R. 8., Carnegie Institution of Wash- ington, 529 Worcsstrr, D. A., Shell-shock in the Battle of Marathon, 230 Wound Healing in Experimental Tissue, L. Lors, 502 Wricut, G. F., Charles Conrad Abbott and Ernest Volk, 451 2 YANNEY, B. F., An Earlier Snow Effect, 306 ZELENY, C., The Investigator and his Problem, 175 Zoological "Aims and Opportunities, W. G. VAN Name, 81 Zoologists, Cooperation between Government and Laboratory, H. M. Smiru, 1; H. B. Warp, 4; B. H. Ransom, 27; HerBert Osporn, 29; Amer. Soc. of, W. C. ALLEE, 497 Zoology, Introductory Course in, G. LErevre, 429; Vertebrate, Gift to California Museum of, 585 IENC New SERIES SINGLE COPIES, 15 CTs. Vou. L, No. 1279 FRIDAY, JULY 4, 1919 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION, $5.00 (Ujift of Charles Doolittle Overton and Denno’s The Health Officer This book contains the information the average health officer must have in order to dis- charge his duties. It tells him what to do, how to doit, and why he should do it. It de- scribes the various activities in which a health officer engages; his relations to boards of health, physicians, social agencies, and the public; his qualifications and methods of work; the various diseases and unsanitary conditions with which he deals, and the scien- tific principles upon which preventive medicine is founded. There are chapters on or- ganization and powers of a health department, the health officer himself, local boards, re- lation of the public and of the physician to the health officer, rural work, records and _ reports, public health nursing, bacteriology, immunity, epidemiology, communicable dis- eases, milk, food sanitation, sanitary engineering, disposal of wastes, water supply, ven- tilation, industrial hygiene, camp sanitation, child hygiene, life extension. Octavo of 504 pages, illustrated. By FRANK Overton, M.D., D.P.H., Sanitary Supervisor, New York State Department of Health; and WILLARD J. DENNO, M.D., D.P.H., Medical Director, Standard Oil Company. Cloth, $4.50 net. : : : 12mo of 204 pages, illustrated. By JoHN 12mo of I5I a with 117 illustrations. i. GAO LID. IISA Ge Sasiten Ga By A. D. Wuitinc, M.D., Instructor in Dermatology and Syphilology, The Mayo Surgery at the University of Pennsyl- Clinic. Cloth, $1.75 net. vania. Cloth, $1.50 net. A timely book for soldier, sailor, social eco- nomist, physician, and all those interested in This work takes up each bandage in detail, alone Ona. telling you and showing you how to apply the bandage. Bergey’s Hygiene ’ “ Octavo of 543 pages, illustrated. By D. Goodnow’s War Nursing H. Bercey, M.D., Assistant Professor of 12mo of 172 pages, illustrated. By Hygiene and Bacteriology, University of Minnie Goopnow, R.N., War Nurse in Pennsylvania. Sixth Edition. Cloth, France. Cloth, $1.50 net. $3.50 net. A istandard work covering every division of A record of two years’ service as nurse in lygiene and sanitation, with much collateral the war zone, giving first hand information. information. Whiting’s Bandaging Stokes’ Third Great Plague W. B. SAUNDERS COMPANY Philadelphia and London SCIENCE—ADVERTISEMENTS Published on June 20 Naturalists’ Supplies We carry a stock for prompt delivery Carnegie Pensions By J. McCKEEN CATTELL I. Collecting Utensils. II. Breeding Apparatus and Cages for Living Animals. : III. Preparing and Preserving Utensils. IV. Cabinets and Insect Cases. V. Magnifiers, Microscopes and Accessories. VI. Botanists’ Supplies. VII. Explorers’ and Collectors’ Camp Outfits. VIII. Miscellaneous Naturalists’ Supplies. IX. Oologists’ Supplies. X. Aquaria. XI. Books and Publications. XII. Chemicals K-S Museum Cabinets of Glass and Metal Together with Extracts from Letters from Two Hundred and Fourteen Col- lege and University Professors, an Article on the History of the Carnegie Foundation by Joseph Jast-ow, and the Reports of the Committee on Pen- sions and Insurance of the American New Illustrated Biological Catalogue will be sent free Association of University Professors. of charge upon application Pages viti +253. Price, $1.50 Postpaid THE SCIENCE PRESS GARRISON NEW YORK THE KNY-SCHEERER CORPORATION Dept. of Natural’Science 4C4-410 W. 27th St .G. Lagai, Ph.D. New York City | Marine Biological Laboratory Natural History Material Woods Hole, Mass. | ZOOLOGY MINERALOGY |) INVESTIGATION Facilities for resoach in Zoolony. We have been handling Natural History Entire Year Bayi Seven tae DT abo Material of all kinds for the past fifty years, tories, $100 each for not over three and so have accumulated a very complete months. Thirty tables are avail- Ws soe | able for beginnersin research who stock. Our prices are as low as the quality desirertolworloniderstheldirectiont of the specimens will permit. We are con- of members of the staff. The fee stantly preparing circulars and price lists for such a table is $50.00. covering our material in the different branches, | INSTRUCTION Courses of laboratory instruction which we will be pleased to send free of with lectures are offered in Inverte- charge to the readers of Science. July 2 to August 12, brate Zoology, Protozoology. Em- 5 1919 Brveloey Physiology and Morph- Some of our recent circulars: Bach ponies neaminen ia Panne S-121 Rare Bird Skins of the Bed eaten figs a ) course on the Fhilosophica! ets $-122 Mounted Bird Skins | of Biology and Allied Science is S-98 Materialfor Dissection | also offered. S-123 Philippine Land Shells | i. 5 S-120 Special Minerals SON | iiuamttmoneemsecnan. Ph S-110 Complete Trilobites | DEPARTMENT served material of all types of wy, * . animals ana 0: gae, Hugi, ver- S111 ‘Jurassic Fossils Oper the Entire Year worts and Mosses furnished for S-119 Cretaceous Fossils classwork, or for the museum. Liv- ing material furnished in season as CONCHOLOGY GEOLOGY ordered. Microscopic slidesin Zool- ogy, Botany, Histology, Bacteriol- ogy. Price lists of Zoological and Botanical material and Micioscopic 9 e Slides sent on application. State Ward S Natu ral Science whichisdesired. For price lists and es allinformation regarding material, Establishment address GEO. M. GRAY, Curator, Woods Hole, Mass. College Ave. Rochester, N.Y. The annual announcement will be sent onapplication to The Director, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass. SCIENCE Frmay, Juty 4, 1919 CONTENTS Methods of securing Better Cooperation be- tween Government and Laboratory Zoolo- gists in the Solution of Problems of Gen- eral or National Importance: Dr. H. M. Situ, Proressor Henry B. WARD ...... 1 Medicine, a Determining Factor in War: Dr. ALEXANDER, LAMBERT ............-+-% 8 Walter Guuld Davis: Proressor R. DEC. SWIARD He ciars siete ELT REA het lisa 11 Scientific Events :— The Volcanic Eruption in Java; Expedition from the California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology to Alaska; International Engineer- ing Standardization; Resolutions of the American Federation of Labor on Scientific Research; National Research Fellowships.. 138 Scientific Notes and News ..........-0+0+. 16 University and Educational News ......... 18 Discussion and Correspondence :— Metcalf and Bell upon Salpide: PROFESSOR Maynarp M. Mercaur. ‘‘Working up’? in a Swing: Proressor ARTHUR TABER JONES. A Quick Method of Eliminating Seed-borne Organisms of Grain: I, E. Mztuus, L. L. AR HODESMaisrvarseisiaheals cestwieete aisle Sele larsteraterete 19 Scientific Books :— Jeilicoe on The Grand Fleet: A, M........ 21 Special Articles :— ' Variations in the Electrical Potential of the Earth: PRoFESSOR FRANCIS EH. NIPHER .... 23 The Buffalo Meeting of the American Chem- teal Society: CHARLES L. PARSONS ....... 24 MSS. intended for publication and books, etc., intended for Teview should be sent to The Editor of Science, Garrison-on- Hudson, N. Y. $e METHODS OF SECURING BETTER CO- OPERATION BETWEEN GOVERN- MENT AND LABORATORY ZOOL- OGISTS IN THE SOLUTION OF PROBLEMS OF GENERAL OR NATIONAL IMPORTANCE! THE accumulated experience of nearly fifty years enables the Bureau of Fisheries to speak with some degree of assurance and definite- ness on relations with working zoologists of the universities. It is a pleasure and an honor to have this opportunity to refer to the nature and value of those relations; to indicate the importance of continuing and broadening them; and to commend to less fortunate government agen- cies the advantage of enlisting in their work the active aid of university zoologists. While other government institutions may have had intimate and continuous relations with university zoologists, I believe there has been no other federal bureau in which the cultivation of such relations has been such a definite and sustained policy as in the Bureau of Fisheries; and I am confident that no other bureau has secured more noteworthy results in this way. To state that we have had every reason to be well satisfied with this association 1A symposium before the American Society of Zoologists, held at Baltimore on December 26, 1918, Professor C. E. McClung presiding, included papers and discussions as follows: Representing the Bu- reau of Entomology, Dr. L. O. Howard. Discus- sion by J. G. Needham. Representing the Bureau of Fisheries, Dr. Hugh M. Smith. Discussion by Dr. H. B. Ward. Representing the Bureau of Animal Industry, Dr. B. H. Ransom. Discussion by Dr. Herbert Osborn. Representing the Bureau of Bio- logical Survey, Dr. E. W. Nelson. Discussion by Dr. R. K. Nabours. Relation of the Council of National Defense and the National Research Council to the Advancement of Research, Dr. John C. Merriam. 2 SCIENCE is to express in mild terms what must be ob- vious to every one familiar with the facts. As one consults the early records of the bureau and recalls the later activities and developments, the conclusion is inevitable that our relations with the laboratory zoologists have been not only invaluable but actually indispensable to us. There is some ground for the belief that zoologists have obtained a measure of profit from the cooperation, but there can be no doubt that the balance of benefits is on the government’s side. The mutual relations that have existed from the beginning have consisted essentially of (1) personal service rendered to the bureau by university zoologists for particular investiga- tions or special duties and (2) the extension of facilities to zoologists—professors, instruc- tors, students—for conducting investigations in laboratories, on vessels, or in the field. The advantages of this arrangement from our standpoint are: (1) That we have been able to obtain the personal aid of men pre- eminently qualified for studying special prob- lems, often at the time when those problems have been most pressing; and (2) that we have been able to secure this cooperation at a cost to the government that must be con- siderd merely nominal, for no funds provided by Congress would have been adequate to command such services had it been necessary to compensate them at their full worth. It was at the very outset of our career that we enlisted the services of the university zoologist Verrill for fundamental systematic work on the invertebrate animals of the north- east coast, which work, though now necessarily obsolete, has remained a standard. Verrill was followed by a veritable host of university men engaged for essential systematic work on the fauna of the fresh and salt waters of the country and its outlying possessions, and by a similar host who dealt with almost every other phase of aquatic zoology. I need not extol or discuss their work. I will merely recall to you, as some of those university zoologists whose labors in behalf of the bu- reau have been fruitful, Gilbert, Jordan and [N. 8S. Von. L. No. 1279 Snyder in systematic ichthyology ; Bigelow, Forbes, Hargitt, Holmes, Linton, J. P. Moore, Osburn, Sidney Smith and Wheeler in syste- matic invertebrate zoology; Birge, Bumpus, Dean, Grave, Greene, C. J. Herrick, F. H. Herrick, Kellogg, Kofoid, Lefevre; Mast, Mead, Parker, Pearse, Peck, Reighard, Ryder, Tower and Ward in anatomy, physiology, em- bryology, ecology and life history. This list is not by any means complete. As for the future relations of the bureau with universities—and this is the important matter before us—we ask for a continuation of the existing cooperative spirit and, further, we hope that, as far as practicable, the uni- versity zoologists may adapt some of their own researches to subjects of directly useful ap lication and, whenever possible, let crea- tures of obvious economic importance receive more attention in the regular laboratory courses. The universities will not fail to ap- preciate the great need, especially in the im-. mediate future, for affording every possible aid to the material as well as the intellectual welfare of the country. The noble response of the universities to the country’s call to service in the great crisis through which we have been passing—when hundreds of mem- bers of the faculties placed at the disposal of the government their technical and profes- sional skill and knowledge for practical use in every branch of public activity—has made a deep and lasting impress on the nation and has had a particularly happy influence for government bureaus engaged in scientific work, and, at the same time, should not fail to produce a sympathetic attitude among uni- versity men toward laboratories established and maintained at public expense for the conduct of scientific work with a practical object or application. There should result a more general recognition of the fact that gov- ernment scientific bureaus whose function is public service should properly concern them- selves chiefly with the applications of science to public welfare, and should devote their energies to pure science only in so far as may be necessary to launch successful enterprises in applied science. Juby 4, 1919] Without having had an opportunity to con- fer with university men on this special sub- ject, I venture to offer some views and sug- gestions regarding a proposed cooperative arrangement between the zoological labora- tories of the universities and the scientific bureaus of the government. The universities can perform an invaluable service to the government by keeping in touch with the progress and demands of the applica- tions of science in operations of the bureaus. The government can render a useful service to the universities by keeping them informed of zoological problems with which the bureaus are confronted and of subjects in which the researches of pure science would be of ,value. The results of university research that are of significant value to the government shqyld be promptly communicated to the respective bureaus. To render the proposed cooperation effective, there should be some kind of organization in which the universities and the government are _ adequately represented, to the end that the needs of the government are fully made known and the possibility of the universities’ filling those needs is fully canvassed. There might be maintained a catalogue or register of zoological students and instructors in the universities, with their peculiar quali- fications and their special subjects of study, and a statement of the conditions under which they might accept government employment, and a catalog of current and proposed govern- mental zoological investigations, with an ac- count of their objects, scope, duration, needed personnel, ete. The definite aims to be met would be to locate men for permanent or temporary serv- ice in government bureaus and to encourage the pursuit of promising investigations. It not infrequently happens that the government has need for men of peculiar qualifications and fitness for special zoological work, and the usual method of advertisement fails to reach or appeal to available men well fitted for that work. A central organization or com- mittee could locate such men and bring to their attention the government’s needs. SCIENCE 3 It sometimes occurs that in the course of investigations in the commercial or technical aspects of zoology, lack of scientific data may impede or prevent progress, so that work must be suspended until the required data are ob- tained. At the same time it may, and prob- ably not infrequently does, happen that ad- vanced zoological students are in position to take up investigations where the subject is not of so much consequence as the training in research. In such cases the government bureaus may supply problems that will afford excellent research training to the students, give promise of definite results for publica- tion, inspire students with the feeling that they are contributing to the general welfare, and at the same time expedite work under- taken by the government. One of the real hindrances to the proper development of the fishery service is the diffi- culty in securing assistants who, with such a knowledge of zoology as is imparted in a uni- versity course, are willing to enter the lower grades, work their way upward, and make this subject their life work or at least give it serious thought for a reasonable time. In aquatic biology, in aquiculture, in the various branches of technology as applied to water products, there is an inviting field in which there is ample opportunity for interesting and important original investigation. A drawback hitherto has been the compara- tively low compensation paid. There are, however, certain perquisites that must be taken into consideration, and there is reason to hope that Congress will soon make a read- justment of salaries. Pending the time when various schools of fishery may be established at the universities on a par with schools of forestry, the universities can render a distinct service to the Bureau of Fisheries (and to the fishery departments of the various state gov- ernments) by making an effort to direct the attention of students and graduates to the inducements and attractions afforded by the government fishery work, and perhaps to adapt parts of zoological courses and the research work of graduate students to practical prob- lems associated with the country’s aquatic re- 4 SCIENCE sources. It can not impair, but may enhanee, the value of zoological study or scientific re- search to have it deal with subjects that may have a direct practical value in commerce, industry, legislation or administration. In the readjustment of national and inter- national relations growing out of the Great War, the aquatic resources of the world are certain to assume a more prominent place than ever before. It appears to me that for Americans one of the real compensations of the war is going to be an increased apprecia- tion of and dependence on aquatic foods, many of them hitherto neglected or spurned because of our ignorance, prejudice or wasteful habits. This new attitude, evidence of which already exists, if properly encouraged and directed, can become an important factor in our na- tional life. Among the questions that arise are: How can our matchless water resources best be adapted to the country’s and the world’s needs? How shall they be most ade- quately utilized and at the same time pre- served from dissipation, or, in other words, what steps should be taken by the federal government, in cooperation with the state gov- ernments, to secure maximum production con- sistent with an unimpaired source of supply? The Bureau of Fisheries. will need all pos- sible outside assistance in meeting increased duties and responsibilities that have already begun to devolve upon it; and there will be a greater necessity than ever before arose to invoke the cooperation of practical zoologists in the elucidation of problems connected with the administration of the fisheries and the conduct of fishery and aquicultural enter- prises. Knowing as I do the limitations that are necessarily imposed on the make-up of our permanent scientific staff, it seems to me to be incontrovertible that our ability to measure up to the situation and meet the needs of the coming years will depend in large part on our success in enlisting for personal service and sympathetic counsel the trained minds in the university zoological laboratories or the trained students sent therefrom. H. M. Sire BUREAU OF FISHERIES, WASHINGTON, D. C. [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1279 THE most cordial relations have always ex- isted between the zoologists of the country and the Bureau of Fisheries. When the bu- reau was established, its work was placed in charge of one who was recognized as a sci- entific authority and who commanded the sup- port of investigators in zoology because of his scientific standing. The same recognition is accorded to the present head of the Bureau of Fisheries and to his able corps of assistants. The characteristic feature of these relations, however, has been the individuality of the situation. Recognition has been given the in- dividual leader by the individual investigator and that cooperation in the activities of the bureau, which has been referred to so cordially by Dr. Smith, has resulted from individual initiative, for the teacher or investigator has responded to the personal requests of the sci- entific leaders in the bureau. Now, admirable as these relations have been in many ways, I do not look upon the cooperation as the most effective which can be secured, for it has not been animated and directed by the institutions of the country which concern themselves with the training of investigators and with the encouragement of research. So far as I know there have been no fixed and formal relations in the past between the government bureau and the public or private colleges and universities. The results which have come from individual initiative are so conspicuously satisfactory, however, that one may confidently look forward to much greater benefits, if more extended and definite rela- tions can be established between the Bureau of Fisheries and the educational research in- stitutions of the country. The next question is naturally the direction, scope and character of such relations as are likely to yield greater results. The paper of Dr. Smith has justly empha- sized the need for greater work on the prob- lems of aquatic resources and their utilization for human welfare. No comment is needed to demonstrate the social significance of the pres- ent high prices of food and of the heavy draft on the world’s reserve of food stuffs in con- sequence of the war. To counteract the reduc- tion in food supplies and the increased prices i Juuy 4, 1919] of food articles no movement offers greater hope than that which draws into the realm of human consumption new foods and thereby lessens the demand on old supplies while at the same time it offers for the dietary of man a greater variety than was included before. This is precisely the work of the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. In various ways it con- tributes to the perpetuation and increase of the supply of well-known and _ long-utilized varieties of food fishes while at the same time it endeavors to find and utilize unknown or undervalued aquatic products. It has met with marked success in both lines of activity; but to make further progress, especially in the direction of discovering and utilizing new kinds of fish, and perhaps also of other aquatic organisms, research must come in to demon- strate the what and how in the situation. The universities of this nation are already many of them organized for research and others have made partial progress in the achievement of that organization so that they are able to do the research that is needed with less expenditure of money, time and energy than any other agency, especially in compar- ison with a new organization that must be built from the ground up. Furthermore, the universities have a multitude of young work- ers eager to find opportunities for a future career, and hence likely to be attentive to the appeals from this new field. To realize all the possibilities of this movement, therefore, there is need of more effective cooperation as well as more extended and more active effort. There are two real educational problems, or two real points of attack on the one great problem, which are outlined in the presenta- tion of Dr. Smith: (1) Technical training of young men for this work. This involves the introduction of courses of study which shall fit them to carry on the work demanded by the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries and by the corre- sponding state organizations. (2) Organiza- tion of science to permit the exchange of knowledge and formulation of plans, as well as to secure cooperation in solving the prob- lems. In spite of what has been said by others to- SCIENCE 5 day I feel sure that the future of research is bound to be different from its work in the past. In the past the dominant note in sci- entific work has been a high degree of individ- ualism; in the future I believe it will be a pronounced tendency towards correlation in the investigation of significant problems. When the U. S. government brought together chemists in Washington and set them to work on poison gases in warfare, this action broke down the ancient barrier supposed to exist between any control over individual activity and success in research. It assigned men a prescribed problem—and you all know how successfully this was met and solved. In- dividual action which has been so general in the past will, in my opinion, disappear grad- ually until men in scientific circles are work- ing not under restraint, but under some gen- eral direction in a joint attack on these prob- lems, the solution of which is of evident and most immediate value for the human race. Training Younger Men for Expert Work of Bureaus.—To furnish scientific training for attacking and solving the problems of exist- ence is a characteristic function of our uni- versities. These institutions have sought, in recent years at least, to keep in touch with ap- plied science, perhaps chiefly along individual lines; but no one of our universities is with- out some work in applied science, and the va- rious schools of agriculture, engineering and laboratory science have reached a development truly characteristic of those institutions. I+ is natural that a similar training should be provided for aquiculture. To be sure, there are certain limits to this as the demand in the field is small as compared with that in agri- culture and the number of men interested in pursuing such work is limited. Furthermore, the funds in the possession of institutions are limited and it is impossible to enter on the study of all problems. But even after all has been said and done, one must recognize a real demand upon the university to furnish help in this evident and increasing need. Let me emphasize at this point the fact that in the course of their growth universities must come naturally to the same sort of spe- 6 SCIENCE cialization that individuals have reached. It has been characteristic of the larger institu- tions rather generally in this country during the past that whenever any department or line of work was suggested by one institution, every other one has desired at once to introduce a similar department. Now, funds are and in future will be even more lacking for duplica- tion of new departments and our universities must face the problem of teaching subjects for which they are naturally adapted by their lo- cation and the funds at their command. It is very likely also that new topics which are taken up by any institution will have in many cases a genetic relation to the history and previous program of the institution as well as to its geographic location and natural ad- vantages. Other limiting and directing in- fluences will readily suggest themselves with- out further discussion of this point. But how- ever the matter is determined, there is sure to be in future university development a clear recognition of the fact that it is neither pos- sible nor desirable for each institution to cover all fields of developing knowledge. And this principle applies clearly to the special question under consideration. Courses in aquiculture must be established to train technical workers and those institu- tions should embark upon the work which are advantageously located to undertake it, all factors being considered. It is also important to note that such work may follow either one of two distinct lines. There will be courses of a general character to train the routine worker, and those of advanced character to train the research worker. There is evident need in both directions in order to prepare men for general purposes and also to carry on research and direct the work of the former group. The general training will naturally be given in special undergraduate courses, whereas the special work must be provided in courses for graduate students. I should like to emphasize here the necessity of having the specific cooperation of the Bu- reau of Fisheries in order to make this work successful in either phase. A certain amount of technical practise is inseparable from [N. S. Von. L. No. 1279 proper training in this field. It already ex- ists under the control of the bureau, and the proper type of organization will bring these two things together so that the student getting training along theoretical and laboratory lines will be able to secure practical work under the Bureau of Fisheries. This practical train- ing might well be given during the summer months. There are opportunities for this practise in connection with the operation of ege taking and other work of the fish hatchery and with the problems of fish foods to be worked out in the new laboratory of the bu- reau. There are opportunities of this sort at many points already controlled by the bureau, which might be very appropriately utilized for training men registered in these special courses. The bureau already provides in part for taking in college students, associating them with this work and giving them manual training in those processes essential for work in practical fisheries problems. May I point out one feature known to the bureau which has proved thus far difficult to handle well and which is conspicuous to the outsider as a weakness in the present organi- zation. The helpers drawn into this summer work are often only casually interested in the problem or concerned merely in getting a pleasant summer vacation. They are not men who are so directly interested in fish culture problems as to desire to make this summer training a part of their general education for service in fisheries work. If these summer positions could be filled first of all by men who are seeking to secure thorough training for work as fishery experts and hence directly interested in the problems of the fisheries, the students would be advantaged in their work and the training given would not be incidental but would form part of a general program that would ultimately serve to advance the work of the bureau and fisheries interests in general. Organization of Science.—I touch upon this theme with some hesitation. The National Research Council has given intensive study to the problem, and the opinions of an outsider are likely to be premature or to appear of little value in comparison with Dr. Merriam’s, Juuy 4, 1919] Some work has already been done to bring into closer touch the research worker and the bureau. Many of the men before me have enjoyed from time to time opportunities for carrying out investigations at various labora- tories and have gained immensely, not only in their own work but in the possibilities for training younger men to meet the needs of the service. There is a demand for a more defi- nitely organized program, one calculated to bring the university laboratory with its pure science and the bureau with its applied science into definite and intimate contact. Two lines of attack are possible: First, the end desired might be reached under the direction of the research council or some branch of it through discussion or corre- spondence. The gain would be very great. I merely suggest one of the evident disadvan- tages in such a plan. It throws a heavy bur- den of labor on some central committee. Its success depends upon the existence of a ma- chinery functioning actively enough to carry out all the processes of conveying the informa- tion and coordinating the plans. Further- more, it suffers the disadvantage of being at times subject to the difficulties due to imper- fect understanding. Men express themselves so differently that what is found on the written page is sometimes interpreted in a different way than was intended. This may be followed by a further waste of time spent in explanations. Extensive discussions in modern science have arisen from this very cause and the result is evident loss of energy. The second method, which looks more likely to be successful, is a plan for having a divi- sional board of ten, fifteen or twenty members, which should be representative of different parts of the country, different institutions, different lines of work, and different regions that come in contact with different phases of existence—a board to have meetings as a gen- eral body and able to have personal confer- ences with representatives of the Bureau of Fisheries. The advantages of personal con- tact seem to make this a more profitable line of attack than the other, though I am not blind to the difficulties in both suggestions, SCIENCE 7 Personal discussion brings up new points of view and yields keener analyses of any situ- ation; it provides, I believe, means for meet- ing difficulties more readily than methods of conference by letter. I want to indicate clearly, however, that if such a plan is to be tried this board must be directly subject to the Bureau of Fisheries. I am confident that the history of the past shows that no undesirable connotation can be attached to the words “subject to.” The bu- reau has responsibility for these problems given it by the people and should have the final authority in such an arrangement. It should have freedom to suggest where in its experience certain plans do not seem to be feasible. It would be possible for such a body to hold sectional or topical conferences for the dis- cussion of problems important in a particular region or for the solution by joint action of a question of serious import at a particular time. The membership of such conferences could be specifically determined with reference to the special need and the definite questions that demanded experimental investigation or laboratory study to be taken back to the uni- versities for research and report at some later date. Other advantages will evidently accrue from this association of technical experts and scientific investigators in a board which could outline a plan of active and direct procedure with a view to securing the necessary knowl- edge whether it was already in existence or had to be worked out by investigators properly equipped with library and laboratory facilities. Such a board would exert a powerful in- fluence outside of that which it might have in developing a program; it would possess power to push those lines of activity which are seen on analysis to be not only right but essential. Important items often appeal to men in legis- lative halls or to the general public as being quite unnecessary or even foolish. A board representing the public at large would give a weight to its views that could not be imparted to them in any other way. Of course, one has to consider also another aspect of the question. It is inevitable that 8 SCIENCE attempts be made from time to time to force the introduction of unwise policies and the modification of well-planned organization; these influences may emanate from political centers and sources that are unfortunate. At best such influences delay the progress of sci- entific investigation and the application of sci- entific methods, in this instance to the Bu- reau of Fisheries; at worst they destroy work built up by laborious efforts in the past. We must be awake to the need not only for build- ing an organization and for securing the best so that it can weather the shifting of political results but also for directing the organization parties and of public opinion in politics. Henry B. Warp MEDICINE, A DETERMINING FACTOR IN WAR? Tue death rate in our Civil War of killed and dying of wounds is given as thirty-three per thousand, the disease death rate as sixty- five. In the Spanish War the death rate from battle is five and the death rate from disease 30.4 per thousand. In the present war, taking the statistics up to March 28, 1919, we find the rate of death from wounds received in action is 14.191 and that of death from dis- ease is 14.797 per thousand. This includes the army on both sides of the ocean. The statistics of the American Expeditionary Forces, with an average strength of 975,716, reveal a rate of death from wounds in action of 31.256 per thousand and a death rate from disease of 11.233. Of those who died of dis- ease, pneumonia claimed 9.146 per thousand. Studying comparatively the diseases of the American armies during the Civil War, Span- ish-American War and the recent war, we find that malaria was one of the chief causes of disability in both the Civil War and the Span- ish-American War, though it caused but 6 per cent. of the deaths in the Civil War and but 10 per cent. in the Spanish-American War. But in the recent war malaria has caused such 1 From the presidential address of Dr. Alexander Lambert given at the Atlantic City Meeting of the American Medical Association and printed in the Journal of the association. [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1279 a small number of deaths that it is not given in detail, but is put into the aggregate term of “other diseases.” Typhoid fever, with typho- malaria, so called, was one of the chief causes of death from disease in both the Civil War and the Spanish-American War, causing 22.4 per cent. of the deaths of the Civil War, and being the one great uncontrolled epidemic of the Spanish-American War, causing in the fighting period of the latter war 60.5 per cent. of all deaths. But in the recent war only 0.4 per cent. of the deaths are chargeable to this scourge. Pneumonia, on the other hand, causing only 18 per cent. of the deaths during the four years of the Civil War and only 3 per cent. in five months of the Spanish-American War, has become the dreaded epidemic of the recent war, causing in the American army 85 per cent. of all deaths from disease. In the Civil War, meningitis caused 2 per cent. of the deaths, and 2 per cent. of the deaths in the Spanish-American War, and it caused 4 per cent. of the deaths in this war. Smallpox caused 4 per cent. of the deaths in the Civil War; in the Spanish-American War, one man died of this disease; in this war, one man died from smallpox in the United States and five in France. In 1918 and in the first months of 1919, there were 102 patients with smallpox admitted to the hospitals in the United States. These patients came into the various camps from civil life, for the disease developed among the recruits before they could be vac- cinated and thus protected, but it has not de- veloped at all among the vaccinated troops in the United States. Dysentery caused 28 per cent. of the deaths in the Civil War, and nearly 30 per cent. (29.3 per cent.) of the 5,600,000 cases of disease reported in that war. In the Spanish-American War it caused 5.6 per cent. of the deaths. But it caused only forty-one deaths out of 48,000 cases, or 0.08 per cent. of the deaths in the recent war. The transmission of yellow fever by mosqui- toes does not come into consideration in the recent war, though there were small epidemics of this disease in both the former wars, there being about 1,800 cases in the Civil War and about 1,100 in the Spanish-American War. There is one achievement by the Medical Juuy 4, 1919] Department of the United States Army after the Civil War which stands as a lasting monu- ment to the industry and genius of the sur- geons of that time; it is the “ Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebel- lion.” This was the first great medical his- tory ever published of any war, and remains still the standard to be attained. - As a result of the scientific medical work during and after the Spanish-American War, the investigations of three American army surgeons, Jesse Lazear, James Carroll and Walter Reed, gave to the world the solution of the problem of the transmission of yellow fever by mosquitoes. With this knowledge, came simultaneously the power to control this dread disease, which for centuries had been the scourge of the West Indies, and had time and again spread in devastating epidemics to this country and even to southern Europe. Lazear and Carroll laid down their lives to gain this knowledge, and paid the ultimate sacrifice in order that thousands, through their work, might be protected and live. The sanitary control of mosquitoes, and thus of tropical malaria and yellow fever, and the wise administration of this knowledge, made possible the building of the Panama Canal. Tt was an American army surgeon, William C. Gorgas, who seized this great opportunity and transformed a pesthole of tropical diseases into a healthy and safe terrain, that the engi- neering genius of the United States Army might be free to construct the canal. The French under De Lesseps had failed because of the epidemic and tropical diseases which were at that time uncontrollable. Disease had defied and overcome engineering skill and genius. Preventive medicine controlled and conquered. Ten years ago the practical application of the knowledge gained from the study of the epidemie of typhoid fever of the Spanish- American War brought about the compulsory inoculation against typhoid in the United States Army. It had been shown by the Vaughan and Shakespeare Board that nearly 65 per cent. of the typhoid fever of that war was transmitted by contact of man with man, SCIENCE 9 and was not water borne. Hence sanitation could only reduce typhoid to a certain level and not eradicate it. The introduction of compulsory typhoid inoculation in the army has practically eradicated the disease. Fol- lowing the work of the English medical corps in the Boer War, a United States Army sur- geon, F. F. Russell, made possible the prac- tical application of this method in the U. S. Army and proved conclusively that typhoid fever could be completely controlled. The American Army Medical Corps has, in the recent war, discovered the transmissibility of trench fever by body lice, and thus has shown the means of prevention of this new disease which, while killing no one, rendered thou- sands of men useless for weeks and ineffective for fighting. This discovery came to save thousands of men for the fighting lines at a time when they were urgently needed. Medical science has to-day, therefore, within its grasp the power to control the diseases which, in former times, decimated warring armies and spread out from these armies among the non-combatant populations. For- merly, when war broke out, it was almost in- evitably followed by some dread pestilence among the civil populations of the countries in which the war was waged. By proper sani- tation and preventive inoculation, dysentery and cholera can be abolished; by vaccination armies can be protected against smallpox. Body lice disseminate typhus, recurrent fever, and trench fever, and by proper disinfection of these vermin these diseases cease to occur. Through sanitation and preventive inocula- tion, typhoid fever, the scourge of the two previous wars, is absolutely controlled, and this includes also paratyphoid, which has been recognized as a separate entity only since the Spanish-American War. In the Spanish- American War, 60.5 per cent. of all deaths were caused by typhoid, and in the present war 85 per cent. were caused by pneumonia. The typhoid of the Spanish-American War was due to local causes and local epidemics. The pneumonia of this war was beyond con- trol, and was part of a world-wide epidemic that swept over both hemispheres, and the morbidity and mortality of some of the cities 10 SCIENCE of this country exceeded those of the camps. Subtracting the death rate caused by pneu- monia from the total death rate by disease in the recent war we have 2.2 per thousand for the entire army on both sides of the water, which is practically a peace-time death rate. Meningitis has caused, in this war, ten times as many deaths as typhoid fever; pneumonia has caused two hundred times as many. Mumps and scarlet fever, of the infectious diseases of the young men, remain as yet to be controlled, but they are not of great import in the armies in war. The disabling type of disease coming under the head of venereal disease has, in this war, been so controlled that the number of cases brought from civil life was greater than the number occurring in the American Expeditionary Forces in France, which was reduced to twenty-two per thousand per year, a rate only one eighth as high as the incidence among recruits coming from civil life, and only one third as high as the best that ever had been accomplished in the army before. Influenza, measles and pneumonia, in the respiratory group, still stand as baffling prob- lems, and their control has not been accom- plished. Measles appeared and spread until it no longer had material on which to spread, as one attack confers immunity to a second. Pneumonia, following influenza or originating as a primary disease, still eludes control. But the knowledge which we have gained in this war of the methods of its spread, of the various infectious organisms which produce it, and their various types and varying virulence, of its occurrence as a secondary complication to measles and influenza, has enormously in- creased. The value of the facts thus learned are incalculable, and belief is justified that the problem is better understood than ever before, and that we soon shall see the solution of these problems. The oceurrence in the camps of meningitis, another disease of the respiratory group, as far as its portal of infection is concerned, has been forty-five times as frequent in the army as its occurrence in civil life among the same age group. ‘This has been due to overcrowd- ing and the diminution of air space allowed [N. 8. Von. L. No. 1279 the individual soldier in badly ventilated bar- racks. The responsibility for these sanitary sins rests on the General Staff and not on the Medical Corps. What then are the lessons that we can draw for future action? ‘There is no question but that the salvage of human beings, the pro- tection of troops from disease in an army, re- news and saves the fighting forces. Until recently, until medical science could control disease during war time, armies had been more decimated and injured by disease than through battle casualties. Now that, except for epidemic spread of respiratory diseases, the communicable and epidemic spreading diseases can practically be controlled, the medical corps of an army has become an es- sential part of the fighting organization. Whole nations must now go to war. No longer can they mobilize a selected portion of volunteers and send them to fight the war and defend the nation. Since all the youth of the nation must mobilize and turn to war, it becomes the duty of a general staff to save its man power and to salvage it to the greatest extent possible. The history of the Crimean War, of our Spanish-American War, and our experience in the recent war have clearly shown that only through proper representa- tion on the general staff by those men trained in such salvage, and by experts in such knowl- edge of sanitation, can this duty be per- formed. When the General Staff of the United States Army comes to realize this fully, one can not conceive that it will fail to give proper representation in its councils and organization to the Medical Department. The practical necessity for this was finally recog- nized in the A. E. F. by General Pershing and three medical officers were detailed at General Headquarters as substantive members of the General Staff. Responsibility and au- thority can not be separated, and only by such organization can adequate authority equal the inevitable responsibilities. In the mobilization of the industrial forces of the nation by the Council of National De- fense, the health of the nation and the pro- tection of both nation and its armies was regarded of such importance that it demanded Juuy 4, 1919] direct representation of the medical profes- sion on this board. This is also true of the navy, for its Medical Department is repre- sented on the General Board. Oddly enough, the anachronism still exists that in the Gen- eral Staff of the United States Army the Med- ical Department is regarded as an outsider. The safeguarding of the health and fighting vigor of an army, the salvage of its wounded, the saving of man power through protection from disease are still regarded as foreign to staff organization. The medical and sanitary formations are still regarded as non-combat- ants, although those serving with the troops often go forward and mingle with them in the combats, that the morale of the men may be better sustained. Duty demands it, and they have shown themselves willing, in this war, to be unarmed combatants, not non-combatants. The ratio of the medical officers killed and dy- ing of wounds has been exceeded only by that of the infantry and artillery, which branches necessarily bear the brunt of the battles. The pro rata death rate of the medical officers has exceeded that of aviators and of engineers. This subject is a matter for congressional action, but the profession of this country, while the experiences of this war are still vivid in its mind, must turn to the Congress, must make an intelligent exposition of these facts, and must bring about, by legal enact- ment, an adequate representation of the Med- ical Department on the General Staff of the army. I desire to draw but one more deduction from the medical lessons of this great war, and that in reality is the climax toward which everything points. That is, if this nation, through its present medical knowledge, has within its grasp the power to control com- municable, and hence preventable, diseases, there must be established a nation-wide con- trolling organization for this purpose a Na- tional Department of Health. Over 33 per cent. of our younger men were disqualified from the draft for physical defects. There is need of wider supervision of our growing boys and girls to build up a more robust na- tion, and it is especially urgent in rural dis- tricts. If we are to have some form of uni- SCIENCE 11 versal military service, the very necessity of its universality demands some general super- vision of the health of the youth of the na- tion, through protection against the trans- missible diseases, and direction over the giv- ing of health to the people as we now give education. This war has taught that there remains economic value in the maimed and wounded, and it is our duty to develop this value to its fullest extent. The maiming and injury of our workers, in the every-day work of industry, far exceeds each year the battle easualties of this war, and there is an eco- nomic necessity and duty to be performed in the salvage and reconstruction of the indus- trially injured. Malaria still prevents the use of large areas of our southern states, and saps the energy of a large portion of the population. Typhoid fever still rests as a blot on the rural hygiene of this country. The control of epidemics be- tween states is already in the hands of the Public Health Service, and within states, if state authorities request aid. Quarantine from outside infection is also under federal control. There are many other federal activi- ties partially supervising health and disease through the various departments of the fed- eral government. But it all lacks the efficient power of central correlation, and there remain many public health activities that should be undertaken by central action, from some of the problems of infant mortality to the prob- lems of the increase of degenerative diseases of late middle life. It is the duty of the American Medical Association, and of each member of each state association, to urge on Congress the establishment of a National De- partment of Health. WALTER GOULD DAVIS TuHE meteorological service of the Argentine Republic will be the enduring monument of Walter Gould Davis, whose death on April 30, at his old homestead in Danville, Vt., removed one of the world’s best-known and most highly respected meteorologists. As a young man Mr, Dayis went to Argen- tina to serve as assistant to Dr. Benjamin 12 SCIENCE Apthorp Gould, who founded the Astronomical Observatory at Cordoba, and, in 1872, estab- lished the Argentine Meteorological Service, which was installed in the Astronomical Ob- servatory, the two organizations being inde- pendent of one another, although under the same director. Dr. Gould continued in charge of this service until towards the end of 1884, when he left Argentina, and in 1885, Mr. Davis succeeded him as director, continuing in that position until his retirement in May, 1915, after thirty years of active work. Under Mr. Davis’s able leadership, the Argentine Meteorological Service attained a position in the very front rank of government meteorolog- ical organizations. When he resigned his post, to secure well-deserved rest and to seek to re- gain his health in his own country, the Argen- tine service extended over an area of nearly 8,000 miles in a north- and south-line, its southernmost station being in the South Ork- ney Islands, in latitude 60° 43’ south. Over 2,000 stations were then cooperating in the work of taking meteorological and magnetic observations. The morning and evening ob- servations from nearly 200 stations were be- ing used in the construction of the daily weather map, in addition to the daily rainfall records from about 1,350 rainfall stations. The development of meteorological work under Mr. Davis was rapid and many-sided. In 1885, the year in which he became director, the Meteorological Office (Oficina Meteorolog- ica Argentina) was made a separate organiza- tion, and its headquarters were moved from the Astronomical Observatory to a larger and better building, especially built for the pur- pose, the grounds immediately adjoining. In 1901 the central office was moved to Buenos Aires, where the telegraphic and other facili- ties for the preparation of a daily weather map, publication of which was begun on Feb- ruary 21,1902, were much greater than at Cor- doba. A hydrometric section was established in 1902; a magnetic section and a forecasting service in 1904; a rainfall service in 1912, and a system of weekly, or longer forecasts in 1915. The section of climatic statistics has continued to have its headquarters at Cordoba, where it collects and compiles climatological [N. 8S. Vou. L. No. 1279 data, maintains a first-class observatory, and is carrying on researches in agricultural meteorology. Mr. Davis was a tremendously keen, active and progressive director. He was not only an unusually efficient executive officer, but he was also a man of wide learning and of a great variety of interests. Both as director, and as a man, he had the respect and loyal devotion of all his associates and employees. He was always well abreast of the times, and often was a pioneer in keeping ahead of the times. Not content with covering the mainland of his great district with meteorological stations, he extended his service into the Antarctic province to the south. An illustration of his desire to have the organization under his con- trol contribute in every possible way to the advancement of meteorological knowledge was his acquirement, in 1904, of the meteorological and magnetic station at Laurie Island, in the South Orkneys, which had originally been established by the Scottish Antarctic Expedi- tion. Since 1904, this remote southern sta- tion has been operated, without a break in its records, as a part of the Argentine Meteor- ological Service. The personnel of this lonely outpost is relieved only once each year, when supplies are sent for the coming twelve months. The men are then completely isolated, without (at last accounts) any mail or cable communication, until the relief vessel returns the following year. Under these conditions of extreme loneliness and hardship, the ob- servers at Laurie Island have maintained their observations for fifteen years. This is a re- markable record of scientific work of the greatest importance in the study of world meteorology. In his Laurie Island station Mr. Davis always took great pride, and well he might do so. Fully alive to all the needs of his service, Mr. Davis called to help him in his scientific work the best meteorologists whom he could find. From this country, he secured Professor F. H. Bigelow, formerly of the Weather Bu- reau, who has had charge of the magnetic work in Argentina since September, 1915; Mr, H. H. Clayton, formerly of Blue Hill Observatory, and since 1913 chief of the De- Juny 4, 1919] partment of Forecasts in Buenos Aires; Mr. L. G. Schultz, chief of the magnetic section until 1915 and others. Mr. George O. Wiggin, the present director of the Argentine Meteor- ological Office, is also a native of the United. States. The high quality of Mr. Davis’s work was fully appreciated by his meteorological col- leagues everywhere. His reputation as a me- teorologist and as the successful administra- tive head of a large and remarkably efficient organization won for him a position on the International Meteorological Committee, the highest international authority on meteorol- ogy. This was a well-deserved recognition of the importance of his contributions to me- teorology, and of his sound judgment on sci- entific matters. The many publications of the Argentine Meteorological Service which were issued under Mr. Davis’s direction constitute an in- spiring record of splendid work, well planned, thoroughly organized, and ably carried out. For comparatively few countries are there available such excellent meteorological and climatological publications, some of them in English, as the Argentine Meteorological Service has sent out. By the death of Walter Gould Davis the world has lost one of its most eminent meteor- ologists, and those of his colleagues who had the privilege of knowing him have lost a warm-hearted, sympathetic and helpful friend. Rosert DeC. Warp HARVARD UNIVERSITY, May 31, 1919 SCIENTIFIC EVENTS THE VOLCANIC ERUPTION IN JAVA OrFicIaL advices received by the State De- partment report that the recent eruption of the Klot (or Kalut) voleano in Java cost 40,- 000 native lives, destroyed 20,000 acres of crops, principally rice, by its flow of hot mud, and did millions of dollars’ damage by the falling ashes in regions outside the devastated districts. The National Geographic Society has issued from its Washington headquarters the following bulletin: SCIENCE 13 _ Voleano-made in the first place, and constantly being remade by them, Java has more voleanoes than any area of its size in the world. Estimates of the active and extinct craters range from 100 to 150. Everywhere in Java, in the huge crater lakes, in fissures that now are river beds, even in ancient temples, half-finished when interrupted by some fiery convulsion, are evidences of cataclysmic forces—such turbulent forces as now are in con- tinuous hysteria in the Valley of the Ten Thousand Smokes in Alaska and break their crusted surface cage intermittently in Java. The ‘‘treacherous Klot,’’ as the natives call it, all but wiped out the town of Britar, but even its devastation, as reported to the State Department, was mild compared to the violent upheaval of Krakatoa in 1883. Then mother nature turned anarchist and planted a Gargantuan infernal ma- chine on the doorstep of Java. Krakatoa is a little island in the Sunda Strait, between Sumatra and Java. Australians, as far from the explosions as New York is from El] Paso, heard the terrific detonation, more than half the island was blotted out, parts of it were flung aloft four times as high as the world’s highest mountain, and to touch bot- tom below the water’s surface, where most of the island has been, henceforth required a plumb line twice as long as the height of the Washington Monument. Skyseraper waves flooded adjacent is- lands and rolled half way around the earth. Every human ear drum heard, though it may not have registered, the air waves as they vibrated three or four times around the earth. Krakatoa levied a smaller toll in human life than Klot because of its isolation, and many of the 35,- 000 deaths from Krakatoa’s eruption were at far distant points by drowning. An eruption anywhere on the island means dis- aster. For Java, about equal in area to New York state, supports a population greater than the com- bined populations of the empire state and the four other most populous states in the Union—Pennsyl- vania, Illinois, Ohio and Texas. EXPEDITION FROM THE CALIFORNIA MUSEUM OF VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY TO ALASKA THE museum of vertebrate zoology of the University of California has again under- taken field work in Alaska, and a party to work in that region left the Museum on May 14, to be gone until October 1. The route for the present season is to lie in southeastern Alaska in the vicinity of Wrangell. It will 14 follow up the Stikine River from the sea east- wardly into the interior to the vicinity of Telegraph Oreek, British Columbia. The pur- pose of the work will be to gather specimens and all sorts of natural history information concerning the mammals and birds of the section traversed, particularly in order to learn how the fauna of the relatively arid in- terior differs from that of the humid coast belt, as also what happens where the two faunas meet. Several seasons of work in the same general region have brought together large collections from adjacent sections and these have already been reported upon fully in a series of papers published from the University of California Press; so that the new material will be gathered and interpreted upon a more advan- tageous basis than would otherwise be possible. The present year’s field work is in charge of Mr, H. S. Swarth, curator of birds in the museum, and he will be assisted by Mr. Joseph Dixon, economic mammalogist, as also by a local trapper and hunter. This opportunity of the museum of verte- brate zoology to resume its field work in south- eastern Alaska is due to the special interest of Miss Annie M. Alexander, who is providing the means whereby the work can be carried on there. This is in accordance with the general plan adopted by Miss Alexander some years ago, namely, to contribute to a more complete knowledge of the vertebrate fauna of the Pacific coast of North America. As heretofore, all of the field notes, photo- graphs and specimens, which latter include study skins, skeletons and skulls of mammals and birds, become at once the property of the University of California. INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERING STANDARD- IZATION The Electrical World states that Professor Comfort A. Adams, of Harvard University, president of the American Institute of Elec- trical Engineers, has returned from the trip which he made to England and France with H. M. Hobart, of the General Electric Com- pany in the interest of standardization. Mr. Hobart remained abroad and is doing work SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1279 of the same character as that in which he and Professor Adams were engaged. Mr. Hobart will probably return about the middle of July. Professor Adams and Mr. Hobart crossed the Atlantic to adjust certain differences be- tween the American and French rules with regard to the rating of electrical machinery which had arisen during the war, when a meeting of the International Electrotechnical Commission was not possible. As a result of the conferences held abroad an arrangement was made satisfactory to all concerned, and certain changes from the previous Interna- tional Electrochemical Commission rules will therefore be recommended at the next regular meeting of that commission. This meeting will probably be held in London during the latter part of October in this year. Another commission of Professor Adams and Mr. Hobart was on behalf of the Amer- ican Engineering Standards Committee in order to establish relations with corresponding committees in other countries. In France the corresponding organization is called a Permanent Commission on Standardization and is appointed by the Minister of Com- merce. In Holland the organization is known as the Normalization Bureau. In England it is the Engineering Standards Association and was organized originally by the five national engineering societies. It has government afiil- jations and regularly does the standardization work of the government in certain important fields. In Switzerland a similar organization is contemplated, but it has not yet been per- fected. The organizations of Holland and France are of comparatively recent origin, as is the American Engineering Standards Com- mittee. The British association has been in operation about eighteen years and is doing an enormous amount of very important work, having secured the confidence of the govern- ment and many organizations (including those in the railway and shipbuilding fields) not directly represented on the main com- mittee. For example, the aireraft section alone of the Engineering Standards Associa- tion has about fifty subcommittees. As a result of the conference held by the Juuy 4, 1919] American delegates with the representatives of the organizations of other countries, very cordial relations were established with those associations. The resulting cooperation should prove of immense value to international com- merce, as well as effect a reduction in cost of production in many fields. RESOLUTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FEDERA- TION OF LABOR ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH WuerEAS, scientific research and the tech- nical application of results of research form a fundamental basis upon which the develop- ment of our industries, manufacturing, agri- culture, mining, and others must rest; and Wuereas, the productivity of industry is greatly increased by the technical application of the results of scientific research in phys- ics, chemistry, biology and geology, in engi- neering and agriculture, and in the related sciences; and the health and well-being not only of the workers but of the whole popula- tion as well, are dependent upon advances in medicine and sanitation; so that the value of scientific advancement to the welfare of the nation is many times greater than the cost of the necessary research; and Wuereas, the increased productivity of in- dustry resuliing from scientific research is a most potent factor in the ever-increasing struggle of the workers to raise their stand- ards of living, and the importance of this fac- tor must steadily increase since there is a limit beyond which the average standard of living of the whole population can not pro- gress by the usual methods of readjustment, which limit can only be raised by research and the utilization of the results of research in industry; and Wuereas, there are numerous important and pressing problems of administration and regulation now faced by federal, state and local governments, the wise solution of which depends upon scientific and technical research; and Whereas, the war has brought home to all the nations engaged in it the overwhelming importance of science and technology to na- tional welfare; whether in war or in peace, and not only is private initiative attempting SCIENCE 15 to organize far-reaching research in these fields on a national scale, but in several coun- tries governmental participation and support of such undertakings are already active; there- fore be it Resolved, by the American Federation of Labor in convention assembled, that a broad program of scientific and technical research is of major importance to the national welfare and should be fostered in every way by the federal government, and that the activities of the government itself in such research should be adequately and generously supported in order that the work may be greatly strength- ened and extended; and the Secretary of the Federation is instructed to transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the president pro tempore of the Senate, and to the speaker of the House of Representatives. NATIONAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS Tue National Research Council announces further appointments to national research fellowships in physics and chemistry. Pre- viously six appointments were announced— three in chemistry and three in physics. The object of the National Research Council in maintaining a system of research fellowships is to promote fundamental research in physics and chemistry primarily in educational insti- tutions in the United States. Fellowships are awarded to persons who have demonstrated a high order of ability in research for the pur- pose of enabling them to conduct investiga-. tions at educational institutions which make adequate provisions for research in physics and chemistry. The new appointments are as follows: In Chemistry Warren C. Vosburgh, of New York City. B.S. Union, 714; A.M., 716; Ph.D., Columbia, 19. Research assistant to the professor of chemistry at Columbia University for the past six months. George Scatchard, of New York City. A.B. Amherst 713; Ph.D., Columbia, 717. Formerly research assistant to the professor of chem- istry at Columbia University and instructor 16 SCIENCE in organic chemistry; first lieutenant, Sani- tary Corps, U. S. A. In Physics Ernest F. Barker, of London, Canada. B.S. Rochester, 708; M.A., Michigan, 713; Ph.D., 15. Professor of physics Western Univer- sity, London, Canada, since 1915. Albert Edward Caswell, of Eugene, Oregon. A.B. Stanford, 08; Ph.D., 711. Professor of physics, University of Oregon, since 1917. The members and acting members of the research fellowship board are as follows: Wilder D. Bancroft, Henry A. Bumstead, Simon Flexner, George E. Hale, Elmer P. Kohler, A. C. Leuschner, Robert A. Millikan. Arthur A. Noyes, E. W. Washburn. SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS Dr. Grorce Evtery Hats, director of the Mount Wilson Observatory and foreign secre- tary of the National Academy of Sciences, who has been for the last ten years a correspondent of the Paris Academy of Sciences, has been elected a foreign associate, taking the place of Adolph von Baeyer, declared vacant by the academy. The foreign associates are limited to twelve, and the distinction has been held by only two Americans—Simon Newcomb and Alexander Agassiz. The National Research Council, upon the presentation and acceptance of Dr. Hale’s resignation as its chairman and the election of Dr. James R. Angell as his suc- cessor, “created and bestowed in perpetuity upon Dr. Hale the title of honorary chairman in recognition of his services to the National Research Council and to science and research by indefatigable efforts that have contributed so largely to the organization of science for the assistance of the government during the war, and the augmentation of the resources of the United States through the newly intensive cul- tivation of research in the reconstruction and peace periods that follow.” A DISTINGUISHED service medal has been awarded to Colonel William H. Walker, Chem- ical Warfare Service, U. S. A., for exception- ally meritorious and conspicuous service. [N. 8. Vou. L. No. 1279 “ His extraordinary technical ability, untiring industry and great zeal have enabled remark- able results to be achieved in the production division of the Chemical Warfare Service in the face of many obstacles encountered.” Colonel Walker has been discharged from the Army and has returned to his home in Bridgton, Maine. Tue University of California has conferred its doctorate of laws on President Ray Lyman Wilbur and Professor Vernon Charles Kellogg, of Stanford University. Tue degree of doctor of science has been conferred by Dartmouth College on Dr. Ray- mond Pearl, of the Johns Hopkins University. For scientific exhibits at the Atlantic City meeting of the American Medical Association the gold medal was awarded to Dr. H. S. Warthin and the silver medal to Dr. Hideyo Noguchi. Dr. R. F. Rurran, of McGill University, Montreal, president of the Royal Society of Canada, has been deputed to represent Canada at the International Research Council which meets in Brussels on July 18. He will also attend the Inter-allied Federation of Chemists to be held in London as the representative of the chemists of Canada. Dr B. E. Fernow, dean of the faculty of forestry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, since its inauguration in 1907, re- tired at the close of the session just concluded. He has been appointed professor emeritus. Dr. C. D. Howe, a member of the faculty has been appointed acting dean. Prorressor I. Baytry Batrour has been awarded the Linnean gold medal of the Lin- nean Society, London. At the seventy-first general meeting of the Institution of Mining Engineers held in Lon- don on June 19, medals were presented to Dr. Auguste Rateau, of France and M. Victor Watteyne, of Belgium. Dr. Joun Dewey has been invited by the Chinese government to assist in the reorgani- zation of its educational system and has for this purpose received a second year’s leave of absence from Columbia University. Juuy 4, 1919] Leave of absence has been given by the University of California to W. C. Bray, pro- fessor of chemistry, who will become one of the three directors of research in the new ni- trate division laboratory of the government. Caprain W. E. CarroLu, who has been in the Sanitary Corps of the Army in France, has been honorably discharged and will resume his duties as head of the department of animal husbandry at the Utah Agricultural College and Experiment Station. Proressor L. M. Winsor, who has been in South America as consulting engineer on an irrigation project, has returned to Utah where he will resume his irrigation investigations with the Utah Agricultural Experiment Sta- tion and the U. S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. B. R. Mackay will be in charge of a party sent out by the U. S. Geological Survey to make explorations in British Columbia. Dr. E. W. Gupcer, of the North Carolina College for Women, Greensboro, N. C., is spending a year’s leave of absence at the American Museum of Natural History of New York City, where he is associated with Professor Bashford Dean in editing the third and index volume of the Bibliography of Fishes. Letters and separates may be ad- dressed to him at the museum. Dr. Maurice L. Dott, professor of organic chemistry at the North Dakota Agricultural College, has resigned to accept a position a3 research chemist with the American Cotton Oil Company. THE Committee on Scientific Research of the Journal of the American Medical Association has made an appropriation for the prepara- tion of a critical summary of the epidemiology and bacteriology of the influenza pandemic. The work has heen placed in charge of Pro- fessor Edwin O. Jordan, of the University of Chicago. It is requested that reprints of ar- ticles and statistical records on influenza be forwarded to Professor Jordan as soon as pub- lished. Dr. M. Curtis FaraBeE, who was ethnog- rapher to the American Commission to Nego- SCIENCE 17 tiate Peace and went to Paris with President Wilson’s party, has returned to the University of Pennsylvania. While in Paris he was made a corresponding member of the Paris Anthro- pological Society and of the Association for the Teaching of Anthropological Sciences. Dr. Recrnatp A. Daty, professor of geology at Harvard University, will go to Samoa this summer under the auspices of the Carnegie Institution of Washington to study the vol- eanic formations and coral reefs of the Samoan Islands. Masor Victor CLareNcE VauGHan, Jr., on duty with the American Expeditionary Forces was accidentally drowned in France, on June 10. Major Vaughan, who was born in Ann Arbor, in 1879, was associate professor of pre- ventive medicine and assistant professor of medicine in the Detroit College of Medicine and Surgery, and the author of valuable con- tributions to pathology .and bacteriology. ADDITIONAL information regarding the obser- vations made by Dr. Bauer’s party at Cape Palmas, Liberia, during the total solar eclipse of May 28-29, states that the magnetic effect observed in previous eclipses has been con- firmed. The inner corona was very bright, and marked outer corona extensions south south- east and north northwest were observed. No shadow bands were seen. TueE Selous collection of big-game trophies has been presented to the Natural History Mu- seum, London, by Mrs. Selous, is said by Na- ture to be the finest ever brought together as the product of one man’s gun. It consists of some five hundred specimens shot by the late Captain F. ©. Selous, D.S.O., during a period of nearly forty years, some of the trophies dating from his earliest days as a hunter. The greater part of the collection is African, but there are many specimens from Canada, Newfoundland, the southern Carpathians and Asia Minor. Mrs. Selous has also presented to the Natural History Museum the superb col- lection of European birds’ eggs, every clutch in which was collected by Captain Selous, and is labelled most carefully, with exact date and locality. The specimens will in due course be 18 SCLENCE removed from Worplesdon to South Kensing- ton, and kept together as the “ Selous collec- tion” for a period of years. Tus establishment of a new Jardin des Plantes is proposed for France in the park of Versailles between the Trianon (villas of Louis XIV. and XV) and the Forest of Marly. The new garden of about fifteen hundred acres will be, to a large extent, supplemental to the old Jardin des Plantes in Paris, the further expansions of which has been shut off by the growth of the city. A CONFERENCE devoted to the consideration of problems of reconstruction in relation to pub- lic health was held in London from June 25, to June 28. The subjects considered were under the following heads: (1) The Work of the Ministry of Health; (2) The Prevention and Arrest of Venereal Disease; (3) Housing in Relation to National Health; (4) Maternity and Child Welfare, and (5) The Tuberculosis Problem under After:War Conditions. _ Miss Enizapetu C. WHITE is offering $50 apiece for wild blueberry bushes bearing ber- ries as large as a cent. She has already se- cured two such plants from New Jersey. Be- sides propagating from these bushes for her own blueberry plantation she will furnish cut- tings of them to Mr. Frederick V. Coville, of the United States Department of Agriculture, for use in his blueberry breeding experiments. Details of the offer can be had from Miss White, whose postoffice address is New Lisbon, New Jersey.. Tur University of California, in cooperation with the U. S. Bureau of Soils, has started work on the soil survey of the Big and Little Shasta Valleys in Siskiyou County. KE. B. Watson, of the Bureau of Soils, is in charge of the work and is assisted by Professor Alfred Smith, of the university. The survey will cover about 450 square miles and when com- pleted will be published with a map showing the location of each of the soils that occur in the region and a report in which each of these soils will be fully described. The report will also contain a discussion of the agricultural [N. 8. Von. L. No. 1279 conditions of the region and of the crops that can be grown on the soils. Tue British government proposes to expend during the next five years about £2,000,000 on agricultural research and agricultural educa- tion. Substantial scholarships will be -offered to men who have distinguished themselves in the natural sciences at the universities, and a certain number will be selected for employ- ment in universities and other institutions. Nature says that research is already carried on at Cambridge, Rothamsted, Bristol and Reading; but whereas at present there are probably not more than forty men in England and Wales engaged on pure research in agri- cultural science, it is hoped that during the mext decade or so the number may be raised to about 150. Another feature will be the en- couragement of higher agricultural education in colleges by means of grants and in other ways. There are about a dozen agricultural colleges in England and Wales, and it is hoped to bring the farmer into more sympathetic touch with them by the creation of more demonstration farms and of a keener sense of the general value of science in agriculture. UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL NEWS Aw unnamed donor has provided the funds for a new chemistry building for Cornell Uni- versity, to take the place of Morse Hall, which was destroyed by fire several years ago. The sum promised is said to be about $1,000,000. By the will of the late Professor William G. Farlow his books, papers, manuscripts etc., are left to Harvard University, to be known as the Farlow Reference Library. The sum of $25,000 is left in trust for his assistant, Arthur B. Seymour, who will enjoy the in- come during his life. On his death the in- come will be added to a gift of $100,000 pre- viously made to Harvard, which is known as the John §. Farlow Memorial Fund. Pro- fessor Farlow further provides that on the death of his wife $100,000 be given to Har- vard and added to the John S. Farlow Memo- rial Fund. Juuy 4, 1919] Tur Peking Union Medical College, Peking, China, which has been built under the direc- tion of the Rockefeller Foundation, will be open for the instruction of students in Oc- tober, 1919. The school will be coeducational. There is also a premedical school offering a three years’ course which was opened in 1917. Dr. Henry Krarmer has been appointed dean of the college of pharmacy of the Uni- versity of Michigan. C. E. Nrewron, acting dean of the school of mines at the Oregon Agricultural College since the resignation of Dean E. K. Soper several weeks ago, has been made dean of the school. He was graduated from Michigan School of Mines in 1916, and was assistant professor of engineering at the University of Washington for several years before going to the Oregon College in 1917 as associate pro- fessor of metallurgy. Dr. Sumner OC. Brooks, of the department of tropical medicine of Harvard University, has been appointed associate professor of physiology and bio-chemistry at Bryn Mawr College. Av the University of Virginia Dr. Graham Edgar, who was associate professor of chem- istry from 1910 to 1917, has been made pro- fessor of chemistry. He received the B.S. degree from the University of Kentucky and the Ph.D. degree from Yale University. John H. Yoe has been made adjunct professor of chemistry. He holds the degree of bachelor of science from Vanderbilt University and that of master of science from Princeton Uni- versity. He will receive his doctor’s degree this year at Princeton. Masor A. J. Atumanp has been appointed to the chair of chemistry at King’s College, University of London. Prior to his engage- ment in war work he was demonstrator in physical chemistry at the University of Liver- pool. Coronet J. G. Apamt, Strathcona professor of pathology and bacteriology in McGill Uni- versity since 1892, has accepted the vice-chan- cellorship of the University of Liverpool. SCIENCE 19 DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE METCALF AND BELL UPON SALPID# Proressor T. D, A. Cockerell has called my attention to three errors in my? recent dis- cussion of the taxonomy of the Salpide. He writes: There are a few points which seem to need elucidation or correction, and I venture to present them for your consideration. 1. Apsteinia was used by Schmeil in Crustacea in 1895. 2. Brooksia is uncomfortably like Brookesia Gray 1864 (Reptilia), but the difference of a let- ter saves it in my opinion. 3. Ritteria was used by Kramer in Arachnida in 1877. 4, You call the above subgena but treat them as genera, using binomials. This is inconsistent: you surely should get down one side of the fence. 5. You make Salpa fusiformis the type of Salpa, but this can not be, as Forskal named maxima in 1775, and although he recorded fusiformts without name, Cuvier in 1804 described it as a species. It surely is necessary to consider maxima the type of Salpa. 1. For Apsteinia substitute Ihlea, after J. E. W. Ihle, a most accurate student of the Salpidz, who has worked upon most of the species of this subgenus. 9. The fact that two zoologists had similar names, Brooks and Brookes, should hardly pre- vent naming genera or subgenera after each, especially when the names so given do not resemble each other in pronunciation. 3. For Ritteria substitute Ritteriella, Dr. Cockerell’s suggestion with which I concur. 4. I do not see objection to using the sub- generic name in binomial reference in a paper which deals cnly with one genus. Such usage aids brevity and is not in danger of being misunderstood. 5. The reference to Salpa fusiformis as the typus instead of Salpa maxima is clearly an error, and I do not understand how it crept into my manuscript, for in the synonymy 1‘‘The Salpide, A Taxonomic Study,’’ U. 8. National Museum Bulletin, 100, Vol. 2, Part 2. 2The paper was written by me and the errors are mine, not Miss Bell’s. 20 paragraphs under the two species J] show maxima named in 1775 and fustformis in 1804. I wish very cordially to thank Professor Cockerell for his kindness in calling these errors to my attention and giving me the op- portunity to correct them. Dr. Ellis L. Michael questions a statement in the same paper (page 139) in which I say: “The solitary individuals (of Thalia demo- cratica) lie at a considerable depth during winter, spring and early summer, coming to the surface with the aggregated zooids in the fall.” He writes that the records of the Scripps Institution show “the almost com- plete restriction of both generations to the months of June and July. I have gone through our list of deep water collections again, and find that the statement made in my (published) report to the effect that, when all depths are considered, the species is still almost entirely restricted to the months of June and July, stands as given.” My statement quoted above was somewhat inaccurate. Salpa (Thalia) democratica has been found at the surface every month in the year, but in North Atlantic waters it is most abundant at the surface from July to Septem- ber. When not at the surface the animals must be in deeper water. A more accurate statement than the one quoted would be that both solitary and aggregated forms of Salpa (Thalia) democratica are less frequent at the surface during the colder months, becoming more abundant as summer advances, and be- ing most abundant in the late summer and early fall. The conditions off the California coast seem a bit exceptional, the time of maximum frequency of this species at the sur- face of the ocean being about a month earlier than in North Atlantic waters, and the species being less frequent in the winter, spring and fall than in many regions. Dr. Michael’s re- port of its abundance in June and July and its scarcity at other times, reminds one of Agassiz’s reference to the sudden appearance of this species off the New England coast and its equally sudden disappearance.’ In few, if 3‘“Three Cruises of the Blake,’’ Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Howard Univ., Vol. 14, 1888, p. 190. SCIENCE LN. 8. Vou. L. No. 1279 any, other localities have so full records of distribution of pelagic organisms been made, as off La Jolla, and it may be that similar complete records for this species for other localities would show somewhat closer agree- ment with the records of the Scripps Insti- tution, Maynarp M. Mercaur THE ORCHARD LABORATORY, OBERLIN, OHIO, June 12, 1919 “WORKING UP” IN A SWING A CHILD sitting or standing in a swing can “work up” until he is swinging through a considerable distance. How is it possible for him, without touching his feet to the ground, to increase the extent of his swinging? As I do not recall ever seeing any discussion of this matter, the following note may not be out of place. What the child does appears to be this: Near the end of an excursion he shifts his position so that he is on the whole farther from the axis of rotation [limb of tree, or other support], and when he is near the middle of his path he brings himself back again to- ward the axis. Now a shift of matter either away from the axis of rotation or toward it changes the moment of inertia about that axis, and therefore tends to change the an- gular velocity. In fact, unless a large torque is acting, a sudden shift must necessarily change the angular velocity. If the shift is made at a time when the angular velocity is small the change in angular velocity is small, but if the shift is made at a time when the an- gular velocity is large the change in the an- gular velocity may be considerable. Thus by moving toward the axis when near the middle of his path the child increases his velocity, whereas by moving away when near the end of the path he produces little change in his velocity. This action may be imitated by a pendulum. Instead of keeping the length of the pendulum constant, the upper end of the suspending cord is passed over a hook and is held by a hand. The pendulum is set swinging with a small Juuy 4, 1919] amplitude. When near one end of the path the length of the pendulum is increased, and when near the middle of the path the length is decreased. In the course of a few swings the amplitude can be very greatly increased. The process can also be reversed and the mo- tion of the pendulum very quickly damped. The increase in the energy of the pendulum as its amplitude increases comes from the work done in lifting the bob when near the middle of its path. This is because a given change in the length of the pendulum involves a greater vertical displacement when the pen- dulum is nearly vertical than when it is much inclined to the vertical. ArtTHuR TaBER JONES Smire CoLuEGcE, A QUICK METHOD OF ELIMINATING SEED- BORNE ORGANISMS OF GRAIN THe seed-borne diseases of grain have proved difficult to definitely eliminate from the seed. In connection with studies of hot formaldehyde as a fungicide for potato dis- eases it was tried for wheat scab. It was soon apparent that holding the grain in a formalde- hyde solution at 50° C. as for potato scab was ineffective in killing the fungus or de- structive to the viability of the seed. In order to overcome these difficulties the grain was suspended just above the formaldehyde solu- tion one part in 240 parts of water and the temperature was raised to 98 to 99° C. and the time of exposure shortened to twenty seconds. Under these conditions all fungi in or on the seed were killed and in the majority of cases the bacteria were also eliminated. This momentary treatment did not injure the germinating capacity of the seed. The fungus flora of wheat seeds were destroyed in twenty seconds while the germinating capacity of the grain was not injured in forty seconds and only slightly at fifty. It is believed this method can be made practical for the control of seab and other seed borne diseases of grain. I. E. Metuus, L. L. Ruopes Iowa EXPERIMENT STATION, Ames, Iowa SCIENCE 21 SCIENTIFIC BOOKS The Grand Fleet, 1914-1916: Its Creation, Development and Work. By Admiral Vis- count JELLICOE of Scapa. New York, Geo. H. Doran Co. 1919. One hardly expects a critical review of a book of this character except in military jour- nals. Yet, this book is a plain, unvarnished narrative of the meeting in battle of the two great fleets of Great Britain and Germany. Jutland was the culmination of a struggle for supremacy on the seas and back of that for world domination. It was essentially a try- out of scientific methods of annihilation as developed and adopted by the two leading na- tions of the world. The book might well carry as a sub-title “Science in Naval War- fare up to 1916.” And therefore brief com- ment upon the scientific methods of the op- ponents is not out of place here, for we all know now that professional military and naval men have to lean and lean heavily upon non- official scientific men. The battle of Jutland as described in this book reminds one of a Homeric conflict, for just when some great captain had closed with his antagonist, the watching gods, disguised as mists, fogs and poor visibility intervened and separated the fighters. Much as we would like to compliment the British, the palm for preparation and scientific attainment must go to the Germans. The British had more ships and more guns; but the Germans had better range finders, better telescopic sights, better mine fields, better torpedoes, better subma- rines and more of them, better overhead ob- servation facilities and a Zeppelin or two. The Grand Fleet (British) appears to have made use of a single seaplane which flew very low, yet whose observations as Vice Admiral Beatty says, were “ of distinet value.” The German battleships were of greater dis- placement than contemporary British ships and carried a greater weight of armor. Nine of the British dreadnaughts had protection to the main deck only, while all of the German dreadnaughts had side armor to the upper deck. The Germans had a delay action fuse 22 which, combined with a highly efficient armor- piercing projectile, insured a bursting of the shell inside instead of outside the protecting armor. They also had decided advantages in under-water protection of their capital ships, and so when one of their ships was mined or torpedoed, it did not necessarily sink, while the British ships when thus hit, rarely sur- vived. The Germans had star-shells, unknown at that time to the British. They could locate the British destroyers at night without reveal- ing their own position. The German search- lights were more powerful and their control more effective. Lights and guns could be brought to bear upon a sighted vessel with a minimum of delay. They had also a better system of director firing of the secondary armaments. How then did the Grand Fleet manage to do as well as it did? Probably because officers and men possessed enduring courage and that fine spirit of determination to take any odds and do their duty. We believe that our own Navy has much of the same spirit. It is not to be supposed that the German High Command did not know of the inferior scientific equipment of the Grand Fleet. They were fully aware of the departmental methods and official inertia that can operate so effect- ively to bar progress and arrest development. Admiral Jellicoe places no blame for this fail- ure to keep the Grand Fleet properly equipped, yet his manifest apprehension when relieved of command of the Fleet to accept promotion as First Lord of the Admiralty indicates the probable seat of the trouble. In the book there are constant references to weather interference with naval operations. It is invariably offered as justification for change of course or failure to complete some projected mevement. One wonders if it ever occurred to the High Lords of the Admiralty that a decisive conflict would take place some day between the fleets in the North Sea, and that the issue might hang upon the weather, as indeed it did? And was there a compre- hensive study of the aerography of that ocean available? There was not. The highest me- teorological authority in Great Britain in- SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1279 formed the writer, that “the English left the study of the weather of the North Sea to the Germans.” In the memorandum issued to the fleet after the Jutland battle it is stated that “weather conditions of a highly unfavorable’ nature robbed the Fleet of that complete victory which was expected by all ranks .. .” and King George visiting the fleet on June 15, said to the captains, “ Unfavorable weather conditions and approaching darkness pre- vented that complete result which you all ex- pected; but you did all that was possible in the circumstances. .. .” It is an open question whether the weather prevented a victory. Fog and mist may have helped the British, for certainly the punishment inflicted by the German battle- ships, when visibility permitted, was severe. In connection with the weather conditions there is one interesting little sidelight on Lord Kitchener’s death. A northeast gale prevailed at Scapa Flow, on June 5 when K.K. on his way to Archangel visited the Grand Fleet. It had been intended that the ship carrying him and his escort should depart up the east- ern side of the Orkneys; but in conference, owing to the gale, it was decided that the Hampshire should take the west or lee side. By the time the ship was outside, the center of the storm had passed and the wind had backed to the northwest. So there was no lee on the west side of the Orkneys and when the accident occurred the sea was so high that no help could be rendered. In brief a faulty fore- cast of the weather sent England’s great cap- tain and those with him to their doom. On p. 380 it is stated that “gunfire and under-water explosions were heard at intervals during the night and curiously enough the under-water explosions, four or five in number, were quite clearly recorded on a barograph in the Malaya, a ship well placed for the pur- pose as she was in the rear. There is little doubt that these records showed the explosion of our torpedoes against enemy ships.” The natural question is, what kind of a barograph was it, and did any of the other barographs, assuming there were some, show similar Juuy 4, 1919] records? Evidently there was no attempt at sound ranging. The typographical work on the book is ex- cellent except that the photographs, charts and diagrams are poorly lettered and not up to the rest of the book. A. M. SPECIAL ARTICLES VARIATIONS IN THE ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL OF THE EARTH AT a meeting of the Academy of Science of St. Louis, held on March 17, the writer pre- sented diagrams representing variations in gravitational attraction between the masses of the Cavendish apparatus in the second story of the physics building at Washington Uni- versity. This apparatus is composed of a shield in which the smaller masses are suspended on a bi-filar suspension of silk fibers. The top, bot- tom and ends of this shield are of wood, coy- ered within and without with tin-foil. The sides are of sheet metal, clamped to the wood frame by bars of wood and the joints sealed with wax. The wood clamps are covered by tin-foil. The whole is then surrounded by two end caps of metal which meet at the middle of the shield and are sealed together with tin-foil. The position of the suspended masses is deter- mined by a telescope and scale in the usual manner. The mirror is observed through a narrow slit in the two metal screens which surround the suspended masses, and which is closed by a strip of glass sealed to the inner sheet of metal. The suspended masses are elec- trically charged by means of a wire armed with a pin which is thrust through a glass tube which is passed through a small opening in the end of the shield. When connected with the electrical machine in an adjoining room the air within the shield and the sus- pended masses were charged. This operation was made to come about gradually by having a gap armed with pins in the line leading to the machine. In some cases the suspended masses would swing into contact with the metal sheets forming the sides of the screen. It was arranged that they should be deflected towards the large masses. It was found that SCLENCE 23 on withdrawing the glass tube and pin and closing the opening in the screen with tin-foil, the small masses could be liberated with an initial velocity approaching zero, by connecting the large masses and screen directly with the machine terminal, eliminating all gaps in the line. The impression thus created was that gravitational attraction was thus diminished until the torsional effect of the bi-filar suspen- sion could detach the small masses from the screen, to which they were held by an elec- trical attraction. After the suspended masses had come to. rest in the center of the screen, which was usually on the following day, the large masses were directly connected with a large copper rod on the outer wall of the building, which served as lightning protection for the building. This rod was the ground connection for a steel tower on the roof of the building, which formerly was part of a system for wireless telegraphy. The top of this tower is 100 feet above the ground. This tower and the earth replaced the electrical machine, in the electrification of the large masses. On clear days when there was practically no wind, the gravitational attraction of the large masses for the suspended masses has some- times been diminished, until it has apparently become a repulsion. All artificial heat was cut off from the room, so that its temperature increased during the day not more than two or three degrees centigrade. The temperature of the air in contact with the large masses was under constant observation, the recording be- ing made by means of a telescope. The tem- perature could be read accurately to tenths of a degree Centigrade, and hundredths of a de- gree could be estimated with fair precision. When the masses were not in connection with the lightning rod, the rise in temperature during the day caused a very slow increase in the reading which determined the position of the suspended masses. This change was due to convection currents within the shield sur- rounding those masses. These convection effects have been very carefully examined. They are distinctly ap- preciable when the temperature of the room 24 increases by two degrees in six or seven hours. They are very marked when a door opening into the hallway is opened for four or five minutes, allowing warmer air to enter the room. The entrance door used when this work is being done is in an adjoining room. When a window is raised for a few minutes, allowing colder air to enter, a sudden decrease in the scale reading results. The convection effect increases as the rate of change of temperature increases. _ When the suspended masses have been posi- tively charged, and the large masses have been connected with the lightning rod marked ef- fects have been observed on clear days when there was little or no wind. Sometimes the effect was to eliminate convection effects. In all cases there was an apparent decrease in gravitational attraction. The maximum de- crease was usually in the afternoon at about three or four o’clock. The decrease varied from twenty-five to near two hundred per cent. In other words, gravitational attraction was apparently converted into a repulsion. These results seem to indicate that there is a daily variation in the electrical potential of the earth. The atmosphere, ionized by solar radiation, acts inductively upon that part of the earth which is exposed to sunlight. Light- ning flashes from cloud to cloud or from clouds to earth furnish abundant evidence that there are also local variations in the potential of the earth. There is no reason why we should not continue to assume the potential of the earth to be’ zero, as we assume the level of the ocean to be zero in altitude, but there is evidence that there is a condition of matter such that its electrical potential may be defined as zero ab- solute. It is the condition or potential of two masses having a like potential due to charges upon them when their gravitational attraction for each other is a maximum. It seems very probable that the free ter- minal of a machine having the other terminal grounded in a pond of water, may be at times, nearer to a potential zero absolute, than the grounded terminal, when the machine is in active operation. This would fully account for different results obtained when the electrical SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1279 machine is used in the electrification of the large masses. These results appear to furn- ish a complete explanation of the phenomenon known as St. Elmo’s fire. Francis E. NIPHER WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY THE BUFFALO MEETING OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SO- CIETY. IV DIVISION OF PHYSICAL AND INORGANIC CHEMISTRY W. E. Henderson, Chairman W. A. Patrick, Secretary Action of perchloric acid on metals and non- metals: H. H. WiLLArD and A. H. HUISKEN. Perchloric acid as an oxidizing agent in the de- termination of chromium and vanadium: H. H. Wintard and W. EH. Cake. Perchloric acid as a dehydrating agent in the determinination of silica: H. H. WILLARD and W. E. CAKE. The arrangement of electrons in atoms and molecules: Irvine LaNnemuir. Starting from Rutherford’s and Lewis’ theory and from chem- ical data, a theory of atomic and molecular struc- ture is developed in which the electrons are sym- metrically arranged about the nucleus in concen- trie shells. From some simple postulates the broad features of the physical and chemical prop- erties of all the elements (including eighth group and rare earths) are derived. There follows a new and rational theory of valency called the octet theory, identical with the ordinary theory for or- ganie compounds and for inorganic compounds giving Werne’s theory as a special case. The theory also explains the magnetic properties of the elements. Preferential catalysis and the purification of hydrogen: H. S. Taytor. New measurements on the direct synthesis of ammonia (lantern): L. H. ADAMS. Application of the thermionic amplifier to con- ductivity measurements (lantern): L. H. ADAMS and R. E. HALL. Electrometric titrations, with special reference to the determination of ferrous and ferric iron (lantern): J. C. Hosrerrrr and H. S. Ropzrts. Conditions are given under which very small, as well as large, amounts of ferrous and ferric iron can be readily determined. Ferrous iron is titrated directly with potassium dichromate (0.002 N to 0.10 N) following the change in potential against Juuy 4, 1919] a calomel electrode; ferric iron is reduced with stannous chloride after which the excess of the reducing agent and the ferrous iron are titrated together, the curve of potential against quantity of dichromate showing two points of inflection be- tween which is the amount of dichromate corre- sponding to the iron. Small amounts of ferrous iron ean be determined directly in ferric salts and similarly ferric iron directly in ferrous salts: other applications of the method are given. The effect of strain on solubility (lantern): J. C. Hostetter. It is possible that fluctuating tem- perature and, perhaps, some indirect effects brought about by pressure may account for the solidifica- tion of crystals compressed in contact with their solution by loosely fitting pistons—as found by James Thomson, Le Chatelier and Spring—with- out the necessity of postulating large increases in solubility due to non-uniform pressure. In pre- liminary experiments, individual crystals were sub- jected to stress at constant temperature by direct loading, and the effect on the concentration of the surrounding solution studied, by measuring the electrical conductivity. No change in concentra- tion was found. The test was sufficiently sensi- tive to indicate that the effect of non-uniform pressure is much less than that produced by the same pressure acting uniformly. However, in another series of experiments in which an un- loaded erystal was placed alongside a loaded ery- stal, the former grew at the expense of the latter, showing that a very slight increase of solubility was produced by the stress. The method of load- ing the crystals has a large influence on the ef- fects found, thus indicating the importance of the stress distribution, The experiments of Becker and Day on the linear force of growing erystals are cited as indicating the stability of a erystal in its solution, even when subjected to pressure. In their experiments loaded crystals were found to lift the load during growth, al- though the pressures on the supporting edges of the crystals were finally of the order of magni- tude of the crushing strength of the crystal. The evidence so far obtained indicates that the effect of strain on solubility is a second order effect. A method of growing large perfect crystals from solution (lantern): Roy W. Moorzr. This method consists briefly of placing or hanging a small seed erystal or several of them in a nearly-saturated so- lution, cooling the solution until it is very slightly supersaturated, and maintaining a state of slight supersaturation by slowly cooling the solution, with the temperature regulated within very SCIENCE 25 narrow limits. Under these conditions, the seed erystals will build out to form perfectly devel- oped, clear erystals, and these will continue to grow clear and perfect as long as a state of slight supersaturation is maintained. By this method, erystals of Rochelle Salt have been produced that are three inches or more long and two inches thick, perfectly clear and with all surfaces and angles perfectly developed. This method should be ap- plicable to any substance which crystallizes from solution either in water or other solvents, pro- vided the solubility varies considerably with the temperature. Action of nitrogen and hydrogen mixture on steel at high pressure and temperature (lantern) : R. O. E. Davis. When subjected to an atmosphere of nitrogen and hydrogen at high pressure and temperature of 500° C. for some weeks carbon steel shows a marked change in physical characteristics; it is probable that a compound is formed between the iron and the gases. Comparative tests of palaw and rhotanium ware as substitutes for platinum laboratory utensils (lantern): L. J. Gurevich and E. Wicurers. A series of tests has been carried out at the bureau to determine the suitability of the palau and rho- tanium alloys as substitutes for platinum labora- tory ware. The tests were of two types, the aim being to determine the resistance of the materials to chemical reagents, and their behavior on heat- ing. These tests indicate that rhotanium ‘‘A’’ ware is superior to platinum ware both of high (2.4 per cent.) and low (0.6 per cent.) iridium content in respect to its resistance to loss on heat- ing. The losses on treatment with acid, after heating, are about equal. Grade ‘‘A’’ ware com- pares favorably with platinum in resistance to boiling hydrochlorie and hydrofluoric acids, to boiling 20 per cent. sodium hydroxide, and to fusion with sodium carbonate in a muffle, and with potassium pyrosulphate. It is superior to plati- num in resistance to the action of boiling sul- phurie acid, and inferior in its resistance towards boiling concentrated and dilute nitrie acids, boil- ing 10 per cent. ferric chloride solution, and for fusions with sodium hydroxide. The only objec- tion that may be raised to its use is the rather low melting point of the alloy, which makes it impossible to blast or strongly heat the ware with- out melting it. As far as resistance to loss in weight on heating to 1,200° C. is concerned, rho- tanium ‘‘C’’ and palau wares are about equal, if not slightly superior, to platinum ware containing 0.6 per cent. iridium. They are surely superior to 26 platinum ware containing 2.4 per cent. iridium. Palau and rhotanium ‘‘C’’ behave towards reag- ents in about the same way as rhotanium ‘‘A,’’ except that they are not suitable for potassium pyrosulphate fusions and are inferior to grade ‘¢A?? for sodium hydroxide fusions. The only striking distinction between rhotanium ‘‘C’’ and palau is the latter’s slight superiority in the case of the potassium pyrosulphate fusions. Palau and both grades of rhotanium may all be used to ad- vantage in the electrolysis of chemical solutions, but only as cathodes. As anodes the alloys are worthless. It is believed that in order that the above tests may indicate the true merit of the alloys, in- formation should be available as to the behavior of these wares in actual laboratory service. Unfor- tunately the authors have very little of such in- formation at their disposal, and suggest that any further available information of this nature, both favorable and unfavorable, be communicated to the Bureau of Standards. Hydrogen overvoltage; applications to reduc- tion, metal corrosion and deposition (lantern): D. A. MacInnes and A. W. ContierI. MacInnes and Adler have advanced a theory in which hydrogen overvoltage is related to the surface energy neces- sary to form the evolved bubbles. The theory re- quires that the overvoltage increase with a de- crease of the external pressure, and vice versa, a prediction verified in some unpublished work by Goodwin and Wilson. In this paper it is shown that, in acid solutions, reduction by metals is ac- celerated, corrosion of metals is decreased, and the electrolytic deposition of metals is made more efficient, by reducing the external pressure. The ternary system CaO-MgO-SiO, (lantern): JoHN B. Frrcuson and H. E. Merwin. A brief discussion of the experimental methods, followed by a general survey of the liquidus-solidus rela- tions. Several new compounds will be described; the solid solutions of different types which occur will be touched upon and the effect of solid solu- tions upon inyersion temperature will be men- tioned. The influence of chemical composition on the birefringence in strained glass (lantern) : ERSKINE D. Wittiamson. All glasses to be used for optical instruments must be tested for the presence of internal strains. The only convenient method of accomplishing this is to measure birefringence as observed between crossed nicols. It is therefore necessary to know how the observed birefringence for a given amount of strain depends upon the composition of the glass which is being used. Fig- SCIENCE [N. 8. Vou. L. No. 1279 ures are presented for the eight types of optical glass made by the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Com- pany during the war. The determination of oxygen by the copper-am- monia-ammonium chloride reagent: W. Li. BADGER. Fluidity and hydration (lantern): EvuGENE C. BINGHAM. , The preparation of cyanogen chloride: W. L. JENNINGS and W. B. Scorr. Nearly quantitative yields (98 per cent.) of cyanogen chloride may be obtained conveniently by passing chlorine into finely powdered sodium eyanide, containing 2 per cent. of water, suspended in carbon tetrachloride and kept cooled to —3° C. At the end of the operation the product is distilled off and by re- distillation over mercury is obtained pure. This method appears to be an improvement on the earlier methods in which mercuric cyanide was used as initial material, and on the later methods in which chlorine was passed into aqueous solu- tions of hydrocyanie acid or alkaline eyanides. Electrolytic preparation of permanganates: CHARLES HECKER. } A study of the constant-boiling mixture of hy- drochloric acid and water : MARION HOLLINGSWORTH. A holder for spools of iron wire for standardiza- tion: Marion HouuincswortH. The holder is made from sheet metal and carries the spool sup- ported in a stoppered bottle. The construction is such that the wire may be conveniently drawn out as desired without exposing that which is left to the corroding atmosphere of the laboratory. A new buret support: Marion HOLLINGSWORTH. This support is designed to carry a buret attached to a supply bottle. It has the advantage that the buret’s height may be varied without any of the graduations being obscured. CHarLes L. PARSONS, Secretary (Lo be concluded) SCIENCE A Weekly Journal devoted to the Advancement of Science, publishing the official notices and pro- ceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Published every Friday by THE SCIENCE PRESS LANCASTER, PA. GARRISON, N. Y. NEW YORK, N. Y. Entered in the post-effice at Lancaster, Pa., as second class matter SCIENCE New SERIES SmnGLE Copies, 15 Crs. Vou L, No. 1280 Fripay, JULY 11, 1919 ANNUAL Sey $5.06 Blakiston B oO t an y Publications GAGER—FUNDAMENTALS OF BOTANY By C. Stuart GAGER, Director of Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, New York. “Dr. Gager’s work should be in the hands of every teacher of botanical science, and by its broadness and balance is admirably adapted for use in schools where the one-sided teaching of botany is by necessity and common sense excluded.”’”—ScIENCE. 435 Illustrations, 640 Pages, Flexible Covers, Round Corners, $1.50. GAGER—LABORATORY GUIDE FOR GENERAL BOTANY. 2d EDITION By C. Stuart GAGER, Director of Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, New York. “This volume will not only acquaint the student with botanical facts but also teach him how to observe and record his observations.’-—AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. Second Edition. 206 pages. Cloth, $1.00. ROBSINS—BOTANY OF CROP PLANTS By WitrreD W. Rossins, Professor of Botany, Colorado Agricultural College. “The work of Dr. Robbins will be found of great value. . .. It is a most useful book and should stimulate botanists.”-—SCIENCE. 2093 Illustrations anda Glossary. 681 Pages. Cloth, $2.00. PALLADIN-LIVINGSTON—PLANT PHYSIOLOGY V. I. Patiapin, Professor in the University of Petrograd. Edited by Burton E. LivrncsTon, Ph.D., Professor of Plant Physiology and Director of Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University. “The book naturally brings to the front the work of Russian botanists and renders available some results which the barrier of language has hitherto kept almost unknown.’’—Nature, London. 173 Illustrations. 320 Pages. Cloth, $3.00. HARSHBERGER—TEXTBOOK OF MYCOLOGY AND PLANT PHYSIOLOGY By Jon W. HarsHBErGER, Ph.D., Professor of Botany, University of Pennsylvania. “ This is perhaps the only American book of its kind which treats of mycology in its true relation- ship to plant pathology. It is of special interest as it is written by a man who combines the knowl- edge and technic of the old and the young botanist.’’—ScIENCE. 271 Illustrations. 799 Pages. Cloth, $3.00. STEVENS—PLANT ANATOMY By Ws. C. STEvENs, M.S., Professor of Botany, University of Kansas. “A third edition of this well known book speaks well for the growing interest in the subject and also for the quality of the book. The author is a thoroughly good teacher which means a well organized book and clear presentation.’’—BOTANICAL GAZETTE. Third Edition. 155 Illustrations. 399 Pages. Cloth, $2.50. YOUNGKEN—PHARIMACEUTICAL BOTANY By Heser W. YouncKEN, Ph.G., A.M., M.S., Ph.D., Head of {the Department ot Botany and Pharmacy, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. Second Edition. 195 Illustrations. 386 Pages. Flexible Cloth, $2.00. P. BLAKISTON’S SON & CO. PUBLISHERS PHILADELPHIA SCIENCE— ADVERTISEMENTS The University of California Press Berkeley, California .2o0 Madison Avenue, New York SOON TO BE PUBLISHED Studies on the Adaptation of Man to High Altitudes agi By Edward Sigfrid Sundstroem Test and McLaughlin’s I. Effect of High Altitudes on Pulse, Body Temperature, Blood Pressure, Respiration QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS Rate, Output of Urine, and Loss of Energy inv Feces reyes =) sic en XO Those colleges where only limited II. are of High Altitudes on Protein Meta- time can be given to qualitative anal- Canes Ce Aen aed [nee lieu ret RM Tear ‘ i i ie) ysis, will find that this book fills their III. Effect of High Altitudes on the Iron Meta- R 5 i OLismM er eMales teyoiel Canaan ane iT herr O requirements very satisfactorily. IV. Effect of High Altitudes on the Carbon Di- From it students will gain a compre- oxide Content and on the Hydrogen Ion Con- hensive knowledge of the underlying centration of the Blood . -10 principles of the Ionic Theory and the Are Soils Mapped Under a Given Type Name by t the Bureau of Soils Method Closely Similar Mass Law. Laboratory experiments to One Another ? By RoBERT LARIMORE PEN- have been reduced to the minimum. DEELON Mehler Many eae REALE UU eo OO! The University of California Publications deal with various lines of scientific investigations: Agricultural Sciences, American Archaeology and Enthnology, Bot- any, Economics, Education, Entomology, Geography, GIN N AND COMPANY Geology, History, Pathology, Philology, Philosophy, 15 Ashburton Place Physiology, Psychology, and Zoology. Boston Massachusetts Complete Lists of Titles and Prices will be sent on Request Spencer Microscopes Nos. 44 and 64 Embody a side-fine adjustment (the critical mechan- ical part of any microscope) of superior type: I. Simplest—fewer parts—less to get out of order. II. 34 threads of the screw engaged as compared with the equivalent of but one in others. HI. It has a ‘lateral travel’’—an index to its posi- tion, relative to its limits. IV. It is fool-proof durable. It cannot be forced beyond its limits—steel stops prevent. These advantages are the result of our many years of pioneering in side-fine adjustment construction. Catalog sent on application SPENCER LENS COMPANY BUFFALO, N. Y. SPENCER | ~ U.S.A. SCIENCE Fropay, Jury 11, 1919 CONTENTS Methods of securing Better Cooperation be- tween Government and Laboratory Zoolo- gists in the Solution of Problems of General or National Importance: B. H. Ransom, PROFESSOR HERBERT OSBORN ............. 27 The Threatened Extinction of the Box Huckle- Ponca o 30 berry: Dr. FREDERICK V. CovILLE Vinal N. Edwards: Dr. Hermon C. Bumpus. 34 Scientific Events :— The Lister Institute; Science in Australia; Sigma Xi at Syracuse University; The Tropical Research Station of the New York Zoological Society in British Guiana ....... 35 Scientific Notes and News ................ 37 University and Educational News ......... 40 Discussion and Correspondence :— The Discovery of Calculus: PRroressor ArTHur 8, HatHaway. The Poor Diener: MB AER posit pany eer col aiate lore re eiaia ena CCN ENO uN 41 Scientific Books :— Recent Paleobotany in Great Britain: Pro- RBS SORA‘ CA SEWARD Ueeye iit annie i 28} Special Articles :— The Black Chaff of Wheat: Drs. Erwin F. Smiru, L. R. Jones and C. S. Reppy ...... 48 The Buffalo Meeting of the American Chemical Society: Dz. CHARLES L. PARSONS ........ 48 MSS. intended for publication and books, etc., intended for review shonid be semt to The Editor of Science, Garrison-on- Hudson, N. Y. aes ———————+ METHODS OF SECURING BETTER CO- OPERATION BETWEEN GOVERN- MENT AND LABORATORY ZOOL- OGISTS IN THE SOLUTION OF PROBLEMS OF GENERAL OR NATIONAL IMPORTANCE! Tue Zoological Division of the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agri- culture is particularly concerned with that branch of zoology commonly known as para- sitology. The Animal Husbandry Division of that Bureau has a special interest in genetics, but as this is a subject that is receiving a good deal of attention from university zool- ogists at the present time the opportunities for cooperation with respect to the zoological work of the Animal Husbandry Division are perhaps better than they are with respect to the work of the Zoological Division. In any case it is not my purpose to consider the ques- tion of cooperation on problems in the field of genetics and my remarks on this occasion are made with reference to the possibility of securing closer cooperation between universi- ties and the Department of Agriculture in research work in the field of parasitology. The work of the Zoological Division con- sists chiefly in the investigation of the para- sites of domestic animals and of those trans- 1A symposium before the American Society of Zoologists, held at Baltimore on December 26, 1918, Professor C. E. McClung presiding, included papers and discussions as follows: Representing the Bu- reau of Entomology, Dr. L. O. Howard. Discus- sion by J. G. Needham. Representing the Bureau of Fisheries, Dr. Hugh M. Smith. Discussion by Dr, H. B. Ward. Representing the Bureau of Animal Industry, Dr, B. H. Ransom. Discussion by Dr. Herbert Osborn. Representing the Bureau of Bio- logical Survey, Dr. E. W. Nelson. Discussion by Dr. R. K. Nabours. Relation of the Council of National Defense and the National Research Council to the Advancement of Research, Dr. John C. Merriam. 28 SCIENCE missible from domestic animals to man with the purpose of establishing methods for their control and eradication. The welfare of the live-stock industry, the public health, and other large national interests are dependent in no small measure upon the suppression of dis- eases caused by animal parasites as well as those of bacterial origin. The results of sci- entific research in the field of parasitology have in repeated instances supplied the knowl- edge necessary to bring about the eradication or control of disease. Many problems in this field remain to be solved. From a practical standpoint therefore parasitology is a highly important branch of zoology. It has, how- ever, not been popular among American zool- ogists and there are few universities in this country where graduate students have favor- able opportunities for acquiring the working knowledge essential for the practical parasitol- ogist. Parasitology of course is a very special branch of zoology and it is not to be ex- pected nor is it desirable that a large number of specialists should be trained for research in parasitology, but I believe that the present and future needs of the country are sufiicient to justify more attention to this subject by zoologists than has heretofore been given. The Zoological Division has always had difii- culty in securing the services of properly qual- ified men to carry on its work. The neglect of parasitology by zoologists is no doubt largely responsible for this condition. Low salaries and other objectionable features of government service, real and imagined, may have contributed to the difficulty of maintain- ing our scientific staff. University professors however, and especially subordinates to the heads of departments of universities have not fared better with respect to salary than men in corresponding positions in scientific branches of the government service, and the red tape and other troubles that worry gov- ernment scientists are no more disagreeable than some of the things endured by the scien- tific man in the university. In the face of the evident fact that para- sitology is a subject with which American zoologists have comparatively little to do at [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1280 present, what are the possibilities of coopera- tion between the universities and the Bureau of Animal Industry with respect first to the training of parasitologists for government service and second to research in university laboratories on problems of parasitology likely to yield results of direct or indirect value to the work of the Bureau of Animal Industry in the suppression of parasitic diseases ? Although extensive cooperation can scarcely be undertaken under existing conditions it should nevertheless be possible to bring the universities and the Bureau of Animal In- dustry into closer contact with resultant bene- fit to both. It is hardly worth while at pres- ent to speculate upon the extent to which cooperation between the two may be developed in the future as it will necessarily be depend- ent upon the course of development of the general policy of cooperation in scientific work between the universities and the government. ~ I shall therefore only venture a couple of sug- gestions as to what might be done imme- diately toward securing more effective cooper- ation than has existed in the past. These suggestions should be taken as suggestions only and not as the fixed policy of the Bureau and Department with which I am associated, although it may be stated that there is noth- ing particularly novel about them and I see no reason why they should be objectionable from a departmental standpoint. One plan that has occurred to me is essentially simple, namely, to give a limited number of graduate students specializing in parasitology the op- portunity of studying in the laboratory of the Zoological Division for a limited period of time in each case. Much could not be prom- ised in the way of personal instruction and such students therefore should have demon- strated their ability to work more or less independently. Ordinarily perhaps not more than one student at a time could be thus ac- commodated. It is likely that arrangements could be made for the payment of a salary in return for what service the individual was able to render the division during the time he spent in the laboratory, so that his laboratory experience need cost him nothing. A plan of JuLY 11, 1919] | this kind would naturally involve some trouble from the standpoint of administration of the work of the division, but I believe the fact that it would give the chief of the division an opportunity to become acquainted with stu- dents of parasitology who might later desire to enter the service and thus enable him to form an opinion as to their capabilities and suitability for the work would offset any in- conveniences resulting from their presence in the laboratory. The student himself would not only profit from what knowledge of para- sitology he was able to gain during his stay in the laboratory, but he would also be able to determine better than he might otherwise whether he would care later to take a position in the division. As to possibilities of cooperation between university departments of zoology and the Bureau of Animal Industry in research work on problems relating to parasitic diseases it would be quite feasible in some cases for the bureau within certain limits to assist finan- cially or otherwise in investigations likely to yield results of value to the live-stock industry of the country. The exact nature of cooper- ative arrangements which might be made in any instance would depend largely upon the special conditions of the individual case, and nothing would be gained by discussing plans of cooperation at this time. Without going into details I may therefore limit myself to an expression of the willingness of the bureau to cooperate with university zoolgists in in- vestigations in the field of parasitology in any way possible. My remarks have been very brief but if the suggestions I have offered are of any value more elaborate discussion can be left for other occasions, if they are not the brevity of their presentation is not to be regretted. In any case I am very glad to have had this opportunity of speaking a word for practical zoology, of expressing the belief that it de- serves more attention from the zoological pro- fession in this country than it has hitherto received, and of pointing out certain ways by which it may be possible to bring about better SCIENCE — 29 cooperation between the universities and the government in zoological research. B. H. Ransom BurEAU or ANIMAL INDUSTRY Dr. Ransom’s paper suggests several topics for discussion and is certainly opportune. It is probably true that the subject of para- sitology has been neglected in large measure in our colleges and universities but I can hardly agree that it is due to lack of interesting phases of the subject. No doubt tapeworms are less attractive than birds or butterflies, but when we take into account their remarkable adapta- tions and the complex adjustments involved in their alternations of host they offer most fas- cinating points for biologic study, and to this may be added their economic interest. In my own experience I have usually found that stu- dents respond very promptly to discussion of these aspects of parasitic biology. As to the dearth of workers there is some- thing to be said in the matter of demand. In my own experience I have often had students who became interested in the subject but the great majority of our university students have to meet the practical problem of entering on work that will bring them a living income and it has usually been the case that when this feature was met the man would find more at- tractive openings in teaching or research in other lines. i As to practical lines of cooperation I think Dr. Ransom has made a suggestion that is practicable and quite feasible. Advanced stu- dents and especially graduates working on theses or dissertations might very profitably be assigned for a specified time to work in the bureau laboratories or for field work, perhaps utilizing their summer vacations as is done in geology or entomology with perhaps joint supervision of bureau and university depart- ment so that there may be opportunity for university credits. Courses in parasitology have been offered in a number of institutions especially in recent years but I am not posted as to the extent of enrollment. However, any figures for recent years would be of little value as showing drift to these courses. I believe some of the men 30 with this training have found place in govern- ment service along lines related to their spe- cialty but how many I could not say. Teachers may very profitably emphasize the features of parasitism that afford examples of biologic adaptation and in medical and agri- cultural applications and this should serve to aid in the application of the bureau results. I believe a very useful aid in this work would be for the bureau to furnish to the laboratories, willing to cooperate, a condensed manual for the more essential technique in the preparation of material for study and keys for identifica- tion of species most commonly met with in laboratory work. The laboratory guides of Braun & Liihe: Stitts; and Herms, and Pratt’s indispensable “Manual of Invertebrates” are of course avail- able and are no doubt very generally used but they are more likely to fit into special or ad- vanced courses and a simple hand-book, in mimeograph form if desired, available for use in some of the more general courses would, I believe, help to stimulate interest. Possibly an outline of a course in parasitol- ogy arranged by a conference between repre- sentatives of bureau and university teachers might help especially if such outline indicated what special problems could be worked to ad- vantage in any particular locality. Also the employment of advanced students in the rou- tine duty of collecting or preparing material for bureau use might be possible. A circular letter from the bureau to university depart- ments suggesting work that might be done would be helpful, and I believe that sugges- tions to teachers as to the matter and form for best presenting to students and thereby to a larger public, the results of the bureau work might be of advantage. Specific training of specialists for the bureau service might be facilitated by an understand- ing as to probable employment of men willing to enter the field as their life work. I do not understand that the demand is wide enough, for the immediate future at least, to warrant many schools making a specialty of the subject but certainly a few schools with proper facilities might very profitably offer dis- SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1280 tinct courses preparing for such work and prospective students in this line could then be steered to such schools from other departments not emphasizing this phase of zoology. Another thing which, speaking from the uni- versity side, seems to me worth considering would be the preparation of a moderate number of representative species of parasites for dem- onstration purposes in classrooms or labora- tories or even the accumulation of certain abundant forms sufficient for laboratory dis- sections or study. The bureau doubtless has a large accumulation of duplicate material from which it would be possible to supply material where desired with perhaps the agreement that the department so supplied should contribute other material as it might become available. While it often happens that a quantity of specimens of some particular species is found in great abundance I believe we will all agree that the securing of such material in condition and quantity for laboratory purpose is more difficult than for most other groups. Perhaps my suggestions may seem to be rather one-sided, involving mostly assistance from the bureau to the university laboratories, but I believe that the bureau will find the uni- versity men ready and willing to cooperate and that they will welcome definite suggestions as to ways and means by which such cooperation may be established. HERBERT OSBORN OxnIo STATE UNIVERSITY THE THREATENED EXTINCTION OF THE BOX HUCKLEBERRY, GAY- LUSSACIA BRACHYCERA THE box huckleberry (Gaylussacia brachy- cera) is a rare and beautiful American shrub which is in process of extinction. It is de clared by Mr. Harlan P. Kelsey, the well- known landscape architect, of Salem, Massa- chusetts, that for many woodland situations it is the most beautiful native evergreen ground cover known to him. The biological problem is to preserve the wild plant from extinction and at the same time to bring it into horti- cultural use. Two years ago the writer, desiring to ex- Jury 11, 1919] amine the plant in its wild state, sought to find out its known localities by consulting the larger American herbaria. He was surprised to find specimens from only two localities, one’ in Perry County, Pennsylvania, the other in Sussex County, Delaware. The original lo- cality assigned to the plant by Michaux in 1803, namely, near Winchester, Virginia, is almost certainly a mistake, and its occurrence at the localities in Bath County, Virginia, Greenbrier County, West Virginia, and Polk County, Tennessee, in which it is alleged to have been found, appears not to be substan- tiated by specimens in any American her- barium. On July 18, 1918, under the guidance of Mr. Kelsey, the writer visited the Pennsylvania lo- eality. The plant is confined to a single patch extending for a distance of over 400 yards along the slope and shoulder of a timbered west-facing hill. It occupies an area of about eight acres. The soil is a loam of buff-gray color, weathered from an underlying shale of similar color. It has no other supply of water than direct rainfall. Overlying the loam is a layer of upland peat a few inches in thickness, such as commonly characterizes an area of acid-soil dry-land vegetation. , The character of the vegetation is indicated by the following list of its commoner plants. Trees: Scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), White pine (Pinus strobus), White oak (Quercus alba), Chestnut (Castanea dentata), Chestnut oak (Quercus montana), Red maple (Acer rubrum), Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) , Dogwood (Cornus florida). Shrubs: Box huckleberry (Gaylussacia brachycera), Laurel (Kalmia latifolia), Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens), Dry-land blueberry (Vaccinium vacillans) , Trailing arbutus (Hpigaea repens), Lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), Juneberry (Amelanchier canadensis) , Pink azalea (Azalea nudiflora), Sweet fern (Comptonia peregrina), Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata), SCIENCE 31 Spotted pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata), Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana). There is no indication from the soil, mois- ture conditions, exposure or accompanying vegetation that there are any special conditions on this area, different from thousands of other areas in the Apalachian region, to explain the presence of the box huckleberry in this par- ticular spot. Over the whole area the root mat of the box huckleberry is practically continuous. Only one isolated piece was seen outside the main patch, and that was on a steep grassy slope im- mediately north of the main area, where farm cultivation had been begun but later aban- doned. This plant is undoubtedly a piece of the original patch, cut off from the rest by the cultivation but left alive because the cultiva- tion had been discontinued. The abrupt termination of the patch, unac- companied by any change in the soil, and the absence of isolated patches were most amazing. In the two hours we spent at the place we sought for the explanation, and I think we have it. But before it is outlined, let me present additional evidence of the complete- ness of the plant’s isolation. On the north and much of the east and west sides the patch is bordered by cultivated fields and a road. The natural extension of the patch in these directions is therefore impossible. On the south end, however, the present margin of the patch is located amid natural surroundings. It runs through the timber in a sinuous but definite line which coincides with no topo- graphic or other natural barrier. All along this line the patch is actually progressing and extending by sending out rootstocks which throw up new stems at the end of each year’s growth. For a distance of 125 yards at the southern end of the west side of the patch, the mat ends abruptly at the bottom of the hill at a natural barrier, a slender woodland streamlet, so low at the time of our visit that in several places no water was flowing over its wet gravel bed. For much of the distance the brooklet has slightly undercut the hill, so that the edge of the root mat hangs suspended a few feet 32 above the water. At some points, however, the root mat comes down to the water’s edge, but although suitable ericaceous soil occurs in many places on the other side of the brooklet, sometimes no more than three paces away, and other ericaceous plants occupy both banks, the box huckleberry has never jumped this tiny barrier. The theory I advance is that the whole patch has spread by the root from a single plant. Tf this theory is correct the plant is undoubt- edly more than a thousand years old. If it started in the middle of the present area and grew at an average rate of six inches a year, a liberal estimate judging from the observed length of its annual rootstock increment, its advance to its present front-line position would have required 1,200 years. The widely heralded but half legendary thousand-year-old rosebush of Hildesheim is easily outlived. As additional evidence that the whole of the eight-acre patch consists of a single plant I may say that notwithstanding the most pains- taking search we found no seedlings. Many small tufts were examined, but every one proved to be attached by a rootstock to an older piece. The base of the hill on which the patch occurs had been undercut for more than 250 yards by a public road. The steep bank between the road and the hill, formed many years ago in the grading of the road, furnishes at several points good germination beds for the seeds of the overhanging plants. In a careful search along the whole bank not a seed- ling of the box huckleberry was found, al- though the bank did bear seedlings of the closely related plants, laurel, dry-land blue- berry and trailing arbutus. , The plant was in fruit at the time of our visit, the delicate light blue berries being par- ticularly charming in their setting of dark green box-like foliage. A resident of the neighborhood told us that the plant fruited every year. Why then are there no seedlings? I have recorded elsewhere, in an account of my blueberry breeding experiments, that in- dividual blueberry plants, close relatives of the huckleberries, are partially or completely ster- ile to their own pollen. The seeds from such SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1280 a pollination, if any are secured, are sterile, or if they germinate the seedlings are feeble and never develop into strong plants, even under the protecting care of cultivation. If this Pennsylvania box huckleberry patch con- sists of only one plant its seeds might be ex- pected to be sterile or of feeble germination. And this in fact was found to be true. On examination about 90 per cent. of the seeds proved to be empty shells. Only about 10 per cent. contained endosperms. On November 20, 1918, 1,600 seeds were sowed in eight boxes in a suitable soil of peat and sand and subjected to different temperature treatments. From this sowing only three seeds germinated, and the three seedlings are feeble. From other sowings made on July 20, 1918, a somewhat better but still very poor germination was se- cured, and the largest of the plants, at the age of six months, are less than an inch high. Further evidence that the whole patch con- sists of one plant is afforded by its botanical characters. With the exception of differences in size and vigor, due apparently to differences in the amount of nutrition, the plant is re- markably uniform over the whole area. This uniformity is particularly noticeable in the fruit, which has a curious obovoid-pyriform shape. While individual plants of other spe- cies of blueberries and huckleberries some- times have this shape, a comparison of the fruit of many individuals of any species shows variation to other shapes, such as spherical, or even depressed. The uniformity in the form, and in the color also, of the berries throughout this patch is the same sort of uniformity that one finds in fruits that have been reproduced by cuttings, budding or grafting from a single parent plant. On the theory that the perpetuation of the species through seeds could be brought about only by finding another plant, for cross polli- nation, an endeavor was made to relocate the Delaware station. Dr. C. S. Sargent informed me that in company with Mr. William M. Canby, the original discoverer, he had tried several years ago to find the spot, but without success, and he believed the plant had been exterminated. Nevertheless I sent a botanist JuLY 11, 1919] in November, 1918, to find the plant if pos- sible, but after two days’ search he was unable to locate it. The situation had become acute, for a firm of nurserymen had taken away a truck. load of plants from the Pennsylvania locality in 1918, and the doom of the species in a wild state ap- peared to be sealed unless we could find another plant, for the Pennsylvania plant was the only one actually known. Therefore when Mr. E. T. Wherry, the chemist, offered to make a further search for the Delaware area I gladly assented. To his acute insight into the soil habits of rare and fastidious plants he added further information that he found in Phila- delphia regarding the location of the old Canby station, and after three days’ syste- matic search, in early March of the present year, he found it. _ From Mr. Wherry’s report of his rediscov- ery the following paragraph is drawn: This colony of the box huckleberry is situ- ated on a northwest sloping bank about eight feet high. It covers an area but twenty feet square, the plant forming a practically pure - stand in the center but thinning out rapidly in all directions. No seedlings could be found, all the stems apparently being connected with one another by running rootstocks so that really only a single plant is represented. A few stems extend into the wet, peaty material bordering the marsh but most of the colony is growing in dry, sandy upland peat made up of leaves of pine, oak and laurel, on the steep slope. The plants immediately associated, as far as could be determined at the time of the visit, are: Trees: Pond pine (Pinus serotina), Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) , Red oak (Quercus maxima), Holly (Ilex opaca). Shrubs: Inkberry (Ilex glabra), Laurel (Kalmia latifolia), Sweetbells (Hubotrys racemosa). Vine: Greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia). Only five localities, widely distant, have been recorded for this plant and its existence in only SCIENCE 3) two of these at the present time has actually been confirmed. The question why the species has become so nearly extinct has not yet been answered and perhaps never will be answered conclusively. I wish to call attention, how- ever, to the probability that if these two north- eastern patches consist of a single plant each, as it appears they do, it is likely that they were originally chance seedlings from seeds carried by birds beyond the original main range of the species. For if these patches were remnants of a former widespread con- tinuous range, and climatic changes had de- stroyed the species over the rest of its range, each of these remnants would almost certainly have consisted of more than a single plant. I am impressed also by the possibility that a plant in process of extinction may have been killed over most of its original range by some particularly destructive fungus or insect, and that the reason of the preservation of healthy remnants may be that they were beyond the range of the destructive enemy. Possibly, too, the remnants were immune to the destroying agent. The present ravages of the chestnut blight (Endothia parasitica) give an idea of what may have happened to thousands of plant species now extinct or known only from dis- tant remnants. : However, the box huckleberry is not extinct, and we are hoping for its rejuvenation through vigorous seedlings. In order that my col- leagues may share in the excitement I may add that portions of the Pennsylvania and Delaware plants have been brought together at Washington, have been made, and fruit has set but is not yet ripe. I trust I shall be pardoned if I add to this article an unessential postcript, the excuse for which is more biographical than biological. In April, 1846, Asa Gray, the most distin- guished of American botanists, writing to his colleague, John Torrey, said: eross pollinations A Mr. Baird, of Carlisle, Pa., called on me yes- terday, evidently a most keen naturalist (ornithol- ogy principally), but a man of more than com- mon grasp. He talked about an evergreen-leaved Vaccinium, which I have no doubt is V. brachy- cerum, Mx., that I have so long sought in vain.! 34 This was the first meeting between Dr. Gray and Spencer F. Baird, second secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, who at that time, an ardent young naturalist of twenty-three, was professor of natural history at Dickinson Col- lege, Carlisle, Pa. The friendship thus begun between Gray and Baird was intimate and lifelong, lasting for more than forty years, and it had great constructive influence in the advancement of natural history in America. It was clearly Baird’s discovery of the box bhuckleberry, the very same patch in Pennsyl- vania about which I have been writing, that chiefly drew the two men together at their first meeting, and since this charming little thousand-year-old lady of the forest has done so much for American naturalists, the least ‘we can do in return is to try to keep her liv- ing forever.1 FREDERICK V. CovILLE VINAL N. EDWARDS Workers in science who are wont to visit Wood’s Hole during the summer months will miss the familiar figure and kindly greeting of one who has been identified with every piece of faunistie work that has been carried on at the Fish Commission Laboratory since the time of Baird, and one whose wide range of activity, intimate knowledge absolute feli- ability and willingness to serve have made him a most valuable source of information and assistance to those connected with the “Marine Laboratory” since the time of its foundation. Vinal N. Edwards, in the con- tinuous service of the government for over sixty years, died on April 5, 1919, and leaves 1Gray’s first account of the box huckleberry, in which from Baird’s specimens he was able to as- sign the species to its correct genus, Gaylussacia, was published in 1846 in his ‘‘Chloris Boreali- Americana,’’ pp. 54-55 (Mem. Amer. Acad., ser. 2, vol. 3). The quotation from the letter to Torrey cited above is from Jane L. Gray, 1893, ‘‘ Letters of Asa Gray,’’ p. 343, where the date assigned to the letter is October, 1846. By reference, how- ever, to W. H. Dall, 1915, ‘‘Spencer Fullerton Baird, a Biography,’’ pp. 132-134, it is clear that the meeting took place, and the letter was written, in April, 1846. SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1280 vacant a place in the vital affairs of Wood’s Hole that can not be filled. If a young enthusiast felt that by early rising he might steal an advantage over other collaborators, his arrival at “ the commission ” found Vinal already hard at work. If a trip was made to the gulf stream, Vinal was the man that knew when, where and how to gain profit out of the expedition. If it were a quiet night, ideal for “skimming,” it was Vinal’s skiff that was moving silently among the slicks. Throughout the day, in the cor- ridors of the laboratories, on the wharf or at the traps—it made no difference where—prob- ably no sentence was more frequently heard than “T don’t know, ask Vinal.” Untaught in the modern conception of the word, courteous in his manner, unmentioned in “‘Who’s Who,” unrecorded in ‘‘ American Men of Science,” here was a man remarkably well informed, courteous and friendly in his association with men, well known to a multi- tude of educators, and one upon whom many of the foremost workers in biological science relied for information and advice. It is prob- able that hundreds of new species have re- sulted from his activities as a collector. In Verrill’s report on the invertebrates of Vine- yard Sound, his name is repeatedly mentioned. Smith’s paper on the fishes of the Wood’s Hole region would have been impossible with- — out his help, and those who were associated in the preparation and publication of the “ Biological Survey of the Waters of Wood’s Hole and Vicinity ” frequently stated that one of the motives which originally prompted this work was the “desire to incorporate in a per- manent form the valuable but unpublished data in the possession of this indefatigable collector and observer.” In order that the life and work of Vinal N. Edwards may not become forgotten, testi- monials from several sources have been col- lected, and bound copies of these will be deposited in the Library of the United States Fish Commission, in the Library of the Ma- rine Biological Laboratory at Wood’s Hole, in the Library of the National Museum, the Li- JuULY 11, 1919] brary of the American Museum of Natural History and the Library of Congress. Hermon C. Bumpus SCIENTIFIC EVENTS THE LISTER INSTITUTE Tue Lister Institute is unique among the medical establishments of London, because it is an independent organization endowed by private benetactors. The only comparable in- stitution is the London School of Tropical Medicine, which, however, is in the enjoyment of government support. The Lister Institute is one of the schools of the University of London, admitted under the statute which em- powers the senate to admit any institution within the prescribed area founded for the promotion of science or learning to be a school of the university for the purpose of research or the cultivation of any special branch of science or learning. Its director, Dr. C. J. Martin, F.R.S., is professor of experimental pathology in the university, while several members of its staff are readers or recognized teachers in the university. But its connection with the university is otherwise shadowy and its affairs are managed by a governing body which includes Major General Sir David Bruce, K.C.B., F.R.S. (chairman), Professor F. W. Andrewes, M.D., F.R.S., Professor W. Bulloch, F.R.S., Sir James Kingston Fowler, K.C.V.O., and Professor E. H. Starling, C.M.G., F.R.S., There is also a council con- taining representatives of the members of the Institute and of many learned bodies. The report to be presented at the annual general meeting gives an account of the va- rious activities of the institute during the year, and contains a section in which its future general policy is discussed. A great deal of the time of the staff of the institute— which, owing to the war, was much dimin- ished—was given to routine bacteriological ex- aminations for the London County Council and other public bodies, and the production of serums and vaccines for the War Office and the Government of Egypt. But some of the work done for the War Office has reached out 1From the British Medical Journal. SCIENCE 35 to research, as, for instance, investigations made by Dr. Arkwright and Mr. Bacot as to the virus of trench fever and typhus fever, and the transmission of these diseases by lice. Miss Muriel Robertson has continued re- searches upon anaerobic bacteria of wounds and the preparation of standard samples of the toxin of Vibrion septique which have been used in preparing and standardizing the serums issued to the army from the serum laboratories of Messrs. Burroughs, Wellcome and Co. Much of present knowledge of the pathogenic anaerobes has been gained since the beginning of the war, and in its acqui- sition Miss Robertson, who is secretary of the anaerobic committee originated by the Med- ical Research Committee, has taken a prom- inent part. In another direction researches stimulated by the war have yielded results of permanent . importance to physiology and general medi- eine—and indeed to sociology and statecraft also. Dr. Harden and Dr. Zilva haye made a series of investigations into the properties of aecessory food factors and the effects of the deprivation of them on various animals. A related research was that conducted by Dr. Harriette Chick, at the request of the mili- tary authorities, into the cause of scurvy; it was eventually expanded to include certain other deficiency diseases. The research de- manded the greatest care in the adjustment of the diets and the feeding of the animals, and the help of many volunteer workers was en- listed. This inquiry has had many parts, but those concerned with the quantitative deter- mination of the relative antiscorbutic efficiency of natural foodstuffs, and with the loss of antiscorbutie value during the drying of vege- tables, are now practically complete; work is still in progress with regard to the preserva- tion of lemon juice and root vegetables, and as to the antiscorbutic and growth-promoting properties of cow’s milk, with special refer- ence to infant feeding. The novel feature of the investigations has been the attempt to get a quantitative estimate of the amount of ac- cessory food facts in various foodstuffs, the first step being to determine experimentally 36 - for each substance the minimum daily ration which will protect the experimental animal. A committee on accessory food factors, with Professor Hopkins as chairman and Dr. H. Chick as secretary, has been sitting during the year, and has prepared a monograph to meet the needs of the general scientific and medical reader. SCIENCE IN AUSTRALIA Tur newly founded Commonwealth Insti- tute of Science and Industry, Melbourne, has begun the publication of a monthly journal entitled Science and Industry. The editorial foreword says: No competent scientific investigator need fear the coming of the institute. It will not attempt to do work that others are doing already. There is more than sufficient work for all. No one needs to look round for a job. They are everywhere at ‘hand. While there is still dust in Sydney’s streets, or smoke issuing from the chimney stacks at the factories at Footscray, while there is waste timber being eternally, burnt around the saw-mills of the west, while the molasses expressed from the sugar-cane of the north still finds its way down to the sea, who can deny the width of the field for scientific investigation? While the rich lands of Queensland are continually being given over to the prickly pear, and arable areas of Victoria to St. John’s wort, while artesian water ceases to flow, or the bores to corrode, while stock die of strange diseases in the night, and their young perish before birth, while there are still mineral treasures that have. not yet been exploited by the prospector, while air transport is still with us an undeveloped means of locomotion, while a thousand and one articles of daily use are still being imported from foreign lands that could easily be manufactured by our own people, who will say that there is no room for science? Hitherto in Australia, and in most other Eng- lish-speaking countries, the scientist is only now beginning to get back some of his own. In the past there has been observable a certain suspicion of science. The primary producer used to regard the man of science as a dreamer or at best a theorist. They talked of Collins-street farming. The scientific man, on his part, had little respect for those who allowed their actions to be hampered by the ideas of their grandparents. But gradually it was seen by producers that the man of science SCIENCE [N. S. Von. L. No. 1280 had something to teach them if they were only prepared to listen, and if he was willing to express his thoughts in every-day language. The man on the land no longer despises science as he did a quarter of a century ago—at least, the more pro- gressive do not. The manufacturers are not pre- cisely in the same plight. With some few and notable exceptions, they have been inclined to ig- nore the lessons of science. The scientists them- selves are somewhat to blame for this, or, at any rate, they have themselves to thank. Business men have one test of value, and that is cost. Scientists who love their science place it above money. Much of the most valuable scientific work done in the world has been done for a pittance. The re- ward of the investigator was not necessarily ex- pressed in the augmentation of his banking ac- count. Business men could not understand this. Services that could be had cheaply were nasty. If they were valuable, they would be much sought after in the market. So argued these men of af- fairs, and this was the basis of those advertise- ments asking for the services of fully-qualified chemists at £200 a year or less. These bad old days must end if science is to come into her own. In the field of science the laborer is worthy of his hire. The institute is the youngest department of the commonwealth government. It is not yet old and effete, with a large number of its officers eagerly looking for the retiring age. It represents the young commonwealth, youthful and virile, and realizes, as it has been expressed, that ‘‘the fron- tier of knowledge is the starting point. of re- search.’’ SIGMA Xi AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY Tue Society of Sigma Xi at Syracuse Uni- versity has elected as officers for the ensuing year the following: President, Edward D. Roe, Jr.; Vice-president, C. C. Adams; Secretary, Geo. T. Hargitt; Treasurer, Henry F. A. Meler. During the past year the following scientific program has been presented by mem- bers of the society: November 18. Edwin F. McCarthy. Occurrence of knots and spiral in Adirondack red spruce. Carl J. Drake. Notes on Nezara viridula, a seri- ous plant pest in the south. December 13. R. S. Boehner. Gas warfare. BE. N. Pattee. The outlook for chemical indus- tries in the United States. January 10. T. C. Hopkins. Exploring and Juny 11, 1919] prospecting for oil in Wyoming and Kentucky. Chas. H. Richardson. Some results of recent geological research in Vermont. February 6. H. S. Steensland. The action of benzol on animals. Frank P. Knowlton. with demonstration. March 14. E.D. Roe, Jr. The irreducible fac- tors of 1ta+a?+...+ am, The electrocardiogram, R. R. Tatnall. The production and measurement of low pressures. April 11. L. M. Hickernell. The habits and structure of the 17-year cicada. H. F. A. Meier. The fixation of atmospheric ni- trogen by plants. May 9. Louis Mitchell. The use of diagrams in the solution of hydraulic problems. Rich D. Whitney. The destruction of under- ground structures by electrolysis. THE TROPICAL RESEARCH STATION OF THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY IN BRITISH GUIANA Arter two years of temporary suspension on account of the war, the Tropical Zoological Station of the New York Zoological Society, in British Guiana, is again proceeding with its various activities. Director William Beebe now has with him Inness Hartley, research associate, Alfred Emerson, research assistant, and John T. Van, artist. In a short time two visiting zoologists will arrive at the station for the pursuit of special studies. In order to live and work in close proximity to the jungle and the river life of British Guiana, the old station at Kalacoon was va- cated, and the new one was planted in the government Penal Settlement, at Katabo. There, in an ideal spot, a commodious lab- oratory and dormitory have been developed, and an extensive program of investigation, has been laid out. Three tropical rivers of con- siderable importance, the Essequibo, Cuyuni and Mazaruni, render the whole western half of British Guiana available to the station near the meeting-place of their waters. The Maza- runi Rapids are eight miles above the station. A garden has been planted, and Indian hunters bring to the table of the station varied supplies of tapir, deer and agouti meat and fish. Animal life in close proximity to the SCIENCE 37 station is abundant, and the choice of subjects for investigation is fairly bewildering. Again has the government of British Guiana been most liberal in promoting the objects of the station, and the Zoological Society looks forward with lively interest to the year’s record of results. SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS Tue Rr. Hon. Joun Witiiam Strutt, Lorp Rayiercu, the great English physicist, died on July 1, at the age of seventy-six years. His eldest son is the Hon. Robert John Strutt, pro- fessor of physics in the Imperial College of Science, London. WESLEYAN University, at its recent com- mencement, conferred the degree of doctor of science on Edward Lee Thorndike, 796, pro- fessor of psychology at Teachers’ College, Co- lumbia University; Frank Bowers Littell, ’91, astronomer, Naval Observatory, Washington, D. C., and George Arthur Burrell, recently in command of United States Army Chemical Service. At the commencement of the University of Vermont the degree of doctor of letters was conferred on Dr. Liberty Hyde Bailey, formerly director of the college of agriculture of Cor- nell University, and the honorary degree of doctor of science on Dr. Marshall Avery Howe, curator of the museums of the New York Botanical Garden. Dr. Bailey delivered the commencement address, taking for his sub- ject, “ The aspiration to democracy.” THE honorary professional degree of master of horticulture has been conferred upon Ed- mund H. Gibson, of the U. S. Bureau of Ento- mology, by the Michigan Agricultural College. THE agricultural building at the Kansas State Agricultural College has been named Waters Hall in honor of Dr. Henry Jackson Waters, former president of the college, now managing editor of the Kansas City Weekly Star. Dr. D. T. MacDoueat, director of the de- partment of botanical research, Carnegie In- stitution of Washington, was elected a corre- sponding member of the Société Nationale 38 d@Acclimatation de France, at the meeting of May 25, under the presidency of Minister Lebrun. Tue title of Commander of the Order of the Crown of Belgium has been conferred on Dr. W. J. Holland, director of Carnegie In- stitute, Pittsburgh, in recognition of the “devotion shown by him to the cause of Belgium.” Masor W. H. Eppy, of the section of food and nutrition of the Surgeon General’s Office has recently returned from abroad. After the departure of Major P. A. Shaffer, Major Eddy was in charge of the work of the section in France. He is now temporarily on duty at the Surgeon General’s Office. Major F. L. Scott, of the section of food and nutrition of the Surgeon General’s Office has also returned from abroad and received his discharge from the army. Present Kenyon L. Burrerrieip, of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, has re- turned from France. Captain LAWRENCE J. Coxe, professor of psychology at the University of Colorado, has received his discharge from the army and has returned to the university. Proressor Max Enuis, of the department of biology of the University of Colorado, who has been on leave of absence for two years engaged in government service, has resigned to accept a permanent government position. WE learn from the Journal of the American Medical Association that Dr. Alexander C. Abbott, of the University of Pennsylvania, who recently returned from France, where he served with the Medical Corps of the U. 8. Army, has been nominated for a position on the Philadelphia Board of Health. Dr. Frank C. Hammond, who was appointed to fill the vacaney, insisted on resigning the post that Dr. Abbott might be reappointed to his former position. Tue Harvard Corporation has made the fol- lowing appointments on the Harvard Cancer Commission: Dr. Robert B. Greenough, di- rector, and Drs. Channing C. Simmons, secre- SCIENCE [N. S. Von. L. No. 1280 tary (both of Boston) ; Roger Pierce, treasurer; James H. Wright, Boston, pathologist; Wil- liam Duane, research fellow in physics; Wil- liam T. Bovie, research fellow in biology; Henry Lyman, Boston, research fellow in chem- istry, and Ernest W. Goodpasture, JSesHOEh Te- search fellow in pathology. Dr. WINFIELD Scorrt Hat, for more than twenty years a member of the faculty of North- western University Medical School, Chicago, has been appointed to take charge of the newly organized department of social hygiene of the Presbyterian Board of Temperance and Moral Welfare. Dr. CHartes J. GALPIN, professor of agri- cultural economy in the college of agriculture of the University of Wisconsin, has been ap- pointed economist in charge of farm-life stud- ies of the United States Department of Agri- culture. Mr. Cuaries Snyper, head keeper of reptiles in the New York Zoological Park, has been made director of the Buffalo Zoological Gar- dens. Mr. F. Furpance, at one time a temporary assistant in the herbarium at Kew, has been appointed assistant curator of the Botanic Gardens, Singapore. Dr. J. E. Kirxwoon, professor of botany in the Montana State University at Missoula, has been granted leave of absence for a year and will work in the University of California lab- oratories. During his absence the depart- ment will be in charge of Assistant Professor Paul W. Graff. Dr. K. Sato, assistant professor of agricul- ture in the University of Tokio, is studying problems of farm management and agricul- tural economics in the United States. H. S. Gaus, of the U. S. Geological Survey, has been making a survey of the potash situ- ation in Alsace. W..R. Incatts has retired from the editor- ship of the Engineering and Mining Journal, but will continue as consulting editor. He has resumed practise as consulting engineer with offices in New York. Juny 11, 1919] Proressor J. F. Kemp has recently found among other stored articles in the department of geology of Columbia University a notebook of the late Professor John Strong Newberry, containing notes in French taken by him while a student, and covering the lectures on botany delivered by Professor Brongniart in Paris in 1849 and 1850. Through Professor Harper, Professor Kemp has transmitted this very interesting document to the New York Botanical Garden for preservation, and it has been added to the library. Dr. C. L. Maruartt, assistant chief of the Bureau of Entomology, and chairman of the Federal Horticultural Board, gave an address to the Entomological and Zoological Seminar of the Kansas State Agricultural College on May 19, on some work of the Federal Horti- cultural Board. Dr. Atgert R. Mann, dean of Cornell Col- lege of Agriculture, delivered the address at the forty-ninth commencement of the Massa- chusetts Agricultural College at Amherst, on June 24. He spoke on “The place of the trained man in agriculture.” Tue Croonian Lecture on the biological sig- nificance of anaphylaxis was delivered on May 29, before the Royal Society, by Dr. H. H. Dale, F.R.S., director of the biochemical and pharmacological department of the Medical Research Committee. Sm Artuur NeEwsHOLME gave a public ad- dress on the evening of June 20, at the Uni- versity of Toronto, on “Some problems of preventive medicine of the immediate future.” Sir Arthur was the guest of honor at a dinner given by Dr. Edmund E. King, Toronto, presi- dent of the Academy of Medicine. FatHer Water Simcreaves, 8.J., director of the Stonyhurst College Observatory, known for his contribution to stellar spectroscopy and other work, died on June 12, in his eighty-sec- ond year. Tue four hundredth anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci was celebrated at Naples on May 2. The British Medical Jour- nal states that an address was delivered by Professor Filippo Bottazzi. The great artist SCIENCE 39 was an enthusiastic anatomist. He began his studies in the Hospital of Santa Maria Nova at Florence in 1489, when he was in his thirty- seventh year, and continued them at Milan in the Ospedale Maggiore and the Collegio die Fisici, and afterwards at Rome in 1513 till they were forbidden by Leo X., on a denuncia- tion of body-snatching made by some German enemies. He dissected more than thirty bod- ies of men and women of various ages, and his observations were collected in one hundred and twenty books; much of the manuscript has been lost, and the drawings designed to illustrate the text of a great work on anatomy to have been written in conjunction with Mare’ Antonio della Torre, the famous pro- fessor of Pavia, lay forgotten in the Am- brosian Library at Milan, and afterwards in the Royal Library at Windsor, until they were discovered in 1902. They are now in course of publication. Tue faculty of the North Dakota Agricul- tural College, organized under the name Col- lege Teachers Organization, voted on June 9 to apply for a charter in the American Feder- ation of Teachers. Eighty per cent. of the teaching staff are members of the new organi- zation. THE annual general meeting of the Society of Chemical Industry will be held in London on July 15-18, under the presidency of Pro- fessor Henry Louis. Nature states that on July 15 there will be a conference at the Mansion House, when addresses will be given by representatives of the Inter-Allied Confer- ence. Sir William J. Pope, chairman of the Federal Council for Pure and Applied Chem- istry, will open the conference. The subjects of other conferences will be: Power Plant in Chemical Works; Empire Sugar Production; Dyestuffs, Synthetic Drugs and Associated Products; The Chrome Tanning Industry; and Recent Developments in the Fermenta- tion Industries. A reception will be held at the British Scientific Products Exhibition, Central Hall, Westminster, on July 17. Wasuineton University ScHoon or Meptr- CINE has received a grant of $5,000 to be used 40 for the investigation of hypertrichiasis, from a person whose name is for the present with- held. A committee in charge of the grant has been appointed, consisting of the dean, Dr. G. Canby Robinson; Dr. M. F. Engman, of the department of dermatology, to whom the grant was proposed, and Dr. Charles H. Dan- forth, of the department of anatomy, who will carry on the investigation which will be chiefly in the fields of anthropology and hered- ity. A “ RooskEvett Institute of American Family Life,” to be developed in connection with the eugenics record office of the Carnegie Institu- tion, in Washington, has been proposed to the Roosevelt Permanent Memorial National Com- mittee by the Eugenics Research Association of Cold Spring, Long Island. The association in outlining the project explains that it owns eighty acres of land in Roosevelt’s own voting district, and has already laid the foundation for the study of the factors controlling Ameri- ean family life. In the announcement, which proposes the erection of the memorial insti- tute at Oyster Bay, the association declares: “This memorial institute will strive to ad- vance those ideas of responsible and patriotic parenthood for which Theodore Roosevelt so valiantly battled.” In addressing the national committee the association wrote: “We re- spectfully call your attention to the following factors which contribute to the fitness of this suggestion: The Roosevelt memorial should, like the man in whose memory it is built, battle for the advancement of the eugenical ideal in American family life. It should be located in Roosevelt’?s own neighborhood. The safety of the foundation fund could be absolutely se- cured by placing it as trust with the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Its proximity to New York City makes the Oyster Bay neigh- borhood an exceptionally fitting place for the institute.” UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL NEWS Harvarp University is bequeathed $100,000 for the study of methods to reform and cure SCIENCE [N. 8. Von. L. No. 1280 criminals and mental defectives by surgery under the will of Dr. J. Ewing Mears. Iy accordance with the will of the late Clementine C. Conkling, real estate in the city of Omaha to the value of approximately twenty-five thousand dollars has been be- queathed to the college of medicine, University of Nebraska, Omaha. THE Goldsmiths’ Company has offered the sum of £15,000 to London Hospital for the en- dowment of a chair of bacteriology, to be known as the Goldsmiths’ Company’s chair of bacteriology. Tue Utah Agricultural Experiment Station recently established a department of human nutrition. R. L. Hill, Ph.D. (Cornell), for- merly of the Maryland Agricultural Experi- ment Station and first lieutenant in the Sani- tary Corps of the Army, has been appointed head of the department with Blanche Cooper, B.S., formerly nutrition expert for the Utah Agricultural College Extension Division, asso- ciate. Dr. Harry Woopsurn OHaser, professor of psychology, has been elected president of the University of North Carolina. ! Dr. A. F. Kipper has resigned as professor of agronomy in the college of agriculture, Louisiana State University, to accept a posi- tion as agronomist and assistant director of the State Agricultural Experiment Station at Baton Rouge. NatHan Fasten, B.S. (C. OC. N. Y. 710), Ph.D. (Wisconsin, 714), has been promoted to the rank of assistant professor of zoology at the University of Washington, Seattle. Proressor T. BraitsrorD Ropertson, pro- fessor of biochemistry in the University of Toronto, has been appointed to succeed the late Sir Edward C. Stirling as professor of physiology in the University of Adelaide, South Australia. Mr. W. L. Brace has been appointed to the Langworthy chair of physics in the University of Manchester in succession to Sir Ernest Rutherford. Juuy 11, 1919] DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE THE DISCOVERY OF CACULUS To tae Eprror or Science: The writer de- sires to call attention to certain disclosures here pointed out for the first time, whose conclusions are decisive in the matter of the celebrated controversy between Newton and Liebniz, regarding the discovery of calculus. It is admitted that Leibniz was in full pos- session of his calculus, at the time of his second visit to London, in September, 1676, and that during the week in London, he made copious extracts from Newton’s “De Analysi A®quationes Numero Terminorum Infinitas,” which was in the hands of Collins, where it had been placed by Barrow in 1669, with the consent of Newton.1 Besides containing the binomial theorem, expansions of trigonometric functions, etc., it was a complete treatise on fluxions. Found among Collins’s papers after his death, it was published in 1711. Leibniz’s first information from Newton that this work existed, and where it was to be found, came from Newton’s second letter of October 26, 1676, which reached Leibniz some months later in Germany. I quote the “ En- eyclopedia Britannica” (Inf. Cale.) as to the contents of this letter: Newton proceeds to state that about 1669 he communicated through Barrow to Collins a com- pendium of his method subsequently called ‘‘the method of fluxions,’’ with applications to areas, rectification, cubature, ete. Jn this letter, how- ever, he gave no explanation of this method, care- fully concealing its nature in an anagram of transposed letters. .. Leibniz’s reply to this letter has been termed one of “noble frankness” in contrast to Newton’s secrecy. This frankness, however, did not consist in informing Newton of the week but recently spent with Collins, in care- ful examination of the very compendium to which he referred, and that his anagram was useless. On the contrary, Leibniz renewed statements of ignorance of Newton’s method, and with seeming frankness, imparted his cal- culus to Newton in every detail, thereby lay- ing the foundation of a plot to deprive New- 1 Cajori, ‘‘A History of Mathematics,’’ p. 230. SCIENCE 4] ton of all credit, whose subsequent details were carried out on a timed schedule. Thus, on the first publication of a work on fluxions by Newton in 1704, an unsigned and unfavorable review in the “ Leipzig Acts” for 1705, stated that Newton uses and always has used fluxions for the differences of Leibniz. A few years later, Leibniz, who was the author of this indirect charge, made it still clearer in a letter to Count Bathmar, which was pub- lished, stating that’ Bernouilli had written to him that Newton had apparently fabricated his calculus after having seen his own. Later than this, again, a letter was distributed over Europe, making the same direct charge, but without containing the name of its author, printer or place of publication. From Leibniz’s examination of Newton’s compendium of fluxions on his second visit to London, it is absolutely certain that he possessed personal knowledge that these in- famous charges against Newton were false. It must be explained how Leibniz knew of the existence of that compendium. in Collins’s hands when he went to London, out of his way from Paris to Hanover, and how he knew that it contained what he wished to see. Newton’s first letter to Leibniz, June 18, 1676, gave all the important theorems on series which were contained in that compendium, although his letter neither stated this fact, nor gave ex- planations. In his reply of August 27, 1676, Leibniz expressed great interest, and asked for their explanation and then shortly after went to London and read all about them, the op- portunity for this journey being a request from the Duke of Hanover to return to Ger- many. The only reasonable supposition is that Leibniz had seen this manuscript on his first visit to London, in 1673, and thus knowing of its existence, and that it contained these series, the new interest which they aroused caused the second visit, for the purpose of re-reading them in the light of an, improved mathemat- ical knowledge. The probability of the truth of this sup- position is increased when we take into ac- count the character of the man and the cir- 42 SCIENCE cumstances which surround the first visit. He was continually employed throughout life in typical German propaganda, and was ac- eustomed to political deceit. In 1669, under the guise of a Catholic Polish nobleman, he wrote a tract which undertook to mathemat- ically demonstrate to his supposed country- men, the Poles, that it was for the best inter- ests of Poland to elect the German candidate for their throne. The political mission which brought him to Paris in 1672 was to secure France as an ally of Germany in a proposed war of conquest against the Turk, the bait to France being the possession of Egypt, “ one of the best situated lands in the world.” This project was finally laughed from the court of Louis XIV. While in Paris, Leibniz corresponded with Oldenberg and Collins. The former was Sec- retary of the Royal Society of England, and had in charge all papers and manuscripts of the society. He was for many years a German agent in London whose services as secretary were given without pay. Confined in the Tower as a spy in 1669, the Royal Society ad- journed its meetings until his release.? Collins was the closest friend of Newton, and spent his entire time in obtaining the latest mathematical information and in corre- sponding with mathematicians about it. These two men, Oldenberg and Collins, always appear as instruments of Leibniz in his deal- ings with London affairs and with Newton, but all communications seem to have passed through Oldenberg’s hands. After 1669, when Collins obtained the com- pendium of fluxions above mentioned, there was much correspondence about fluxions be- tween Newton, Collins and other mathemati- cians, and on December 19, 1672, Newton sent a letter to Collins which was designed to explain fluxions to any intelligent person, with one illustrative example, which Collins immediately began to communicate to all of his correspondents. Leibniz was in London, January 11, 1673. and remained until March following. Appli- 2See Weld, ‘‘History of the Royal Society,’’ Vol. 1, pp. 201, 259. EN. S. Von. L. No. 1280 cation for membership im the Royal Society had preceded him, and he attended all of its meetings, read mathematical papers before it, and made claim to a differential method for series as his own invention, which Pell identi- fied as the method of Mouton, a Frenchman, very much to Leibniz’s discomfort. He had discussions with Oldenberg and Collins re- garding series, and we must remember that the latter possessed, in Newton’s compendium on fluxions, the latest and most remarkable series of the time. That Leibniz had free access to the manuscripts in the hands of these men, and read them, would appear from his notes of this visit, discovered in 1890, in the royal library at Hanover. These show extracts from Newton’s “ Optics,” and from other authors, and a remarkable absence of notes on mathematics, his chief subject of interest at the time. Returning to Paris in March, Leibniz placed himself under the guidance of Huygens in higher mathematics, and began the develop- ment of his calculus. It was well in hand by December, 1675, and the question arose, how to deal with Newton. The plan adopted was to have Newton informed that Leibniz had heard that he had a method for series, tangents and the like, and requested information about it, as he had one of his own. It required the united persuasions of Oldenberg and Collins, and an appeal that it was for the honor of England, to overcome Newton’s objections and bring about the first letter of June 13, 1676, already mentioned. The ostensible purpose of the correspondence is to learn Newton’s method, yet he held Newton’s compendium of it in his possession for a week, the following September, and since its pages were opened freely to him at that time, it is constructive proof that they were as freely open to him for the two months in 1673 that he was in London. The sudden death of Oldenberg in 1677 pre- vented an answer to the letter of “noble frank- ness.” but when the “ Principia” was pub- lished in 1687, Newton inserted a scholium containing the statement that a letter from Leibniz had shown that that distinguished Juy 11, 1919] man had fallen upon a method which scarcely differed from his except in its forms of words and symbols. ; It is not known how far Collins was in the confidence of Leibniz, but it has been noted that following Collins’s death in November, 1683, appeared the first publication of Leibniz’s calculus, in the “Leipzig Acts” for 1684, es- sentially as it was given to Newton in 1677. Additional force is given to the supposition that Leibniz saw Newton’s compendium in 1673 by the similarity of the circumstances to those which relate to German propaganda as it has been disclosed by the recent war, a similarity so striking, that one hardly realizes that the period concerned is practically two and one half centuries nearer the origin of such methods. But the letter of “noble frank- ness ” with the unquestioned facts which throw light upon it, are alone sufficient to bar Leib- niz from the honor of an independent dis- coverer, for no other reason than that, as we say in the law, he does not come into court with clean hands. Artaur S. Hatwaway PURDUE UNIVERSITY THE POOR DIENER How many of us have not felt as we closed an article that we may have thought good, perhaps expressing perfunctory thanks to our patron or instructor or some other figure in the seats of the mighty who took a few minutes time to send us some preparations or cultures prepared by some one else in his laboratory, that there was a hardworked, somewhat pa- thetic humbler figure back of it all to whom our thanks are far more due than to any of these ? When you take down from the shelf a earefully cleaned, carefully sterilized, cotton- plugged flask and fill it up for your own pur- poses, and then cheerfully discard it and take another because you got in a tenth of a centi- meter too much, when you finish up a couple of hours brisk work and then carry out a tray- ful of pipettes to the “ dirtroom ” to be washed up, and leave around a staggering array of dirty glassware too bulky to bother to take out yourself, when you pile up on the sterilizing SCLENCE 43 bench a great lot of used, gone and forgotten cultures for some one else to autoclave, then remember the poor diener. When you toss over a foul sample of sputum with a “ Here Jim, stain this up and look for the bugs,” or hack out a bloody mess of tissues from a dead guinea pig and hand them over with a curt “ Shove these into Zenker, George, and run ’em through as fast as you can,” give eredit where credit is due. These are not operations that can be carried on by any old man in the street; these are true science. Dozens of procedures which we learned with difficulty in school days, we turn over to dieners and technicians, who learned the art from other dieners and technicians and carry it on in a clean-cut mechanical way better than we could do ourselves. God help science if all the dieners should unionize and go on a strike to-morrow. E. R. L. Saranao LAKE SCIENTIFIC BOOKS RECENT PALEOBOTANY IN GREAT BRITAIN Tue following survey of paleobotanical re- searches published in Britain during the war is necessarily superficial; it is, moreover, ob- viously impossible to draw a clearly defined line between work done in the period imme- diately preceding the outbreak of hostilities and work completed since August, 1914. No mention is made of papers which, though primarily concerned with recent plants, in- clude references to extinct types. In spite of the fact that national work of one kind or an- other has absorbed, wholly or in part, energies normally devoted to scientific research the record of achievement amply justifies the statement that the progress of paleobotanical enquiry has not suffered any serious check. Much has been done towards quickening the spirit of research in pure science as well as in relation to problems of great economic im- portance: the foundations of paleobotanical knowledge have been considerably strength- ened and, with the access of greater oppor- tunities and revived interest in research which we confidently expect in the days to come, the results gained during the period of storm and 44. - stress will unquestionably exercise a stimu- lating and directive influence upon future investigations. Through the death of Mr. Clement Reid (December, 1917) paleobotany has lost one of the ablest and most careful observers in a neglected field of British botany, namely, the investigation of the composition of European floras subsequent to the advent of the flower- ing plants as the dominant class. In his later work he had the benefit of the assistance of his wife by whom, it may confidently be ex- pected, questions connected with the origin of the British flora will be further elucidated. Dr. Newell Arber, who died in June, 1918, was one of the most indefatigible and en- thusiastic students of ancient floras, particu- larly those of Paleozoic and later Mesozoic age. He accomplished much in a compara- tively short life and by his whole-hearted de- votion to research exercised a wide influence : upon younger men. Miss Ruth Holden, though an American citizen, left her paleo- botanical work in this country at the end of 1916 to join a British medical unit in Russia where she died in April, 1917. By her death paleobotany lost an exceptionally gifted and promising student. Booxs.—The second part of “The Creta- ceous Flora”! by Dr. Marie Stopes, a volume of a series of British Museum Catalogues of the fossil plants in the national collection is devoted to an account of Lower Greensand (Aptian) plants, principally Conifers and ex- tinct types of Cycadophyta. The introductory chapter includes an interesting sketch of the general facies of Lower Greensand floras and a discussion on the climatic conditions under which the plants lived. A remarkable new genus (Colymbea) of Cycadophyta is described and new types of dicotyledonous wood. The author’s work affords striking evidence of the highly specialized structure of some of the oldest dicotyledonous trees of which we have any detailed Imowledge. Volume III. of 1 ‘Catalogue of the Mesozoic Plants in the Brit- ‘ish Museum’’ (Nat. Hist.), The Cretaceous Flora, Pt. II., London, 1915. 2‘¢ossil Plants,’’ Vol. III., Cambridge, 1917. SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1280 “Fossil Plants,? a text-book for students of Botany and Geology” by the writer of this article published in 1917 continues the ac- count of Pteridosperms and Cycadofilices be- gun in Vol. II. and deals with recent and fossil Cyeadophyta, the Cordiatales, and fossil gymnospermous seeds. The concluding vol- ume has been printed and will be published as soon as circumstances permit. Paprers.—l. Pre-Carboniferous Plants. One of the most important paleobotanical contri- butions of recent years, a paper of exceptional interest, is the memoir by Dr. Kidston and Professor Lang? on a new genus of plants, Rhynia Gwynne-Vaughani, beautifully pre- served as an almost pure growth in beds of chert in the Old Red Sandstone of Aberdeen- shire. The chert consists of a series of peat beds which were periodically inundated and eventually covered by a layer of sand. The silicified peat is almost entirely composed of the prostrate stems and rhizomes of the leaf- less and rootless Rhynia. This oldest land plant of which the internal structure is at all fully known consisted of a branched under- eround rhizome attached to the soil by rhizoids bearing occasionally forked, slender, leafless aerial branches. The vegetative organs bore small hemispherical protuberances some of which developed into adventitious branches. The reproductive organs are represented by elongate isosporous synangia probably borne at the end of the main axes. A new group, the Psilophytales, is instituted for this ex- ceptionally interesting plant which is com- pared with Pstlotum and with the Devonian Psilophyton princeps. Dr. Arber and Mr. Goode‘ record the occurrence of a few frag- mentary impressions of land plants from Devonian rocks of North Devon including specimens of slender repeatedly forked axes with terminal cupule-like organs which they refer to a new genus Xenotheca believed to represent the fertile shoots of a Pteridosperm. 3 Trans. R. Soc. Edinburgh, Vol. LI., Pt. IIT., p. 761, 1917. See also British Assoc. Report, 1916, p. 206. 4 Proc. Cambridge Phil. Soc., Vol. XVIII., Pt. III., p. 89, 1915. JuLY 11, 1919] The Devonian species belong to the oldest land-flora so far described from English strata. A paper by Messrs. Don and Hickling® gives by far the best account we possess of Parka decipiens, a problematical Old Red Sandstone discovered in 1838 and referred to different positions in both the animal and vegetable kingdoms. It occurs, in the form of flat cir- cular or oval flattened mummified bodies en- closing numerous circular groups of spores, in the lower beds of the Caledonian Old Red Sandstone and in passage beds between the Old Red and Silurian. The authors make out a good case for its inclusion in the Thallo- phyta as an extinct type with Algal affinities. Mr. Don, a student of unusual promise, ob- tained a commission in the early days of the war and died at Salonika in April, 1916. 2. Carboniferous Plants—Additions have been made to our knowledge of Carboniferous floras by several authors. Dr. Kidston® pub- lished in 1916 the first of a projected series of papers on plants from the Scottish Coal Measures in which are described two new spe- cies of Sigillaria, two new types of Sphenop- teris, and a new species of seed referred to the genus Lagenospernum. The same author? has described several plants from the Forest of Wyre coalfield and from the Tetterstone Clee Hill coalfield. Dr. Arber’ in a paper dealing with plants from the Red Clay series and the Middle Coal Measures of the Stafford- shire coalfield proposed a new generic name, Calamophloios, for casts and impressions of Calamite stems in which the external surface and not the surface of the pith-cast is pre- served. These papers on Carboniferous floras supply important data towards a more com- plete classification of coal-bearing strata in Britain on the basis of the fossil plants. Miss Lindsay® contributes new facts in a short 5 Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc., Vol. LXXI., Pt. IV., p. 648, 1917. 6 Trans. R. Soc. Edinburgh, Vol. LI., Pt. III., p. 709, 1916. 7 Ibid., Pt. IV., p. 999, 1917. 8 Phil. Trans, R. Soc. London, Vol. 208, Series B, p. 127, 1916. ® Annals of Botany, Vol. XXIX., p. 223, 1915. SCIENCE 45 account of the method of branching and the phenomena of branch-shedding in Bothroden- dron. Dr. Scott in an interesting sketch of the forests of the coal age! discusses the evidence afforded by paleobotanical investigations on the conditions under which the plants grew; he draws attention to the high degree of or- ganization exhibited by Paleozoic species, a fact which has not hitherto been sufficiently realized in discussions of problems connected with evolution. The same author! has pub- lished a valuable and comprehensive account of the genus Heterangium, one of the best known examples of the very important extinct Paleozoic group of pteridosperms, plants with fern-like foliage-bearing seeds and possessing anatomical characters’ denoting a close affinity to gymnosperms. He institutes a new sub- genus Polyangium to include several species characterized by compound leaf-traces and other distinctive features in contrast to an- other set of species, in which the leaf-trace is single in origin, referred to the subgenus Fu- Heterangium. The Polyangium forms indi- cate a closer relationship between the Lygin- opteridese and the Medulloses and Calamo- pityee than has hitherto been suspected. This paper is an admirable example of the im- portance of revising from time to time in the light of fresh discoveries our knowledge of extinct genera. Dr. Scott? has recently described a new species of another Carboni- ferous genus founded on petrified stems, Meso- zylon multirame, characterized by the presence of many axillary shoots and other morpho- logical features. A preliminary account is added of a small stem associated with Mitro- spermum seeds which it is believed may be- long to Mesoxylon. Dr. Nellie Bancroft’s care- ful re-investigation of Williamson’s Rachi- opteris cylindricat® from the Lower Coal Measures of Yorkshire reveals the existence of two types of this fern which she regards 10 Trans. Instit. Mining Engineers, Vol. LIV., Ptyldes po3, LOT 11 Jour. Linn. Soc., Vol. XLIV., p. 59, 1917. 12 Annals of Botany, Vol. XXXILI., p. 437, 1918. 13 [bid., Vol. XXIX., p. 531, 1915. 46 SCIENCE as habitat-forms of one species, the differences jn structure being attributed to the influence of water. In this as in many other recently published papers it is satisfactory to find that authors are now paying more attention than formerly to the significance of structural fea- tures as indices of climate and habitat. Mr. Sahni’s critical morphological study of the branching of the leaf-trace in certain Car- boniferous genera of ferns!* throws light on some previously misunderstood anatomical features and illustrates the value of the ap- plication of broad philosophical generalizations based on intensive study of allied forms. Miss Holden’s account of the anatomy of two Paleozoic Cardaitalean stems from India;1> placed in the genus Dadoxylon, supply wel- come information on the structure of plants belonging to the Glossopteris flora: the occur- rence of well marked rings of growth in the wood of both species is a fact of special in- terest from the point of view of the climatic conditions under which the plants of the southern flora flourished. A report of a Brit- ish Association Committee published in 1917 summarizes opinions on the vexed question of the classification?® of the older rocks of Gond- wana land in which plants of the Glossopteris flora are preserved. Researches of both scientific and economic interest into the composition and mode of origin of coal have in recent years attracted the attention of several workers. The most important piece of work of this kind is that by Dr. Stopes and Dr. Wheeler,?* a happy combi- nation of expert botanical and chemical knowl- edge. The authors begin by defining ordinary coal as a “compact, stratified mass of mum- mified plants free from all save a very low percentage of other matter,” that is practically a deposit of plants alone. It is rightly claimed that too little attention has hitherto been paid to research following logical de- ductions from our knowledge. of the chemical 14 [bid., Vol. XXXII., p. 369, 1918. 15 Annals of Botany, Vol. XXXI., p. 315, 1917. 16 British Assoc. Report, 1917, p. 106. 17 Monograph on the Constitution of Coal. Dpt. Scientific and Industrial Research, London, 1918. [N. 8. Von. L. No. 1280 composition of plants. The authors deal with modes of accumulation of coal-forming vege- table material action of the solvents on coal, the effect of heat, distillation at different tem- peratures, microscopic evidence bearing on the constitution of coal derived both from the coal itself and from the petrified tissues pre- served in the calcareous nodules of certain coal seams. A very useful bibliography is ap- pended. Mr. Lomax? has continued his micro- scopical analysis of coal seams and discusses the part played by different plants and parts of plants in the composition of coal. Similarly Mr. Hickling,1® who writes on the micrope- trology of coal, reviews previous work and gives the results of original observations; he attributes differences in coal rather to the re- sult of varying degrees or varying modes of alteration than to differences in the nature of the original constituents. 3. Mesozoic Plants—Dr. Arber’s memoir, published shortly before his death, on the older Mesozoic floras of New Zealand,2° is a particularly welcome contribution to our knowledge of the little known botanical his- tory of that country. He deals with Triassic- Rheetic, Jurassic and Cretaceous plants. The author shows that no Palzozoic flora has so far been discovered: the absence of any un- doubted examples of the common southern hemisphere genus Glossopteris leads him to express the view that New Zealand did not form -part of that extensive continent known as Gondwana land in the Permo-Carbonifer- ous period. An account is given of a remark-— able petrified forest at Waikawa, Southland, consisting chiefly of some conifers and well- preserved osmundaceous stems. Dr. Arber’s work clears up many obscure points and cor- rects erroneous statements by previous au- thors. Important contributions have been made to our knowledge of Jurassic plants, notably the description of a new genus, Wzlliamsoniella, 1s Trans. Instit. Mining Engineers, Vol. L., Pt. I., p. 127, 1915. 19 Ibid., Vol. LIIT., Pt. III., p. 137, 1917. 20New Zealand Geol. Survey, Paleontological Bulletin No. 6, Wellington, 1917. Juuy 11, 1919] of Cycadophyta by Mr. Hamshaw Thomas?! (now Captain Thomas) founded on material collected by him at Gristhorpe bay on the Yorkshire coast. This genus possessed fertile shoots bearing small ovules and interseminal scales crowded on a pyriform axis and sur- rounded at the base by a whorl of micro- sporophylls each bearing 5-6 synangia. The bisexual shoots were almost certainly borne in the forks of a slender dichotomously branched stem like that of Wielandiella, and there are good grounds for regarding the sup- posed fern leaves known as Tacniopteris vittata as the foliage of this Bennettitalean plant. Mr. Thomas’s discovery2? of a bed of mummi- fied plant remains in the Lower Estuarine series at Roseberry Topping, Yorkshire, en- abled him to investigate minutely the epider- mal characters of the problematical genus Thinnfeldia; he believes that the fragments of leaves and twigs of which the deposit is mainly composed were borne on trees, an in- teresting suggestion at variance with previous views on the nature of the genus. This au- thor also describes a Yorkshire specimen of Williamsonia?* in the Paris Museum which is probably the male flower of Williamsonia gigas. Miss Holden’s account of a new type of coniferous stem, Metacedroxylon?4 from the Corallian of Sutherland, Scotland, adds an- other to an already long list of Mesozoic types exhibiting a mixture of Abietineous anatom- ical characters. An examination by the same author?® of impressions of Wealden fronds previously referred to the genus Cycadites and believed to be closely allied to the recent Cycas shows that they should be transferred to Pseudocycas. A paper by Mr. Clement Reid and Mr. Grove?* on Characee from the Pur- beck of Dorset gives a preliminary account of their researches into the fossil representatives 21 Phil. Trans. R. Soc., Vol, 207, Series B, p. 113, 1915. 22 The Naturalist, January 1, 1915, p. 7. 23 Proc. Cambridge Phil. Soc., Vol. XVIII., Pt. TII., p. 105, 1915. 24 New Phytologist, Vol. XIV., p. 205, 1915. 25 Ibid., Vol. XIII, p. 334, 1914. 26 Proc. RB. Soc., Series B, Vol. 89, p. 252, 1916. SCIENCE 47 of this neglected family; they describe a new genus, Olavator, characterized by club-like nodes on the stem and by other characters. Dr. Marie Stopes has instituted a new genus, Planoxylon,?* for a Cretaceous New Zealand eoniferous stem combining Abietineous and Araucarian features; she suggests that this generalized type points to the existence in the southern hemisphere of an extinct group of conifers of unexpectedly Abietineous affinities. The same author?’ describes the structure of the first specimens of roots of Bennettites so far discovered. Several papers by Dr. Ellis?® deal with fossil fungi and include descriptions based on char- acters of doubtful value of some supposed new species from Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks; the author also discusses the réle of micro- organisms in the formation of ironstones. 4. Tertiary and Pleistocene Plants—Mr. Dutt’s careful account of Pityostrobus macro- cephalus,®° believed to be allied to Pinus ex- celsa, from the Lower Eocene of the London Basin is an interesting morphological contri- bution and reveals the occurrence of unusual features in this well-preserved Abietineous cone which have been overlooked by previous authors. Papers by Mr. Clement Reid*? and by Professor Marr and Miss Gardner®? extend our knowledge of the Arctic Pleistocene flora of England and of the conditions under which the plants grew. In his “Notes on Calamopitys”*? Dr. Seott deals with the same fulness and critical insight with the known species of this Lower Carboniferous genus, a type showing certain affinities to Lyginopteris and Heterangium. We have unfortunately no knowledge of its reproductive organs. The paper contains 27 Annals of Botany, Vol. XXX., p. 111, 1916. 28 Ibid., Vol. XXXI., p. 257, 1917. 29 Proc. R. Soc. Edinburgh, Vol. XXXV., Pt. I., _ p. 110, 1915; Knowledge, Vol. XXXIX., p. 73, 1916; Geol. Mag., Vol. IV., p. 102, 1917. 30 Annals of Botany, Vol. XXX., p. 529, 1916. 31 Quar. Jour. Geol. Soc., Vol. LXXI., p. 155, 1917. 32 Geol. Mag., Vol. III., p. 339, 1916. 33 Jour. Linn. Soc., Vol. XLIV., p. 205, 1918. 48 SCIENCE much that is new and is a valuable contri- bution to the difficult subject of the interrela- tionship of several Paleozoic plants exhibiting remarkable complex anatomical features. A. C. SrwarpD UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE SPECIAL ARTICLES THE BLACK CHAFF OF WHEAT Tue continued prevalence of black chaff of wheat in the United States makes it desirable to have a Latin-scientific name for the bac- terial organism causing it. This organism resembles Bacterium translucens (see Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. XI., p. 625, 1917), cause of the bacterial blight of barley. In cross inoculations on the leaves of seedling plants the barley organism on wheat has proved either non-infectious or has produced small non-typical lesions. On the other hand, inoculation experiments have shown that the wheat organism is practically as pathogenic on barley as it is on wheat and the lesions so produced on barley are indistinguishable from those produced by the barley organism itself. There also appear to be minor cultural differ- ences. It is suggested, therefore, that for the present, at least, the wheat organism be dis- tinguished as Bacterium translucens var. un- dulosum with, in general, the characteristics already given for the species: Var. undulosum noy. var., cause of the black chaff disease of wheat, produces yellow or translucent stripes on leaves, water-soaked or black stripes on culms, and longitudinal, more or less sunken, dark stripes or spots on the glumes. In moist weather the bacteria often ooze to the surface of the diseased spots or stripes as tiny beads or drops, drying yel- lowish. From sections of diseased leaves or glumes mounted in water they ooze in enorm- ous numbers (like smoke out of a chimney) ’ making the fluid cloudy. This organism at- tacks also the kernels, especially at the base causing them to be shrunken and _ honey- combed with batterial pockets, but even when the kernels are not attacked their surface is liable to be infected from the diseased glumes. When the disease appears early and is severe LN. S. Von. L. No. 1280 the heads are dwarfed. Surface colonies on thin-sown agar plates are circular, pale yellow, smooth (like polished glass) and structure- less on the surface, usually homogeneous also by direct transmitted light, but by oblique transmitted light (half-light) the interior is seen to be full of minute waves or interblend- ing striations which persist, and which are best seen with a hand lens. It can be dis- tinguished easily and quickly from accom- panying non-parasitic yellow forms by this character alone. Slime copious and very pale yellow on potato agar; on whey agar very copious and bright chrome yellow—slime on this medium deeper yellow and less fluid than that of the barley organism. ‘Infections have been obtained repeatedly on wheat leaves and glumes. The disease is transmitted to young seedlings by way of the wheat kernels. It occurs in all the wheat states of the Middle West. For earlier notes consult Scmncr, N. S., Vol. XLIV., No. 1134, p. 482, 1916, the Jour- nal of Agricultural Research, Vol. X., No. 1, 1917, and the Plant Disease Bulletin (issued by The Plant Disease Survey, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture), Vol. I.,-No. 2, 1917, and Vol. IT., No. 6, 1918. Erwin F. StH, L. R. JONEs, C. S. Reppy THE BUFFALO MEETING OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SO- CEEANY2eavi The rapid determination of titanium in titanifer- ous iron ores: JOHN WADDELL. The ore is fused in a silver, copper or iron crucible with sodium peroxide, for about ten minutes. The crucible with the fused mass is brought into a beaker with water, and the disintegrated material dissolved in sulphurie acid. Tartaric acid is added to keep the titanium in solution. Sulphuretted hydrogen is passed through the solution. If a copper or silver erucible has been used, the precipitated sulphide is filtered off, and to the filtrate, ammonia is added and more sulphuretted hydrogen is passed. To the filtrate from the iron sulphide, sulphurie acid is added and the solution is boiled to drive off the Juny 11, 1919] sulphuretted hydrogen and to coagulate the sul- phur. After filtration, the solution can be made up to a given volume, and an aliquot portion taken for comparison of the color produced by addition of hydrogen peroxide, with that of a standard titanium solution. Or, the titanium may be pre- cipitated with cupferron, and the precipitate burned and weighed as titanium oxide. A standard magnetite of the Bureau of Standards containing 0.99 per cent. TiO. was analyzed, and the results were within a few hundredths of a per cent. of that given. Concordant results were also obtained with an ore containing between thirteen and four- teen per cent. of TiO. Fusion of the ore with borax in a platinum crucible also gave satisfactory results, the disintegration of the fused mass being however not so rapid as when sodium peroxide was used. The calculation of the efficiency of the silent discharge process for nitrogen fixation: F. O. ANDEREGG. Oxygen combines with nitrogen in the silent discharge. The discharge evidently changes the comparatively inert molecule into a more active condition which is probably atomic. The energy required for this activation is all that is necessary for the fixation of nitrogen. The splitting up of the molecules is probably the result of electrons, which have acquired a suitable velocity by falling through a minimum potential gradient colliding with the oxygen or nitrogen molecules. To eal- culate this energy of activation of oxygen use may be made of the fact that ultra-violet light of a wave-length shorter than 190 uu is completely ab- sorbed by oxygen with ozone being formed. This corresponds to a potential gradient of about 6.4 volts using the quantum theory. Then to activate one mol of oxygen requires about 146 large calor- ies. For nitrogen the wave-lengths have not been similarly determined but the recent work of Davis and Goucher! makes the value of 9 volts seem to be a likely one. This corresponds to 207 calories per mol. At ordinary temperatures in the silent discharge the nitric oxide first formed is oxidized not merely to tetroxide but, because of the excess of ozone, to pentoxide, requiring one more active oxygen for this step. The complete reaction for, the formation of nitric acid anhydride is then 2N(— 207) + 20(— 146) + 0, + O(— 73) = N.0;(-+ 1.4) + 427.4 calories. The numbers in brackets represent the values in large calories required for the formation of the 1 Phys. Rev., 13, 1-5, 1919. SCIENCE 49 substance from the ordinary molecular condition of the elements. On an efficiency basis this amounts to about 250 grams of nitrie acid per kilowatt hour. This possible yield compares fav- orably with the 134 grams obtainable from the union of oxygen and nitrogen at 4,200° A. in the purely thermal process. In practise a combina- tion of the thermal and electrical process is used. Similarly in the formation of ozone the limiting yield is about 510 grams per kilowatt hour as com- pared with 80-90 grams, the best results actually obtained with an efficiency of 15-17 per cent. . Lhe viscosity of casein solution—I., the effect of Pe Harper F. Zouuer. The study of the viscos- ity of casein in alkaline solutions was taken up with the ultimate object of determining its chance relationship to the adhesiveness of such solutions. Viscosity curves of Hammarsten and Dairy Di- vision caseins dissolved in sodium hydroxide show a maximum viscosity in the region of 9.0 Py. The slope of the curve is very precipitous on either side of the maximum. The hydrogen-ion concen- tration was measured both colorimetrically and electrometrically; the Clark electrode-vessel being employed for the latter determinations. A great significance is attached to the flattening of the viscosity curves immediately following the decline from the maximum. This is intimately correlated with the alkaline hydrolysis and evolution of am- monia in this zone. Solutions of casein in am- monia do not exhibit the precipitous decline from the maximum viscosity, although the maximum is jn the same narrow region of Py. The observa- tions of Sakur, Pauli, Chick and Martin and Rob- ertson were reviewed. Periodic vibrations in gels: J. M. JoHLIN. Boiling point of liquids: F. P. Sompen. Basing his deductions on the assumption that at the boil- ing point of a liquid the vibratory energy of in- dividual molecular constituents of the liquid and of its vapor must be equal, the author finds that the absolute temperature 7, of the boiling point of an absolutely pure liquid is expressible as Mpve Pen EES) in which formula m represents the molecular weight of the substance or compound and pz; and vz the pressure and volume of the vapor at the tempera- ture Ty. For ordinary liquids containing impuri- ties lowering the boiling point, the above equation reads, Oz Om LN Ne a 50 C being a constant, individual for each liquid; be- ing taken at 8.7 for water and m at 18 the last equation yields m i = 749 (pxvz — 8.7) = 12.1(pzvz — 8.7). Since we calculate from tables of properties of saturated yapor of water that pvat 273° absolute amounts to 31 calories per kilogram the above equa- tion for Tz gives 12.1 (31-8.7) =270° absolute at 313 degrees at which pv is 34.6 cals. we find 12.1 (34.6-8.7) = 313.3° absolute. _ At 473 degrees absolute pv is equal 47.9 calories and 12.1 (47.9-8.7) =473.5° absolute. Similar agreement is found for other vapors by inserting the correct valve for constant as long as no psolymerisation in the liquid takes place. (1) Molecular state of water vapor; (2) Vapor pressure depression equation for dilute aqueous so- lutions: JAMES KENDALL. Size and behavior of suspended smoke particles: R. E. WInson. Influence exerted by antagonistic electrolytes on the electrical resistance and permeability of emul- sin membranes: G. H. A. CLOWES. The exact determination of molecular weights by the boiling point method: EH. M. WASHBURN. Solubility of strontium nitrate in anhydrous alcohol in alcohol containing small per cent. of water: C. W. Fouux. (1) Influence of the age of ferric arsenate on its peptization; (2) Syneresis of silicic acids gels: H. N. HouMEs. A study of the lowering of vapor pressure of water produced by absorbed KCl: B. F. LOVELACE, J. C. W. Frazer, V. B. SEASE. A study of the lowering of vapor pressure of water produced by absorbed mannite: J. C. W. Fraser, B. F. Lovetace, T. H. Rocers. The volume and surface of the pores in charcoal and the compression of adsorbed substances: W. D. Harkins and D. T. Ewine. An electromagnetic and valence hypothesis of heterogeneous equilibrium in adsorption: W. D. HARKINS. DIVISION OF WATER, SEWERAGE AND SANITATION Robert Spurr Weston, Chairman W. W. Skinner, Secretary Determination of bromid in mineral waters and brines: W. W. SKINNER and W. F. BAUGHMAN. SCIENCE [N. S. Von. L. No. 1280 Colorimetrie methods for the determination of bromin give satisfactory results only when small quantities of bromin are to be determined. The method proposed for the determination of bromids in the presence of chlorids is the oxidation of the bromids and removal of the liberated bromid by steam distillation or by aspiration. The method depends upon the use of chromic acid for oxidation of the bromid. Chromic acid in concentrated solu- © tion liberates bromin from bromids quantitatively at room temperature and the bromin may be re- moved by aspiration. It liberates only a trace of chlorin from chlorids, forming probably chromie chlorid which remains in solution. When chromic acid acts on a solution of chlorids and bromids, some chlor-bromid is formed which is removed with the bromin by aspiration. The liberated bromin and the chlorin in the first aspiration is collected in a solution of sodium sulphite and sodium carbonate, which is evaporated to dryness and again submitted to the treatment with chromic acid and aspirated the second time. The double aspiration gives very accurate results. Certain war gases and health: CHARLES BASKER- VILLE. Evidence has been collected from all the chlorine producing plants and many works and ar- senals where chlorine was used. Preponderating evidence favors the conclusion that chlorine exerts a preventative influence against influenza, The evidence is not conclusive, however, as contrary data were obtained from some plants. The con- tradictions may possibly be harmonized on the basis of concentration, the more dilute up to limits the more effective. Small amounts of bromine in , the air appear to prevent influenza completely. CHARLES L. PARSONS, Secretary =———=——=3 SCIENCE A Weekly Journal devoted to the Advancement of Science, publishing the official notices and pro- ceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Published every Friday by THE SCIENCE PRESS LANCASTER, PA. GARRISON, N. Y. NEW YORK, N. Y. Entered in the post-office at Lancaster, Pa., as second class matter PCr NGL NEw SERIES S Co: 15 C VoL. L, No. 1281 Fripay, JULY 18, 1919 Ace ered ana $5.00 » $5. Morgan Dropweight Apparatus The Standard Apparatus for determining the vapor tension of liquids, drop- weights, etc. Made according to the speci- fications of Prof. J. L. Morgan, ® of the Department of Physical Chemistry, Columbia Univer- sity. The apparatus is blown and the various parts ground to fit exactily by expert work- men in our glass shop. Every part is guaranteed to be of the highest quality work- manship, made from the finest glass, and to be standard in every particular. Complete with Case, $75.00 FOUNDED 1851 SOLE MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS National Headquarters for Fine Scientific Apparatus, C.P. and T.P. Chemicals and Laboratory Supplies Third Avenue, 18th to 19th Street NEW YORK, N. Y. PITTSBURGH OFFICE: 2011 Jenkins Arcade SCIENCE—ADVERTISEMENTS Dy eA 280 GONTAINING SSXO fe DN? By, EACH FILTER, OR Bag ronan Munktell’s Swedish Filter Paper As sole American Agents for this world-famous brand of Filter Paper, we wish to notify the trade, that on account of the removal of shipping restrictions by the United States War Trade Board, which reduces the trouble and expense of obtain- ing Import Licenses, the reduction of war insurance rates and the greater availability of shipping space as well as a general re- duction of war time expenses, we are glad to quote a reduction from recent prices on this much desired commodity. We have a stock on hand for immediate delivery covering the different grades called for by Chemists and Bacteriologists. J. H. Munktell’s product has been the world’s leading brand for many years in the Filter Paper Line and is well and favorably known to all chemists. Send us your orders. We can take care of you. Present prices upon application. E. H. SARGENT & CO. Importers, Makers and Dealers in Chemicals and Chemical Apparatus of High Grade only 125-127 W. Lake St. CHICAGO, ILL. SCIENCE —————SSSS Fripay, Juty 18, 1919 CONTENTS Democratic Coordination of Scientific Ef- forts: Dr: H. H. WHETZEL .............. 51 On Duty Free Importation: C. H. ASH ...... 55 The Division of Engineering, National Re- search Council: GALEN H, CLEVENGER ..... 58 Scientific Events :— The Watt Centenary; The Shortage of Coal in Europe; The Proposed Medical Founda- tion for New York City; The Philadelphia Meeting of the American Chemical Society. 60 Scientific Notes and News ............+.+5 62 University and Educational News ......... 65 Discussion and Correspondence :— The History of Science and the American Association for the Advancement of Science: FREDERICK E, Brascu. The Needs of Paleo- botany: Dr. G. R. WIELAND. Gravitational Attraction and Uraniwm Lead: ANDERS Buty. Working up in a Swing: Drs. V. KarapPeTorr, Pau E. KLopsteG ........ 66 Scientific Books :— Kinnicutt on Sewage Disposal: Dr. GEORGE Wyo ANWAR) ES Sadoasdobuoododonduunuesod 71 Special Articles :— The Possible Presence of Coronium in Helium from Natural Gas: Dr. HAMILTON P. Capy AND Howard McKersr Etsry .... 71 The Iowa Academy of Science: Dr. JAMES isl IMAI og gonogdogoanadueboopoDaHaGDOoD 72 MSS. intended for publication and books, etc., intended for review should be sent to The Editor of Science, Garrison-on- Hudson, N. Y. DEMOCRATIC COORDINATION OF SCI- ENTIFIC EFFORTS! CoopERATION and coordination are the very essence of all evolution and progress, biolog- ical, social, political, moral, industrial or what not. We acknowledge without controversy the fundamental role of these factors in the evo- lution of living things. They constitute the woof and warp of the social fabric, without them political machinery can not function, and the wheels of industry cease to turn; they condition every ethical and moral principle. It is the glory of science that it has uncovered and made clear this fundamental fact of or- ganic evolution. But in the organization of its own activities how little has it profited by its own discovery. The Honorable Elihu Root has well said :? Science, like charity, should begin at home, and fas done so very imperfectly. Science has been arranging, classifying, methodizing, simplifying everything except itself. It has made possible the tremendous modern development of the power of organization which has so multiplied the effective power of human effort as to make the difference from the past seem to be of kind rather than of degree. It has organized itself very imperfectly. Scientific men are only recently realizing that the principles which apply to success on a large scale in transportation and manufacture and general staff work apply to them; that the difference be- tween a mob and an army does not depend upon occupation or purpose but upon human nature; that the effective power of a great number of scientific men may be increased by organization just as the effective power of a great number of laborers may be increased by military discipline. It may well seem strange to the layman that 1 Presented in the symposium on ‘‘Our present duty as botanists’’? before the joint session of the Botanical Society of America and the Ameri- can Phytopathological Society, December 26, 1918, at Baltimore, Md. 2. Science, N. S., 48, 532-534, 1918. 52 scientists have not applied to their own profes- sion the doctrine of cooperation and coordina- tion so vigorously and successfully preached to others. Yet the fact remains that while the rest of mankind has gone far along the way which we have discovered and pointed out we still remain largely isolated and intrenched in the feudal towers of our individualism. Here behind moat and wall we shape and fashion those intellectual darts with which at our an- nual tourneys we hope to pierce the haughty pride of some brother baron. Yet common sense, the common-good, the very progress of our profession demands that we abandon this ancient outworn attitude. For more than four years now we have been witnessing one of the greatest convulsions in the inexorable march of human evolution. Again the intrenched autocracy of individual- ism has gone down before the invincible march of democratic socialism and we look with longing expectation for the consummation of that age old dream, a true league of mankind, free from the blighting menace of individual selfishness. How then shall scientific men, who often and in so many ways have pointed out the path along which mankind shall realize its vision of common brotherhood, perfect in their own relations the doctrine which they have so persistently and effectively taught. How shall we truly cooperate and effectively coordinate our efforts and discoveries. While I must ad- mit the obstacles and the difficulties which confront us, frankly I see none that are funda- mental or insurmountable. They are in no- wise of a different sort or more formidable than those which confront other men. Every honest scientist must admit the desirability, yes the very necessity of scientific cooperation, if we are to maintain that lofty position of disinterested leadership in the economic affair of mankind which we so long have held to be our natural heritage. ~ _ But one short year ago this body of men ac- knowledged this grave necessity by their com- mon effort to organize themselves for more ef- fective participation in the gigantic struggle then at its zenith. SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1281 What then are some of the specific diffiicul- ties with which we are confronted. One says, “This is my idea, how shall I be protected in my possession and exploitation of it” and he hoists aloft the bugbear of priority, at once the reward and the curse of scientific work. “What,” cries another, “shall I share my im- mature conclusions with my intellectual in- feriors,’ and then proceeds to contribute another half-baked fragment to the crumbs that litter scientific publication. Is any truly scientific man so poor in ideas that he can not afford, forsooth, the loss of a crumb or two if that the common good be better served by the free and open display of his wares? I have been ever free to expose my own discoveries and ideas on scientific matters for the consid- eration and criticism of my colleagues nor am I aware that any of them has ever been inten- tionally filched or appropriated. It may well be of course that all of them have been like the contents of the proverbial purse. No man shall thus greatly lose, for by the very display itself he most protects that which is truly his; for who will steal cakes from the common table and hope to get away with it? Another invokes the shades of a jealous director to justify his selfish doubts of the possibility of cooperative action. Well, have we not ever boasted of our academic freedom, and if we choose to pool our ideas shall autocratic ad- ministrators rise to say us nay? Real admin- istrators most recognize the value and ad- vantages of cooperation and will be the first to approve our efforts in this direction. The common good alone deserves consideration. Will any one gainsay the fact that more than half the words with which we dress our dar- lings for the press are so much padding old and soiled with wear? How immature and verdant too, too many of them are. Then why not bring them forth in all their nakedness and let the eyes of all the tribe appraise them at their worth, discuss them, test them, fit them in their proper place and stamp with gen- eral approval that which posterity may use with confidence and gratitude. Think of the weary hours we now must give to burrowing in literature. Then shall we not forswear our JuLy 18, 1919] selfishness and join to make an end of a con- dition unscientific and unsound? “Tt can’t be done!” It has been done, is being done to some degree right now among us. And you will pardon me, I trust, if I bring forward in proof of this assertion a piece of cooperative research in my own field. Under the auspices of the War Emergency Board of American Plant Pathologists, work- ers in fifteen states and in the federal depart- ment have planned and carried out coopera- tively a most extensive investigation on cereal seed treatment with the result that in one year we have approached general agreement upon a single simple safe and most effective method, of wide application, for the control of exter- nally-borne, seed infesting cereal smuts. I need not dwell upon the advantages thereby ac- cruing to science and to practical agriculture. Once more I beg your indulgence. In a single conference of two days duration the potato disease pathologists of the continent in August, 1918, in free and open exchange of facts and ideas made more progress toward the solution of the difficult problems of leaf roll and mosaic, than would have been accom- plished in five years of individual reflection in solitary confinement. , Itis evident, of course, that cooperation and coordination of our scientific activities can not be accomplished without organization. The character of this organization is a most vital consideration. It can not be imposed upon us, it must be of our own making. It must be truly democratic and without auto- cratic possibilities. Moreover, it must directly affect only those individuals who of their own free choice are willing to associate themselves together to this end, nor shall any one be ex- cluded who is prepared to enter this associa- tion with zeal and unselfish purpose. But or- ganization alone, no matter how democratic, can not succeed without good leadership; lead- ership of the highest order, strong, vigorous, of broad vision, wholly devoted to the common good, above reproach. We must demand that the ablest shall lead and we must give them our fullest confidence, our heartiest allegiance SCIENCE 53 and our unqualified support in the under- takings. _ Having now set forth what I believe to be the most fundamental factors for success in cooperative undertakings in scientific work, I may be expected to present something con- crete respecting the modus operandi by which we may hope to realize this success. In pre- senting for your consideration the following plan I am not without experimental data upon which to base my opinion that it will be found exceedingly workable. It is essentially the method by which the American plant patholo- gists have, during the past year, sought to speed up accomplishment within their own field. The results have been so remarkable, so indicative of what cooperative effort may be expected to accomplish, and the methods by which this has been effected, so generally ap- proved amongst us, that I venture to predict that the machinery which we have evolved will, in its essentials, best serve to promote in other fields of science the true spirit of co- operation and coordination. The thing about which all cooperative effort in science must center is the solution of some definite prob- Jem, be it one of research, of teaching or of extension. For the solution of this problem a number of workers voluntarily agree to asso- ciate themselves. The ideal condition is that in which all workers in any way interested in the problem become co-partners in the attack upon it. Not only that but there must be a general understanding that any person who in the future becomes interested may, without hesitation, claim the privilege of associating himself in the undertaking. In short those uniting for the conduct of a given project, constitute the project committee. Each pro- ject committee selects from among their num- ber some one to be their leader, note I say leader, for only under real leadership can the work be carried to a successful consummation. If the committee finds that it has been mis- taken in its choice the evident and democratic expectation is that it will promptly choose another to lead. Just what is expected of the committee chief is clearly implied in the word leader and I therefore need not dwell upon 54 his qualifications or his duties. It should be clear, however, that neither planning of the project, nor partitioning of the field nor as- signment of work is to be a function of the leader or of any group within or without the committee. Each individual must be free to undertake that which his inclination and his facilities dictate. Nor shall any one re- serve to himself alone any phase of the prob- lem whatsoever. Each must feel free to dupli- cate, to test or to try the work of the other. The solution of the problem is the thing and personal aggrandizement at the expense of one’s colleagues must give place to personal service and its more lasting rewards, for I am convinced that there will be more of glory and renown for each participant in a cooperative accomplishment, complete and well rounded, than in the best fragment which any of them alone might pass down to posterity. , You will next demand to know how effective cooperation and coordination within the com- mittee is to be assured without personal con- tact and exchange of view. I reply, it is not. This brings us to a consideration of the project conference. A conference of at least a considerable majority of those proposing to associate themselves together in the work will be requisite for the very organization thereof; and the selection of a leader will be by no means the only business. At the initial con- ference there must be the freest and fullest ex- change of data already in the hands of each member, of all the ideas, yea, of all the “hunches” which each may have upon the subject. Every man’s cards, all of them, must be upon the table, faces up. They must in the very beginning pool, in the fullest sense of that word, their combined resources and then there must be an exhaustive examination and discussion of every item presented, with finally a summarized inventory of their stock in hand. With this before them, plans for fu- ture work will be agreed upon and each will return to his post to carry forward to the best of his ability that portion of the work which he himself has chosen to do, feeling that he has a vital part in a vital problem worthy of his best endeavors. Nor will he be tempted to dis- SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1281 sipate his time and energy on other phases of the problem which he feels are necessary com- pliments to that upon which he desires to con- centrate his efforts. He will know that another seeks their solution and will bring them even- tually for fitting together with the parts which he himself has shaped. Succeeding conferences on the project must be arranged. They should at least be annual for while much may be accomplished by cor- respondence it is only in the heat of personal discussion that the various parts can be ef- fectively welded into a coordinate whole. , There is much virtue in conferences of real cooperators. They are not the “ talk-fests” and sparring matches of competing individual- ists. They are the business meetings of an open corporation. They are not for the read- ing of preliminary papers, they are for the ma- king of comprehensive contributions. They require days not hours. Two solid days in- cluding the intervening evening were required to organize the project work on potato mosaic, leaf roll and seed certification in the Buffalo conference of potato disease pathologists last August; and no time was wasted. ‘These con- ferences must be arranged for and the cooper- ators must be gotten to them. The necessary traveling funds must be found. And now I hear some skeptic mutter to his neighbor, “ But how about publication.” The answer is simple. A group of men who will cooperate in the solution of a scientific prob- lem will also cooperate in the publication of their work. ‘That too is their problem, and different groups will solve it differently. It is apparent that some organization or association of the units, the project com- mittees, is not only desirable but perhaps im- perative. They need the stimulus that comes through association; each needs to coordinate its own problem with the related ones. This has been accomplished to some extent by the phytopathologists in the formation of general project committees consisting of the leaders of the committees on closely related projects, as for example the general potato disease pro- ject committee, of which Dr. W. A. Orton is now leader. Juty 18, 1919] Within each well-defined field of science, where cooperative projects of the kind I have indicated are in operation, there should be and naturally would be provided a general coordinating board of strong, aggressive but tactful leaders, small in numbers, but alert and far seeing, who would guide, not direct, the effective organization and development of the cooperative idea. Such a board must be constituted through the free and well considered choice of a demo- eratic electorate. I believe that the plan which will insure most satisfactory and effec- tive results is the selection of a leader by vote of all the cooperating workers in the field. The leader to select, subject to their approval the remaining members of the board. The size of the board, tenure of office and other details of a like nature are of relatively little importance so long as they remain subject to the control of a live democracy. To hold that such a program as I have here outlined can be carried through easily and without difficulties would be to acknowledge ignorance of human nature. The selfishness of individuals has always been the chief ob- stacle to cooperative undertakings and selfish ambition is not uncommon among scientific men. Yet the measure of the success of true democracy will always be the extent to which this human weakness is suppressed and elimi- nated. Cooperation among scientists for the solution of problems must come. In no other way shall we be able to rise to the demands and the opportunities of the age. The pioneer days of science are largely over and progress is to be made only by organized and united effort. Why shall not the botanists of Amer- ica lead? Already one group among us has indicated the possibilities in this direction. Botany in its broadest sense must justify itself in an economic world even as chemistry is do- ing and there is no want for opportunities. Colleagues shall we organize, shall we co- operate, shall we coordinate, and shall we show the way? H. H. WHetzEu CHAIRMAN OF THE WAR EMERGENCY BOARD or AMERICAN PLANT PATHOLOGISTS, CoRNELL UNIVERSITY SCIENCE 55 ON DUTY-FREE IMPORTATION. Berore the great war, the practise of im- porting duty free many things required by educational institutions had become so thor- oughly established as to be regarded as part of the normal course of events. What had first been regarded as a special privilege came to be looked upon as a special right; and insti- tutions, justly or unjustly, considered them- selves entitled to purchase anything required for their maintenance in the lowest world market and to do this quite regardless of any conditions of high tariff or low tariff. Pro- hibitive tariff; protective tariff; tariff for rev- enue only had little or no interest for them. “Made in Germany,” “Made in Japan,” “ Made in England,” were more familiar in- scriptions on laboratory apparatus than “ Made in America.” In August, 1914, duty-free importation was stopped and now for the first time it is pos- sible to resume it again. The question of whether or not it is desirable to do so is to the mind of the writer a pertinent one. That it was the part of wisdom and good policy in the early days of our country when “higher education ” was represented by a few denominational institutions, mainly supported by private contributions to grant them the privilege of importing without duty the in- struments necessary for their research, is be- yond question. Science was practically unknown in this country; in fact, science as we know it to-day was almost unknown in the world. The amount of apparatus required by all the world was but a small fraction of that now utilized by America alone. An astronomical telescope, a compound microscope, a spectroscope was a rare instrument for which the world must be sought over, and having located an instrument of scientific interest, what more natural than that the pioneers of science in this country should be allowed to import it duty free? They were furthering the development of sci- ence and education and helping to create the demand that now exists for enormous quanti- ties of such instruments, many of which have developed entirely out of the class of scientific 56 SCIENCE curiosities and experimental instruments and become everyday tools of trades and pro- fessions. That it was the intention of the legislators to accomplish this very end is evident from the wording of the act granting the privilege. In enumerating the list of free goods it in- cludes: (A) “ Books, maps, music, engravings . . . publications (mot including advertise- ments) for gratuitous circulation.” (B) “Publications, not more than two in any one amvoice in good faith for the use of any society or institution, incorporated solely for reli- gious, philosophical, educational, scientific or literary purposes.” (C) “ Philosophical and scientific apparatus, utensils, instruments and preparations including boxes and bottles con- taining the same in good faith for the use and by the order of any society or institu- tion” as above described “and not for sale.” These three provisions are incorporated in ‘the same act and referred to in the same para- graph in 1918 annotated edition of Federal Laws. Does it not appear reasonable that if the original framers of these laws could have looked far enough into the future to see the enormous number of identical instruments now imported by single institutions for use in student laboratories, and thus virtually sold to the students in their payment of tuition and rents, even though the institution may retain its title to them till they are worn out, that they might have added the same provision in regard to instruments that was set down con- cerning books of learning, viz: “not more than two in any one invoice”? It is of interest too to note the trend of opinion as to what was intended to be granted by this provision and what constitutes “ phi- losophical instruments” by noting the inter- pretations that have been put on the question by the courts. In 1890, one Oelschlaeger imported a con- signment of mixed goods, all of which he claimed were to be classified as “ philosophical instruments” and entitled to the special pro- visions and exemption due to goods so classi- fied. Robertson, an official whose duty in- volved the appraising of goods and classifying them for rates of duty, declined to accept this [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1281 ‘classification and demanded the duty on them when classified as “mechanical instruments.” Oelschlaeger brought suit for the recovery of duty so paid. The court found for the de- fendant in a portion of the goods and for the plaintiff in another portion. In handing down the decision, the following language was used: The most that can be done, therefore, is to dis- tinguish between those implements that are used more especially in. making observations, experi- ments and discoveries. and those which are more especially used in the arts and professions. For example; an Astronomical Telescope, a Compound Microscope, a Ruhmkorf coil, would be readily classified as philosophical instruments or appa- ratus. While the instruments commonly used by surgeons, physicians and navigators for the pur- pose of carrying on their several professions and calling would be classified amongst mechanical implements, or instruments for practical use in the arts and professions. ... Continuing the quotation: It is somewhat difficult [said the Court] in prac- tise to draw a line of distinction between the two classes in as much as many instruments originally used for the purpose of observation and experi- ment have since come to be used partially or wholly as implements in the arts. Among the goods included in this partic- ular consignment were a high-grade com- pound microscope, a small and simpler micro- scope for the examination of textiles and an ophthalmoscope. The former of these three instruments were held to be philosophical in- struments, while the two latter were not deemed entitled to this classification. In a similar case in 1885 in Manassee vs. Spalding, it was held that anemometers, hy- grometers, Ruhmkorf coils, galvanometers, Geissler tubes, Granet batteries and radio- meters were “philosophical apparatus,” but that surveyors’ compasses could not be so classified. We fail to find any recent court decision in regard to the separation of instruments into philosophical apparatus and the implements required for pursuing a given trade or pro- fession, but viewed in the light of the case just cited it seems to us not improbable that if the court were called on now to render a JuLy 18, 1919] decision distinguishing philosophical instru- ments from working tools, that many instru- ments now classed as “ philosophical” would be found to have progressed into the class of instruments for practical use. It is reasonable to consider not only the intention of the law originally passed and its subsequent interpretation by the eourts, but to ask ourselves the question, what policy at the present time is just and what would most tend to the development of scientific re- search? Let us grant, if you wish, that edu- eational institutions whether private, semi- private, as those partially supported by private contributions, and partially by taxation, or en- tirely public as our great state universities, are entitled to subsidy from the federal gov- ernment. Is such subsidy best granted by ex- empting them from paying duty on certain classes of goods and not on others? Let us consider for example a great uni- versity in process of building. For its halls it will require a large amount of window glass; for its chemical laboratories it will re- quire glass beakers, flasks, ete. Both are es- sential, both are made in America and both are protected by duty, but the university en- joys especial exemption from paying duty on one and not the other. We deem it not just to thus discriminate against the manufacture of the glass that happens to be used for scientific purposes. Not justice alone, but also expediency must be considered in determining a national policy, for manifestly the apparent rights of one in- dividual or firm should not be allowed to pre- vail in opposition to the general good. We, therefore, consider lastly the question, Is it expedient in case of tariff resumption to ex- empt schools and colleges ? Education in this country is no longer an “infant industry.” There were listed in Patterson’s Educational Directory for 1916 approximately 700 colleges and universities, embracing 144 technical schools, 31 schools of mines, 137 schools of agriculture, 20 schools of forestry, 128 schools of medicine, 60 schools of dentistry, 31 schools of metallurgy, 91 scnools of pharmacy and 27 schools of veter- inary medicine. These do not include normal SCIENCE 57 schools and “ teachers’ colleges” of which there are about 450, to say nothing of the enormous number of public and private sec- ondary schools, schools of domestic science and others requiring varying amounts of “scien- tific and philosophical” apparatus. Who can estimate the extent of the requirements of these institutions for apparatus and materials more or less properly classified as “ scientific ” 2 They are certainly of sufficient magnitude to be worthy of the best brains and best energy America can produce. By the policy of duty- free importation such brains and such energy will be diverted to channels yielding greater immediate financial returns. Furthermore, research and _ investigation, while interesting, to be of benefit to humanity must be developed to practical ends. The ap- plication of scientific research to all the arts and industries was never so prevalent or neces- sary as at the present time. Scientific appa- ratus is now as necessary to the development of many of our important industries as to the training of men to do the work. These indus- tries constitute a further demand for scientific and technical instruments that is sufficient to aid greatly in supporting American manufac- turers of such goods, and we believe that in the long run the cause of education can best be served by permitting educational institutions to aid in the developing of these industries under a policy of protection commensurate with that accorded the production of other necessities for the comfort, prosperity and progress of the great mass of American people. It is true that at the present time certain instruments, notable among which are spec- trometers, polarimeters, refractometers, etc., necessary or desirable for the advancement of science, are not manufactured in this country, and it is also true that under present indus- trial conditions their manufacture can not be begun in competition with European instru- ments imported duty free; but we believe, furthermore, that it is true that their manufac- ture once begun American competition would develop American efficiency, and that in a short time our institutions would be better served by Americans than they have been in the past by Europeans. 58 _ It appears to us that the duty-free privilege has, in a measure at least, defeated its own end in depriving the American manufacturer of means necessary to put the time, thought and experiment into high-grade scientific in- struments which is requisite for real progress, leaving us dependent on foreigners for such investigations and the advancement incident thereto. If a few have apparently been able to make a notable exception of their products, this has been accomplished only by placing on a purely commercial basis an industry which ought to be, in fact, must be, for long-con- tinued success based on the firm foundation of scientific research. The impossibility of prop- erly conducting such research has often re- duced us to the status of imitators dependent for our own progress upon investigations con- ducted on the other side of the ocean. Tf it has been imposible, under existing con- ditions, to manufacture or properly develop instruments already known, what can be ex- pected in the way of new instruments to accom- plish new purposes. Increasing and expand- ing research calls for new and modified instru- ments and, vice versa, new instruments un- cover new lines of research. In other words, the two go hand in hand. The retarding of one retards the other, and the stimulation of one stimulates and helps the other. ; What is true in regard to science in the ab- stract is equally true in regard to men doing scientific work. The development of the manufacture of scientific instruments under a protective policy will thus react favorably on the educational institutions themselves by building up a demand for their graduates. It is manifestly absurd to endeavor to dis- eriminate between a policy beneficial to edu- cational institutions and one desirable for the people as a whole. Our educational system from the kindergarten to the university is our very life blood; we can not promote the insti- tution to the detriment of the people, nor can we favor other interests at the expense of the institution. The great bulk of education in our country is supported, as it should be, by taxation. Is it best to contribute to their support by the kind of subsidy that grants them special privileges SCIENCE [N. 8. Vou. L. No. 1281 in regard to certain classes of goods, at the same time making them dependent on foreign manufacturers; or by the very slightly in- creased taxation necessary to develop Amer- ican independence in scientific instruments as in other lines of industry ? C. H. Asx Burrato, N. Y., THE DIVISION OF ENGINEERING NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL} Tue War Organization of the Engineering Division comprised four sections; a section on metallurgy, a section on mechanical engineer- ing, a section on electrical engineering, and a section on prime movers. The work of each section was under a chairman, who was directly responsible to the chairman of the division. The section on metallurgy had for its prin- cipal work the solving of metallurgical prob- lems arising in connection with the conduct of the war, more particularly those brought to it by the military. This work was accomplished through the medium of committees, whose personnel included leading authorities upon metallurgy. The section of mechanical engineering es- tablished a drafting room in charge of a chief draftsman at research council headquarters and through the generosity of the Carnegie Institute of Technology a machine shop at Pittsburgh under the direction of a foreman. These were used for the development of in- ventions referred to the section by the physics and engineering divisions. The section on electrical engineering con- centrated its efforts upon the problem of elec- tric welding, more particularly electric weld- ing as applied to ship building. This section worked in very close cooperation with the Emergency Fleet Corporation, who financed its investigative work. The section on prime movers devoted its at- tention chiefly to the design and development of power plants for aircraft. 1 Address given at joint session of the National Academy of Sciences with National Research Council, April 30, 1919, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. JULY 18, 1919] The efforts of each section were so directed as to be of the greatest service in the solving of the problems of greatest immediate need to winning the war; each has to its credit im- portant achievements during the war period.” Reorganization of the engineering division on a peace basis has now been fully accom- plished. The division consists of three repre- sentatives of each of the four founder engi- neering societies. The societies so represented being the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Institute of Elec- trical Engineers, the American Institute of Mining Engineers, and the American Society of Civil Engineers; further there is one repre- sentative each from the four more important non-founder societies. ‘The societies so repre- sented being the American Society for Test- ing Materials, the American Society of II- luminating Engineers, the Western Society of Engineers, and the Society of Automotive Engineers. In addition to the representatives of the engineering societies there are twelve members at large, making a total membership ia the division of twenty-eight. The paid officers of the division are a chairman and a vice-chairman. The work of the engineering division has gone steadily forward during the reorganiza- tion period and to such an extent that the newly organized division is now performing all its functions and begins its career, a going concern. A plan of close affiliation of the division with the engineering foundation has recently been approved by the members of the _ foundation and the executive board of the National Research Council. By the terms of this agreement the engineering foundation will provide the engineering division an office in the Engineering Societies Building at New York, together with most of the necessary clerical force; further they will make ap- propriations from time to time of their funds to aid specific undertakings of the division. The location of the engineering division at this center of engineering activity and the 2See Report of the Academy of Sciences for the Year 1918, SCIENCE 59 close affiliation with the engineering founda- tion will be important contributing factors to the future development of the division. At present the division is working largely through the medium of committees. It is common knowledge that it is easy to form committees, but difficult to get them to fune- tion properly. Very careful consideration has been given the problem of organizing the re- search committees of the engineering division. We have found that given an energetic chair- man, who is master of his subject and who in- spires confidence, an active group within the comittee to perform the necessary researches, a still wider group who may not have time to devote to research but who through breadth of experience are particularly well qualified to act in an advisory capacity, and last but not least the necessary funds, and important re- sults are sure to follow. Time will not permit of going into the work of the committees in detail. The work so far undertaken covers the fields of metallurgy, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and to a less extent civil engineering. The engineering division now has some fourteen committees at work upon various problems. At present fourteen states, extend- ing from the Atlantic to the Pacific are repre- sented and the number is rapidly increasing. Men connected with educational institutions, the military and civilian bureaus of the gov- ernment and large manufacturing concerns are willing and even eager to serve upon these committees; in fact appointment to one of them is regarded as an honor. The principal work of the engineering division is to stimulate and coordinate re- search. It is not to be regarded ag an in- strument of research, but rather as a stimu- lator and director of other instrumentalities of research which are brought together through the medium of committees. In sug- gesting, planning, and organizing researches which other agencies carry out, it performs a valuable and unique service. It arouses in- terest where it did not previously exist, brings together agencies none of which for various reasons were able to do the whole of a research, 60 SCIENCE but which are able and willing to contribute an important part of a research. GaLen H. CLEVENGER, Acting Chairman of the Division of Engineering SCIENTIFIC EVENTS THE WATT CENTENARY? AppITIONAL interest has been given to the forthcoming commemoration of the centenary of the death of James Watt by the movement just inaugurated in Glasgow to found locally a James Watt chair of engineering at the uni- versity. Birmingham engineers decided some time ago that a similarly named chair should be installed in the university of their city, besides holding a centenary commemoration and erecting an international memorial to the three great pioneers, Watt, Boulton and Mur- dock. The commemoration in Birmingham will be held on September 16-18. London, Glasgow, and Greenock, and, indeed, all parts of the country, are heartily cooperating, and, with few exceptions, the universities and sci- entific societies, together with many manu- facturers and individual eminent men, are as- sociating themselves with the scheme. In the Science Museum at South Kensington steps are being taken to arrange a comprehensive exhibition of Watt relics. In Birmingham the Watt relics existing there, which have so carefully been preserved by the forethought of Mr. George Tangye, and were a few years back presented to the city, will be completely rearranged and displayed with many addi- tions. Two pumping-engines made by Boul- ton and Watt will be seen; one, the first sold by the makers in 1776. will be actually shown under steam, and raising water. A memorial service will be held’ in the Parish Church at Handsworth, where the three contemporaries are buried. A garden-party will be held in park at Heathfield Hall, where the garret workshop still remains as Watt left it. Lec- tures will be delivered by eminent men and a centenary dinner held. Some doubt seems to have been raised with regard to the claims of Birmingham to an international memorial. 1From Nature. [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1281 It should be remembered, however, that Watt’s association with Boulton led to the success of his engine. Boulton’s factory was famous for workmanship throughout Europe. It is true that Watt conceived his first ideas whilst working at the University in Glasgow, but he gained no practical success until he went to Birmingham. He spent the best part of his life there, including the evening of his days after he retired from business. The founda- tions he laid by scientific thought and careful study have resulted in the great and universal application of steam, and the appeal comes appropriately from Birmingham for an inter- national memorial to him. THE SHORTAGE OF COAL IN EUROPE THE Bureau of Mines gives figures showing that western and southern Europe is badly in need of coal. The deficiencies in the several countries were supplied by Great Britain, which now faces a loss of its export business through reduction in its coal production. On a pre-war basis of consumption the following tabular statement gives the deficiency in the various countries in western and northern Europe which must be met by imports: Long Tons (2,240 tbs.) IMPINGS ES cuoooogooeUeopbooD60c0D0dD 20,000,000 SyoeMbal Go snoosepeDcuocaDooDGCoNSDOOCS 3,650,000 Ttalyaus cect eects 9,620,000 Holland (other than supplies from Cami) sSodsdacdsocododouedues 2,010,000 SGM Sopgdyonnaccdsouoos our oadoS 4,560,000 IAW AANEI NL Goa SeobodsaSodoulCdsOddo dD 1,360,000 WOM ddesadecdeNesdccacobogéoous 2,300,000 Mediterranean countries (other than 1PM) GdococoonaoodoonddodoooKseS 3,500,000 Denmark jtitelsrskee/tcrstetel ccereushsheekey teres 3,030,000 AGM cooddodonGooocHobUdoOdaoDNDS 50,060,000 In 1918 Great Britain supplied 31,000,000 tons to north Europe; 32,000,000 tons to France, and south Europe, that is 63,000,000 tons to the above-named countries, and others, in Europe, in addition to which about 9,000,- 000 tons was sent to South America; and 5,000,000 tons to other parts of the world. Tf the statements made before the Parlia- mentary Commission are correct, from. the Juny 18, 1919] most favorable point of view, as estimated by Sir Richard Redmayne, conditioned on main- taining of war-time restrictions on domestic consumption, Great Britain will be able to supply only 23,000,000 tons for export during the coming year, dating from July 16. If, on the other hand, the domestic consumption was on a pre-war basis, there would be but 7 mil- lion tons available. But, on the basis of Sir Reymayne’s figures, if all the coal were shipped to western and southern Europe, there would be a deficiency of over 25,000,000 tons without considering the 14,000,000 tons that Great Britain, in 1913, supplied for other parts of the world. There is thus a total deficit of approximately 40,000,000 tons, which if it is to be supplied at all, can be supplied by America only, on the assumption that West- phalia and Belgium are unable to materially increase production for several years. At best there is evidently a very large amount of coal that the United States could and should supply to relieve the situation in Europe and in South America, now that there is likely to be enough shipping flying the American flag to take care of the business. THE PROPOSED MEDICAL FOUNDATION FOR NEW YORK CITY ANNOUNCEMENT has been made by Dr. Royal S. Copeland, health commissioner of New York City, of an organization to be known as the New York Association for the Advance- ment of Medical Education and Medical Sci- ence. The association’s constitution and by-laws have already been adopted and an application has been filed at the Secretary of State’s office in Albany for a charter. Dr. Wendell C. Phillips, ear specialist and general surgeon for Bellevue Hospital, is the president, and Dr. Haven Emerson, formerly health commis- sioner of New York, is the secretary. Dr. Phillips, who is the originator of the project, planned before the war for an insti- tution that would at least rival Vienna and Berlin. The world conflict postponed the mat- ter, but as soon as the armistice was signed the physician and those interested with him revived the plan. A meeting was held on SCIENCE 61 April 10, at which prominent medical men gave their views, and a committee was ap- pointed to deal with the matter. - As stated in ‘the constitution of the associa- tion, there are four primary objects to be at- tained. There are: First: To improve and amplify the methods of graduate and under- graduate teaching. Second: To perfect plans for utilizing the vast clinical material of the city for teaching purposes and to make use of teaching talent now unemployed. Third: To bring about a working affiliation of the medical schools, hospitals and laboratories, as well as the public health facilities of the city, to the end that the best interests of medical educa- tion may be conserved. Fourth: To initiate the establishment of a medical foundation in New York City whereby funds may be secured to meet the financial requirements of all forms of medical education and investigation. There will be two classes of membership in the organization, one a general membership, including all physicians in good standing, teachers of auxiliary sciences, and investiga- tors of problems relating to medicine; the other, a corporate membership of medical teachers and medical men with hospital ap- pointments or affiliations. The corporate mem- bership is limited by the constitution to not over 150. The physicians who are responsible for the plan issued a short statement, which was given out at the board of health offices, in which they said: For years it has been evident that medical edu- cation, both undergraduate and graduate in New York has not adequately represented the possibili- ties of this great city. One of the reasons for this state of affairs has been the lack of financial sup- port for our medical institutions. A more potent reason, however, arises from the fact that individ- ual institutions working along somewhat narrow lines have accomplished satisfactory general re- sults. The larger possibilities which could only come from a more or less central organization have failed to materialize. _ As a result, men seeking medical education have been obliged to seek medical centers in Huropean countries where more individual and special courses could be secured with but little trouble. 62 | It is a historical fact that after every great war, the medical center of the world is changed and the war just over will be no exception to the rule, In line with these ideas and in order to give New York City this opportunity to at least be- come one of the leading teaching medical centers of the world, our organization has been formed. In addition to Dr. Phillips and Dr. Emer- son, the following compose the officers of the association: Dr. George D. Stewart, president of the New York Academy of Medicine, first vice-president; Dr. Glentworth Butler, chief medical consultant of the Long Island College Hospital, second vice-president; Dr. Arthur F. Chace, stomach specialist of the Post-Graduate Hospital, treasurer. The trustees are Colonel Charles H. Peck, Dr. William Francis Camp- bell, Dr. John E. Hartwell, Dr. Frederick Til- ney, Dr. Otto V. Huffman, Dr. Adrian Lam- bert, Dr. Samuel A. Brown, Dr. James Alex- ander Miller, and Dr. George W. Kosmak. THE PHILADELPHIA MEETING OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY Owina to the great advances made by American chemistry as a result of the Eu- ropean war, the fifty-eighth meeting of the American Chemical Society to be held in Philadelphia from September 2 to 6 inclusive will be undoubtedly the largest ever held by that organization. The membership which has increased nearly twofold since 1914 is now 13,600 and is being augmented every month. The sessions which are to be held at the Bellevue-Stratford will touch upon problems of reconstruction grow- ing out of developments which place the American chemist so much on his own re- sources both for materials and apparatus with the closing of foreign markets. One of the features of the meeting will be the first session of the newly organized dye section. There will be a joint session of this section with the Division of Industrial Chem- ists and Industrial Engineers to consider a proposal to revise the patent laws. It has been suggested the charging of nominal an- nual renewal fee would compel many patentees to work their patents, rather than to permit them to be idle for many years. _ SCIENCE [N. 8. Vou. L. No, 1281 Special arrangements have been made to give to all delegates access to the chemical plants of Philadelphia. There will also be an excursion on the Delaware River which will give them the opportunity of viewing the mu- nition works erected in that region. The con- version of such establishments to the ways of peaceful industry will come up in various as- pects before divisions of the society. The provisional program is as follows: Sep- tember 3, council meeting and dinner to coun- cil tendered by the Philadelphia Section; September 8, general meeting, with addresses by Newton B. Baker and other distinguished speakers; followed by divisional meetings; September 4, divisional meetings and presi- dent’s address, by Dr. William H. Nichols, at the Museum of the University of Pennsy]l- vania. September 5, divisional meetings and banquet in the evening at Bellevue-Stratford, the program to conclude on the sixth with ex- cursions and automobile trip to Valley Forge. The Philadelphia Section urges that mem- bers write now for hotel accommodations. SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS Dr. ABRAHAM JACOBI, the distinguished physician and author, professor emeritus of diseases of children in Columbia University, died on July 11, in his eighty-ninth year. Proressor ALBerT A. MICHELSON, head of the department of physics at the University of Chicago, has been appointed to the rank of commander, U.S.N.R.F. He served as lieu- tenant commander in the Bureau of Ordnance of the Navy Department at Washington dur- ing the war. Tue Royal Geographical Society has con- ferred its patron’s medal on Professor William Morris Davis for eminence in the development of physical geography. _ Proressor H. Giwe0n WELLS, of the depart- ment of pathology of the University of Chi- cago, has been decorated with “the Star of Roumania” by the King in recognition of his work as head of the American Red Cross Mis- sion to Roumania. Juny 18, 1919] At the May meeting of the American Acad- emy of Arts and Sciences, Professors Joseph Lipka, G. A. Miller, F. R. Moulton and Virgil Snyder were elected fellows in the Section of Mathematics and Astronomy. é THE University of Aberdeen has conferred the honorary degree of LL.D. upon Emeritus Professor Cash, recently retired from the chair of materia medica in the university, and on Emeritus Professor Japp, who retired from the chair of chemistry five years ago. VILHJALMUR STEFANSSON, the Arctic ex- plorer, has been awarded the La Roquette gold medal of the Geographical Society of Paris. The award is in recognition of discoveries ’ made by the Canadian Arctic expedition, com- manded by Mr. Stefansson during the years 1913-18. Masor-GeneraL Wittiam C. Gorgas, for- merly Surgeon-General of the United States Army, and, after his retirement, director of the yellow fever work of the International Health Board, has returned from a trip to South America in an endeavor to determine the seed beds of yellow fever, and institute systematic measures to destroy the disease at its source. Proressor WILLIAM ALANSON Bryan, of the College of Hawaii, left Honolulu recently for a two years’ tour of the South Pacific Islands to collect zoological data which might throw light on the history of the great continental land mass supposed to have existed there in past ages. Professor Bryan is an authority on mollusea and will devote most of his ener- gies to collecting land shells. Dr. Frank E. BuatspEvyt, Sr., of Stanford University, and Mr. E. P. Van Duzee, curator of the entomological department of the Cali- fornia Academy of Sciences, will spend their summer vocation, studying the entomological fauna of the Lake Huntington region, Fresno county, California, at an elevation of 7,000 feet. Dr. Lynps Jones, head of the department of animal ecology, at Oberlin College, left on June 20 with a party of 22 for an ecological expedition to the Pacific coast. The party will return to Oberlin on September 1. SCIENCE 63 Dean Harry Haywarp, who served as di- rector of the college of agriculture in the A. E. F. University at Beaune, France, has returned to the United States and has as- sumed his duties as dean and director of the agricultural department of Delaware College. Dr. Joun K. Knox (Chicago, 1917), for- merly geologist on the Canadian Geological Survey and later for some years on the staff of the Roxana Petroleum Company, has been appointed assistant state geologist of Kansas. He will have special charge of the oil and gas investigations of the survey. Several parties are now engaged in field work. Dr. EK. A. BAuMGARTNER has resigned as as- sociate in anatomy in the Washington Univer- sity medical school, St. Louis, and accepted a position with Dr. A. E. Hertzler at the Hals- stead Hospital, Halstead, Kansas. Tue General Bakelite Co. has provided tthe funds for an industrial fellowship in the de- partment of chemical engineering of Colum- bia University. This fellowship differs from the general type of industrial fellowships in that in addition to the amounts paid to the fellow and for the chemicals and apparatus used by the fellow, an additional sum is paid to the university to compensate it for the use of the laboratories and other facilities used by the worker. A further difference is that no time or other limitation is put upon the publica- tion of the results of the investigation. Mr. Mortimer Harvey has been appointed to the General Bakelite Co. fellowship for 1919-20. _ Mr. Georce Barsky has been appointed to the Bridgham fellowship ($1,500) at Columbia University for the year 1919-20. He will work in the department of chemical engineer- ing with Professor McKee on the utilization’ of the waste liquor from sulphite pulp mills. Mr. Barsky received the degree of chemical engineer in 1918 from Columbia University. Mr. Henry M. Metoney, of Bordertown, N. J., who was graduated from the New York State College of Forestry, at Syracuse Uni- versity, with the degree of B.S., in June, 1919, has just accepted appointment to a technical fellowship for the study of forestry, lumber- 64 ing and papér and pulp manufacture in Sweden under the American-Seandinayvian Foundation. Ten college and university men from America will be sent to the Scandi- navian states under the American-Scandi- navian Foundation for study and research. Two of these fellowships are in forestry and the others in mining, electrical engineering, ete. The fellowships carry $1,000 and are of one year’s duration. Proressor Ropert ANpDREws MuinuiKan, of the department of physics of the University of Chicago, and recently vice-chairman of the National Research Council in Washington, will lecture before the summer session of the university on July 25 on “The New Oppor- tunity in Science.” We learn from Nature that an additional meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society was planned for July 11, to receive American astronomers who are on their way to Brussels to take part in the conference of the Interna- tional Research Council, which will be opened there on July 18: The party is expected to include Professors Campbell, EHichelberger, Mitchell, Schlesinger, Stebbins, Adams and Boss. THE Jahrésbericht der Deutschen Mathe- matikir-Vereinigung, as we learn from the American Mathematical Monthly, reports the deaths of the following mathematicians: Pro- fessor A. Benteli, of the University of Bern, on November 10, 1917, in his seventieth year. Professor E. Ott, of the University of Bern, on November 17, 1917, in his seventieth year. Dr. Robert Jentzch, of the University of Ber- lin, on March 21, 1918, fallen in battle. Pro- fessor M. B. Weinstein, of Berlin, in his sixty- fifth year. Professor G. Veronese, of the Uni- versity of Padua, on July 17, 1917, in his sixty- third year. Francois Daniéls, of Nymwegen, Holland, professor of mathematics at the Uni- versity of Fribourg, Switzerland, died on No- vember 16, 1918, at the age of fifty-eight years. In accordance with the trust founded by Mrs. Eliza Streatfeild for the promotion of research in medicine and surgery, a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of London SCIENCE [N. 8. Vou. L. No. 1231 e and of the Royal College of Surgeons of Eng- land is proceeding to appoint a Streatfeild re- search scholar. The emolument will probably be £250 per annum, and the tenure of the scholarship three years at the discretion of the committee. Applications, which should state the nature of the proposed research, the place where it will be carried out, and the status of the applicant, should be addressed to the Registrar, Royal College of Physicians, Pall Mall East, S.W.1, and marked “ Streat- feild Scholarship.” Aw inter-Allied Conference of Associations of Pure and Applied Chemistry was held in Paris on April 14 and 15. The conference has laid the foundation for an inter-Allied Chem- ical Association, to replace the International Association of pre-war times. Details of their decisions have not been made public. The pro- gram, however, is said to meet with the unani- mous approval of all the delegates. Among the 850 guests present at the banquet were Lord Moulton; Sir William Pope, president of the British Federal Council; Professor Henry Louis, who was head of the British. delegates, Mr. Henry Wigglesworth, the chief American delegate; Professor Chavanne, president of the Chemical Society of Belgium; Professor Paterno, vice-president of the Italian Senate; Professor Moureu, M. Paul Kessner, and M. Poulenc, presidents of the three principal French associations of applied and pure chem- istry, and many other well-known men in the chemical and industrial world. Brswes supplying an important war need, according to the London Times, Sheffield has laid the foundation of a future industry by the progress made at the university in the manufacture of glass for laboratory purposes. In the summer of 1914 there was no manu- facturer of laboratory glass in Britain. ‘The whole process, the knowledge of which had been built up in Germany during the last half century, had to be discovered and workers specially trained. Laboratory glass was ur- gently needed in the manufacture of certain munitions and important and urgently re- quired equipment would have been held up if it had not been supplied. JuLY 18, 1919] Nature says: “The. facts made known by Lord Gainford and Lord Harcourt in the House of Lords on February 26 show that a long time must. elapse before our museums and the staff of the Board of Education can resume their work unhindered. The latter body is scattered throughout London, while its records are stored in the galleries of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Half that museum is closed to the public, its circulation department shut down, its textile classes and other aids to in- dustry suspended. The priceless Wallace col- lections are still in underground tubes. The National Portrait Gallery, the London Mu- seum, the Tate Gallery and the British Mu- suem galleries of prints and of Egyptian and Assyrian antiquities, as well as much of its storage space, are occupied by huge clerical staffs. Finally, the exhibition gallaries of the Imperial Institute continue to be filled with a succession of other departments; the insti- tute’s lectures and demonstrations are in abey- ance and its own research work is hampered because the raw materials are stored elsewhere. The result is not only to disappoint the Ameri- ean and Dominion troops, and to deny the British taxpayer the enjoyment of his great educational establishments; it is, above all, a serious check on the commercial and industrial development of the country. Unavoidable the delay may be, yet we can not help feeling that the situation would not have arisen had min- isters a truer appreciation of the work done by and in our public museums.” UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL NEWS THE gift of a chemical laboratory to Cor- nell University has already been announced. In a recent address President Schurman quoted the words of the anonymous donor: “I will provide you with a chemical laboratory, fully adequate to the needs of the university, and one that will in all respects and_ size be the best there is in America.” It is said that the laboratory may cost $1,500,000 and that the new building will be placed where President Schurman’s house now stands. SCIENCE 65 Princeton UNIversITyY receives $50,000 by the will of the late Arthur Pemberton Sturges, and $10,000 by the will of the late Samuel K. Martin. Proressor Dexter S. Kimpatt has been elected chairman of the faculty committee on organization of the College of Engineering of Cornell University, which will combine the two existing colleges. He was also elected dean of the new college upon its organization in 1921, when Dean Haskell and Dean Smith will re- tire by reason of having attained the age of sixty-five years. Assistant Proressor W. S. Foster, of the department of psychology, of Cornell Uni- versity, goes to the university of Minnesota as full professor. Dr. ArtHUR W. Hixson has been appointed associate professor of chemical engineering at Columbia University. Professor Hixson was formerly associate professor of industrial chemistry and metallurgy at the University of Iowa, but for the last year he has been in the Ordnance Department at Washington, Dr. J. J. Morgan, assistant professor of chemistry at Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, N. J., has been appointed assistant professor of chemical engineering. Av Lehigh University Ralph J. Fogg, a member of the civil engineering department for eleven years, has been appointed professor of civil engineering and head of the depart- ment, and Dr. Fred V. Larkin, for the past four years assistant superintendent of the Harrisburg Pipe and Pipe Bending Company, has been appointed professor of mechanical engineering and head of the department. At Rutgers College P. H. Van der Menlen, Ph.D., has been appointed assistant professor of chemistry; Geo. W. Martin, M.A., assistant professor of botany; Thurlow OC. ‘Nelson, Ph.D., assistant professor of zoology, and T. Alan Devan, M.D., professor of hygiene and sanitary science. _ Limutenant-Cononen Frank D. Apams has returned from Europe for the purpose of as- 66 suming the position of acting principal of Me- Gill University. At McGill University Captain S. E. Whit- nall, demonstrator of human anatomy, Oxford, has been appointed professor of anatomy, and John Tait, lecturer in experimental physiol- ogy in the University of Edinburgh, professor of physiology. DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND THE AMER- ICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCE- MENT OF SCIENCE To THe Epiror or Science: From the dis- cussions taking place concerning the history of science, and from the opening up of other unexplored fields of thought and research, it is happily only too evident that this country is once more approaching peace conditions and looking forward to greater things—among them, a fundamental position in education and science. The letters in Science, April 4, by Dr. Felix Neumann, and May 9 by Dr. George A. Miller, have simply expressed a phase of the current of thought passing through our revision of ideas concerning the importance of science, study and research—all tending to a broader cultured type of scientific learning. It is not so much as emphasizing a national character- istic in the great international unification of learning, but as developing a new epoch in the history of science itself. In the words of Dr. George Sarton—we must try to reconcile idealism and knowledge, science and art, truth and beauty—the ability of every one to do so is the real measure of his education. In the last analysis it is the message of the New Humanism. For this reason, if for no other, the study of the history of Science is to be encouraged, and no greater impetus can be given to it than by a full recognition of this new Section “K” by the American Association for the Advance- ment of Science. This matter was broached during 1915 in an article in Science! which resulted in a number of letters giving encouragement, but 1 ScrencE, N. S., Vol. XLI., No. 1053, March 5, 1915, pp. 358-360. SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1281 like all such advancing ideals, not pertaining to the war, it made no progress. The writer wrote to Dr. J. McKeen Cattell, editor of Science, concerning this proposed Section in the American Association for the Advancement of Science and in reply the fol- lowing statement was received. I should think that there would be a good deal to be said for a section of the American Associa- tion for the Advancement of Science devoted to the history and methods of science. It might be best to begin with a sub-section under the section of anthropology and psychology, and it could be seen whether enough interest were taken to justify the establishment of a section. The best plan would doubtless be to correspond with those interested and then present a statement to the council of the association. In another letter, quoting from Dr. Lynn Thorndike, Department of History, Western Reserve University, a proposition was ad- vanced for the same purpose—namely, to call together a group of interested persons (no matter from what field of research) to discuss plans for an organization to be affiliated with the American Association for the Advance- ment of Science. Therefore, it might be said that the time is propitious for such an organi- zation, especially as we will note further from other facts. Dr. Neumann’s plan for Section “K” would attract not alone scientists, but also historians of the social, economic and _ polit- ical science groups. Philosophers too, would no doubt be interested. This, then, would tend to make the American Association for the Advancement of Science an “encyclo- pedic” organization. In Dr. Neumann’s letter to Dr. Howard, he emphasizes the principle of “nationalism” by making the purpose of the section to the study of the history and progress of science in America alone. Much valuable work can be done here, to be sure, “but can we afford to neglect the centuries gone before?” Nor has Dr. Neumann mentioned what historical work has been done in the United States al- ready. These attempts are worthy of men- tion, since they form a beginning and step- ping stones as well as examples for other fields JuLY 18, 1919] to follow. The pioneer work of George Brown Goode shows what is possible, brief as his studies were. The following titles will show the best that has as yet been accomplished, especially in the specific sciences. In chemistry we have Dr. E. F. Smith, “Chemistry in America,” and his “Life of Robert Hare”; G. P. Merrill’s “Contribu- tion of the History of American Geology,” published by Smithsonian Institution, 1906, and Florian Cajori’s “The Teaching of His- tory of Mathematics in the United States,” published by the U. S. Bureau of Education, 1890. Cajori’s treatise is somewhat old, but still an excellent text, both in mathematics and astronomy for the period it covers. In astronomy no definite history has yet been written. A number of addresses and papers have attempted to outline its history, and a number of biographical sketches give a good cross-section of a period. A history of astronomical progress in this country is ur- gently needed, since for the last decade we have attained the most prominent position, and the war will leave us undisturbed for generations to come. Brief mention should be made of a very recent work entitled “A Century of Science in America, 1818-1919” by E. S. Dana. This, however, only covers the field of geology, min- eralogy, physics and biology during this period. A forecast of the possibilities of research and study, may be made by observing what has gone on before. In the matter of re- sources for research in the great libraries of the country, one library whose efforts have been fairly well directed towards this end is the John Crerar Library. The publications entitled “ List of Books upon the History of Science and the History of Industry ” serve as excellent bibliographical aid for the student in the history of science. For the study in the history of mathematics, undoubtedly OCo- lumbia University, under the leadership of Dr. E. D. Smith, offers good sources. In chemistry and physics, Pennsylvania, Yale and Harvard universities have excellent mate- rial. For astronomy, Harvard University li- SCIENCE 67 brary offers riches untold in the Colonial period, and Harvard Observatory for the material beginning in the early nineteenth century. ’ As a further indication of the times, our universities and colleges have recognized to an encouraging extent the great worth of courses pertaining to the development and evolution of the sciences.2. The courses thus established are varied and numerous, as well as the meth- ods of instruction and text used. In view of what has been said concerning the subject of astronomy, it is interesting and worthy of note to call attention to the fact that courses in the history of astronomy in America have been established. Also within the last two years the University of California has established a chair devoted entirely to the history of mathematics. Again attention should be drawn to the matter of text and treatise published in the country. Within the last two years there have appeared two books, “The History of Sci- ence,” by Dr. W. Libby, and a second by Sedgwick and Tyler, entitled, “A Short, His- tory of Science.” We have also within our borders to-day the greatest authority in the field of history of science, Dr. George Sarton, of Ghent, Bel- gium. Dr. Sarton has lectured upon this sub- ject in nearly all of the universities of the eastern and middle western states, and has been lecturer for two years in the department of History of Science at Harvard University, and is now research scholar in the Carnegie Institution. We are well aware of a movement to establish in the United States an institute devoted entirely to the research and advance- ment of the history of science and civiliza- tion.2 Also, recently we have been informed that Isis, the international journal of history of sciencet is to resume publication in all probability in this country. 2 Science, N. S., Vol. XLII., No. 1091, Novem- ber 26, 1915, pp. 746-760. 3 Science, N.S., Vol. XLV., No. 1160, March 23, 1917, pp. 284-286. See also Vol. XLVI, No. 1191, October 26, 1917, pp. 299-402. 4Scrence, N. S., Vol. XLIX., No. 1259, Feb- tuary 14, 1919, pp. 170-171. 68 One of the great significant facts for the future to consider, and which will appeal to our patriotic spirit of attainment, is that the history of the great war must be written in terms of scientific discoveries and research. What part is the history of science to take in this achievement? What is the spirit of phi- losophy to bring forth from such a study? One fact is certain of emphasis, that the prog- ress of science, national and international, must be cooperative. Not alone has the war taught us this, but the spirit of idealism, which we have fought to maintain, must be earried on. All these facts are mentioned to show the spirit of the times, and now that this country has attained such a position of worth, the American Association for the Advancement of Science can give no greater encouragement to this idealism, to the philosophy of science, to the final meaning of education and culture, then by placing its approval upon the adoption of Section “K” to be known as the History of Science Section. Freprrick E. Brascu JOHN CRERAR LIBRARY, CHICAGO THE NEEDS OF PALEOBOTANY Wuat paleobotany most needs is men. The dearth of men conversant with fossil plants, not merely in America, but taking the world over, is to be deplored. Nathorst, the eminent Swedish paleobotanist, in a recent letter em- phasizes this fact. Thin as it has been at all times, the paleobotanic rank and file has been all but decimated. The war seems to have hastened the end for three of the older men who adorned everything they touched—Zeiller and Lignier, of France, and Solms, of Stras- burg. The career of the young and promising Fernan Pelourdé closed on the field of battle; and as heroic was the end for Ruth Holden in Russia. We lament too E. A. Newell-Arber, the course of whose life was also shortened by the war. To offset these great losses there have been no accessions abroad and the only younger worker who has definitely joined the paleobotanic ranks in this country during the past dozen years is Harvey Bassler. The SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1281 American contributors in paleobotany, older and younger, are Hollick, Knowlton, David White, Jeffrey, Berry, and Sellards. All first came into notice twenty or more years ago, and both Sellards and White seem wholly lost to other interests, or to survey or executive duties. Let any one think for himself what such a slender margin means to a great subject of growing and world-wide interest. What a lack there is of timely papers, of exploration in the field in a hundred horizons and a thou- sand important localities in both North and South America. Consider too, where the workers are so few and the field continent wide, what a lack of healthy criticism there must be. Without vigorous and knowing criti- cism small facts pass for great ones, and great principles and facts of far reaching import, whole categories of evidence, are left for long years unnoted. This is not the way,.to do the world’s meed of work. Furthermore, progress in paleobotany peculiarly depends on the ex- amination as far as practicable of the world’s forests and fossils. Restriction is, more than in any other subject, fatal because of the ex- ceedingly variable types of fossil plant con- servation. It is not within the present limits to go into any detailed account of the greater climatic and geologic problems, the solution of which awaits the work yet to come in the broader field of paleobotany. A suggestive account of the relations of paleobotany to botany was given by Professor Coulter in an address a few years ago. It is, however, well to recall several of the limits to the investigations of past floras as they stand to-day. Firstly, there can be no question that the indices of phytological form are many and valuable when properly com- bined. Yet not merely the paleobotanists, but the botanists have left the fine “nature prints” (better than the leaves themselves for comparison) just where the work of Ettings- hausen closed about sixty years ago. And this, notwithstanding the fact that for years those 1 Reprinted in American Naturalist, 1912, pp. 215-225. Juty 18, 1919] engaged in broader forest study, especially in the tropics, have felt the severest need for ready or approximate identification by leaf characters. Secondly, an adequate study of fossil stems systematically collected, and in- cluding wherever possible to obtain, the cir- cum-medullar region has never been even be- gun. Thirdly, the signal success ‘with which Professor Nathorst has developed a chemical treatment of carbonized remains so that col- lodion imprints of many histologic features may be had, affords such an all-important fac- tor of control that many of the longer known floras require restudy as a whole, or in part by this method. It is not probable that classifi- cation can be safely based on features dis- closed by the “ chemical method”; but as an aid in determining genera or species it is ef- fective, often in the case of rather fragmentary material. Fourthly, the improved methods of sectioning coals, and fragmentary stems like those of the Kreischerville conifers, as devel- oped by Jeffrey, indicate a great extension of exact study following more searching collec- tion afield. Under the circumstances we should have on at least ten of our surveys, and in at least a dozen of our larger universities thoroughly equipped paleobotanists. And need I call at- tention to the fact that the scientific require- ments are severe? A good paleobotanist needs geologic and paleontologic, as well as botanic training, and above all things he needs to be not merely an expert in the laboratory but a rugged and determined field worker and col- lector. Such men have to be given position. Subsidiary activities, and foreshortened re- sults, are apt to be near neighbors. Though the comparison be invidious, it yet requires to be made. In their larger collecting schemes both the invertebrate and vertebrate paleon- tologist constantly spend in collection and reconnaissance sums such as have never been even relatively available for work in the fossil plants not one whit less important. In closing I would like to call attention to a point of concrete value. According to the in- terpretations of evidence which have thus far had acceptance, there results a lack of forest SCIENCE 69 making types from the Trias to the close of the Jura. But if, as now seems apparent, the eyeadeoids have a degree of angiospermous affinity, the microphyllous forms must often represent important. elements in unrecognized forests. If so, many of the forms probably had the same capacity to thrive im temperate to colder climates as the dicotyls they often ac- company, especially in the puzzling associa- tion noted by Hollick in the Kenai flora of Alaska.2 This flora must have flourished near to snow fields and glaciers. The cold presag- ing the bipolar ice caps may therefore have come on far earlier than has been hitherto un- questioningly believed. This, with the new methods of study, and especially the more per- sistent scanning of the broader outlines of plant succession, is only one of the many prob- lems which await development of paleobotany. G. R. WiELAND GRAVITATIONAL ATTRACTION AND URANIUM LEAD To THE Eprror or Sctence: As shown by Professor Theodore W. Richards in his presi- dential address,1 it has been found that the last known disintegration product of the ura- nium series, uranium lead, behaves in all re- spects like ordinary lead, with the exception that it is slightly radioactive and has an atomic weight of about 206.1, as compared with that of ordinary lead, 207.2. It has also been found that lead derived from uranium minerals usually shows some value between the above limits and thus appears to be a mix- ture of the two former kinds. None of the many attempts made to effect a separation has, however, met with success, nor has any theory been advanced by which the discrepancies in atomic weight, which seem quite without a parallel among the other elements, may be satisfactorily explained. _ The possibility suggests itself that the dis- erepancies referred to might be due to a slightly different behavior of the various forms 1‘‘The Problem of Radioactive Lead,’’ Sct- ENCE, January 3, 1919. 2See American Journal of Science, IV., 31, April, 1911, pp. 327-330. 70 of lead toward the force of gravitation. Whether or not this is so may easily be ascer- tained through physical tests which might pre- ferably be in the nature of comparative pendulum measurements, lead derived from uranium ore being obtainable in sufficient quantities for the purpose. The generally accepted law according to which the ratio of weight to mass has a fixed value in the same locality, irrespective of the nature of the substance, is largely empirical, as there are a number of elements for which the law has never been proved. Considering the very irregular distribution of other prop- erties, like magnetism and radioactivity, among the elements it would not be surprising if devi- ations were found to exist in their gravita- tional properties as well. From this point of view, 7. e., if deviations actually exist in the value of gravitational acceleration for the various forms of lead, the chances are that the value in any case will be proportional to the atomic weight, as in this instance the atomic mass, being the ratio of either, would come out the same for all forms of lead. Such a result would go far toward reconciling the discrepancies in atomic weight with already established theories, because what is really of interest, both from a physical and chemical standpoint, is not so much the weight of the atom as its mass. Weight is only an attribute of mass, the latter having long been recognized as the more basic entity. The theories on gravitation are still in a crude shape, but if the attraction is assumed to be due to the movements of the electrons constituting the atoms a possible deviation in the gravitational attraction of uranium lead might perhaps be ascribed to a gradually sub- siding state of tension or agitation among the electrons, caused by the splitting up of the atoms during the radioactive processes, condi- tions being thus comparable to those supposed to obtain in a permanently magnetized piece of steel. On this assumption uranium lead would, in course of time, increase in atomic weight, changing slowly into ordinary lead, while the lead derived from various uranium minerals might properly be considered as rep- SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1281 resenting intermediate stages in this process of relaxation. ANDERS BULL Brooxk.yn, N. Y. WORKING UP IN A SWING To THE Eprror or Science: Mr. A. T. Jones has an article on this subject in the current volume of Science, p. 20, July 4, 1919. In the beginning he makes a statement as fol- lows: As I do not recall ever seeing any discussion of this matter, the following note may not be out of place. I wish to call Mr. Jones’s attention to E. J. Routh’s “Dynamics of a System of Rigid Bodies” (Macmillan), Vol. I., Art. 287, en- titled “ Examples of Living Beings.” In ex- ample 6 he will find a complete solution of his problem, with the necessary mathematical equations. YV. KaraPeTorr CoRNELL UNIVERSITY, July 8, 1919 To THE Epitor oF ScrencE: The letter in ScrENcE of July 4, by Professor Arthur Taber Jones, on “ working up” in a swing, recalls to the writer that while studying the problem several years ago he found several references to the subject. In the Zeitschrift fir physikalischen und chemischen Unterricht, 16, 230 1913, H. Lohmann describes an apparatus by means of which the process of “working up” may be demonstrated. This consists of a plunger electromagnet, suspended as a pendulum, with its axis vertical. Raising and lowering the center of gravity of the suspended mass is ac- complished by means of a key which controls the position of the plunger within the sole- noid. The circuit is closed, and the plunger (and therefore the center of gravity) is raised when the key is in the “up” position; the plunger drops a short distance when the key is depressed. By imagining himself in a swing, the operator has no difficulty in so manipulating the key that the raising and lowering of the center of gravity of the swing- Juny 18, 1919] ing mass are properly timed to bring about the increasing amplitudes. The subject is treated analytically in the same journal by A. Hartwich, Vol. 17, 27, 1914. He arrives at an expression identical with that for Kepler’s second law. Paut E. Kiopstsee PHILADELPHIA, July 9, 1919 SCIENTIFIC BOOKS Sewage Disposal. By Lronarp P. Kinnicutt, late Director Department of Chemistry, and Professor of Sanitary Chemistry in the Worcester Polytechnic Institute; O.-E. A. Winstow, Professor of Public Health in the Yale School of Medicine and Curator of Public Health in the American Museum of Natural History, New York, and R. WIn- TrHRoP Pratt, Consulting Engineer, M.Am. Soe.C.E. Second Edition, rewritten. New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; London, Chapman & Hall, Ltd. Cloth; 6x9 in. Pp. 547. Illustrated. $4.00. The first edition of this book which was reviewed by the writer in Science, February 10, 1911, Volume XXXITII., page 222, has been a successful reference book for students studying the fundamental principles of this branch of municipal sanitation. The present edition has been thoroughly revised and in- creased in size by about one hundred pages. Progress has been rapid during recent years in this branch of the field of municipal sani- tation. The revision of this book is timely as it is generally recognized that activities along this line, retarded by the world war, will shortly be taken up again with renewed vigor. The style of the book is attractive and it is well arranged for use in the class room. Fundamental principles are clearly stated and use is made liberally of practical illustrations drawn from various important documents and investigations not only in this country, but abroad. In bringing the book up to date, attention has been paid in particular to the activated sludge process, the two-story tank for the SCIENCE (fil removal of suspended solids, with a compre- hensive recital of advantages and disadvan- tages aS now understood, and improvements in the fine screening of sewage, and progress in disposal of sewage sludge and the recovery of grease and fertilizing constituents from these waste products. Investigations con- ducted on a comprehensive scale at Cleve- land, Chicago, Milwaukee and New Haven are described with summaries of results, as pub- lished. One of the merits of the book is that it is written from the viewpoints of the engi- neer, the chemist and the bacteriologist, thus bringing out for the consideration of the sani- tarian and student the general principles of the subject from the angles stated, as is nec- essary in order to appreciate the practicability and efficiency of the respective methods. The authors deserve commendation for their temperate statements on topics where current literature shows differences of opinion due presumably to variations in local condi- tions not as yet fully understood. Little attempt has been made to set forth completely the most recent results obtained from the operation of plants most lately in- stalled in this country. This may prove dis- appointing to some who devote themselves en- tirely to work in this particular field, but it is probably wise on the part of the authors to base a book for class room use on the broad historic background which as stated in the preface, forms the surest basis for real com- prehension of the general principles of the subject as now understood. Teachers and students of this subject should welcome this new volume. Groree W. FULLER SPECIAL ARTICLES THE POSSIBLE PRESENCE OF CORONIUM IN HELIUM FROM NATURAL GAS One of us (Cady), with McFarland,? ob- served a number of lines in the spectra of samples of helium obtained from natural gas which did not belong in the spectra of helium, 1 Kansas University Geological Survey, ‘‘The Composition of Natural Gas,’’ p. 264. 2 Proc. Roy. Soc., 67, 467, 1901. 72 SCIENCE neon or hydrogen. These lines have been re- peatedly observed in specimens of helium from that day to this. Living and Dewar? had ob- served some “wild” lines in specimens of Bath gas and suggested the possibility of the presence of coronium. In this connection it is interesting to note that some of the faint lines observed by us visually do correspond closely in wave-length to the coronal lines. During the past winter we have been making rather careful visual observations and find that some of the stronger of these lines belong to the swan spectrum of carbon, and are evi- dently due to some compound of carbon which is not completely absorbed by cocoanut char- coal at liquid air temperatures. These carbon lines are recorded in the literature as bands, but under the conditions under which we ob- serve them appear to be sharp lines. We are adding to our equipment a quartz spectro- graph for photographic observations and have under way a systematic fractionation of helium, using a number of methods, with the hope of eliminating the troublesome carbon compounds and of concentrating the unknown source of these remaining fainter lines suffi- ciently to enable them to be identified and thus prove or disprove the presence of cor- onium. Hamitton P. Capy, Howarp MoKerr Etsry UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS, LAWRENCE, KANSAS THE IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE THE Iowa Academy of Science held its meetings in the Chemistry recitation room of the Science building of the State Teachers College at Cedar Falls, beginning at 1:30 p.m., Friday, April 25. After the preliminary business session and the gen- eral program section meetings were held. Presi- dent Beyer gave his address on ‘‘Some problems in conservation’’ at the general meeting on Friday afternoon. The following officers were elected for the com- ing year: President, T. C. Stephens, Morningside College, Sioux City. First Vice-president, Nicholas Knight, Cornell College, Mt. Vernon; Second Vice-president, D. W. Morehouse, Drake Univer- sity, Des Moines; Secretary, James H. Lees, Iowa [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1281 Geological Survey, Des Moines; Treasurer, A. O. Thomas, State University, Iowa City. At 6:45 Friday evening a special war film was exhibited for the benefit of the academy and fol- lowing this the evening was devoted to a résumé of the work of members of the academy during the war. President and Mrs. Seerley held a reception for the academy members after the meeting. Sectional meetings were resumed Saturday morning and the business session closed the meet- ings. The members lunched together at 1:30 p.m. The Iowa Section, Mathematical Association of America, held its fourth annual meeting Saturday forenoon, beginning at nine o’clock. TITLES OF PAPERS Zoology and Allied Subjects A list of the birds found in Marshall county, II.: Ira N. GABRIELSON. The resistance of streptococci to germicidal agents: HENRY ALBERT. The correlation of art and science in the museum: Homer R. DIL. : Variations in the branches of the coelic artery in the rabbit: H. R. WERNER. An ecological survey of Dry Run, a small prairie stream. (1) The fishes: E. L. PAuMnr. Animal tracks, food and disposition: is there any relation? H. L. PALMER. Some zoological notes from the Barbadoes-Antigua expedition: C, C. Nuttine. Some interesting insect habitats in the tropics: Dayton STONER. ye Grasshopper control in Iowa: H. E. JAQUES. Some notes on the Cercopidae with descriptions of new species: EH. D. BALL. Thomiside of the Ames region: IvAN L. RESSLER. Notes on the occurrence of warts on cotton-tail rabbits in Iowa: J. E. GUTHRIE. Medical work in the war: D. J. GLOMSET. Variations in the branches of the carotid artery in the rabbit: FRANCIS MARSH BALDWIN. Botany Notes on the distribution of grasses of Iowa, Wis- consin, Minnesota and the Dakotas with refer- ence to rust: L. H. PAMMEL. Notes on the barberry: L. H. PAMMEL. The genus Lactuca in Iowa: R, I. CRAtTTyY. The rust on mammoth clover: W. H. Davis. The moss and lichen flora of western Emmet county: B. O. WOLDEN. The flora of Mitchell county: Mrs. Frora May TUTTLE. JuLY 18, 1919] A naturalist’s glimpse of the Limberlost: Mrs. Fiora May Turtue. Seed formation in Utricularia: RoBErT B. WYLIE and Auice E. Yocom. Notes on new or rare Iowa trees: B, SHIMEK. A discussion of certain rare species, chiefly of the genera Quercus, Fraxinus and Carya. The genus Ceanothus in Iowa: B. SHIMEK. A discussion of the species and varieties found in Towa. Rosa pratincola Greene in Iowa: Miss Evetyn ENSIGN. A taxonomie and ecological discussion of the common prairie rose. The fern flora of Nebraska: T. J. Firzparrick. Gives a short sketch of the seven physiographic tegions of Nebraska, noting the ferns found in each; eight reasons are formulated to account for the paucity of ferns in the state. The annotated list is based upon the material in the herbarium of the University of Nebraska. Supplemental list of plants from southeastern Alaska: J. P. ANDERSON. Measurements of wood fiber: Henry S. Conarp and WiLBuR A, THOMAS. Check-list of the plants of Grinnell: Henry S. ConarD and FRANK E. A. THONE. Study of a section of the Oregon coast flora: Mor- Ton E. Peck. Hybridization in Iris: Miss M. Lovuisr Sawyer. Studies upon the absorption and germination of wheat treated with formaldehyde. (1) Dipping method: A. L, BAKKE and H. H. Puaaas. Chemistry A chemical examination dolomites : NicHoLas KNIGHT. The analysis of a number of dolomites of the same geological formation, but from quite widely different localities, was made to compare the chem- ical composition. A specimen from Mount Ver- non, Iowa, was chosen, and another from Lock- port, New York, both belonging to the Niagara period of the Silurian age, and their composition was quite identical; also, another specimen from Westchester county, New York, resembling marble in physical aspects, belonging to the Cambro-Si- lurian, proved quite a typical dolomite, similar in composition to the others investigated. of some The electromotive force and free energy of dilu- tion of aqueous solutions of sodium bromide: H. B. Hart and J. N. PEArcs. SCIENCE 73 Geology Meteor mountain: Davm H. Boor. The Aftonian gravels near Afton Junction—are they interglacial? Grorce F. Kay. Some large bowlders in Kansan drift in southern Iowa: Grorce F. Kay. A problem in municipal waterworks for a small city: JOHN L. Triton. New features with, reference to the Thurman-Wil- son fault: JoHN L. TILTON. Note on conditions at the head of flood plains: Joun L, Tinton. Exhibition of pictures of the tornado which passed through Eastern Nebraska, April 6, 1919: JoHN L. TILTON. The relation of the Satsop flora to the youngest known mountain range in North America: RatpH W. CHANEY, Leaching, a factor in determining the age of gla- cial gravels: WALTER H. SCHOEWE. The history of Boyer valley: JAMES H. LEEs. The Iowan-Wisconsin drift border: E. J. Case. The deep well at Laurens and its interpretation: E, J. CABLE. The effect of rivers on the location of Iowa cities: Miss ALISON E. AITCHISON. An illustration of the wedge-work of roots: A. O. THOMAS. A large granite boulder near Nashua, Iowa, is split by an elm tree fifty feet high growing in the cleft. The ascent of Mt. Misery on the Island of St. Kitts, British West Indies: A. O. THOMAS. Mt. Misery is an extinct, or at least a dormant, voleano. A day’s stop at Basseterre permitted the writer and two other members of the University Barbadoes-Antigua expedition to climb the moun- tain. The setting of the mountain, the tree fern forest on its flanks, the crater, and the view from the summit are described. A Herpetocrinus from the Silurian of Iowa: A. O. THOMAS. Some remains of this remarkable genus of cri- noids were recently collected at Monticello. Its structure, habits and geographie distribution in the Silurian rocks are discussed. This is believed to be the first reported occurrence of this crinoid from the Iowa Silurian, The Independence shale near Brandon, Iowa: A. O. THOMAS. Outerops of this formation are rare. At two or three localities near Brandon, twelve to fifteen miles southwest of Calvin’s original exposure, 74 oceurs a bed several feet thick. abundance of the typical fossils. It contains an Iowa’s geological centenary: CHARLES KEYES. That modern geology in America had its begin- nings in Iowa appears to be not generally known. Before Thomas Nuttall’s famous trip down the Mississippi River in 1809, and his extensive appli- cation of William Smith’s principles of determin- ing the relative age of rock terranes by means of their contained fossils American geology was dis- tinctly Wernerian in aspect. The eminent Ger- man never had a stronger advocate than William McClure, president for many years of the Amer- iean Philosophical Society, of Philadelphia. It was Iowa’s particular mission to be the ground where the fossils were collected and the materials first critically compared with the organic re- mains of the mountain limestones of Derbyshire, England. There are a score or more important episodes in the history of American geology which first found light of day in Iowa. Tertiary gravels of northern Utah: CHARLES KEYES. The recent tracing of the Bozeman gravels of Montana over the crest of the Rockies into south- ern Idaho suggests their unbroken continuity farther to the south. They there seem to connect with the gravel beds exposed in the Red Rock Pass region and beyond in northern Utah, which have long remained a puzzle to all who have worked in that field. The fact that the gravels at the Pass appear to have been moving southward at the time of their deposition also has an important bearing upon the genesis and duration of the old Bonneville lake. Louisian vs. Mississippian as a periodic title: CHARLES KEYES. If we are to retain a geographic designation for the Early Carbonic rocks of America there is a valid term which has by a full decade priority over Mississippian. . This is St. Louis, or, as we would call it in these enlightened days, Louisian. It is a name that was originally proposed for what was supposed to be the exact section covered by the Mountain Limestone as displayed in Derbyshire, England. Subsequent severe restriction of the name St. Louis to a single terrane and its wide use in this sense do not militate in the least against its first employment. A more satisfactory usage of the term Mississippian is as a serial title for a provincial succession, as recently proposed. Possible errors in Pleistocene field-observations: B. SHIMEK. SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1281 A discussion of the value of root-tubules, cal- careous content, fossils, ete., in determining the age of loess deposits; also certain dangers in the use of physiographic criteria in determining the age of Pleistocene deposits. Helicina occulta Say: B. SHIMEK. Additional notes on the distribution of this species. Both recent and fossil forms are dis- cussed. Physics and Psychology Some structural features of selenium deposited by _ condensation from the vapor state above the melting point: L. E. Dopp. The sublimation curve for selenium crystals of the hexagonal system: L. E. Dopp. Superposed stroboscopic velocities: LL. E. Dov. The relation between voltage and candle-power in modern incandescent lamps: WM. KUNERTH. The action of conical horns: G. W. STEWART. The binaural difference of phase effect: G. W. STEWART. Some preliminary results on the photoelectric longwave length limit of the metals (platinum and silver): OTTo STUHLMAN, JR. A new non-inductive resistance: H. L. Dopez. A new wall rheostat of large current capacity: H. L. Dover. The solar eclipse of June 8, 1918 (illustrated) : D. W. MoreHouse. The effect of temperature in resistance and specific resistance of tellurium crystals: ARTHUR R. FOorTSCH. Evaluation of mental tests as used in the army: C. E. SEASHORE. The distribution of musical talent in the freshman class in the university: C. E. SEASHORE. JAMES H. LEES, SCIENCE A Weekly Journal devoted to the Advancement of Science, publishing the official notices and pro- ceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Published every Friday by THE SCIENCE PRESS LANCASTER, PA. GARRISON, N. Y. NEW YORK, N. Y. Entered in the post-effice at Lancaster, Pa., as second class matter NEw SERIES SINGLE Copiers, 15 Crs, Vou L, No. 1282 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION, $5.00 The Accepted Standard have aga'n demonstrated their technica! and practical worth in most exacting service. Asa result their position in the scientific world FS2 MICROSCOPE is stronger today than ever before. Price $40.75 A new edition of our complete microscope catalog is about to come from the press. It will present a full line of models forall forms of microscopy, for the first time since our manufacturing activities were concen- trated in important wartime service. Write for your copy of this catalog today. 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MICROSCOPE j girps SLIDES (List 3) Skins, mounts, Made by expert nestsandeggs. In- technicians in cludes taxider- our own labora- mist’s supplies. tory. LANTERNSLIDES LIFE HISTOR- Mostly original Tee (Catalog By photographs. Birds, » SIS > i Maohibialana insects, etc. etc. Reptiles. MATERIALS (Catalog A) Live and pze- served animals and plants. Al- 2 50 Embryologi- cal material of 3. APPARATUS FOR all kinds. BIOLOGY We are at your service: Many Biologists are making good use of us now. Wewill handle your orders with biological intelligence and with dispatch. THE CHICAGO BIOLOGICAL SUPPLY HOUSE All Kinds of Biological Supplies 5505 and 5508 Kimbark Ave., Chicago, III. Ready Summer 1919 1. LIVE ANIMALS AND PLANTS All kinds for labora- tory, etc. FOSSILS AND MINERALS The Microscope 12th Edition, Published April 10, 1917 Re-Written and largely Re-Illustrated By SIMON HENRY GAGE of Cornell University Postpaid $3.00 COMSTOCK PUBLISHING CO., Ithaca, N. Y. LABORATORY ANIMALS Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Rats, Mice, etc. Standiug orders solicited The Laboratory Animal Supply Co. Garrison, N. Y. The University Laboratory Designers ALEXANDER SMITH, THOMAS B. FEEAS, President Chief Designer and Treas. W. L. ESTABROOKE, W. A. BORING, Gen. Manager and Sec’y. Consulting Architect This firm is prepared to offer consultation, advice, report and design on chemical lab- oratories. Complete plans may be offered or work may be done jointly with institu- tional architect. Consultation with archi- tects needing expert advice in laboratory construction is solicited. Send for booklet. Office: 52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York City SCIENCE Fripay, Juuy 25, 1919 CONTENTS Sigma Xi and the Future: Proressor F. K. RICHTMVER Mec thelsterevnsicleleloretel slelelel-) eretalensereisis 75 Zoological Aims and Opportunities: Dr. WiL- AD) Grp VPAIN INURE Weisel vel cca\lavs/oy-sheieleveienel ekeleiols 81 Scientific Events :— , Lhe Anthropological Society; The British , National Physical Laboratory; The New British Antarctic Expedition; Distinguished Ervice Med alstavertccisiavtaieieley-\chebsiciayelsvcteicvets 84 Scientific Notes and News ................ 86 University and Educational News ......... 88 Discussion and Correspondence :— , Limicolous oligocheta for Laboratory Use: | Dr. F. H. Krecxer. The Cumberland Falls | Meteorite: Dr. Grorcge P. Merriuu. The | Third Edition of the Biographical Directory . of American Men of Science: Dr. J. Mco- FOREN CATTRED jessy sii etecie eons cee ens 89 Scientific Books :— Anthony on the Indigenous Land Mammals of Porto Rico: Dr. Roy L. Moopie. Clarke’s The Boys’ Book of Chemistry: PRoressor PAST ALBOD ci cpecvavst anere wars. siats sie eee 91 Notes on Meteorology and Climatology :— Meteorological Aspects of Transatlantic Flight: Dr. CHARLES F, BROOKS .......... 91 Special Articles :— A Chart of Organic Chemistry—Aromatic Sertes: Dr. ALEXANDER LOWY ............ 93 The Kentucky Academy of Science: Dr. AL- FRED M. PETER MSS. intended for ‘publication and books, ete., intended for review should be sent to The Editor of Science, Garrison-on- Hudson, N. Y. SIGMA XI AND THE FUTURE! Members of Sigma Xi, Initiates and Guests: For many years it has been the custom in our chapter upon the occasion which each year corresponds to this, for the president of the chapter to read an address in order to explain the more clearly to those whom we are honored to receive into membership the spirit of Sigma Xi. In some instances this address has taken the form of a description of a piece of re- search; in others a general statement of the function of Sigma Xi in furthering the cause of research. Much as I should like to be re- lieved of the honor of addressing you this even- ing, I feel that it would ill become me to change so time-honored a custom. And ac- cordingly I beg your indulgence while I dis- cuss some of the problems and the obligations before Sigma Xi, at least as I see them. This subject seems to me to be particularly appro- priate just now because of the uncertainty of the conditions to be met in the new era, into which, we are all agreed, we are entering. First, however, permit me to review briefly the history of Sigma Xi—this with the double purpose of acquainting our new members with the origin and development of the society which, to-night, they are joining, and of fur- nishing a foundation upon which logically to discuss the problems before us. For we must build the future upon the experience of the past. To those of us whose educational home is Cornell, Sigma Xi has a peculiar signifi- cance, for it was here, thirty-three years ago, namely in 1886, that the society was founded, and it is from here that the society has spread, until now chapters are found in nearly every large institution of learning in the country. How was it that these young men, in this 1 Presidential address before the Alpha (Cor- nell) Chapter of Sigma Xi, May 17, 1919, upon the occasion of the initiation of new members. 76 young university, at that time less than a score of years old, came to found a society which has exerted such a marked influence upon the progress of science? Perhaps they had absorbed something of the spirit of the place, a spirit-of faith in the future, which, in the early days made Cornell a leader in so many lines of university activities, and by the very originality and boldness of the idea which they conceived foreshadowed that for which the society now stands. We shall probably never have a complete ac- count of the events in the spring, summer and autumn of 1886 that led to the formal estab- lishment of the society. The existing records are very meager; many of them undated; and what has been written is largely the result of piecemeal compilation. J can, however, give you a glimpse of those early days, so full of interest and inspiration to us of the present generation as we look backward, by letting one of the founders speak for himself—Mr. W. H. Riley, of the class of ’86, and a charter mem- ber of the Alpha chapter: You asked me to tell you about Sigma Xi. Well it has been so long ago that I have forgotten most of the details but I will tell you as much as I can remember. During my last three years in Cornell I ate with a bunch of boys who were mostly Arts students and most of them very good students. Every spring some of the boys won their Phi Beta keys and of course these were the occasions of con- gratulation and discussion. In the spring of 1886 two of my best friends received their keys, which started me to thinking that there should be some honors bestowed on the scientific students who had done good work. I discussed the question with W. A. Day, my chum, an engineering student, and we grew very enthusiastic over it. At this time there was an instructor in Sibley College, Mr. Frank Van Vleck, with whom we were very intimate. He was a graduate of Stevens Institute and was brought to Cornell by Dr. Thurston when he came from Stevens. We mentioned the subject to Mr. Van Vleck one evening while seated under the trees on the corner of Factory (now Stewart) Avenue and State Street, in front of our boarding house; he was much taken with the scheme and thought it should be worked up immediately. This was about the first of May. From that time until commencement we often held meetings, the SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1282 three of us, under the trees or walking down town. Mr. Van Vleck consulted the faculty and Mr. Day and myself the students. Everybody thought it was a good scheme, but as graduation was so near we could not get them aroused. The week before commencement we had a meeting and decided to stay awhile after the close of college and work the matter up, but I was called home directly after commencement. Mr. Day and Van Vleck stayed until they had everything planned out. We had some correspondence during the summer but it has all been mislaid. Mr. Van Vleck presented his scheme in the fall of 1886 and a society was formed. The idea then originated with these three men: Messrs. Riley and Day, of the class of ’86, and Mr. Van Vleck, an instructor in Sibley College and a graduate of Stevens Institute of the class of ’84. With them there were asso- ciated in perfecting plans in the autumn of 1886, six other young men: three of them grad- uates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, of the class of ’86, then students at Cornell, and one each from the Cornell classes of ’86, ’87 and ’88—young men, under twenty-four, all of them. They planned a society whose watch- word should be “Friendship”; and they joined hands “in forming a brotherhood in sci- ence and engineering which should promote and encourage by strong personal attachments of friendship the highest and truest advances in the scientific field” and which should “ lend aid and encouragement to those newer broth- ers, who, likewise laboring in the same spheres, were aspiring to honored positions.” They agreed to “lend their efforts to the establish- ment of an organization to be publicly known as the ‘Society of the Sigma Xi,’ ” About the same time the late Professor Henry Shaler Williams, then professor of geol- ogy at Cornell, realizing the need of an honor- ary society for scientific students, similar to Phi Beta Kappa, drew up a plan for a society to be known as “ The Society of Modern Scien- tists,” the object of which should be to recog- nize by some mark of honor, “those who ex- hibit special ability in investigating, under- standing and interpreting the facts of nature in the various branches of modern science, in order to encourage high attainments among JULY 25, 1919] the future students of Cornell University and of other kindred institutions.” These two movements, independently and stimultaneously started, soon came into con- tact, and finding so much in common, at once joined hands, keeping the name of the organi- zation already perfected by the younger men, but extending its scope and influence accord- ing to the council and advice of the older man. Shortly after, apparently in the winter of 1887, four faculty members and five graduate stu- dents were invited to become members of the new organization. In the spring of 1887 is recorded the establishment of two chapters, one at Union College and one at Rensselaer. For some reason comparatively little progress was made in further extending the movement although six more chapters were authorized by the parent chapter and plans for the organiza- tion of still others were made. None of these, however, were established, and after many dis- couragements some of the leaders became dis- heartened, thinking that after all the time was not ripe for such a movement. But finally a charter was voted to Kansas in 1889. This was the status of the society until 1893, when a convention of the four chapters was held in Ithaca, at the call of the parent chapter and a national organization was formed. In 1895 a charter was granted for the establishment of a chapter at Yale, and from that time on there has been a steady increase in the chapter roll. At present there are thirty chapters, in nine- teen different states, with a total membership of nearly 12,000 of whom about 2,500 are resi- dent in the universities where chapters are located, and are therefore classed as active members, while the remainder, not being di- rectly resident in the chapter, are called alumni, or non-active members. During its third of a century of existence the motto of the society has been ‘“ Compan- ions in Zealous Research”; its object, to en- courage “original investigations in science, pure and applied”; and it has sought to ac- complish this purpose, in the main, by three different classes of activities: first, by holding meetings for the discussion of scientific sub- jects and by printing such scientific material SCIENCE V7 as may seem desirable; second, by establishing fraternal relations among investigators in sci- entific centers; and third, by granting the privilege of membership to such students as, during their college course, have given promise of future achievements in the field of science. While the activities of the several chapters have been varied to suit local conditions, it has been their common object to emphasize that which all investigators have in common: that indefinable something which goes by a variety of names; which “can be felt but not itself investigated”; that something within him which the investigator satisfies by seek- ing out the truths of nature and then making them known to his fellow men, with a faith, usually unexpressed, that some day these same truths would make the world better, though perhaps a busier, place to live in. Such then has been the origin, development and activities of the society to which we be- long. It is to be hoped that we will carry with us into the future these same ideals, and perhaps many of these same activities, which have made so much for the success of the society in the past. But without doubt the world is now entering a new era, a new order of things, in which every institution, whether political, economic, educational or scientific, will face new conditions, new obligations, and new opportunities. Just as the scientist, in his field, is a pioneer, so he should be among the first, if not the leader, in making his field ready for this new order of things. We may then well ask: Can Sigma Xi adequately dis- charge her responsibilities in this new era without an extension, perhaps a radical exten- sion, of her former activities and influence? The very form of the question indicates a neg- ative answer. Before discussing these extensions, I should like to point out that the sphere of influence of Sigma Xi has, up to now, been confined al- most exclusively to university circles. With the exception of that at Washington, the chap- ters are all located at universities. This is not so significant as is the fact that only those who are members of the university community can be active members. The result is that over 78 three quarters of those who have been elected are alumni, or non-active members, and have no connection with any chapter, or indeed with the society. And another point is that the ac- tivities of the society have been largely inter- nal, in the same sense, roughly speaking, that a fraternity exists for the benefit of those who are members of it, and whatever outside influ- ence it exerts is of a passive, rather than an active kind. The young investigator may as- pire to the honor of an election to member- ship, but there is at least a gain of truth in the definition that “an honor is that which one does not appreciate after one gets it.” Broadly speaking we may classify the fields in which Sigma Xi may extend its influence as local, national and—it may be a dream, but I am going to add—international. The local problems confronting each chapter are more or less peculiar to the chapter, and in discussing these I can only speak of condi- tions existing here at Cornell. How can we, right here at home, lend still further encour- agement to “original investigations in sci- ence, pure and applied”? One of the most important problems dis- cussed by President Schurman in his recent annual report is that of raising the standard of scholarship in the university. The very fact that the president has seen fit to raise this question in an official report indicates how serious the situation seems to him. For solving this difficult problem various means have been suggested, such as the establish- ment of scholarships, prizes, honor courses and the like. Each of these will doubtless be effective, but no one of them can be considered a cure-all. Any solution must be based upon the fundamental object of a university course, which, I take it, is not to make of a student in four years a walking encyclopedia, but rather to teach him a few facts, and in four years, to inspire in him such habits of study and scholarship as will make him a student for the rest of his life, whether his field be philosophy or engineering, so that his real studies will begin, not end, on commencement day. For, that man is successful in the prac- tise of his profession who, in his college SCIENCE [N. S. Von. L. No, 1282 course or elsewhere, has gained confidence in his ability to undertake and accomplish suc- cessfully things which are new to him and which very likely have never been done before. The man who lacks this confidence, one might even say habit, of independent thinking, is likely to become a mere clerk or mechanic and to stay at the bottom of the ladder. Now, you may teach facts and the relation of one group of facts to another—all that part of knowledge which we may classify as en- cyclopedic—but, try as you may, you can not teach by aid of any sort of artificial stimuli, life-long habits of study and of independent thought. These can come only by inspiration and example, for both of which the student must look, indeed it is his right to look, to the faculty, if he is to get full value from the four years of his time which he spends here. Or, looking at the university as an economic unit in society, we can not expect to turn out a productive student body from a compara- tively non-productive faculty, non-productive not so much because of lack of interest in scholarship and research as because of lack of opportunity. One of the properties of matter is that which we call inertia, by virtue of which a body at rest remains at rest unless acted on by some outside force, or if in motion remains in motion unless brought to rest by some out- side force. The application of this principle extends, at least in a qualitative way, far out- side the realm of material things. In our ordinary, every-day life we call it habit. It takes force, of one kind or another to make habits and it certainly takes force to break them. It was probably in unconscious recognition of this principle that the remark was made some time ago, that while it might be true that students would study if interested, it was also true that in order to become interested they must be made to study. Because of the in- ertia of the human intellect, this probably ap- plies, more or less, to all of us, to the faculty as well as to the students. If therefore, we would have a scholarly, productive faculty, by means of which to turn out a productive JuLY 25, 1919] student body, it follows that we must first require productive scholarship of the faculty as a part of its duty to the university. The interest in original work, thus aroused by compulsion if you will, will be self-sustain- ing and will accomplish the double purpose of setting an example to the students, by means of which, I firmly believe, many of our prob- lems of undergraduate teaching will be solved, and of accomplishing that other prime func- tion of any real modern university: the add- ing to the sum-total of knowledge. Now, I would not presume for a moment, to suggest what alterations in the educational and the financial policies of the university may be necessary to bring about this much-to- be-desired condition, nor would I attempt to outline what part Sigma Xi may play in ensuring an increased recognition of the value to the student body, to the faculty, to the country, of more original investigations “in science, pure and applied.” But what I do wish to point out is that here is a problem, right in our midst, which touches the very foundations upon which Sigma Xi is built, and to ask whether it is not our duty, officially as a society, to lend our organization, our ideals and our traditions “to encourage higher attainments among the future stu- dents of Cornell University.” If we really believe in that for which the society stands, I regard it our duty to take an active part in the solution of this problem. Coming now to an extension of the activi- ties of the national organization, may I men- tion briefly two items already under consider- ation. First, an extension of the chapter roll: For many years the society has exercised the greatest care in the admission of new chap- ters—this, without doubt, being due to the early experiences above mentioned, of the parent chapter. It has been felt that any in- stitution, before being granted a charter, should have demonstrated beyond any doubt, its ability to maintain a high standard of scientific work. Now, however, with the in- creasing strength and stability of the society, we feel that, even though there may be a SCIENCE 79 small risk involved, it is safe to go a step farther by granting charters to such smaller institutions as may have given distinct prom- ise of creditable research activity. We may therefore expect a considerable increase in the chapter roll in the next few years. Second, Sigma Xi fellowships: It has al- ways been a matter of regret that neither the chapters nor the national society could directly engage in research. However, under the able leadership of our national president, Professor Stieglitz, of the University of Chi- cago, a movement has been started to enlist the support of the 12,000 members of the so- ciety, by asking for annual contributions from each member of say one or two dollars, for the establishment of at least two fellowships (more if possible) of a value of $1,500 or $2,000 each, one in the physical sciences and one in the biological sciences; these to be awarded each year on some sort of a com- petitive basis. The value of these fellowships would lie not so much in the satisfaction that we would feel in actually engaging in re- search, as in increasing the stability of the national organization by furnishing some tan- gible thing around which would center a com- mon interest. At present the problems of the several chapters are so largely local and so little national that there is need for something to bring them closer together. This movement at once suggests an obvious, though perhaps a radical change in our past procedure. When Sigma Xi was founded it was perfectly natural that its activities should be confined almost exclusively to university centers. Then the university was the home of pure science, and to a large extent of ap- plied science. But now, due in part to the increasing economic importance of scientific work, and in part to the extent to which teaching duties are allowed to encroach on the time of the professor, conditions have radically changed. You have only to glance over the papers presented at the meetings of the scientific societies to realize that more and more research in pure science is coming as a by-product from the ever increasing number of governmental and industrial re- 80 search laboratories, on such a scale as to over- shadow the output of the universities. And as for applied science, I need only mention a few recent developments, from one field, namely physics; such as: the tungsten lamp, which is worth annually to the country a sum expressed in hundreds of millions; the therm- ionin X-ray tube, which in addition to revolu- tionizing some phases of medical practise, has given to the investigator in pure science an instrument of research the value of which can hardly be overestimated; the wireless tele- phone, the beginnings of which as a factor in our economic life we have not yet begun to appreciate; multiplex telegraphy and _ tele- phony, by which many messages, part tele- phone and part telegraph, may be sent. simul- taneously over the same pair of wires with a consequent reduction in the cost of operation; improvements in the methods of maintaining, measuring and recording high temperatures, so important in many industrial processes; the high potential kenotron, a device which will probably clear Pittsburgh and every other city of its cloud of black smoke; a clearer understanding of the requirements of the hu- man eye in the matter of artificial illumina- tion; these, and countless other devices, all coming from outside of universities, may well raise the question as to whether we can now say that the university is the home of science, either pure or applied. If the university is the home of science, then it must be said that science is a large part of the time away from home, and even when at home occupies only a corner of the attic. If the universities would keep science at home they must provide the main suite on the first floor. In other words, looking at it from what- ever standpoint you please, it is certainly true that pure science as well as applied science has outgrown the universities. Unless there- fore we wish to apply a purely arbitrary definition to “original investigations in sci- ence” we must extend the active influence of Sigma Xi beyond university centers. The fact that the investigator in applied science is given equal recognition with the investi- gator in pure science at once indicates that SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1282 the society raises no questions as to what use shall be made of the results of the investiga- tion. It should likewise make no difference where the work is performed, whether in a government laboratory, an industrial laboratory or a university laboratory, so long only. as the investigator is sincerely looking for “the truth.” So far as formalities are concerned, this extension can be very simply made, for it is only necessary to make active members the ten thousand (approximately) non-active mem- bers, who collectively represent practically every industry, and every educational institu- tion in the country. We would then have available adequate machinery for spreading the society’s ideals so as to cover the whole field of science, and not simply that portion of it which is found in universities. To do this seems to me not simply a duty which we owe to our alumni members, but an oppor- tunity to extend our sphere of influence—an opportunity, the neglect of which would be an unpardonable waste of our “natural re- sources.” But it might be asked: what can we do with 12,000 members scattered throughout the country which is not being done by the several engineering and scientific societies. There is this difference: These, in the main are at work advancing knowledge in their respective fields. Sigma Xi, however, includes all sci- ence; and could undertake common problems such as, for example, a campaign to increase the popular appreciation of the value of sci- entific research. Such a campaign would have to be carried on in a very dignified, judicious way, but I believe there is need for it. It is one way to express the contribution of Sigma Xi up to the present by saying that the society has attempted to make science ap- preciated by scientists. The next logical step is to make science appreciated by those who are not scientists: to correct the popular im- pression that it is only necessary for some in- ventor to conceive a new idea, and behold, a wonderful new invention, such as the wireless telephone, springs full grown as from the head of Zeus; to point out the tireless research be- JuLy 25, 1919] hind such a device as this and that it is the people of the country in the long run who profit by the work of the investigator; and that such work is worthy of more stable sup- port than the chance generosity of some multi- millionaire. From an economic standpoint scientific research is a well-established busi- ness, not the mere whim of a few individuals; a business involving perhaps a long-term in- vestment but which nevertheless is just as worthy of support, and economically just as important, as is the postoffice department or the railroads, differing from these only in the fact that these supply the present generation while scientific research, like the public schools, is for the next. Whether we shall see government support of research in pure science depends, I believe, only on whether the scientific societies of the country, of which Sigma Xi is as representa- tive and potentially as influential as any, can agree upon and present to Congress a concrete statement of the responsibilities of the federal government in this matter as well as a work- able plan for administering such support. In a democratic country it seems impossible that ever again should it be left to accidental phi- lanthropy to provide funds for building the very foundations of economic and industrial progress. Of the possibilities of making the influence of Sigma Xi international, little need be said except in amplification of the statement that even now the matter is under informal con- sideration and will probably come before the society for formal action some time within the next two years, in response to inquiries from two foreign countries, England and Norway. The sentiment of the society, so far as voiced, is in favor of such an extension, and there seems to be nothing either in our constitution or our traditions which prevents. May we not look forward therefore with much hope to an international fraternity of scien- tific workers, the influence of which, even though sentimental rather than scientific, will serve as one additional bond to tie together that which we all hope to see some day: a great family of nations. F. K. RichrMyrr CoRNELL UNIVERSITY SCIENCE 81 ZOOLOGICAL AIMS AND OPPORTUNITIES In its recent numbers Science has printed two addresses made before the Baltimore meet- ing of the American Association for the Ad- vancement of Science last winter, both of which deal with the same general subject; the aims and purposes which in the present crit- ical period of the world’s history should guide or influence zoological and botanical work, and the opportunities offered and responsibilities imposed by the present conditions on those engaged in such work. Both of the addresses contain much that is interesting and inspiring and make sug- gestions that are well worth trying out, but neither of the two speakers seems to have felt it necessary to extend his survey of the field beyond the two subjects of teaching and re- search, though of course including under the latter heading investigation for practical and economic purposes as well as for the increase of knowledge without immediate prospect of its application. This limited conception of their proper aims and obligations is unfortunately held by a large proportion of scientific work- ers, probably more often because it falls in with their inclinations and convenience than because of any conviction of its sufficiency; it may have answered well enough in the earlier stages of the development of science and may still do so in some departments of it, but it is now very far from sufficient in the case of zoology, botany, ecology, forestry and other allied branches. The rapid economic expan- sion of the present time is making demands on natural resources to an extent that was never before approached, and improved and quicker means of transportation are extend- ing the resulting destructive effects to every part of the world. Only prompt and scien- tifically directed effort can save from com- plete and permanent destruction and disap- pearance a large part, and perhaps much of the most interesting part, of the subject mat- ter with which these sciences deal. It is only those with more or less scientific knowledge of animals and plants who can see in advance the need of protective or remedial measures and 82 SCIENCE can direct and carry them out with any hope of success. It therefore seems as if the speak- ers themselves missed an important oppor- tunity and failed in an even more important responsibility in addressing such audiences as were gathered in Baltimore, and the vastly larger circle that is reached when the ad- dresses are published, without a word, and ap- parently even without a thought, of what might and ought to be done by scientific men for the preservation from extinction or de- struction of the hundreds of interesting spe- cies of animals and plants and the many places of unusual scientific interest that are being sacrificed for the selfish interests of a few, or even merely by neglect and indiffer- ence, with resulting advantage to nobody. Obstruction of important conservation meas- ures until everything that they were designed to protect has been made away with, and laws and efforts that fail of their purpose because unwisely directed or inefficiently carried out, would not be so frequent were it not for the easy-going indifference and irresponsibility of those who are the only ones who can fully realize the needs and urgency of the situation, and who should therefore feel it a duty to make others understand also. We may be shocked and indignant at the vandalism of the Huns of ancient and modern times in respect to works of art and the results of human in- dustry, but we ourselves act no better toward natural objects of unique interest, value and beauty, and more intelligent generations in ‘the future who will find themselves deprived of much that it was our duty to preserve for them will no doubt regard us with the same kind of feeling as we look upon the despoilers of Belgium, France and Serbia. Yet there are few scientific men who concern themselves with such matters to any extent greater than occasional expressions of regret; sentiments which would seem more sincere if accom- panied by some effort to assist the small minority who do take up the burden of active work to bring about a better order of things. One often can not help wondering whether zoologists, botanists and foresters do not as a class care less about the living things they [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1282 occupy themselves with than most other peo- ple. If they are not to be open to such an accusation, now that the war is over and a period of economic expansion begun that will be even more destructive to the small part of the world that still remains in what we call for lack of a better term its natural state, there should be no delay in starting more ex- tensive and efficient cooperative work on the part of scientific men and societies for the preservation of those natural objects of scien- tific interest and those species of animals and plants that are most immediately threatened with extinction or annihilation. Very few scientific societies or institutions have any committee or representative with the duty of engaging in such work or cooperating with others in it, or of watching out that those to whom such work is intrusted by the government or by societies supported by pri- vate subscription are doing their work as diligently and as effectively as the means available will permit. Many more should have them than is now the case. The need is so urgent and immediate that a share of the responsibility now extends to many associa- tions and institutions whose main aims and purposes lie so much in other directions that under ordinary conditions they could justly claim that to devote means and efforts for such purposes would be outside of their proper duties. But emergencies impose new obliga- tions, and however unwelcome they may be, if they are shirked the result can only be discredit and regret after it is too late for any remedy. No one should delude himself with the idea that because there are in this country certain societies for the protection of birds and ani- mals or because the federal government has at length begun to take a small part in it, that there is nothing more to be done by others. One might suppose that after over twenty years of agitation of the matter, and after abundant evidence of much interest on the part of the general public, that our native North Amer- ican birds would now be receiving proper pro- tection, but at the present time one of the most discreditable and inexcusable acts of JuLY 25, 1919] systematic vandalism that has ever occurred on this continent is being carried out at the public expense by the Alaskan territorial gov- ernment, which in 1917 placed a bounty on eagles. In less than two years about five thou- sand six hundred of these birds, which must be of a large percentage of the entire number inhabiting North America, have been killed for fifty cents each, and the slaughter is still going on. From what is known of the habits of the bald eagle it can not be doubted that reports of its depredations have been grossly exaggerated, and that an impartial scientific investigation would prove that much persecu- tion that it is suffering is both unnecessary and unjustified. Places in North America outside of Alaska and some of the neighboring British terri- tories where eagles can still safely breed are now very few; they rarely successfully raise more than one or two young in one brood, and the growth of the young birds is slow, so that the same pair can not raise young every year. Eagles are naturally very long-lived birds and a large part of those now living were raised many years ago when conditions for breeding were more favorable, and at best the birds would not be able to maintain even the present small numbers still existing under the condi- tions now prevailing. It is evident that such destruction as that which is going on in the only part of the continent where these birds are still numerous has already advanced a long way toward adding our national emblem to the list containing the Labrador duck, the passenger pigeon, the whooping crane, the trumpeter swan, the Carolina paroquet and others that have now disappeared forever. With more active interest on the part of those with scientific knowledge, the passenger pigeon might not have become extinct, since it might have been preserved by the simple expedient of protecting its breeding places; the few re- maining individuals of the heath hen would not have been allowed to remain where a single forest fire could wipe them practically all out; the small remaining colonies of the California sea elephant found a few years ago might not have been left without protection, SCIENCE 83 and the golden plover, which is on the verge of extinction, would not be especially excepted from protection by the present federal migra- tory bird law. With more scientific and in- telligent judgment applied to such matters the Klamath lakes, which are among the most im- portant remaining breeding places for wild fowl in the United States, would not now be being drained; and many other mistakes or worse than mistakes might have been avoided, or in some cases might even still be corrected. The particular purpose of this communica- tion is however to call attention to one phase of protective work which is very important for science, and in which scientific men and societies must especially interest themselves if it is to be taken up at all, for the general public can not be expected to appreciate its importance. This is the protection of what remains of the unique and peculiar forms of animal and plant life that inhabit many of the remote islands and isolated island groups in various parts of the world. These contain many species of birds, animals and plants peculiar to themselves, and represented, on ac- count of the small area they inhabit, only by few individuals. They are thus very likely to disappear, either through changes caused by, or direct destruction by man or by noxious animals, as the mongoose, domestic cats and rats introduced by man. Hundreds of inter- esting island species, including birds, reptiles, insects, mollusks and members of other groups, have already become totally extinct through human agency, and many of the remaining ones are immediately threatened with the same fate. On such islands there usually were, and on many there still remain, forest tracts containing plants found nowhere else and presenting ecological conditions entirely unique and therefore of great scientific inter- est. If they could be preserved, which is de- sirable for their own sake, they would serve as reservations for preserving the native ani- mals also. This would in many cases not be an expensive undertaking, as it is chiefly in land unfavorable in character or situation for agricultural purposes that such forests have been allowed to remain, and it is probable that 84 in some cases the local governments could be induced to set them aside as reservations if the reasons for it were made clear. Such islands as those here referred to, do not however have a sufficient proportion of in- habitants with scientific interests and with the means or enterprise to take any effective steps toward preserving their native plants or ani- mals, nor do they appreciate their unique char- acter, or fully realize that the things they see about them all the time are found nowhere else in the world. The initiative, encouragement, and no doubt some money (it would in many cases not take a great deal) must come from outside. This is not a matter of local interest only, it concerns nature students, zoologists, botanists and foresters throughout the world, particularly those interested in these sciences from an ecological point of view. There never has been a time when interna- tional jealousies and mistrust and obstinate conservatism have so nearly disappeared from among the nations holding colonial possessions as they have to-day. The international co- operation of scientific societies and of the local and general governments necessary to carry on such work is not nearly so far outside the range of probability now as it would have seemed a few years ago. It seems a favorable time for some of our larger and more influen- tial scientific associations and institutions to make a beginning by the appointment of a committee to communicate with others that might be interested, and discover what support and encouragement such a movement could hope for. The need is urgent, every year’s de- lay will increase the difficulty and greatly di- minish the results that it will be possible to achieve. Winuarp G. Van Name SCIENTIFIC EVENTS THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF PHILADELPHIA An article in the Pennsylvania Gazette re- ports that for the past ten years a small group of men, interested in some aspects of anthro- pology, have held meetings (informal at first, before 1914) for the interchange of ideas and SCIENCE [N. 8. Vou. L. No. 1282 the stimulation of interest. The nucleus of this group was certain members of the faculty of the University of Pesnsylvania and of the staff of the university museum, whose work lay in this field. The remainder were stu- dents and “laymen” who had some interest in anthropological studies, and who served to leaven the whole and widen the usefulness of associating together. In the beginning no attempt was made to keep any definite object in view nor to expect anything more than that sociability would grow out of these gatherings. But when a man came home, after a bit of interesting field-work, one of the first things he did was to look up the next meeting of his friends and co-workers, to talk over his trip and per- haps to display photographs and specimens. In this way there arose evening meetings de- voted to particular topics, with “ speakers,” meetings which were informal, but which tended toward a definite purpose. The café in which these friends usually met gradually became a sort of headquarters for the enter- tainment of anthropologists, visiting field- workers and members of societies from other cities. In March, 1914, a serious attempt was made to increase the usefulness of these informal gatherings by adopting a regular date and place of meeting. The first step in this direc- tion was to elect a president, a secretary- treasurer and an executive committee. Thus formed, and under the name of The Anthro- pological Society of Philadelphia, those inter- ested began to hold regular meetings and to hear prepared papers and discussions once each month during the winter. The social character of the meetings was kept as much as possible and all formality was avoided, just sufficient, indeed, to preserve a natural co- hesion of interest and companionship. During the past three years funds have been appropriated by the provost through Dean Ames, of the university to pay the expenses of non-resident speakers to address the stu- dents of the department of anthropology; per- mission was obtained, through the efforts of Professor Frank G. Speach, of the department, Juny 25, 1919] to combine the meetings of students and mem- bers of the society for mutual benefit. This arrangement has enabled the society to enter- tain some of the foremost anthropologists of the country, keeping the members in touch with the important work being done in other university centers, and making this body the center of things anthropological in Phila- delphia. At the first formal meeting of the society in 1914, Professor W. Max Miiller, the Egyptolo- gist, was elected president for the current four years. The president for the current year is Professor Walter Woodburn Hyde, of the department of Greek. Professor Speck, of the department of anthropology, has been an active member of the executive committee from the beginning, contributing largely to the suc- cess of the society. Among the outside speakers who addressed the society in the past two seasons were: Dr. Robert H. Lowie, curator of ethnology, American Museum of Natural History, New York. (Two papers.) Dr, Alexander A, Goldenweiser, Columbia Uni- versity. (Two papers.) Professor Franz Boas, head of the department of anthropology, Columbia University. Professor Alfred L. Kroeber, head of the de- partment of anthropology, University of California. Professor Spencer Trotter, department of biol- ogy, Swarthmore College. Professor Phineas W. Whiting, department of biology, Franklin and Marshall College. Honorable Gifford Pinchot, formerly chief for- ester of the U. 8S. THE BRITISH NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY THE custom which held before the war of inviting a number of visitors to the National Physical Laboratory in June has had to be suspended during the last four years, but it was revived on June 24 on the occasion of the annual inspection by the general board, the chairman of which, Sir J. J. Thomson, O.M., received the guests. The London Times states that those who had not seen the laboratory since the war could scarcely recognize the place, so numerous are the extensions that have been made, and yet SCIENCE 85 the accommodation is even now inadequate for the work that has to be done. Perhaps the most conspicuous of the additions is a new aeronautics building which, among other things, is to house a huge wind channel, 14 feet across, for the testing of aircraft models. Arrangements had been made by the di- rector, Sir Richard Glazebrook, who is retiring in September, for conducting the visitors over the laboratory, and numerous demonstrations illustrating the work that is being carried on in the various departments had been arranged for their edification. Thus, in the metallurgy department the new rolling mill was shown in operation rolling high-tensile aluminium alloys down to very thin sheets suitable for covering the wings of aeroplanes in place of fabric. In the existing wind channels of the aeronautics department experiments were being conducted on the balancing of airship rudders, the mu- tual interference of airscrew and body and the flow of air in the neighborhood of the airscrew, the spinning of aeroplanes, and other points. The William Froude National Tank was being employed for the testing of seaplane floats, some of the experiments relating to the resist- ance, running angle and longitudinal stability of the float while planing on the water, and others to the impact of a seaplane when alight- ing on water. In the metrology department various munitions gauges, in the supply of which the laboratory did such good work dur- ing the war, were on view, and there was a minimeter capable of registering differences of one millionth of an inch. An electrical device for indicating at a distance the depth of petrol in the tanks of an aeroplane was to be seen, and in the department of electrotechnics there was the Paterson-Walsh electrical apparatus which was used as part of the London air de- fenses for ascertaining the height of hostile aircraft, while experiments with wireless teleg- raphy were conducted in a hut in the meadow. The engineering department and the optics di- vision of the physics department were also open among other sections. THE NEW BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION Mr. J. L. Cope, who is organizing and will lead the British Imperial Antarctic Expedi- 86 SCIENCE tion which is to sail next June, and will be absent about six years, is shortly leaving Hng- land for Canada to make arrangements for the bringing to this country for the necessary fitting up of the Terra Nova, which has been secured for the venture. Mr. Cope is at present engaged in appoint- ing the personnel of the expedition. Professor R. C. Mossman, who has been appointed chief of the scientific staff, was meteorologist to the Scott Antarctic Expedition; Mr. A. H. Lark- man, who sailed in the Terra Nova as chief engineer with the Shackleton Expedition, has signed on with the British Imperial in the same capacity; and Mr. T. H. R. Hooke, R.A.F., who was also with the Shackleton Ex- pedition, has been appointed chief of the wire- less staff. Captain Hurley, who during the war was one of the official photographers to the Australian forces and who accompanied the Mawson Expedition as photographer, will go with Mr. Cope as photographer. A cable has been received by Mr. Cope from Mr. Ernest Joyce, who was a member of the Scott and Shackleton expeditions. It is probable that Mr. Joyce will accompany the present expedi- tion, and in the meanwhile he is in charge of the organization in Australia. Lieutenant E. Healy, late Dublin Fusiliers, has been ap- pointed a member of the shore party, which will leave the Terra Nova when the vessel becomes fast in the ice, and will explore the district to the south of the great ice barrier. It is the intention of Mr. Cope to take an aeroplane on board the Terra Nova and make a flight to the South Pole. Already two firms of aeroplane makers have offered to supply the expedition with a machine free of cost. Gen- erous support is being given the expedition by commercial firms. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDALS THE distinguished service medal has been awarded as follows: Colonel William H. Welch, United States Army. For exceptionally mer- itorious and conspicuous service. From his rich experience in scientific medicine, sanita- tion, public health and medical education he helped materially in guiding the medical pro- [N. 8. Vou. L. No. 1282 fession both in and out of the Army safely through many difficulties of war. Colonel Victor C. Vaughan, United States Army. For exceptionally meritorious and conspicuous service. During his service in the office of the surgeon-general his contributions of advice and information have been of great value to the Army in connection with the control of communicable diseases. During the recent epidemic of influenza, in particular, his work was of extreme value. Lieutenant-Colonel Richard P. Strong, Medical Corps, United States Army. For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services. Possessed of the highest professional qualification and actuated by zealous devotion to duty, he has rendered service of inestimable value to the American Expeditionary Forces, notably as president of a board appointed to investigate the cause of trench fever, a disease which has caused serious losses to the effectives of the allied armies. The scientific research of this board under his skilful direction led to the discovery of the means by which trench fever is transmitted and in the establishment of effective measures for its prevention. SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS Dr. CuristopHEerR Appison has been appointed the first minister of health in the Ministry of Health which has been established by the Brit- ish Parliament. Dr. Addison was at one time professor of anatomy, University College, Sheffield. He was parliamentary secretary to the Board of Education, 1914-15, minister of munitions, 1916-17; minister of reconstruc- tion, 1917, and has latterly occupied the office of president of the Local Government Board. Proressor F. Soppy has been elected a for- eign member of the Swedish Academy of Sci- ences in succession to the late Sir William Crookes. Dr. Cuas. B. Davenport, of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, has been elected associate of the Académie des Sciences de Belgique. Dr. Henry G. Barsour, assistant professor of pharmacology in Yale University, has re- ceived a grant of $200 from the committee on JuLy 25, 1919] Scientific Research of the American Medical Association for the investigation of sub- stances likely 'to be of value as anesthetics. Don C. Morte, formerly economic zoologist, Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, has ‘been appointed state entomologist of Arizona by the Arizona Commission of Agriculture and Horticulture, and assumed the duties of the office on July 1. Dr. A. G. McCauu has terminated his ser- vices with the Army Educational Oorps in France and has resumed his work as chief of the Soil Investigational Work at the Mary- land Experiment Station. Mr. Harry S. Mork has resigned as vice- president of Arthur D. Little, Inc., of Cam- bridge, Mass., and has been elected to the vice- presidency of the Lustron Company of Boston, manufacturers of artificial silk by a process developed in the Little establishment. He will also act as consultant to the Industrial Com- pany of Boston. Dr. Maurice H. Givens has resigned the assistant professorship of biological chemistry at the University of Rochester to accept the post of biochemist in the research laboratory at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Pitts- burgh, Pa. THE council of the British Scientific Instru- ment Research Association has appointed Mr. H. Moore to be assistant director of research. Tue American Scandinavian Foundation an- nounces the names of ten American college stu- dents who will receive $1,000 each to enable them to go to Sweden to study in exchange with ten Swedish students to come to America. The men appointed are: Samuel G. Frantz, Princeton; Harry F. Yancey, University of Missouri; Chester C. Stewart, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Harry W. Titus, Uni- versity of Wyoming; Robert C. Sessions, Wor- cester Polytechnic Institute; Clarence N. Os- tergren, Sheffield Scientific School; William S. Moir, Yale Forestry School; Henry M. Me- loney, State School of Forestry at Syracuse University; Rudolph E. Zetterstrand, Shef- field Scientific School, and Thomas Fraser, University of Dlinois. SCIENCE 87 On July 1, Major Clarence J. West, recently in charge of the editorial department, Research Division, Chemical Warfare Service, assumed his duties as director of the information de- partment of Arthur D. Little, Inc. In his new position Major West will extend the library fa- cilities of the organization and develop a spe- cial information service on technical and scientific subjects for the benefit of the clients and staff of Arthur D. Little, Ine. CotoneL Harry L. Gincurerst, of the Med- ical Corps, U. S. A., will command a group of 550 American Army officers and volunteers who will undertake to eliminate typhus from the camps and among the people in Poland. Proressor ALBERT JOHANNSEN, of the Uni- versity of Chicago, has gone to Mexico City for the summer. He is doing petrographic work for the Mexican Survey. Mr. I. H. Boas, M.Se., of the Technical School, Perth, has left for Europe, America and India, where he will investigate Forest Products Laboratories. His report will form the basis of the Western Australian project. _ Proressor H. F. Curnnanp, of the depart- ment of geology, has been granted a leave of absence from Williams College for the com- ing college year. Dr. J. G. Sanpers, director of the Bureau of Plant Industry of the Pennsylvania Depart- ment of Agriculture, at Harrisburg, Pa., has been commissioned by the Federal Horticul- tural Board at Washington to study the potato wart disease in the Briish Isles, and to note the methods adopted for controlling the spread of this most dangerous potato disease. The potato wart disease was first determined by him to occur in the United States in a district comprising four counties in the vicinity of Hazleton, Pa., in September, 1918. These four counties, with three outlying points, are now under strict quarantine. OrGanizeD from the Scottish Oceanograph- ical Laboratory, a surveying expedition left Edinburgh on June 16, for Spitsbergen, headed by Mr. John Mathieson, late divisional superintendent of Ordnance Survey in Scot- land, who retired to take up this work. In 88 - SCIENCE 1909 Mr. Mathieson completed a survey of Prince Charles Foreland, Spitsbergen, which was begun in 1906 by Dr. W. S. Bruce, direc- tor of the Scottish Oceanographical Labora- tory. In connection with the physiology of the nervous system, given as a part of the course in general physiology at the Tufts College medical school, a series of three lectures was delivered on July 21, 22 and 23, by A. P. Weiss, of the department of psychology of Ohio State University, on “The place of be- havior psychology in physiology.” — Tue following lecturers at the Royal College of Physicians of London are announced: Dr. J. L. Birley, the Goulstonian; Sir W. Leish- man, the Horace Dobell; Sir J. Rose Bralford, the Lumleian; and, for 1921, Dr. J. L. Golla, the Croonian. THE death is announced at the age of sixty- seven years of Dr. Emil Fischer, professor of chemistry in the University of Berlin. Dr. Fischer was awarded a Nobel prize in 1902. TInciupED in the Army Appropriation Bill, now passed by Congress, is an appropriation of $20,000 for the Surgeon-General’s Library, and for the preservation of specimens for the Army Medical School, Washington, $10,000. An appropriation of $350,000 is made for the purchase of twenty-six acres of land adjoining Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, for the final location of the Army Medical School, Surgeon-General’s Library and the Army Mu- seum, and for the improvements on the land to be purchased. Tue thirteenth annual meeting of the Brit- ish Museums Association was held at Oxford, on July 8, and the two following days. Mem- bers were welcomed by Sir Herbert Warren, president of Magdalen. An address was given by the president, Sir H. Howarth, followed by the reading of a series of papers on museums in Oxford. Wednesday morning was occupied by discussions on the propriety of transferring the control of museums to the education au- thority, and on various matters of detail. On Thursday Dr. W. Evans Hoyle, curator of the [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1282 Welsh Museum, Dr. F. A. Bather, of the Nat- ural History Museum, and Mr. Isaac Williams, of Cardiff opened a discussion on the desir- ability of establishing a diploma for museum curators, and on the course of training that . should be required. In the afternoon’ visits were paid to local museums and places of his- toric interest. We learn from the London Times that the fifth annual general meeting of the Medico- Political Union was held in London on June 12. Dr. F. Coke, in his presidential address, said that 367 new members had joined during the last month. The report of the general sec- retary regretted the hostility which had sprung up between the British Medical Association and the Union. “The Association had for many years,” the report proceeded, “ while de- erying trade unionism, been employing trade- union methods with impunity, until the Coventry case shattered their claims and left us as the only body adequately equipped to carry on a fight on behalf of the profession. I am pleased to say that the association, or certain of its members, recognize facts, and an attempt is now being made to reconcile differences.” As to the formation of a min- istry of health, the report stated that it fore- shadowed drastic changes in the medical serv- ices at an early date. Those changes would benefit neither the community nor the pro- fession, unless the latter had a large voice in shaping them. It was the duty of that union to impress on government departments the importance of the general practitioner as the backbone of the medical profession, and the fact that he was better equipped to give advice than those occupying a more exalted position. Resolutions were also passed in favor of the organization of the whole of the medical pro- fession on a trade-union basis, and to the effect that a whole-time salaried service for general practitioners was undesirable. UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL ‘NEWS Tue contract has just been signed for an addition to the laboratory of the department Jury 25, 1919] of chemistry of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to cost $175,000. The new wing will be devoted to laboratories for quantitative analysis, organic chemistry and physical chem- istry. The new construction is necessary be- cause of the growth in the number of students taking the courses in chemical engineering and general science. Dr. E. J. Kraus, dean of service depart- ments at the Oregon Agricultural College, has been appointed professor of applied botany at the University of Wisconsin. Proressor ALFRED ATKINSON, professor of agronomy in the Montana State College, suc- ceeds President J. M. Hamilton, who has re- tired after serving for fifteen years. Masor Henry A. Martinu, Sanitary Corps, formerly assistant professor of nutrition at the University of California, returned early in March from France, where he had charge of instruction in food and nutrition in the army schools at Langres. Dr. Mattill has accepted a junior professorship in biological chemistry at the University of Rochester. Dr. V. Bus, now engineer of the American Radio and Research Co., has been appointed associate professor of electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Tue following promotions at Lehigh Uni- versity have been announced: Assistant Pro- fessor R. L. Charles, physics, to become asso- ciate professor; Mr. P. B. Fraim, physics, as- sistant professor; Mr. J. S. Beamensderfer, mechanical engineering, assistant professor; Mr. H. C. Payrow, civil engineering, assistant professor, and Mr. M. S. Knebelman, mathe- matics, assistant professor. At Cambridge University Mr. W. E. Dixon, Downing College, has been appointed reader in pharmacology; Mr. J. E. Purvis, Corpus Col- lege, university lecturer in chemistry and phys- ics in their application to hygiene and preven- tive medicine; Dr. Graham-Smith, university lecturer in hygiene, and Mr. T. S. P. Strange- ways, St. John’s, university lecturer in special pathology. SCIENCE 89 DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE LIMICOLOUS OLIGOCHETA FOR LABORATORY USE To tHe Epiror or Science: I should like to bring to the attention of teaching zoologists the advantages of living limicolous oligocheta, preferably a Tubifex or a Limnodrilus, for laboratory purposes in connection with exer- cises on the earthworm. In the movement which is developing in elementary courses to get away from mere study of structure, the introduction of some convenient and usable form for demonstrating functional activity in connection with so important a type as the earthworm is desirable. At Ohio State Uni- versity we have used Limnodrilus with success. It is sufficiently transparent to allow the in- ternal structures and processes of the annelid body to be observed. The entire alimentary tract is visible and the peristaltic action of the intestine can be demonstrated together with the effect this has on the material in the intestine. Frequently, too, it is possible to see the movements of the pharynx during in- gestion. The contraction and the direction of blood flow in the main blood vessels can be ob- served. The movement of the sete and their connection with the muscles operating them are also to be seen. The relation of the septa to body wall and intestine and the division of the celom into compartments is clearly ap- parent. It will thus be seen that these worms not only illustrate the annelid body, but also demonstrate functions of general application. For laboratory use it is best to anesthetize the worms to the point of immobility. They should be placed in a watch glass partly filled with water and to this should be added a few drops of a saturated solution of chloretone. It is best to use a little at first, allow it to work for a while and then if necessary add more. The dish should be covered. With a little practise it is possible to have the worms immobile and yet keep the blood vessels and intestine active. For demonstrating ingestion and movement of the sete no anesthetic should be used. Of course all activities are at their best in the unanesthetized worm if students have time and patience to follow the speci- 90 SCIENCE men. A binocular microscope or a 40-mm. lens on a compound instrument should be used. The worms are usually to be found in the bottom of almost any body of water where there is mud mixed with decayed vegetation. They can be kept indefinitely in aquaria having a layer of mud on the bottom. F. H. KReckrer Outo STATE UNIVERSITY THE CUMBERLAND FALLS METEORITE Tuer stone described by Professor A. M. Miller in Scrence for June 6 of the present year, and of which the National Museum has secured the major portion, proves of excep- tional interest. In fact, it is scarcely too much to say that it is one of the most re- markable falls yet reported on the American continent. The stone is a coarse enstatite breccia, closely compacted, showing evidences of compression while under a considerable load and other indications of its having formed a portion of a body of considerable size, even of planetary dimensions. The most striking macroscopical features aside from its brecciated structure are the occasional en- closures sometimes 4 or 5 cm. in diameter, of a dark, nearly black, chondritic stone. I do not recall another instance of so plain an ad- mixture of stones of quite different type. Such a stone finds no exact position in the classification of Brezina. Following out the general plan, however, I have made a place for it among the achondrites and designated it a Whitleyite—a magnesia-rich stone brec- ciated in structure, consisting essentially of enstatite, poor in iron and carrying enclosures of a black chondrite. The results of further studies will be published elsewhere. Gro. P. Merrinn U. S. Nationa Museum, Wasuineron, D. C., June 20, 1919 THE THIRD EDITION OF THE BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY OF THE AMERICAN MEN OF SCIENCE THE compilation and publication of the third edition of the Biographical Directory of American Men of Science, postponed on ac- count of war conditions, will now be completed [N. S. Von. L. No. 1282 as rapidly as possible. The work is intended to be a contribution to the organization of sci- ence in America, and the editor will greatly appreciate the assistance of scientific men in making its contents accurate and complete. Those whose biographies appear in the second edition are requested to forward such altera- tions and additions as may be necessary or de- sirable, and to obtain biographical sketches from those who should be included or send their names and addresses. All those engaged in scientific work whose biographies are not in- cluded in the second edition are requested to send the information needed. For this purpose the blank that is given on an advertising page (ii) of the current issue of ScmENCE may be used. It is intended that each entry shall contain information as follows: 1. The full name with title and mail address, the part of the name ordinarily omitted in correspond- ence being in parentheses, 2. The department of investigation given in italies, 3. The place and date of birth, including month and day. : 4, Education and degrees, including honorary degrees. 5. Positions with dates, the present position being given in italics. 6. Temporary and minor positions; awards and honors. ; 7. Membership in scientifie societies with offices held. 8. Chief subjects in which research has been published or is now in progress. All those in North America should be in- cluded in the book who have made contribu- tions to the natural and exact sciences. The standards are expected to be about the same as those of fellowship in the American As- sociation for the Advancement of Science or membership in the national scientific societies which require research work as a qualification. The compilation of the new edition will of necessity involve much labor, but this will be materially lightened if men of science will reply promptly to this request. J. McKeen Carrert ~ GARRISON-ON-Hupson, N. Y. scientific Jury 25, 1919] SCIENTIFIC BOOKS The Indigenous Land Mammals of Porto Rico, LInving and Extinct, Memoirs of the Amer- awcan Museum of Natural History, N. S., ey Pts) tlh kOctobersel91 Sta Bye Ee. ih. ANTHONY. Captain Anthony has been very fortunate in being able to study a very interesting phase of mammalian evolution; the borderline be- tween the extinct and the recent. This fact makes his excellent memoir extremely inter- esting to students of vertebrate evolution. The work was attempted as a phase of an extensive survey of Porto Rico, covering the recent fauna and flora, the authropology and archeology; Captain Anthony confining his attention to the mammals. Most of the fossil forms are of Pleistocene age, though their nature is such as to lead Dr. Matthew to suggest to the American Philosophical So- ciety! that Porto Rico and its adjacent islands have not been in direct communication with the mainland since the early Pliocene. The great body of the monograph, illustrated by 55 text figures and 76 photographic plates, is devoted to the systematic descriptions of the forms, chiefly bats. A few amphibian and reptilian bones were also discovered but these have not been discussed. The reptilian bones seem to be lizards of the general type of Amblyrhynchus, because of the presence of epiphyses. Anthony concludes: Judging from the character of the ancient mam- malia, it (the fauna) must have reached the present islands at approximately some time in the period from the Oligocene to the end of the Miocene. In the Miocene the fauna of South America was of very much the same general character as that of the ancient island fauna and in the light of pres- ent-day knowledge of South American paleontol- ogy the relationships of most of the island mam- mals undoubtedly run back to the South Ameri- can Miocene formations. The presence of two large ground sloths, Acratocnus odontrigonus and A. major which the author compares with South American Hapalops and Eucholeops is an indication of the relationship of the early South American fauna with that of Porto Rico. The osteology 18crencz, N. §., XLIX., 546, 1919. SCIENCE 91 of these two ground sloths, so far as known, is carefully illustrated and described. Roy L. Moov COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO The Boys’ Book of Chemistry. A Simple Ex- planation of Up-to-date Chemistry. To- gether with Many Easily Made Experi- ments. By CHartes Ramsay Ouarke. New York, E. P. Dutton & Company. 1918. It is so obviously desirable that the youth of to-day should take a keen interest in chem- ical science, to which such prominence has been given in the war-time activities that one would welcome the appearance of a satisfac- tory book for boys’ use. Unfortunately “The Boys’ Book of Chemistry” is not only a dis- appointment, but it is one of the most perni- cious little volumes that has appeared for a long time. The chemical statements are ab- solutely wrong in a considerable number of instances and misleading in many more, and the book is subject to severe criticism both as to its English and the arrangement of its sub- ject matter. The degree of judgment shown in the selection of material is perhaps sufii- ciently indicated by the statement that in the chapter entitled Synthetic Chemistry for Be- ginners the first four syntheses are those of camphor, indigo, tannin and rubber; and these are given in mere outline form which is prac- tically valueless to the reader, boy or man. At a time when books which will lead to an intelli- gent interest in chemistry are so desirable, it is unfortunate that this volume should appear to the confusion of its readers. H. P. Tarsor NOTES ON METEOROLOGY AND CLIMATOLOGY METEOROLOGICAL ASPECTS OF TRANSATLAN- TIC FLIGHT During the early preparations for the trans- Atlantic flight most of the discussion centered on the machines themselves, but when it be- eame evident that airplanes and dirigibles could stay in the air long enough to accom- 92 SCIENCE plish the flight, the interest in the meteorolog- ical aspects became more manifest. And when aviators intending to fly across the Atlantic had to wait many weeks for favorable weather, the importance of the meteorological condi- tions became recognized as paramount. “Trans-Atlantic flight from a meteorolo- gist’s point of view,” was discussed in detail by Mr. W. R. Gregg, of the Weather Bureau, at a meeting of the Philosophical Society of Washington, March 29, 1919; and this paper was published widely during the first half of May.1' In the selection of routes for trans- Atlantic flight, helpful winds as well as geo- graphical distance must be considered. Thus, the best eastward routes are Newfoundland to Treland and Newfoundland to the Azores and Portugal; while the best westward routes, so far as wind aid is concerned, are (1) Scotland to Labrador via Iceland and Greenland, (2) Portugal to the West Indies, and (3) Africa near Cape Verde, to eastern Brazil. Since eastward flight from Newfoundland offers the best initial possibilities for airplanes, Mr. Gregg confined his discussion to the weather conditions in the middle latitudes of the North Atlantic. The temperatures in winter or summer are usually not extreme. The moisture of the air over the oceans is of importance only in its connection with fogginess, cloudiness and pre- cipitation. The average cloudiness along the more northern route (Newfoundland to Ire- land) is about 70 per cent., but this includes the thick fogs as well as the clouds. Fortu- nately, the aviator can generally rise above the clouds for observation, and over the sea, it is not so dangerous to fly below low clouds as it is over the land. Rainfall occurs very frequently, 7. e., on about two thirds of the days—but, here again, it is possible for the aviator to fly high and thus to avoid the heaviest rain. Fog, while a grave danger in trying to land, or in flying low, usually does not extend high. On the Grand Banks fogs occur on about 60 per cent. of the days in summer and 20 to 35 per cent. of those in 1See Monthly Weather Review, 1919, Vol. 47, pp. 65-75. [N. S. Von. L. No. 1282 winter; on the Irish coast the percentages are 10 and 5, respectively. Since these fogs do not usually extend very far inland, they seldom would prevent landing. The vertical extent of the Newfoundland fogs is almost always less than 250 meters, and so can easily be left below the flier at the start. The general pressure distribution and winds favor eastward flight, though the frequency of gales is unfavorable, gales occurring on about 25 per cent. of the days in winter and 5 in summer on the Newfoundland to Ireland route, and slightly less often on the New- foundland to the Azores and Portugal route. Tropical cyclones, fortunately, are rare. The conditions in the free air are not very differ- ent from those on the surface, for over the ocean the wind increases and turns but little with altitude, the surface friction being very small relative to that over the land. While the average conditions are generally favorable for eastward flight in middle lati- tudes across the North Atlantic, the actual conditions at a particular time are those which must be encountered. The problem, then, is to choose a day on which the winds will be most favorable. Mr. Gregg chose from among the daily weather maps of the North Atlantic on file at the Weather Bureau, May 29, 1906, as a day which would have been a good one for a start. By interpolatmg weather maps at two-hour intervals he com- puted for eight divisions of a flight from Newfoundland to Ireland, the direction and velocities of the “gradient” winds, and from these the proper bearings of an airplane’s course which would carry it to Ireland with the aid of the wind, in the shortest possible time. He computed not only the bearing of the course, but also the direction in which the airplane would have to move relative to the air in order to maintain the necessary bearing for the stipulated distances of each part of the course. On May 29-30, 1906, an airplane with an air-speed of 90 mi./hr. could have made the flight in 17 hours, whereas in a calm 20 hours would have been necessary. With the aid of Messrs. Tingley and Pater- son of the marine division of the Weather JuLy- 25, 1919] Bureau, Mr. Gregg also classified the daily weather maps of the North Atlantic for a ten- year period into days when wind conditions were excellent, good, fair, or poor for the journeys both ways and both routes. Grouping the excellent and good days together, the average number of days in May favoring New- foundland to Ireland flight is 12, Newfound- land to Portugal, 11, and return on both routes, only 2. For June, the corresponding figures are 10, 6 and 2. While on the average there should be plenty of favorable days, in- dividual months vary greatly. Thus, in July, 1906, there were 28 favorable days for the trip to Ireland, but in July 1907, only 4. Mr. Grege’s general conelusions are worth quoting: CONCLUSIONS 1. In the present stage of their development and until improvements give them a much larger cruis- ing radius than they now have, airplanes can not safely be used for trans-Atlantic flight except under favorable conditions of wind and weather. 2. Observations of conditions over as great an area as possible, and particularly along and near any proposed course, should therefore be available at as frequent intervals as possible, these observa- tions to inelude free-air as well as surface condi- tions, 3. With such observations at hand the meteorol- ogist is able quickly to determine the current, and probable future, wind conditions along a proposed toute and to advise an aviator as to the suitability of a day for a flight. 4. If a day is favorable, the meteorologist is able to indicate the successive directions toward which an airplane should be headed in order to keep to any desired course; also, to caleulate the assistance that will be furnished by the winds. 5. Inspection of marine weather maps shows that at an altitude of 500 to 1,000 meters condi- tions are favorable for an eastward trip approxi- mately one third of the time, the percentage being slightly greater along the northern than along the southern route. At greater altitudes the percent- age of favorable days materially increases, espe- cially along the northern route. For the westward trip the percentage of favorable days is so small as to make trans-Atlantic flight in this direction impracticable until the cruising radius of aircraft is increased to such an extent that they are rela- tively independent of wind conditions, SCIENCE | 93 6. All things considered, conditions for an east- ward flight are most favorable along the northern course; for a westward flight they are most favor- able along the southern course; that is, the pre- yailing westerlies are less persistent along this course than farther north. 7. There seems to be little choice as to season, for, although the prevailing westerlies are stronger in winter than in summer, yet, on the other hand, stormy conditions are more prevalent in winter, and the net result is about an equal percentage of favorable days in the two seasons. Moreover, the greater fog percentage in summer just about off- sets the greater percentage of cloudiness in winter. Fog is a disadvantage chiefly because of its inter- ference in making observations with drift indica- tors. The Newfoundland fogs in general are of small vertical extent and do not extend far inland. They should not, therefore, prove a hindrance to landing, if the landing field is located some dis- tance from the coast. 8. Most important of all, there is need for a comprehensive campaign of meteorological and aerological observations over the North Atlantic in order that aviators may be given data for whose accuracy the meteorologist need not hesitate to vouch, instead of information based on so small a number of observations, particularly of free air conditions, that the deductions, including some of those in this paper, are assumed and not proved, are given with caution, and are ‘‘subject to change without notice.’’ How some of these conclusions have worked out in actual practise is being discussed in contributions to be published in the Monthly Weather Review. Cuartes F. Brooxs WASHINGTON, D. C. SPECIAL ARTICLES A CHART OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, AROMATIC SERIES Tue following chart was made and is used in connection with the elementary organic chemistry course given at the university. The heavy type lines in the benzene rings in- dicate the double bonds while the light lines indicate the single bonds. In order to em- phasize certain characteristic groups, position of substituents in the rings, etc., red letter- ing was used. In the following miniature 94 SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1282 ORGANIC TYPE FORMULAE AROMATIC AS! SERIES. > Te COLUMN 2. e PHENOLS —~ ALCOHOLS — ETHER : att On —o On On 6 -On on J On On PHENOL ~ CATECHOL ~~ RESORCINOL HYDROQUINONE } “On -On So a On p-CRESOL PYAOcALLOL @- NAPHTHOL ANTHBANOL | CQO: Ome e Co 5 re ror ie BENZYL ALCOHOL ANISOL PHENCTOL opdenve ETHER @OROSUBSTITUTED | ortho - compounds : 0- | mete - compounds zm. 0 ALPEHYDES er ' 0 ~ +f < - ") 1p: bd (BENZENE | 1-2-andl:G-identicat |t:3-ond 1:S-sentscot | PAT peonpeunts:? baa Og Ora ~on : SIHVDROCABBONS® : BENZALDEHYDE SALICYLIC ALDEHYDE CINNAMIC ALDEHYDE KETONES and QUINONES ° Oo o} cv n ° mn 0 oo “WRXANYDROBERZCRE TETPANYDBOBENZENE DWWonoBENZENE i x P ACETOPHENONE BENZOPHENONE p-BENZOGUMONE »-BENZOQUINONE ee 2 9 he a METHYL BENZENE 2 m- DIMETHYL BENZENE o Oi OO! (OCO BENZENE TOLUENE m- XYLENE te i) °O a-NAPHTHOQUINONE _@-NAPHTHOQUINONE _ ANTHRAQUINONE ! ENS ACIDSadRELATED COMPOUNDS : A nH SS Ogres -CH=CH-Coon { -¢-cooH NAPHTHALENE ANTHRACENE eae ~coon Wy HALOGEN COMPOUNDS H BENZOIC ACIO PHTHALIC ACID CINNAMIC ACID BHENNE ACETIC ACID : 5 Le Tae oC -COONA -COOCyMs -¢ C- a > ct -8r | ‘o* S. t SODIUM’ BENZOATE PHENYL BENZOATE OLMZOK ARNYORIDE BeNZAMIDE | e ac AMINO : f -N=N- *azo —NHR \ SUBSTITUTED = cee Eneeoee +e -NR2 B AMINO 3 ay CgHs5-N-N-CoHs HYDRAZOBENZENE = QUINCID =SO3H ~SULPHONIC PSOE eta ag Eu by. cte ( PHENYCHYDROXxYL— < Sete Aunts je > AMINE -NH2 9 H2N- § ( ON OXIDATION a e : Ss + <——_—_ ( -CH) nh po) ie ai: A ch | aNkcns “a “CH; f 2 NOT A DYE NOT A DYE / A 4 -N=N f —C ANILing DIMETHYL ANILINE p-TOLUISINE @ - NAPHTHYLAMINE] C Ora AZO 24 AZO COMPOUND AYE 35 oS NEN ——— -“N-N=N-C1 HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS ihe c e Sar ail S MI CH . eh Sas SHENYLOIAZONIUM CHLORIDE DIAZOBENZENE CHLORIDE H 4 Y Ke ot Ge ae ee ee Go) 73 ~ .aAL It -NH> FURANE © THIOPHENE meant PYRPROLE INDOLE é ZOAMINOBENZENE p - AMINOAZOBENZENE y HQC Non; AY Ca) = ——~ | HLN-C YD \-NH2/ Ly racl kn, ORAZOBE z es NZENE BENZIDINE PY RIDING PIDERIDINE QUINOLINE _ COMPILED BY LOWY ALEXANDER Juny 25, 1919] chart the corresponding red lettering can not be shown. The chart is 98’ & 75”. An analogous chart of the aliphatic series was described in SCIENCE. ALEXANDER Lowy UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH THE KENTUCKY ACADEMY OF SCIENCE THE Kentucky Academy of Science held its sixth annual meeting at the University of Kentucky on Saturday, May 3, 1919, with J. E. Barton, presi- dent, in the chair. After a brief business session at which a number of new members were elected, the following program was presented: President’s address, by J. E. Barton, ‘‘The re- lation of private forestry to the economic interests of Kentucky.’’ It was brought out that there are no public for- ests in Kentucky, the large bodies of forest lands being privately owned, mainly by coal companies. The preservation of timber in Kentucky is there- fore a problem in private forestry. It was con- sidered desirable that the legislature should pass some law regulating private forests and stimulat- ing timber development by suitable modification of the methods of taxing timber land. New fossil invertebrates from a new fossil hori- zon in the coal measures of eastern Kentucky: W. R. JILuson, state geologist. A new fossiliferous limestone horizon in the Coal Measures of eastern Kentucky has been discovered by the author who has done sufficient field work on it to demonstrate that it possesses features of fundamental strati- graphic importance to the unmapped geology of this section. A comprehensive collection of inver- tebrates taken by the author from an outcrop of this horizon on the Dr. G. T. Kendrick farm on the headwaters of Cow Creek, Floyd county, and iden- tified by Professor Charles Schuchert, shows an incomplete list of about forty species of which ten are new and about sixteen very rare. It is a very unusual Pottsville fauna with the characteristic index forms absent. Three other widespread fos- siliferous limestones in this same area are noted, all of which possess virgin stratigraphic potentialities. The author tentatively correlates them into the Norton (Middle) and Wise (Upper) Pottsville. A phase of evolution: W. S. ANDERSON. In every breed of animals it is found that a few are exceptionally potent in passing on their good quali- SCIENCE 95 ties. The author illustrated this from certain fam- ilies of horses and advanced some speculations as to the possible cause. Electrolytic solution glow: DEAN W. Martin. In December, 1917, the author observed a glow on the aluminum terminal of an electrolytic rectifier with lead and aluminum electrodes in a 10 per cent. solution of sodium phosphate. It was found possible to produce the glow with solutions of many different salts, of different concentrations, at temperatures from 0 to 100° and with electrodes of aluminum, zine or magnesium and with voltages ranging from 80 to 1,500. A simple apparatus was exhibited and production of the glow was demon- strated. The observation is published for the pur- pose of learning whether others have noted or in- vestigated the phenomenon. The bacteriological descriptive group number: D. J. Heaty. The author has found it necessary to develop the group number of the Society of American Bacteriologists in such a manner that it will indicate the action of soil bacteria on nitro- genous compounds, organic acids and sulfur. The group number, enlarged in this manner, has proved valuable in the study of soil bacteria. A brief discussion of Lexington sewage purifica- tion: H. D. Spears. A modern sewage-disposal plant operated by gravity takes care of 3,000,000 gallons containing 23 tons of suspended solids. The sewage passes through bar screens and grit cham- bers into Imhoff tanks, where bacterial action takes place and sludge is deposited. The effluent passes into ‘‘dosing tanks’’ which empty auto- matically every 15 minutes into filter beds, 2 acres area, of coarsely broken limestone covered with broken granite, together 6 feet deep. Thence the effluent passes through secondary sedimentation tanks and into a near-by stream. It is clear, odor- less and has a ‘‘relative stability’? of about 95 per cent. The sludge from the Imhoff tank is drawn off periodically into drying beds whence it is returned to the soil, when spadable. A specimen of lodestone from Kentucky: A. M. Peter. A specimen of titaniferous magnetite pos- sessing polarity was exhibited, which had been sent in from Edmondson county. The composition of the ash of crab grass (Digi- taria sanguinalis) as affected by the soil in which it is grown: G. Davis BuOKNER. Crab grass (Digitaria sanguinalis), when grown in garden soil, contains an ash which is 16.1 per cent. larger than the ash of the same species when grown in a 4-inch limestone roadway. The comparative composition oom | SCIENCE of the ashes shows that the sample grown in lime- stone contains 22.7 per cent. more P,O,; 44.0 per cent. more CaO; 27.6 per cent. more MgO, and 18.8 per cent. less K.O than the one grown in garden soil. The external appearance of these two samples” was identical, _ Some experiments in adsorption phenomena: P. L. BuLuMENTHAL, D. J. Heanty and A. M. PETER. (Presented by P. L. BLUMENTHAL.) The adsorp- tion of crystal violet by powdered phlogopite was demonstrated and it was shown that the mineral which had been acted upon by bacterial cultures withdrew from dilute solution more of the dye than did the untreated mineral, weight for weight. An improved astatic galvanometer: C. C. Kir- LINGER. A new coil for an astatic galvanometer has been designed, the simplicity and efficiency of which is described. A current equivalent to 1° C. temperature difference between the terminals of a 5 couple iron-germansilver thermopile shows a swing of 8 inches on a scale 50 inches from the instrument. A modified ebullioscopic apparatus for accurate molecular weight determinations: C. C. KIPLINGER. A method is suggested whereby an ebullioscopic apparatus may be made independent of variations in atmospheric pressure. It has been shown that molecular weights may be determined by this method of comparison without any knowledge of the constant for the given solvent, thus rendering the experiment independent of previous experi- mental errors involved in the determination of C. Notes on the viability of tobacco seed: G. C. Rourr. Experience in Canada shows that home- grown seed germinates better than seed from more southern localities and a higher percentage of viable seed are set during bright, warm weather than when cool, cloudy weather prevails. A higher percentage of germination is obtained from seeds gathered when the pods are half brown than when they are left until the pods are wholly brown. To- bacco seed retains its viability for many years; a sample eight years old having shown 95 per cent. germination, and one twelve years old, 70 per cent. The projection of water waves: N. F. SMiru. A simple method was described by which surface waves in water could be produced and projected by means of the lantern so as to illustrate important characteristics of wave motion. The McCreary county aerolite: A. M. MiIturr. Portions of the aerolite which recently fell in Me- [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1282 Creary county, Ky., were exhibited and an ac- count of the occurrence was given. The body is stony and nearly white, containing very little me- tallic iron. Dr. Peter reported a qualitative chem- ical analysis showing that the mineral is essentially a magnesium silicate, probably enstatite. Metallic particles amounting to less than 0.2 per cent. were shown to be nickeliferous iron. Chromium, phos- phorus and sulfur were detected. The discovery of a mica deposit in eastern Ken- tucky: W. R. Jmuuson. The author announces the. discovery of a single stratigraphic unit deposit of nearly pure flake mica in the Pottsville of Pike county—the first in Kentucky. At the afternoon session Dr, E. B. Hart, of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., addressed the academy on ‘‘The widening viewpoint in ani- mal nutrition.’’ An illustrated discussion was given of the most important results of investigations concerning nu- trition which had been conducted in his laboratory at the University of Wisconsin and elsewhere. A brief account was given of the accumulative toxic properties of wheat embryos and the corrective properties of corn stover which, however, did not equal the legume hays in this respect. The vita- mine factor was briefly discussed as were the sub- jects of roughage, protein efficiency, and the neces- sity of inorganic salts. Finally it was stated that a balanced diet must contain sufficient fuel value, efficient proteins, food accessories, roughages and inorganic salts and be sensibly free from toxic material. . Officers were elected as follows: Dr. Paul P. Boyd, president; Dr. Walter H. Coolidge, vice- president; Dr. Alfred M. Peter, secretary; Mr. J. S. MeHargue, treasurer. ALFRED M. PETER, Secretary SCIENCE A Weekly Journal devoted to the Advancement of Science, publishing the official notices and pro- ceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Published every Friday by THE SCIENCE PRESS LANCASTER, PA. GARRISON, WN. Y. NEW YORK, N. Y. Entered in the post-office at Lancaster, Pa., as second class matter oe NCE NEw SERIES Vou. L, No. 1288 Fripay, Aucusr 1, 1919 Text-Books STILES—Human Physiology. By Percy Gold- thwaite Stiles. 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Buchanan, Ph.D., and Charles Murray, B.Sc. Second Edition. 3.75 net. HADLEY—Horse in Health and Disease. sBy F. B. Hadley, D.V.M. $1.50 net. DIETRICH—Live Stock on the Farm. By w. Dietrich, Ph.D. $1.50 net. LYNCH—Disease of Swine (Hog Cholera). By Charles L. Lynch, D.V-S. $5.00 net. SHARP—Ophthalmology for Veterinarians. By Walter N. Sharp, M.D. $2.00 net. W. B. SAUNDERS COMPANY Philadelphia and London SINGLE Copies, 15 Crs, ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION, $5.00 SCIENCE—ADVERTISEMENTS Quality the Best Stock Complete Shipments Immediate—Prices Right In conducting our national! mail order business our goods are sold onan open-and-above-board “one price policy’? with satisfaction or refund guaranteed. 700 Page Catalog Free to Laboratories SCIENTIFIC MATERIALS COMPANY ‘ 6verything for the Laboratory“ PITTSBURGH, PA. SCIENCE —_—— Frmay, Aucust 1, 1919 CONTENTS A National Laboratory of Human Nutrition: PROFESSOR GRAHAM LUSK .............-. 97 The Irwin Expedition: Proressor C. H. MET GUININDAINING tte eliecgaieieanevatedeperetavepers Ctetoie rsa ois 100 Abraham Jacobi: LizuTENANT CoLoNeEL F. H. GARRISONS arpa cesccna) Srctutedanerootapere veltalc: @ npete ateves 102 Scientific Events :— The British Scientific Products Exhibition ; The British Parliament and Medical Re- search; A Bill for a National Department of Health; The Rockefeller Institute for Med- ical Research; The Ramsay Memorial ..... 104 Scientific Notes and News ............-... 108 University and Educational News ......... 111 Discussion and Correspondence :— Laboratory Instruction in Chemistry: Pro- FESSOR ARTHUR A. BLANCHARD. Meteorol- ogy and the Trans-Atlantic Flight: Pro- HESSOR) OR. DEC: MWARD Hee eeiaace coerce. 112 Quotations :— British Science and Industry ............. 115 Scientific Books :— Babcock on the Turtles of New England: J. PLTEINT OTL OUS ayy aye cvacies tic uVeteeel susteeReee Gishe ease 115 Special Articles :— The Fungus Parasite of the Periodical Cicadas -A Te SPEARS Shecmis in seidsres) cd aes 116 The Ohio Academy of Sciences: PROFESSOR DWAR Deu apRl CR erie emietelsieen cen ienianiioe te 117 MSS. intended for publication and books, etc., intended for review should be sent to The Editor of Science, Garrison-on- Hudson, N. Y. ——SSSSS ee A NATIONAL LABORATORY OF HUMAN NUTRITION? Tue Inter-Allied Scientific Food Commis- sion, which held meetings during the spring and early summer of 1918 in Paris, Rome and London, decided to recommend to the four governments represented, those of France, Italy, England and the United States, that a laboratory for the study of human nutrition be established in each of those countries. The commission called attention to the fact that at least one quarter of the income of a nation is devoted to the purchase of food by its in- dividual citizens and that, since the poorer the individual the greater is the proportion of his wage devoted to the purchase of food, it is therefore a matter of the highest importance for the welfare and prosperity of a country that the methods of the best possible utiliza- tion of its food resources for the benefit of its citizens be sought out and in time definitely established by reliable scientific data. The comforts which one enjoys in the mod- ern world are derived from the advance of science. Though the so-called “practical man” says he will accept no “theories,” yet in reality he never acts except upon some theory of his own. The difference in the value of the opinions of the “practical man” and the “scientific man” is that the theories of the latter are more likely to be correct than those of the former. If one looks back into history one notes the influence which an American-born scientist, Count Rumford, had upon the fortunes of Bavaria. Among the 60,000 inhabitants re- siding in Munich there were so many beggars and vagabonds, who were all potential thieves, that in the year 1790 Rumford authorized the seizure of 2,600 in one week and put them to 1A paper prepared in London in June, 1918, at the request of Professor Langlois for publication in France. 98 work under well-ordered and kindly direction. He also provided a soup kitchen which could feed a thousand or more people, and he prided himself that it cost only half a frane to pay for the fuel to cook for a thousand persons. He endeavored to introduce the use of maize meal into Bavaria and gave exact directions as to its cooking. He employed soldiers, who had acquired habits of indolence, upon public works. He arranged little gardens for the military, in which they cultivated potatoes, and through his improvements in the processes of cooking, by means of better boilers which con- sumed less fuel, he endeavored to make the soldiers much more comfortable than they had ever been before and at.much less cost. He sought to improve the live stock of the country by proper breeding. He believed that science was at the foundation of all reformatory en- terprise and in his own words sought “the providing of the wants of the poor and secur- ing their happiness and comfort by the intro- duction of order and industry among them.” And his results were successful because his theories were sound. One can trace the life of this Bavarian com- munity yet further, for in 1822 Liebig resided in Paris and met there the pupils of the great French scientist, the immortal Lavoisier. Liebig took back with him the fundamental truths discovered by this great Frenchman and later the town of Munich built the first great chemical laboratory, a laboratory des- tined to become the one in which his successor enriched the world by the discovery of arti- ficial alizarine. Lavoisier was the first to establish the mod- ern truths concerning the nutrition of man and stated “ La vie est une fonction chimique.” He called attention to the fact that his ex- periments showed that the poor laboring man needed more food than the rich man who did no work, and yet that the laborer was much the less likely of the two to get sufficient food. The provision of man with adequate food is a social obligation of the highest importance. In the middle of the eighteenth century Ben- jamin Franklin noted that where there was famine there was disorder, and that where SCIENCE [N. S. Von. L. No. 1283 there was disorder famine followed in its train. This, indeed, we now believe to be the sum and substance of the recent Russian reyo- lution. After the Napoleonic wars famine devastated portions of Kurope. In Magendie’s “ Journal de physiologie ”2 there is an account of famine which occurred in six provinces of France during the winter of 1817, the second following the Congress of Vienna, a time of great distress in Europe. A dropsy of a pecu- liar kind developed. Curiously enough, just one hundred years later, in January, 1917, a malady called “ war edema,” broke out in Ger- many and Austria, especially among prisoners of war. The cause of the disease was at- tributed to Jack of nourishment, especially to lack of fat in the diet, for after giving 100 grams of fat daily for a week to each of three different patients a complete cure was effected without resort to any other remedy. A national laboratory of human nutrition would have many unsolved questions to an- swer and perhaps a few of these questions might be suggested in this article. There should be researches into the require- ments of food necessary to maintain health, strength and work in men, women and chil- dren engaged in various occupations. It is well known that a man who is over the aver- age weight is an inefficient laborer, but it is not certain whether a man who is reduced in weight and receives good food is as efficient as when he is of average weight. He might easily be just as effective and possibly more effective a worker when thin than when of average weight. Another important question is whether the ration of about 500 grams of meat per day which has existed for over a hundred years in the American and English armies is not alto- gether too high for production of the maxi- mum of physical work which can be accom- plished by a soldier. It may well be that such a diet of meat may tend to mental relaxation and to a sensation of difficulty in the perform- ance of a task, such as has been actually ob- 2 Gaspard, B., ‘‘Effets des alimens végétaux her- bacés,’’ Journal de physiologie, 1821, I., 237. AveusT 1, 1919] served in laboratory experiments upon men who have taken large quantities of meat. Furthermore, it would be interesting to know how much milk is required every day ‘for children of various ages. It is not known to-day how much milk must be taken to pre- vent rickets developing in children. It is also unknown how much food a child should be given at different ages, or whether a boy needs more additional food in order to do a certain amount of work than his father would need to accomplish the same amount of work. It may be that the growing muscles of a boy are not as efficient machines as those of an adult. Then there is a vast field in the study of the psychology of food. The Jews are told as - children that pork is unfit for food and they rarely conquer their repugnance to it. The English are iold as children that maize is food for pigs, and though Americans eat maize bread with pleasure and have recently done so to a huge extent in order to make possible exports of wheat to Europe, the English per- sist in their unfounded prejudice against it. I once had a diabetic patient who was one of my own students and he had heard me say in my lectures that the sugar levulose was the only sugar that could be used by the body in that disease. When 100 grams of levulose were given to him he was apparently greatly benefited. His strength improved, as meas- ured with an ergograph, and all his classmates remarked upon the wonderful change in his spirits. Alas, none of the sugar was used in his body and all the apparent benefit was derived from mental suggestion. In this little story lies the essence of much sincere self deception, as well as the foundation of danger- ous frauds, such as are exploited by makers of patent medicines. It is also evident that the testimony to the effect that 500 grams of meat are desirable for a soldier may rest on an ex- tremely shaky foundation. A laboratory of human nutrition should have at its disposal a close statistical analysis of the available food supply of the country and should be able to advise the government so that a sufficient quantity of suitable food SCIENCE 99 may be always available. Thus, chemical analysis of the food products, which would show approximately the quantity of food ma- terials obtainable from any given source, such as maize or hogs or cattle, should each year be determined. There should also be an investigation into the food resources of the country so that they may be used in the best interests of human beings. For example, it is wrong to feed bread grains to pigs when human beings need them more. If these four laboratories, British, French, Italian and American, be established, the di- rectors should meet together annually and dis- cuss results. And it would be wise to arrange for the exchange of trained assistants. It may be said that to build a nutrition lab- oratory would be too costly for the state. In this connection it should be remembered that in Germany for the past eighty years, even in times of her greatest poverty, money has always been spent for laboratories accompanied by recognition. of her scientific men, and these things made her rich and powerful more rapidly than culture lessened her inherent barbarism. Before gold was discovered in Alaska and in South Africa, I heard a pro- fessor of geology in New York say that the geological formation in these two sections was such that gold probably existed there. Other people got the gold that the scientist knew about. Take another illustration. Biffen, of Cambridge, England, developed a new brand of wheat called “Little Joss.” In 1913 this brand of wheat was sown and it produced four bushels per acre more wheat than any other variety. The gain to the farmers that one year alone amounted to $1,000,000, while the laboratory in which the work was done cost $200,000 to build. It is probable that the work of a nutrition laboratory especially de- signed for investigations into the food require- ments of man could be carried on at an ex- pense of less than one hundredth part of one per cent. of the cost of the food supply of each of the Allied Nations, and if the director of such a laboratory were a man of broad vision and creative imagination, the laboratory would be certain to add to the knowledge of the 100 world, to the welfare of the community and to the dignity and honor of the nation. GraHamM Lusk CorNELL MEDICAL COLLEGE, New York City THE IRWIN EXPEDITION! THE Irwin Expedition of Indiana Univer- sity organized in cooperation with the Uni- versity of Illinois which started in June, 1918, to study the fresh-water fishes of Peru and Chile and of the Titicaca basin, has re- turned, bringing very large collections. Miss Adele Eigenmann, a medical student in In- diana University, returned in January, Mr. W. R. Allen traveling fellow of the Univer- sity of Illinois, returned in April, and I re- turned the first of June. Aside from the institutions mentioned the expedition had the cooperation of the Amer- ican Association for the Advancement of Sci- ence, and the Bache Fund of the National Academy of Sciences. Five weeks were lost in New Orleans wait- ing for passports. This delay made it in- advisable to attempt to cross the Andes at Cajamarca as planned and the expedition went directly to Callao. From Callao we went together over the Central Railway of Peru to Oroya. From Oroya Mr. Allen went to Lake Junin and down the valley of the Huallaga. Miss Eigenmann and myself first went south as far as Huancayo, later east to La Merced, at an elevation of 2,500 feet, then north to Cerro de Paseo and Gollalarsquisea, then to Casapalea, from where we examined various lakes, reaching an elevation of 15,900 feet. We then returned to the coast, went south by steamer to Mollendo, and by the Southern Railway over the crest of the Andes at Crucero Alto (nearly 14,000 feet) and north to Cuzco. Oollections were made at Cuzco, in Lakes Lucre, Urcos, and Langilaio, Chin- chero and Huaipo, and in the Urubamba, from its source at La Raya (18,370 feet) to Santa Ana, in the tropics at an elevation of 2,500 feet. We visited La Paz to secure concessions 1 Mr. Will G. Irwin, of Columbus, Ind., made the expedition possible. See Scrmnce, August 2, 1918. SCIENCE [N. 8S. Vou. L. No. 1283 for Mr. Allen in Bolivia, and then we re- turned to Lima, at the end of 1918. Early in January we went by steamer north to Paita, from where Miss Adele returned home. I went inland from Paita to Piura, south to Pacasmayo and inland from Pacasmayo to Llallan. I returned to Lima at the end of January. Mr. Allen, after some delay from fevers and other causes, returned from the Huallaga early in November to Lima, and then went direct to Lake Titicaca. He spent the time from December to May about Lake Titicaca. He went entirely around the lake, in part by rail, in part by boat, and in part afoot, col- lecting in many of the tributaries. He de- voted particular attention to securing a set of the parasites of the fishes of Titicaca for the University of Illinois. It is hoped that the parasites will give some indication of the origin of the peculiar fishes so abundant in the high Andean lakes. In February I went south to Chile, and collected in some of the rivers between Puerto Montt and the Rio Copiapo, which is the last of the rivers south of the Desert of Atacama. I also crossed from Puerto Varas, on Lake Llanquihue, to Lake Nahuel-Huapi, in- the Argentine, collecting on the way in Lake Todos Santos and in Laguna Fria. Large quantities of material were collected, and it will take many months to make a com- plete report. It is interesting to state that we secured four distinct faunas. The fish fauna of the region about Puerto Montt is highly tinetured with species belonging to families that are also found in Australia. These begin to decrease north of Valdivia. At Conception, aside from the lampreys, only one Australian type was found. The fauna about Santiago is quite different from that about Puerto Montt, and north of Santiago this fauna gradually dwindles. In the last river south of the desert, at Copiapo, only introduced gold fishes were found. It is prob- able that pejereyes and other fishes of marine origin are to be found about the mouth of this river. About Copiapo it rarely rains, but at Puerto Montt and Valdivia in the south the Aveust 1, 1919] = rainfall is very excessive. The faunas of western Ecuador and western Colombia are distinctly Amazonian in type and in northern Peru, at Piura, the fauna is Ecuadorian. The species decrease in number from north to south. The exact point where the northern Amazonian fauna disappears and the Chilean fauna begins has not been determined. The Titicaca fauna is distinct and very in- teresting. No other lake of the same altitude has as many species; all of the species of the lake belong to two genera, Orestias and Py- gidium. Pygidium is a genus of catfishes distributed over all the mountains of South America. The species found in Lake Titi- caca is one of the largest of the genus and of some economic importance. The other genus, Orestias, is confined to the Andean lakes of Peru and Bolivia. There are a num- ber of species in Lake Titicaca; some of them reach a foot, more or less, in length, and are brought to the markets about the lake. Others are minute, and sold in the markets in the neighborhood dried. Orestias is found north- ward at least to Cerro de Pasco, both in lakes and in stagnant portions of the rivers. It extends down the Urubamba valley to Ollan- taitambo, and in the Oroya valley at least to Huaneayo. It is essentially an Alpine genus, ranging from about 7,000 feet to over 15,000 feet in elevation. Considerable effort was made to get species from the lakes near Titi- caca. Near Ticlio, the crest of the Central Railway of Peru, specimens were secured at an elevation of more than 15,000 feet. The expedition had the heartiest coopera- tion of the authorities in both Chile and Peru. In Chile the government provided railway transportation. Professor Maldonado, of the Chilean government, will extend the examina- tion of the Chilean rivers south of Puerto Montt. In Peru, Mr. Cesar Eleuera, of the foreign office, took particular interest in the success of the expedition, and _ provided, through the government, the free entry of the equipment, and passes over the steamship lines between Paita and Mollendo. President Pardo of Peru furnished the expedition with orders to the prefects of Arequipa, Puno and SCIENCE 101 of Cuzeo to give us all facilities and they earried out the recommendations. The Pre- fect of Cuzco, Colonel Gonzales, took partic- ular interest in the expedition, furnishing a sergeant as companion and _ interpreter between Quetchua and Spanish. Sergeant Medina carried orders from the pretect au- thorizing him to requisition anything needed by the expedition along its way and became an enthusiastic fisherman. Mr, Morquill, president of the Peruvian Company, gave the expedition passes over all the railways of Peru; and Mr. Blaisdell, manager of the Southern Railway of Peru, supplemented these by orders to the various officials along the line. The cooperation of Mr. Morquill and Mr. Blaisdell meant much more than the saving of railroad fares. Of private individuals, Sefior Duque, who entertained the expedition at Santa Ana, and Sr. Corazao, at Ollantaitambo, deserve first mention. Mr. Rawlins, Mr. Babbit, Mr. Mur- dock and Mr. Emerson, of the Cerro de Pasco Corporation, and Mr. Roper, of the Backus and Johnson Company, helped by supplying horses, living accommodations and beasts to explore the high lakes between Casapalea and Gollalarsquisca. Messrs. Bridge and Wood- bridge, of the Transandean Railway of Chile, provided for a trip to the crest of the Andes in Chile. Mr. Roth helped in various ways on the trip between Puerto Varas and the Argen- tine, and many others helped in one way or another. In conclusion, it must be mentioned that President Prado and Professor Rospigliosi, of the University of San Marcos, in addition to numerous courtesies have promised coopera- tion in other expeditions planned for the part of Peru east of the Andes. The only item that hampered the expedition was the delay in the first instance in render- ing a decision on passports. Passports were then refused. A direct appeal by Indiana University and the University of Illinois to President Wilson brought a commutation of the sentence rendered by the state depart- ment, on charges preferred by a person who in his modesty does not want to be made 102 known. Five weeks were lost at New Orleans and the trip from Cajamarca to the Maranon had to be omitted. Cart H. EiceENMANN INDIANA UNIVERSITY DR. ABRAHAM JACOBI (1830-1919) Dr. ABRAHAM JACoBI, the father and founder of American pediatrics, died at his summer home at Bolton Landing, N. Y., on July 10, at the age of eighty-nine years. Dr. Jacobi was born of Jewish parents in the village of Hartum, Westphalia, on May 6, 1830. His people were not well-to-do, his edu- cation was accomplished through privation and struggle, but he early acquired a knowledge of Latin, and, after the usual courses of instruc- tion in the village school and the Gymnasium at Minden, he went to the University of Greifswald, in 1847, at the age of seventeen, to matriculate as a student of Oriental languages. Becoming interested in medicine, he turned to anatomy and physiology. Following the peri- patetic plan of the German student, he pro- ceeded to Gottingen, where he came under Frerichs and Woehler, winding up his course at Bonn, where he graduated in 1851, with a Latin dissertation ‘“‘ Cogitationes de vita rerum naturalium,” which has considerable philo- sophie depth. In the meantime, the Revolu- tion of 1848 had broken out and run its course, and in this brief drive for liberty, Jacobi, with Ferdinand Freiligrath, Karl Marx, Carl Schurz and others, had been a leading spirit. When he went to Berlin, to take his state examina- tion, he was apprehended by the Prussian au- thorities, imprisoned for a year and a half ina German fortress at Cologne, convicted of lése majesté, and again held in detention for six months at Minden. In 1853, through the friendship of his jailer, he managed to escape, took ship at Hamburg, and after some vicissi- tudes in England and New England, settled down to practise at 20 Howard Street, New York. Here, beginning with such modest fees as 25 and 50 cents for office and house visits, five to ten dollars for obstetric cases, he soon managed to make a living. In the first year SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1283 of his practise, he made $973.25. During the next year (1854), he invented a laryngoscope of his own, which was unfortunately not ever pat- ented or made public before the appearance of Manuel Garcia’s instrument (1855). By 1857, Jacobi was lecturing on pediatrics in the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons of New York. This was the starting point of clinical and scientific pediatrics in this country. In this branch of medicine, Jacobi had only one other American colleague (in no sense a rival or competitor), the devoted and unworldly J. Lewis Smith, whose famous treatise of 1869 passed through eight editions. In 1860, Jacobi was called to the first special chair of diseases of children in the New York Medical College; in 1861, Smith became clinical professor of pediatrics in the Bellevue Hospital College. In 1865, Jacobi took the clinical chair of his subject in the medical department of the Uni- versity of New York. In 1870, he became clin- ical professor of pediatrics in the. College of Physicians and Surgeons (1870-99). Officially, he taught pediatrics in New York for nearly half a century, actually, all his working life. In 1862, Jacobi established a pediatric clinic ° in the New York Medical College Building in East 18th Street, which ran for two years. In this way, bedside teaching in pediatrics ante- dated bedside teaching in internal medicine in the United States. Meanwhile, Jacobi had been an active and brilliant contributor to medical literature. In 1859, he published a volume of “ Contributions to Midwifery and Diseases of Women and Children,” with Emil Noeggerath. who was to be Jacobi’s coadjutor in founding the Amer- ican Journal of Obstetrics (1862) . During 1859-1908, Jacobi wrote much on diphtheria, and published successive treatises on diseases of the larynx (1859), dentition and its derange- ments (1862), infant diet (1872), diphtheria (1876), intestinal diseases of infancy and child- hood (1887), diseases of the thymus gland (1889) and therapeutics of infancy and child- 1 Author of the now well-established theory of the latency of gonorrhea in unsuspected carriers (1872), which has been of great moment in the sci- ence of causation of pelvic disease in women, August 1, 1919] hood (1896-1903). The tendency of these books is mainly practical, to spread the pedia- tric doctrine as applied science. The treatise on infantile therapeutics is, in reality, a trea- tise on pediatrics, summarizing the author’s views and revealing his wide knowledge of the literature. To the medical periodicals, Jacobi contributed many papers, including his more original observations of infantile disease. His most enduring contributions to his science are perhaps the three monographs in the Gerhardt “Handbuch ” on infant hygiene (1876), diph- theria (1877) and dysentery (1877). These, the products of a man approaching fifty, have all the force and fire of youth. To the history of pediatrics, Jacobi contributed the most im- portant American papers, notably his St. Louis address (1904), two authoritative histories of American pediatrics (1902, 1913), a history of cerebrospinal meningitis in America (1905) and a history of pediatrics in New York City (1917). In sixty-six years of active practise he wrote an enormous number of miscellaneous papers of the most varied kind, most of which have been gathered in eight volumes (“ Col- lectanea Jaccbi,’”’ 1909). These include some of the wisest and wittiest discourses in med- ical literature. As a pendant to the festal volume presented to him on his seventieth birthday (1900), it had been proposed to com- memorate his ninetieth birthday with another memorial volume containing a complete bib- liography of his writings, to be followed by a selection of his best utterances, such as Camac has culled from the writings of Osler. No more fitting tribute to Jacobi’s memory could now be made. In 1878, Dr. Jacobi married Miss Mary C. Putnam, who was one of the first lady gradu- ates in medicine (1870), and became herself _a famous physician. ; Dr. Jacobi was of short, slight but elastic frame, his whole person dominated by the large, splendid head, leonine, magisterial, with its crown of hair, the living embodiment of some great high-priest of knowledge of old. The earlier portraits betoken extraordinary vigor of mind and body, and even in his de- clining years, his cheerful tenacity of life was SCIENCE 103 with him to the last. There came the inevit- able lines in the face, “which years, and cu- rious thought, and suffering give,” but the expression of the wonderful eyes, subtle, hu- morous, pathetic, the eyes of the physician who is also philosopher, did not change. He was large-minded, big-hearted, intensely hu- man, his conversation flavored with delight- ful banter, the tricksy humors of dainty Ariel or frolic Puck. With women and young peo- ple, in particular, his captivating charm of manner was unfailing. If it be true that “the old are natural enemies of the young,” he was one of the delightful exceptions. With his broad background of culture, his knowledge and achievement, he had ever a delicate, ironic trait of genuine modesty, with which any reference to his own performance was inevitably tinctured, the modesty of those who, in the words of the Italian poet, “con- tinually compare themselves, not with other men, but with their own ideal of perfection.” In a private letter, he mourns “my constant routine work in daily practise for sixty years, that kept me in solitude, away from the good and great men, ever away from music and literature, and away from those who called me friend.” His fidelity to duty was that of Browning’s Corregidor. Yet he was a mem- ber, frequently president, of many medical societies, and a constant participant in their meetings. It is characteristic of the man that he once gravely rebuked me for disinclination to attend such meetings, although my excuse, as a non-practitioner, was perfectly valid. Characteristic also was his vein of thought, spontaneous as a flight of birds, with its omni- present humor, a trait which made for perfect poise and sanity. His quaint remarks, at an alumni dinner, about the poultry in Lohengrin recall the well-known witticism of Lady Duckle in “Evelyn Innes.” At the age of eighty- seven, he wrote: When old ladies believe in the efficacy of hot chamomile tea, no matter whether they mean Ro- man or vulgar flowers, in fever and in belly ache, you hope that not many of that class of old ladies are left. I have survived them. 104 As sometimes happens with those who have come to us “bringing gifts in their hands,” Jacobi was, in helpful, unlifting citizenship, an inspiring example. He once said to me, very simply: “I am a Hebrew by race, but not clannish, not a sectarian.” His adaptation to environment was, as in Osler’s case, that of a colonial or continental American. In actual- ity, he belonged to the nobler ante-bellum gen- eration which produced the “ Lees, Lincolns, Shermans and Grants.” The fact was written in his face. He had nothing either of the vieux bonze or of the smart, metallic, business man- ner of the arriviste. His civic courage was of the highest order. Not even the offer of Henoch’s chair in Berlin could induce him to give up the ideals of his fiery youth, or to desert the country of his adoption, a sign that real character does not change: Genito y figura, hasta la muerte. One was frequently im- pressed with his facial likeness to the novelist Turgenieff, who, in a less personal and forth- right way, was also a protagonist of civil and personal liberty, and in whom there was the same elusive irony and spontaneity of thought. One recalls the immortal words pronounced by Renan in the Gare du Nord over the bier of the great Russian, once defined as “the best that human nature is capable of ”: Tl fat d’une race par sa maniére de sentir et de peindre; il appartenait a 1’humanité tout entiére par une haute philosophie, envisageant d’un cil ferme les conditions de 1’existence humaine et cherchant sans parti pris A savoir la realité. Cette philosophie aboutissait chez lui 4 la douceur, 4 la joie de vivre, a la pitié, chez les ecréatures, pour les victimes surtout. Cette pauvre humanité, souvent aveugle assurément, mais si souvent aussi trahie par ses chefs, il 1’aimait ardemment. I] ap- plaudissait & son effort spontané vers le bien et le yrai. . . . La politique de fer qui raille ceux que souffrent n’était pas la sienne. Aucune déception ne l’arrétait. Comme Il’univers, il efit recom- mencé mille fois 1’euvre manquée; il savait que la justice peut attendre.2 As a soldier of the common good, as one to whom thousands of mothers and children in his city owe so much, it needs but the slightest 2. Renan, ‘‘ Adieu 4 Tourguénieff,’’ October 1, 1883. SCIENCE [N. S. Von. L. No. 1283 alteration of the poet’s lines to define what Jacobi stood for: Duty divine and Thought with eyes of fire, Still following Righteousness with deep desire Shone sole and stern before him and above Sure stars and sole to steer by; but more sweet Shone lower the loveliest lamp for earthly feet— The light of little children, and their love. F. H. Garrison Army Merpicat Musrum SCIENTIFIC EVENTS THE BRITISH SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTS EXHIBITION! THE second British Scientific Products Ex- hibition promoted by the British Science Guild was opened at the Central Hall, West- minster, on July 3, and it will remain access- ible to the public until August 5. It will be remembered that the first exhibition was held in King’s College last August, but owing to the arrangements of the college, due to de- mobilization, it was found impossible to hold the present exhibition there. Last year’s ex- hibition was afterwards transferred to Man- chester, and it proved eminently successful in carrying into the provinces a knowledge of the recent achievements of British science and industry. This year’s exhibition was declared opened by the Marquess of Crewe in the presence of a representative company of scientific and tech- nical workers. In his opening address Lord Sydenham, who occupied the chair, referred at some length to the important part played by British science and industry in the victory which has so recently crowned the Allied ef- forts. We proved ourselves superior to the enemy in every technical art, and but for the splendid cooperation of the leaders of science and industry our Army would have fought in vain. In declaring the exhibition opened the Mar- quess of Crewe emphasized the difference be- tween the present exhibition and the one held at King’s College last year. The latter took place at a time when the result of the war was 1From Nature. Aveust 1, 1919] still doubtful, although the tide of battle was flowing strongly in our favor. Necessarily, therefore, it gave precedence to industries en- gaged primarily in the service of war. The present exhibition, on the other hand, is meant to show the triumphs of British industry in the arts of peace, and to bring home to the general public the importance of the relationship be- tween science and industry, and also between education and research. In this connection Lord Crewe dwelt on the desirability of introducing definite industrial courses for university students in technology, such courses to be taken in vacations at suit- able works connected with the particular study the student is undertaking. Such an arrange- ment has worked with great success in the United States. The institution of industrial fellowships for post-graduate students attached to one or other of the universities would also have an important influence in keeping in- dustries in touch with modern scientific devel- opments, and, in addition, provide the country with highly trained technologists. The De- partment of Scientific and Industrial Research is endeavoring to do something on these lines “by urging the establishment of industrial man- ufacturing associations which will carry on research in some particular technical branch. The exhibits themselves are almost bewild- ering in their comprehensiveness. Practically every phase of British industry is represented, the various exhibits being divided into the fol- lowing eleven sections: Mechanical Science, Physics, Textiles, Electrical Appliances, Medi- eine and Surgery, Paper and Illustration, Agriculture, Chemistry, Aircraft, Fuels and Metallurgy. THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT AND MEDICAL RESEARCH Tue “ Dogs’ Protection” Bill, which was introduced by Sir Frederick Banbury and was greatly altered on report at the instance of the government, came up for third reading in the House of Commons on June 27. The third reading was formally proposed by Sir F. Banbury. According to the report in the British Med- SCIENCE 105 ical Journal Sir Watson Cheyne asked the House to say that it declined to proceed fur- ther with the measure, which would impose an unnecessary and vexatious obstacle to med- ical research. While recognizing the value of the amendment carried by the government as an alternative to the bill itself, he held that it introduced a very great obstacle to research. The task of getting the additional certificate which was required as the bill now stood ought not to be imposed. Another reason: why he objected to the bill was that it in- volved a very grave censure upon a large body of honorable men and on a great profession; for this censure there was no justification. The bill in its present form implied that. cruelty was being practised, and that the med- ical profession delighted in torture and could not be trusted to deal with animals. At one time he had certificates and licenses, and later he became one of those responsible for signing certificates. At the time that he sought licenses he found it difficult to get the second signature, and when the certificates were ob- tained they had to be taken to the Home Office, and used to lie there for some consider- able time before they were gone through. Under the bill it was proposed to have further restrictions and another certificate, which was to be got in order to show that no other animal was possible for the experiment except a dog. It would be necessary not only to per- suade the informed people but also the Home Secretary, who perhaps knew little about this particular department of science, that the ex- periment was necessary. Thus a very great difficulty would be added to many existing difficulties, and delay would be caused. In maintaining that the fresh restrictions were unnecessary, Sir Watson urged that those in responsible positions as to these matters lived up to their responsibility. He had known the danger of delay, and had tried to make the decision the same day; but he had more than once refused certificates, either that he thought the research was not a good one, or because he thought the man seeking to undertake it had not had sufficient preliminary education for such important work. The suggestion of 106 the Antivivisection Society, that the duty of deciding as to the grant of certificates was not satisfactorily discharged, was disgraceful. Sir Watson next referred to the principle arguments raised against experiments on dogs. Tt was said that if there was anything of value to be learned it could be obtained by ob- servations on patients and by post-mortem ex- amination. As an illustration how wrong that opinion was, Sir Watson spoke of the situation which occurred when the Germans first used eas. Personally, he was much alarmed, for if the enemy had gas enough, it seemed to him they could easily destroy whole armies. How was that risk to be dealt with? Were the au- thorities to sit down and wait while the doc- tors watched gassed men and waited for a post- mortem examination? Had experiments on dogs not been made much valuable time would have been wasted and many lives wouid have been lost. But certain experiments on ani- mals—dogs and goats—were made and com- plete protection was quickly found against the gas. The history of medicine was full of in- stances of prolonged observations of patients and of post-mortem examination, without re- sult. Yet results had been achieved almost at once by experiments on animals. In con- clusion, he urged that at a time when health bills had just been placed on the Statute Book the sensible thing to do would be to sweep away restrictions instead of imposing fresh ones. Sir Philip Magnus, in seconding the amend- ment, said that by the rejection of this bill Parliament would show its appreciation of the efforts that had been made by scientific men through researches to prevent and cure dis- eases. The bill was inconclusive and contra- dictory. For example, it appeared, as he read the first clause of the bill, that if some eminent surgeon desired to perform an experiment on a dog, which would relieve it of great pain and possibly save its life, he could not perform this experiment, however urgent, without a certificate from the Home Office. After fur- ther discussion in favor of and against the bill, it was defeated by a vote of 101 to 62. SCIENCE [N. 8S. Von. L. No. 1283 A BILL FOR A NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH | Honorasie JosepH I. France, U. S. Senator from Maryland and chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Health and National Quarantine, introduced on July 17, Senate Bill 2,507 creating a department of public health. The bill follows the general plan of the Owen Bill, with some important modifica- tions. According to the summary in the Journal of the American Medical Association it pro- vides for a department of public health under the direction of a secretary, who shall be a member of the cabinet, and for three assistant secretaries, the first assistant to be a man trained in medical science, public health and sanitation; the second to be an expert in vital statistics, and the third to be a woman trained in medicine or nursing and public health. The U. 8. Public Health Service and the Bu- reau of Chemistry are to be transferred to the new department, which is also to have bureaus on vital statistics, sanitation, hospitals, child and school hygiene, quarantine, food and drugs, nursing, tuberculosis and personnel. ‘The secretary of public health is directed to communicate with the governor of each state requesting him to recommend tto the legisla- ture suitable legislation with adequate appro- priations to secure cooperation between the federal department of public health and the state board of health. Every state taking such action is to be entitled to its proportionate share of such funds as may be appropriated by Congress for carrying out the provisions of the act. The secretary of public health is also directed tto divide the United States into health states, districts, subdivisions and pre- cincts, each conforming to the geographical boundaries of the various political divisions. Each state is to create a state board of health with a state health officer and a health officer for each district, subdivision and precinct, the secretary of public health to appoint these state officers as federal health officers “so that in each cooperating state every health officer of said state or of each district, county or pre- cinct therein is by virtue of his selection by the Aveust 1, 1919] local authorities become also a federalized offi- _ cer and as such an integral part of the Depart- ment of Public Health.” The Department of Public Health is directed to cooperate with the Departments of Commerce, Labor and the In- terior in the collection of vital statistics and to establish a uniform system of cards, records and reports regarding diseases, disabilities, in- dustrial accidents, births, deaths, physical con- dition of school children, the number and con- dition of existing hospitals, etc. The bill pro- vides for the appropriation of $15,000,000 for 1920 to be prorated among the states in pro- portion to their population as soon as the states comply with the provisions of the law and the regulations of the secretary of public health, provided that each cooperating state must contribute to the public health work a sum equal to that contributed by the federal government and that it must make full and complete reports of births, deaths and morbid- ity. It also appropriates $48,000,000 for the construction of sanatoriums and hospitals, this sum to be distributed among the states in proportion to their population, each state re- ceiving its allotment to provide an equal amount, also location, plans and means of fu- ture support for the proposed hospital. THE ROCKEFELLER INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH THE Board of Scientific Directors of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research announces the following promotions and ap- pointments: Dr. Harold L. Amoss, hitherto an associate in pathology and bacteriology, has been made an associate member. Dr. Oswald T. Avery, hitherto an associate in medicine, has been made an associate mem- ber. The following have been made assistants: Miss Clara J. Lynch (pathology and bacteriology). Dr. Waro Nakahara (pathology and bacteriology). The following new appointments are an- nounced: Dr. Homer F. Swift, associate member in medicine. Dr. Francis G, Blake, associate in medicine. Dr. Raymond G. Hussey, associate in pathology and bacteriology. SCIENCE 107 Dr. J. Harold Austin, assistant in medicine and assistant resident physician. Dr. Albert H. Ebeling, assistant in experimental surgery, Dr. Ferdinand H. Haessler, assistant in pathology and bacteriology. Dr. Thorsten Ingvaldsen, assistant in chemistry. Dr, Charles W. Barrier, fellow in pathology and bacteriology. Dr. J. Jay Keegan, fellow in pathology and bac- teriology. Dr. Philip D. McMaster, fellow in pathology and bacteriology. Dr. Alphonse R. Dochez, hitherto an asso- elate member in medicine, has accepted an ap- pointment as associate professor of medicine in the medical department of Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Arthur L. Meyer, hitherto an associate in physiology and pharmacology, has accepted an appointment as associate in physiology in the school of hygiene and public health, Johns Hopkins University. THE RAMSAY MEMORIAL AT a meeting of subscribers of the Ramsay Memorial Fund held at University College, London, the committee submitted a report showing that £43,000 in cash was already in hand, and £70,000 was in view, so that £100,- 000 aimed at was within realization. The sum already collected is probably the largest which has ever been raised in honor of any man of science, however distinguished. Sir Hugh Bell explained the views of the committee with regard to the application of the money, and after hearing him the meeting agreed to the following resolution: 1. That a sum of £25,000 be definitely al- lotted to the senate of the University of Lon- don towards the provision of a laboratory of chemical engineering at University College, London, on the site proposed in close proxim- ity to the existing engineering buildings. 9. That the executive committee be empow- ered to employ the balance of the fund already subscribed, and all future donations to be re- ceived, to the foundation of Ramsay Memor- ial Fellowships to the number of three or to such smaller number as they may deem expedi- 108 ent until the fund is sufficient for founding fellowships. 3. That if and when the amount of the fund exceeds the sum required for giving effect to resolutions (1) and (2) the division of such further sum between the augmentation of the sum allotted for the chemical engineering lab- oratory and the augmentation of the number of available fellowships be referred to the exec- utive committee for decision. SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS Dr. Joun CampseLt Merriam, professor of paleontology and historical geology in the Uni- versity of California, who has been acting chairman of the National Council of Research, was elected president of the Pacific Division of the American Association for the Advance- ment of Science at the Pasadena meeting. On the occasion of the seventieth birthday of Sir William Osler, regius professor at Ox- ford University and previously professor in the Johns Hopkins University, which occurred on July 12, he was presented by Sir Clifford Allbutt with a collection of essays contributed by about one hundred of his pupils and colleagues. Dr. F. G. Corrrett, chief metallurgist of the Bureau of Mines, has been named assistant director in charge of all investigative and scientific work and J. E. Spurr, chief of in- yestigative work in connection with relief claims has resigned to become editor of the Engineering and Mining Journal of New York. Ar its recent commencement the University of Maine conferred the degree of LL.D. upon Dr. Raymond Pearl, of Johns Hopkins Uni- versity. Masor Witu1am Bowrr, chief of the Divi- sion of Geodesy, U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, received the degree of doctor of sci- ence at Trinity College, Hartford, Connect- icut, on June 23, Major Bowie sailed from New York on July 5 to attend as a delegate from the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, the conference of the International SCIENCE [N. 8S. Von. L. No. 1283 Research Council, which is being held at Brus- sels from July 18 to August 10. Sm Francis YOUNGHUSBAND, known for his works on Asia and Africa, has been elected president of the Royal Geographical Society to succeed Sir Thomas Holdrich. Mr. L. G. Rapcuirre, of the Municipal Col- lege of Technology, Manchester, has been awarded the gold medal of the Worshipful Company of Dyers, London, for his researches on the sulphonation of fixed oils. A Ramsay Memorial Fellowship has been awarded to Elrid G. Young, M.Se., of McGill University. These fellowships are of the value of $1,500, and are given to the students for ability in research to enable them to continue their work in one of the British universities. It is reported in Nature that in reply to a question in the House of Commons on July 8, it was stated that the appointment of Major C. E. Mendenhall, professor of physics in the University of Wisconsin, as scientific attaché to the United States Embassy has been noti- fied to the Foreign Office by the United States Ambassador. No steps have as yet been taken to appoint a scientific attaché to Washington. The appointment of Professor Mendenhall was a war measure and it has yet to be decided whether the post will be made permanent. Captain Epson Y. Titus has been appointed assistant professor of chemistry at the Uni- versity of Wisconsin. Captain Titus received his doctorate at Wisconsin in 1917. Shortly thereafter he entered military service and be- came gas officer of the Sixth Division in France. In November, 1918, he returned to the United States and was detailed to the Ord- nance Department and was made chief chemist for Nitrate Plant No. 1 at\Sheffield, Alabama. Dr. Isaac F. Harris, head of the department of biochemistry of E. R. Squibb and Sons, has moved from the laboratories at New Bruns- wick, New Jersey, to the offices of this com- pany in New York. During the last years of the war, Dr. Harris constructed and equipped a factory at New Brunswick for the manufac- ture of the chlorinated derivatives of toluol- chloramine-T and dichloramine-T, which were Avaust 1, 1919] so extensively employed as antiseptics by the allied forces, according to the methods of Drs. Alexis Carrel and H. D. Dakin. Dr. Austin M. Patterson, who for the past fourteen months has been connected with the editorial section of the American University Experiment Station, Chemical Warfare Serv- ice, has returned to his home at Xenia, Ohio. Lirutenant Coronet Joun Amyor, professor of hygiene and preventive medicine in the University of Toronto, who has been overseas for three or four years as sanitary officer to one of the Canadian divisions, has been ap- pointed deputy minister of the newly created federal department of public health at Ottawa. Proressor Wootnoucu has been granted five months’ leave of absence by the senate of the Western Australian University to visit Eng- land and place the claims of the western state before Messrs. Brunner, Mond, and Co., as the most suitable site in Australia upon which to establish the alkali industry. Dr. S. Burr Worpacu, of Harvard Uni- versity, who has been in Mexico to make cer- tain studies on typhus fever, has returned to the United States. T. D. Beckwiru, professor of bacteriology at the Oregon Agricultural College, has been granted a leave of absence for one year. He expects to study at the University of Cali- fornia. Dr. Epwarp Cow zs, a distinguished chem- ist, long superintendent of the McLean Hos- pital and professor of mental diseases in the Dartmouth Medical School, died at Plymouth, on June 25, in his eighty-third year. ApriAN J. Brown, professor of the fermen- tation industries at the University of Bir- mingham, known for his contributions to bio- logical chemistry especially in its applications to brewing, died on July 2, at the age of sixty- six years. Sm Witi1aMmM McGrecor, a well known Eng- lish colonial governor, who made important contributions to ethnology when stationed at New Guinea, has died at the age of seventy- two years. SCIENCE 109 Dr. Nixotas Brrenp, a member of the faculty of the University of Budapest and widely known as an authority on children’s diseases, was killed recently during an attempt to overthrow the Soviet government in Buda- pest. Tue first National Congress of the Manufac- turing Chemists of Italy is to convene at Milan in October with an exhibition annex. Tue London Times states that members of the International Hydrographic Conference visited the Admiralty Compass Department at Ditton Park, Datchet, where all work con- nected with the receipt, issue and testing, etc., of compasses, both magnetic and gyroscopic, for the Navy and Air Force is carried out at the Observatory, and branches have recently been formed for experiments and research work on compasses and optical instruments. The guests were received by Captain Creagh Osborne, director of the observatory, and after luncheon split up into parties and members of the staff explained the instruments and their utility. During the war as many as 1,500 aero- plane compasses have been turned out in a week at the observatory, and at times as many as 7,000 have been received from oversea and from the country for repair. Nature states that having held its meetings at Taunton during the period of the war, the Somersetshire Archeological and Natural His- tory Society had hoped to hold its seventy-first annual meeting and excursions away from headquarters, but this has been found impos- sible owing to the difficulty of hotel aeccommo- dation. However, long excursions will be taken into Devon on this occasion, viz., to Hembury Fort, Cadhay House (1545-87), and Ottery St. Mary Church on July 30, and to Exeter on July 31. The annual meeting will be held at Taunton on July 29 under the presidency of Mr. Henry Balfour, curator of the Pitt Rivers Museum at Oxford, and past- president of the Royal Anthropological Insti- tute. The subject of his presidential address was “ The doctrines of General Pitt Rivers and their influence.” The society now consists of between 900 and 1,000 members, and owns a 110 large library and the Somerset County Mu- seum at Taunton Castle. THE psychological laboratory of the Johns Hopkins University has been granted the sum of $6,000 “ for investigating the informational and educative effect upon the public of certain motion picture films used in various cam- paigns for the control, repression and elimina- tion of venereal disease.” To increase its capacity for the production of anti-pneumonia serum, the laboratory in charge of Dr. Preston Kyes, professor of pre- ventive medicine at the University of Chicago, is to be enlarged at a cost of five thousand dollars. THrouGH the generosity of Colonel Walter Scott, of New York, the library of the depart- ment of zoology at Smith College has received a complete set of the great Belgium entomo- logical work Wytsman’s ‘“‘ Genera Insectorum.” Dr. WitttamM ALLEN SturGE bequeathed his large collection of prehistoric objects of stone, bone and horn to the British Museum. Nature states that it is proposed to establish an institute of commercial and industrial psy- chology and physiology. The announcement is accompanied by a summary of thirty in- vestigations in which the scientific analysis of industrial movements resulted in a notable improvement of output, and reference is also made to the effects of shorter hours and the introduction of rest pauses. Amongst the sci- entific supporters of the proposals are Sir Walter Fletcher, Mr. W. B. Hardy, Lieutenant Colonel Myers, Professor C. S. Sherrington and Professor E. H. Starling. The secretary is Mr. G. Spiller, 1 Great Tower Street, E.C.8. THE Geological Survey, of Ottawa, Canada, has sent an expedition to Graham Island, of the Queen Charlotte group in British Oo- lumbia, off the west coast of Canada. Mr. Clyde L. Patch is studying and collecting mam- mals and birds and is giving special attention to the herpetology of the regions. Mr. Harlan I. Smith is continuing his researches into the archeology of the North Pacific coast of Amer- ica which he began in 1897 on the Jesup North SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1283 Pacific expedition by exploration and excava- tion in this part of the Haida linguistic area. The Haida were undoubtedly the most noted people and most feared warriors of the Pacific coast of North America. They were unsur- passed as canoe builders, carvers and painters. They were noted for their great potlatches and other financial and social customs. Yet the archeology of the Haida area is practically unknown, no intensive exploration or excava- tion of prehistoric sites having been made in their historic habitat. “To stimulate interest, promote study and facilitate publication of researches in agricul- tural history ” is the object of the Agricultural History Society which has been organized in Washington. It plans to present in permanent form the history of one of the biggest construc- tive factors in the history of the United States —agriculture—and the influence it has exer- cised in making this country what it is. The officers are: President—Dr. Rodney H. True, Bureau of Plant Industry, Washington, D. C.; Vice-president—Professor Wm. J. Trimble, Agricultural College, North Dakota; Secretary- treasurer—Lyman Carrier, Bureau of Plant Industry, Washington, D. ©.; Members of Executive Committee—Professor R. W. Kel- sey, Haverford, Pa., and O. O. Stine, Office of Farm Management, Washington, D. OC. In- terested persons who pay the dues of one dollar a year are eligible to membership. A warcE herd of American buffalo. has been purchased by William Clayton, of Wyoming, from W. D. Turner, of Colorado. The herd contains about 225 animals and sold for ap- proximately $40,000. It is the intention of the purchaser to dispose of the buffalo in small groups to public parks and zoological gardens. The herd was started by General Palmer of Colorado Springs, Colorado, who desired to preserve a representative collection of the ani- mals. Mr. Turner later secured the original herd and improved it by introducing new blood from Canadian herds. THE annual report of the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine (the name is to be changed to the Lister Institute of Medical Re- Aueust 1, 1919] search), was recently issued. The London Times states that the institute at the outbreak of war emphasized to the War Office the para- mount need of tetanus antitoxin, and on its own initiative took steps immediately to en- large the capacities of its therapeutic farm at Elstree, where horses were kept for the purpose of producing the antitoxin. In consequence the needs of the soldiers were met and thou- sands of lives saved. The institute also carried out researches on the antitoxin, and on various other sera and antitoxins. The Trench Fever Committee, of which Sir David Bruce is chairman, owed very much to the help of the institute and, indeed, could not have carried its researches to their brilliant conclusion without that help. Investigations arising out of the outbreak of food poisoning in the Army in France were also carried on, and various other work in connection with food undertaken, more especially that dealing with what are called “accessory food factors.” Scurvy, for example, which was one of the great problems among troops in Mesopotamia, arose from the absence of one of these factors in the ration. The researches of the institute enabled the fact to be established, and suggested the rem- edy. Causes and remedies similar in kind, though differing in particulars, have been in- vestigated for infantile scurvy. Other re- searches are now proceeding in respect of the indispensable food factors in milk, butter, margarine and so on. UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL NEWS By the will of Charles N. Clark, former treasurer and trustee of Smith College, prac- tically his entire estate, estimated at $500,000, is bequeathed to Smith and Mount Holyoke colleges. At the University of Michigan salaries have recently been increased 30 per cent. for in- structors and assistant professors and 25 per cent. for associate professors and full pro- fessors. The new scale of salaries is from $1,300 to $2,100 for instructors, $2,200 to $2,600 for assistant professors, from $2,700 to $3,100 for associate professors and from $3,200 SCIENCE kL to $6,000 for full professors. The same scale applies to all colleges. A COMPETITIVE examination to fill four va- cancies in the grade of instructor in mathe- matics will be held at the Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, on August 27. The base pay is $2,000. Particulars as to the qualifi- cations can be obtained from the head of the department. Dr. H. A. Morcan, dean of the Tennessee State College of Agriculture, has been elected president of the University of Tennessee. Dr. Joun C. Hessuer, professor of chemis- try, has been appointed acting president of the James Millikan University at Decatur, Illinois. Dr. Ronin D. SauisBury, professor of geo- graphic geology and head of the department of geography at the University of Chicago, has been appointed head of the department of geol- ogy and paleontology to succeed Professor Thomas C. Chamberlin, who has retired from active service. Professor Harlan H. Barrows has been given the chairmanship of the de- _ partment of geography made vacant by the transfer of Professor Salisbury. The latter still remains dean of the Ogden Graduate School of Science. Dr. Edson Sunderland Bastin, of the United States Geological Sur- vey, has been appointed to a professorship of economic geology, from January 1, 1920. Dr. Bastin received his doctor’s degree from the University of Chicago in 1909. Other new ap- pointments are those of Russell Stafford Knappen to an instructorship in geology, and of Derwent Stainthorpe Whittlesey to an in- structorship in geography. Dr. RicHarp WRENSHALL, a graduate of Yale University, has joined the faculty of the Col- lege of Hawaii, as professor of chemistry. Tue following appointments have been made at the University of Birmingham: John Robertson as professor of hygiene and public health; John Shaw Dunn as professor of pathology; Leonard Gamgee as professor of surgery; B. T. Rose, demonstrator of anatomy, and Miss Hilda Walker, lecturer in physiology. 112 DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE LABORATORY INSTRUCTION IN CHEMISTRY; ITS AIMS AND ITS LIMITATIONS It is now well over half a century since the laboratory has been regarded as a necessary feature in the study of science—elementary as well as advanced. Before that laboratory methods of instruction were rarely practised and were available only for the exceptionally fortunate, or probably exceptionally able, stu- dent who had first demonstrated in a purely intellectual way his aptitude for science. The greatness of the achievement of the brilliant scientific men before, say the middle of the nineteenth century, with poor facilities for work, and imadequate knowledge upon which to build, certainly furnishes an argu- ment that intellect may be stimulated rather than discouraged by lack of practical facilities. The question must present itself to every one connected with training students in sci- entific schools, to what extent expensive lab- oratory facilities are justified, particularly for the great numbers of elementary students, when compared with the results achieved. No one will argue that direct observation of sci- entific phenomena in experiments performed with the student’s own hands does not in- crease the student’s familiarity with the phe- nomena. Perhaps we might say that the im- pression made upon the student’s mind by a personally performed experiment is so much more vivid than the impression made by a written statement in a text-book, or even by an experiment performed by the professor on the lecture table, that the phenomenon is re- membered with much less intellectual effort. Since however progress is attained only through the expenditure of effort, we may well ask, will the student of science reach as high a plane of intellectual development if the lab- oratory is used too freely for demonstration purposes. The writer acknowledges as the immediate stimulus to present these thoughts, the article in Science of May 30, 1919 (page 506) upon “The Freas System,” written by Dr. W. L. Estabrooke. The Freas System is obviously a recognition of the problem of balancing the costs of lab- SCIENCE [N. 8S. Von. L. No. 1283 oratory instruction against the results. It is to be hoped that further details of this system promised by the writer will bring its advan- tages fully to the knowledge of those who have the administration of the laboratories of our schools and colleges. Certain rather broad aspects of the question are suggested by the first. article and it is to be hoped that they will be discussed, by the advocate of the Freas System. The Freas System seems to be a species of modern factory efficiency management applied to laboratory administration. There can be no doubt that all possible efficiency in obtain- ing, distributing and conserving laboratory supplies and apparatus is to be desired, nor is there any doubt that without careful planning and a capable administrator in charge the efficiency will be low. But how far will the enthusiasm for efficiency in handling supplies tend to reduce the instruction to a lifeless routine. It would almost seem as if in the Freas plan the structure of the laboratory course had been built around the framework of the system of supply distribution. For we are told that at the beginning of a term the student receives supplies exactly sufficient for a whole term’s work in a carefully planned kit. Such a kit contains for some of the courses as many as 140 different bottles of materials. Modern American factory methods are mar- velous when measured by the material output, but they do not rank so high when measured in terms of the welfare of the individual worker. Perhaps the solution of the factory- labor problem will recognize that the welfare and happiness of the individual workers is the framework around which the structure of in- dustry must be built. No educator thinks other than that intellectual development is the aim to which educational effort must be directed. The writer does not see how a stand- ardized routine of laboratory experiments can stimulate the intellectual development of a student any more than the intensive drive of production in a textile mill can stimulate the joy of life in the worker standing day after day in the same place over noisy looms. Aueust 1, 1919] The primary purpose of the experimental laboratory was to carry out original investiga- tions. It is well not to lose sight of the fact that the laboratory of elementary chemistry can appear to the beginning student a place of original investigation. Indeed it is probably safe to say that the amount of intellectual stimulus he receives in the laboratory is in direct proportion to the extent to which he takes the attitude of an investigator. It is more often the case than not that after a student has performed a routine experiment in a routine manner, he will retain of it so vague a recollection that he will be unable to relate his observations the next day in the class room. When however the experiment has developed some unexpected feature which perplexes him enough to incite him to try out variations of the experiment upon his own initiative, he will be found full of information and argument in the class room. Elementary experiments may be classified into two kinds: (1) isolated short experiments, and (2) sustained experiments. The short experiments may be planned in a beautiful sequence, each building on the results of the preceding ones in a manner to arouse the ad- miration of an instructor. Yet to the stu- dent they seem just isolated experiments and he is only too likely to receive the impression that the standard of his work is measured by the number performed. Even when the stu- dent is above the average of intelligence and sees pretty clearly the sequence as planned by the instructor, he still does not develop very much enthusiasm for a thing which has been all planned out for him. (2) The type of experiment referred to as sustained is illustrated by the “unknowns” of qualitative analysis, and by chemical prep- arations. In each of these cases there is a definite objective set to work toward, the work is prolonged enough to awake a sustained in- terest, and there is a tangible result obtained when the experiment is finished. Moreover, the manipulations require judgment and develop incidental problems not foreseen in the directions. SCIENCE 113 The writer believes that efficiency methods which increase the output of material prod- ucts of an industry are not directly applicable to the development of intelligence. True, the Freas- method may double the number of ex- periments which the student will perform in a laboratory period. But can we measure the development of the student by the number of experiments performed any more than we can measure the happiness of the mill operative by the number of yards of fabric which he can get through his looms in a day. Scientific research is in its nature inefficient if judged in terms of the formulas of pro- duction experts. Yet research is recognized by large industries as a vital part of their organization. The value of laboratory work depends mostly on the extent to which the students feel the research spirit—even if in but a very feeble way in elementary laboratories. The acquir- ing of manipulative skill and the learning of properties which are better stated in the text- books than they can be observed by the stu- dent, are for the most part incidental to the more important purposes. To encourage this spirit of research, reagents must be available on the side shelves for free use within reason- able bounds. In fact a well-stocked outfit of reagent shelves serves as a chemical museum and time spent in going to these shelves, in- specting the chemicals there, and sometimes in trying out reactions not specified in the directions, is surely not time wasted. Nat- urally the student should be expected to work industriously during laboratory time and he should perhaps be expected to perform at least a certain minimum number of “required” experiments. But he should not be contin- ually driven to realize the highest value of the ratio of experiments done to length of lab- oratory period. He should rather be distinctly encouraged to work thoughtfully and be made to feel that quality is given more recognition than mere quantity. At all events there must be a compromise in elementary laboratories handling large classes, between efficiency of the supply service on the one hand, and the scientific inspiration to the 114 individual student on the other hand. It is hard to see how cut and dried laboratory ex- periments, with all materials measured out in advance ready to be put together, can interest an intelligent student so much as experiments performed on the lecture table. The writer realizes that many will deem him guilty of heresy even for putting the question: Do we give too much laboratory work in our science courses? If it becomes necessary on account of expense to so stand- ardize the laboratory work that it loses nearly all its stimulus, were it not better to omit laboratory from the program until at least the point is reached where experiments described earlier as of the sustained type apply? Some students are at school or college for a general liberal education—not to specialize in science. How shall they be treated if they elect to study the elements of chemistry? Is the expense of even a standardized and dena- tured laboratory course justified? When chem- istry is chosen mainly for the object of in- tellectual development does not the class room work without the laboratory serve the pur- pose? Indeed does it not require a higher order of intelligence to visualize a chemical phenomenon from a text-book statement alone, than from a laboratory demonstration ? The writer has ventured to raise questions in the foregoing some of which have an ob- vious answer, others of which have been viewed for more than a generation in a uni- form dogmatic manner, but ought now to be reopened and reconsidered on their real merits. The Freas System involves these questions, and it constitutes a compromise between two unreconcilable conditions. So far as the evi- dence presented in the article referred to goes, it seems like the case in which the compro- mise was effected by one party acceding to all the demands of the other. However, a mis- conception may have been gained from the first article of the series and the other numbers should be awaited with interest. Furthermore, if an issue seems capable of adjustment only through an unsatisfactory compromise, is it not the part of wisdom to reexamine the conditions underlying the issue SCIENCE [N. S. Von. L. No. 1283 to see if perhaps the issue itself ought not be reconstructed in such a manner as to avoid the necessity of a compromise. ; Artuur A. BLANCHARD MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY METEOROLOGY AND THE TRANS-ATLANTIC FLIGHT Wiruin the past few months many millions of people have had their attention directed, as never before, to the importance of meteor- ological conditions in connection with the question of trans-Atlantic flight. A popu- lar interest has thus been aroused which has been but partially satisfied by the often contradictory and usually rather meager in- formation supplied by the daily newspapers. Many persons doubtless have a real desire to inform themselves more fully in regard to the weather conditions which are likely to be met with at various altitudes over the North At- lantic Ocean. A recent paper on “ Trans-At- lantie Flight from the Meteorologists’ Point of View”! brings together, in compact form, just the sort of information of which the in- telligent public is in search. The author, Willis R. Gregg, of the Weather Bureau, was actively concerned as a meteorological expert in connection with the flight of the U. S. Navy planes. The fact that Mr. Gregg’s article was in print before the recent trans- Atlantic flights were accomplished does not in any way detract from its interest or value. Mr. Gregg’s chief conclusions are as follows: Favorable conditions of wind and weather are necessary for the safety of airplanes which at- tempt the trans-Atlantic flight. In order to obtain the requisite knowledge of the prevail- ing atmospheric conditions, frequent and widely-distributed observations are necessary. When a favorable day comes, the meteorolog- ical expert can indicate the successive direc- tions toward which the airplane should be headed in order to keep to any desired course, and can also calculate the assistance which the winds will furnish. Favorable conditions for an eastward crossing are found at 500-1,000 1 Mo, Wea. Rev., Vol. 47, 1919, pp. 65-75. Aveust 1, 1919] meters during about one third of the time. The percentage of favorable days increases materially at greater altitudes, especially along the northern route. The percentage of favor- able days for the westward trip “is so small as to make trans-Atlantic flight in this di- rection impracticable until the cruising radius of aircraft is increased to such an extent that they are relatively independent of weather con- ditions.” As to the season, there is little choice. The prevailing westerly winds are stronger in win- ter than in summer, but there are more storms in the colder months. The greater prevalence of foe in summer is a disadvantage at that season which about offsets the greater amount of cloudiness in winter. The fogs of New- foundland are generally of but slight vertical extent, and as they do not extend far inland they ought not to interfere with a landing if such is attempted some distance from the coast. The most important thing of all is the need of a comprehensive campaign to secure meteorological and aerological observations over the North Atlantic. R. DeC. Warp QUOTATIONS BRITISH SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY THE speakers at the opening of the British Scientific Products Exhibition emphasized different aspects of the same truths. When the war came, England was deprived of many scientific products which she had been con- tent to receive from Germany. English sci- entific men and inventors had long been in the forefront of discovery, but English manu- facturers had taken little advantage of their achievements. We had not the industrial processes for making high explosives from coal-tar nor the methods of making optical glass for gun-sights. In a thousand ways, great and small, we were unready for the ordeal. The unlimited valor of our fighting men and the unswerving resolution of the people alone carried us over the dead point. The exhibition of British scientific products, made in Britain, for the first time during the SCIENCE 115 war, shows the splendid progeny of the liaison de convenance hurriedly arranged between science and industry. It is to be hoped that it will lead to a more permanent union. The war is over, and there is more than a fear that the soporific effect of the ery “ Busi- ness as usual” may again be felt. Business will not be as usual. The old British way of being content with large-scale manufacture of the “good enough,” of seeking the easy market and the repeat order, is gone for ever. Even the best is not good enough, for there is always a better. As Lord Moulton said, Divine discontent must have its place in our industries. The manufacturer must keep in touch with the inventor and: the scientific student. The men of the laboratory must keep aware of the industrial processes to which they can so largely contribute. The seller of British goods must have a better weapon than blandishment; he must be able to explain why his goods are the best, and to stimulate the imagination of his customers by the assurance of better. Lord Crewe rightly laid stress on the part of education in the new orientation of our scientific and indus- trial effort. He referred with legitimate pride to the associations of manufacturers and in- vestigators that are being organized by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. But there is still a long way to go. In one sense, the lean years that lie ahead of us are less favorable to continued effort, although they require it even more urgently. During the war an imperative stimulus quickened our common purpose. Money flowed like water for the experiments of the laboratory and the workshop, and the operations of war supplied the swiftest and surest test of efficiency. We must lose none of the organizing and self- sacrificing spirit that we gained when our need seemed greatest—The London Times. SCIENTIFIC BOOKS The Turtles of New Hngland. By Haroip L. Bascocx, M.D. Mem. Boston Soc. Nat- ural History, VIIII., No. 3, 4to, pp. 325 to 431, plates 17 to 82, April, 1919. 116 This is the most recent of the series of monographs of small groups of vertebrate animals issued by the Boston Society of Nat- ural History from time to time. The seven- teen species of turtles recorded as native to New England are taken up in order and described, size, color, form, distribution, numbers, breeding, food, enemies, economic importance. The plates comprise careful color drawings by R. Decker and J. Henry Blake, of all but the marine leather-back, loggerhead and green turtles, and photographs of these three. The illustrations facilitate the identi- fication of the different turtles, supply the best existing figures of certain comparatively little-known species and, as representative of New England material, will be valuable for reference to faunal herpetologists. There are several pages of bibliography of references cited. Of the seventeen species of turtles treated, four are marine, one littoral, one al- most strictly terrestrial, one strictly aquatic, and ten more or less amphibious. Exclu- sive of the marine species, six are rare or local in New England, the remaining seven being the snapping turtle, musk turtle, painted turtle, diamond-backed terrapin, spotted tur- tle, wood tortoise and box tortoise. This publication will be welcomed by the students of the fauna of New England and herpetologists in general, but it should have a much wider circulation. Ability to refer to it will add to the pleasure which every New England child may be expected to find in turtles. The turtle is one of the most strik- ing of nature’s phenomena and the correlation of its remarkable structure with its habits has much popular interest. A careful considera- tion of the life-histories of the different species is a feature of Dr. Babcock’s work. From the quotations it is noticeable how many interesting things about turtles have only recently come to light and we are im- pressed with the probability that others as interesting remain to be found out. In conclusion, a word should be said of the thorough investigation of the New England fauna by the Boston Society of Natural His- SCIENCE [N. 8S. Vou. L. No. 1283 tory of which this paper is a detail. Larger institutions are often absorbed by distant prob- lems and work of this nature is much needed to keep the study of natural history well balanced. J. T. Nicos AMERICAN MusEuM oF NatTuraL History SPECIAL ARTICLES THE FUNGUS PARASITE OF THE PERIODICAL CICADA Tue fungus Massospora cicadina, Peck has been extremely prevalent about Washington, D. C., during the recent reappearance of Brood X of Cicada septendecim. It was first collected in the conidial stage of development on May 31, or about ten days after the first emergence of the insect in this locality. Until June 7, however, it was not abundant, it being possible to collect only a dozen or so infected cicadas in an afternoon, and during this period only the conidial stage of the fungus was found. On June 10, however, fol- lowing a wet period of a few days, the organ- ism appeared in the resting spore condition and since this date has become increasingly prevalent until, at the present time, from five to nine out of every ten live adult males col- lected will show the resting spores of the fungus in some stage of development. On the other hand, infected insects showing conidia are rarely found now. It appears from the observations made thus far that conidia and resting spores of Masso- spora cicadina are not formed simultaneously in the same insect, and infected individuals bearing only conidia of the fungus present a somewhat different gross appearance from those insects in which resting spores exclu- sively are produced. In the conidial stage of development the fungus is usually exposed to view, due to the sloughing off of several of the posterior ab- dominal segments of the host’s body, as a white or pale cream colored more or less co- herent mass which is found to arise in the male hosts at least from a cushion-like sub- stratum, the latter forming a more or less complete septum extending across the entire Aueust 1, 1919] body cavity. Anterior to this septum the ab- dominal cavity is entirely empty. In the resting spore condition the fungus _ mass, in the males, in the early stages at least, likewise confined to the posterior portion of the abdomen, is at first white, then sulphur yellow and finally greenish brown or brown in color, and only slightly coherent. While the fungus in this stage of development seems likewise to be confined to the genitalia of the host, there is apparently no septum formed, and at maturity the resting spores, scatter about the entire hody cavity. The resting spores, which are extremely uniform in size, “are remarkably ornamented and at maturity form a dustlike mass which is freed from the insect by the disintegration of the interseg- mental membranes of the abdomen. In the few infected females that the writer has examined the fungus mass fills nearly the entire body cavity. As noted by previous writers, many in- fected cicadas were found still alive and actively flying about with but a portion of the abdomen remaining, the entire posterior por- tion having sloughed off leaving the conidia or resting spores of the fungus exposed in such a way that every movement of the host served to seatter them. It is hoped that a full account of the life history of this fungus will be published soon. A. T. SPEaRE BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY, WASHINGTON, D. C. THE OHIO ACADEMY OF SCIENCE THE twenty-ninth annual meeting of the Ohio Academy of Science was held at Ohio State Uni- versity, Columbus, May 29 to 31, 1919, under the presidency of Professor Maynard M. Metcalf. Seventy-nine members were registered as present; forty new members were elected. The academy formally recognized the establish- ment of a new section for Psychology, with an initial membership of about twenty. It was reported by the trustees of the Research Fund that Mr. Emerson MeMillin, of New York City, had made a further contribution of two hun- dred and fifty dollars in support of research work by the academy. SCIENCE 117 At the close of the formal session, the geologists, under the leadership of Professors J. HE. Hyde and T. M. Hills, made an exeursion to Newark for the study of glacial physiography and the Upper Waverly formation, while Professor W. M. Bar- rows conducted a zoological and botanical excur- sion to Sugar Grove. Officers were elected as follows: President, F. C. Blake, Ohio State University; Vice-presidents: Zoology, EF. H. Herrick, Western Reserve Univer- sity; Botany, A. B. Plowman, Municipal Univer- sity of Akron; Geology, J. E. Hyde, Western Re- serve University; Physics, M. E. Graber, Heidel- berg University; Medical Sciences, R. J. Seymour, Ohio State University; Psychology, G. R. Wells, Ohio Wesleyan University; Secretary, B. L. Rice, Ohio Wesleyan University; Treasurer, W. J. Kos- tir, Ohio State University, The scientific program was as follows: PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS The scientific spirit: PRoressor Maynarp M. MerTca.Lr, printed in Science for June 13, 1919. PUBLIC LECTURE Airplanes, present and future: Mr. Davin Car- ROLL CHURCHILL, Oberlin. PAPERS The theory of chance applied to the Bacon-Shakes- peare controversy: T. C. MENDENHALL. Teleology in the teaching of zoology: W. M. Bar- ROWS. Dynamics and evolution as illustrated in the _ euglenoids: L. B. WALTON. Notes on a technique for the study of Luglenide: W. J. Kosrfr. The comparative resistance of different species of Euglenide to acids: W. J. Kost. Notes on a tingid destructive to beans: HERBERT OSBORN. The European corn borer (Pyrausta nubilalis Hubn) a menace to American agriculture: E, C. Corton. The: stratification of spiders in meadows: W. M. BARROWS. Concerning the attachment of larval colonies of Pectinatella and Plumatella: STEPHEN R. WIL- LIAMS. Remarks on the phylum Prosopygia: RayMonp C. ° OSBURN. The bryozoan fauna of Greenland: RayMonp C. OSBURN. Classification of the Salpide: Maynard M. Mer- CALF. The remarkable fauna of a drop of pond water: W. J. Kostir. Polymorphism and allelomorphism in Bruchus quadrimaculatus: J. K. BREITENBECHER. Circulation of caelomic fluid in a nematode: F, H. KRECKER, Egg laying of a leech, Piscicola: F. H. KREecKkeEr. The columella auris of the reptiles: Epwarp L. RICE. 118 Information wanted in zoological and botanical cases to be cited: KATHARINE D. SHARP. Use of airplane in studying vegetation: Pau B. SEARS. A map of Ohio prairies: P. B. Sars. Brief notes on some Ohio plants: L. S. HopKINs. A remarkable bud sport of Pandanus: JoHN H. ScHAFFNER. The nature of dieciousness in the hemp: JoHN H. SCHAFFNER, Xenia in maize and rye: A. E, WALLER. Some biological relations of the Hysteriales: BRUCE FINE. A hitherto undescribed ascomycete: FREDA Drt- MERS. Witches broom of bald cypress: FREDA DETMERS. Abscission of Populus deltoides (common cotton- wood): Lois LAMPE, introduced by Frepa DrEt- MERS. Toaic and antagonistic effects of salts on yeast (Saccharomyces ellipsoideus): Swarna K. Mirra, introduced by EH. N. TRANSEAU. Two serious diseases of wheat new to America: W. G. STOVER. Estimates on the thickness of the sedimentary rocks of Ohio: T. M. Hits. Some geological features in the Akron region: G. F. LAMB. Some future industrial centers in America as seen by a geographer: Gro. D. HUBBARD. The location of the barrier between the Ohio and Mississippi Valley basins in Eichmond times: AvuGuST FOERSTE. Some aspects of the Waverly: J. E, Hypx. The pyrite deposits in the Ohio coals: TUCKER, The correlation of Ohio Silurian strata with those of Indiana: AUGUST FOERSTE. Elongation of nickel in transverse magnetic fields: H. A. BENDER. The prevention and treatment of pneumonia: E. F. McCaMpBELL. Recent advances in the auditory method of meas- uring blood pressure: CLYDE BRooKS. Vaccines and serums in coccus infections: C. B. Morrey. Five years of progress in medical entomology: Epna MosHeEr. A note on the technic of smear preparations: F. L. LANDACRE. Differentiation of mucous and serous cells: CAMPBELL, introduced by F. L. LANDACRE. Note on the effect of dry heat upon the blood of Guinea pigs: JONATHAN FORMAN. Observations upon the complement content of the blood of guinea pigs which have been sub- jected to dry heat: Carn H. Spor. Observations on the death of guinea pigs induced by dry heat: ERNEST Scort, A model illustrating some features of urinary se- cretion: Martin H. Fiscuer. The muscle-twitch curve: E. P. DurRRANT. Vitamine tests with chicks: R. J. Seymour and E. P. Durrant. An anomalous frog heart: EB. P. Durrant. A modified Waterhouse test for pure butter: CHAS. P. Fox. Demonstration of Mendel’s law: W. M. Barrows. W. M. Eva SCIENCE [N. 8. Von. L. No. 1283 Observations on the diagnosis of contagious abor- tion by guinea pig inoculation: W. A. STARIN. Fat absorption in earthworm, salamander and frog: Cuas. G, RocErs. The nature of the lyophilic colloids and their im- portance in theoretical and applied science: Martin H. FiscHer. The normality vs. the psychopathy of the preco- cious child: FLORENCE MATEER. The clinical function of psychology: FLORENCE MATEER. Short methods of individual examination used by psychologists in the army: JAMES W. BRIDGES. Psychological study of a delinquent: Louisr Woop. The very bright child: C. THOMPSON JONES. The moral and religious psychology of late senes- cence: T. Brucr BircuH. Psychology applied to the problems of everyday life: A. W. TRETTIEN. The vocality of fork, violin and piano tones: ESTHER GATEWOOD. Relations of images in recall to directly aroused sensations: A, SOPHIE ROGERS. DEMONSTRATIONS A case of apparent triple superfetation in the cat: R. A, BUDINGTON. Growths on glass slides submerged in open sea water ten days: R. A. BUDINGTON. Exhibit of Ohio Cicadellide: HERBERT OSBORN. Indications of circulation of celomic fluid shown by preserved nematodes: F. H. KrrcKkeEr. Model of nasal region of the lizard, Eumeces: ELVA PuUMPHREY, introduced by Epwarp L. Rice. Sections of columella auris of the lizard, Ewmeces: Epwarp L, Rice. A hitherto undescribed ascomycete: FRrDA DET- MERS. Auditory method of measuring blood pressure: CLyDE Brooxs. Technic of smear preparations: ¥. L, LANDACRE. Model illustrating some features of urinary secre- tion: Martin H. FISCHER. A new muscle lever: E. P. DuRRANT. An adjustable spring-myograph: E, P. DURRANT. An anomalous frog heart: E. P. DURRANT. Epwarp L. Rick Secretary DELAWARE, OHIO SCIENCE A Weekly Journal devoted to the Advancement of Science, publishing the official notices and pro- ceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Published every Friday by THE SCIENCE PRESS LANCASTER, PA. GARRISON, N. Y. NEW YORK, WN. Y. Entered in the post-office at Lancaster, Pa., as second class matter SCIENCE SINGLE Copies, 15 Crs, NEW SERIES inh aE Fripay, Auausr 8, 1919 CHEMISTRY Arup. Industrial Organic Analysis. $2.25. Autenrieth. Detection of Poisons and Power- ful Drugs. $2.50. Bailey (E. H. S.) of Food Products. Bailey (EK. H. S.) Food Products. 25 cents. Bailey and Cady. Qualitative Analysis. Bottger. 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Effect of High Altitudes on Pulse, Body Temperature, Blood Pressure, Respiration Rate, Output of ete and Loss of EES IRAE Vg 6 6 5 aver iMerh. (= +10 II. Effect of eee Altitudes on Protein Meta- bolism. . . 5 : 7-20) Ill. Effect of High Altitudes on the Iron Meta- bolismeyn es g alo ee LO) IV. Effect of High Altitudes on the Carbon Di- oxide Content and on the Hydrogen Ion Con- centrationtofstheyBlood 0c) )-l ie ieaiie iereLO Are Soils Mapped Under a Given Type Name by the Bureau of Soils Method Closely Similar to One Another ? By ROBERT LaRIMORE PEN- DUOHON 'o GB 8 Galo Meo ola" Bao The University of California Publications deal with various lines of scientific investigations: Agricultural Sciences, American Archaeology and Enthnology, Bot- any, Economics, Education, Entomology, Geography, Geology, History, Pathology, Philology, Philosophy, Physiology, Psychology, and Zoology. Complete Lists of Titles and Prices will be sent on Request HEDGES AND BRYANT Laboratory Manual of Agri- cultural Chemistry A book of experiments in the chemis- try of agriculture for normal schools, colleges, and universities. It is assumed that the course shall be pre- ceded by a course in general or in- organic chemistry and accompanied by a course in agricultural-chemistry theory. A few experiments in quan- titative analysis are given at the be- ginning to illustrate fundamental principles. The course is unusually flexible and encourages independent work on the part of the student. Ginn and Company 70 Fifth Avenue New York glass made in our own factory. gives superb definition but has a Long Working Distance nearly twice that of the old objectives of equal magni- fication. Now that we are released from war work, we are again in position to give to our customers the prompt service which has characterized our business in former dyas. SPENCER BUFFALO a) Spencer Microscopes Nos. 44 and 64 Are now supplied with our NEW 4 Millimeter OBJECTIVE made from a new formula from optical This objective not only SPENCER LENS COMPANY BUFFALO, N. Y. UFFALQ eas SCIENCE Froay, Aucust 8, 1919 CONTENTS Problems of Population of the North Pacific Area as dependent upon the Biology, the Oceanography and the Meteorology of the Area: Proressor WM. EH. RITTER ........ 119 Some Necessary Steps in any Attempt to prove Insect Transmission or Causation of Disease: W. DWIGHT PIERGE ...........- 125 The U. 8S. Food Administration’s War Flour: DRY EVAR Vis ONWDER) \eletsicisierenslelcvereielelcioberstehe 130 Edward Cowles: PRESMENT G. STANLEY HAL. 132 Scientific Events :— Game Conservation in Canada; A Collection Boat for the New York Aquarium; The Na- tional Research Council and the Rockefeller Foundation; The Patron’s Medal of the Royal Geographical Society ............. 133 ) Scientific Notes, and, News 25. tio. seis veloc Sore 135 University and Educational News ......... 137 Discussion and Correspondence :— Three Fourths of an Octave farther in the Ultra-violet: Proressor R. A. MILLIKAN AND R. A. Sawyer. The Problem of the Boy in the Swing: Proressor Henry Crew. 138 Scientific Books :— The Evolution of the Earth and its Inhabi- tantss DR. ROY) da. MOODIB) <)> ofrccrec selene 140 Special Articles :— A Practical Long-period Seismograph: Dr. ARNOLD ROMBERG MSS. intended for ‘publication and books, etc., intended for review should be sent to The Editor of Science, Garrison-on- Hudson, N. Y. PROBLEMS OF POPULATION OF THE NORTH PACIFIC AREA AS DEPEND- ENT UPON THE BIOLOGY, THE OCEANOGRAPHY, AND THE METEOROLOGY OF THE AREA! For long ages before written records began, human migrations seem to have taken place over the vast Pacific region. These appar- ently affected the islands of the south, those of the north, and those of the the middle por- tions, as likewise the continental littorals of Asia and North America. Later came the era, very recent as all human history goes, of the drifting of Chinese and Japanese fishing junks upon the northern American coast, and of castaway Japanese traders upon the Mex- ican coast. Following this came the truly modern era, ushered in, one may fairly say, by President Fillmore’s appeal to the Emperor of Japan, through the Perry embassy, for the opening up of the Hermit Kingdom in the interest of American industrial and commer- cial development as represented by the whale fishery, and closely identified with gold mining in California. Shortly thereafter, followed the bringing of Chinese coolies for labor in building the Pacific end of the first transcon- tinental railroad. Through all these, and many other events of similar import, on down to this very sum- mer of 1919, when hardly a day passes in which the newspapers do not contain items of some sort involving the activities of Japanese or Chinese in the industrial and commercial life of Pacific North America, can be seen a contact of Asiatics and Americans—a kind of community of interests—made not only pos- 1The opening paper of a symposium on ‘‘The exploration of the North Pacifie Ocean,’’ held at the Pasadena meeting, Pacific Division, American Association for the Advancement of Science, June 19, 1919. 120 sible, but seemingly inevitable, by their com- mon possession of the great ocean, and of the human propensities for adventure, travel and gain. In another connection I have called atten- tion to the variety of meanings which nat- urally attach to such phrases as “ The Prob- lem of the Pacific,” “The New Pacific,” ete.? The wording of the topic, assigned to me in this symposium, when read in the hight of the above reflections and along with the other topics of the program, suggests the direction my remarks should take. To the eyes of sci- ence, the situation as touching the peoples of the north Pacifie area is this: Some 500,- 000,000 Asiatics are being brought into ever closer contact with some 6,000,000 Americans, the Asiatics being so placed geographically that scores of millions of them have about the lowest per capita allotment of any peoples on the earth of some of the primary material necessities of human life, while the Americans are so placed as to give them about the high- est of such allotment. That economic equilibrium will tend to establish itself between these two peoples is as certain as that two bodies of salt water of different density will tend to come to an equilibrium if in contact with each other. There are two ways in which this equili- brating tendency may work itself out. (1) It may proceed in accordance with the brute in- stincts of self-preservation and _ self-realiza- tion. This is the way of material force work- ing as modern commercialism and modern militarism. Frequently as the resemblance between these two gigantic forces has been noticed, it yet seems not to have been suffi- ciently brought home to many of us. (2) The other way in which the equilibrating tendency may realize itself is in accordance with the human reason for self-preservation and self-realization. This is the way of modern intelligence and rationality; in other words, of modern science. Perhaps some one will question the warrant- 2‘¢The Problem of the Pacific,’’? Bull. No. 8, Scripps Institution for Biological Research, Uni- versity of California, June 14, 1919. SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1284 ableness of including all the Chinese, Japan- ese and Koreans, as I did a moment ago, when speaking of Asiatic populations, while only the small portion of all North Americans are included which live on the Pacific slope. If question of this sort be raised, my. reply is that being naturalists, we are bound to think in terms of nature—especially of geography— whenever we speak comprehensively of people; and hence must look at population in relation to the continental slopes, drainage areas, oceanie and fluviatile waterways, ete., which constitute their major physical environments. The “North Pacific area” is clear enough of definition geographically viewed: It includes not merely the great north ocean itself, with its islands, but also those parts of the ad- jacent continents, Asia and North America, whose rivers flow into the ocean. In an im- portant sense this is a unit area of popula- tional distribution as it is of physical geog- raphy.? : Pacific North America, as thus defined, seems to be as natural a depositing ground for immigrants from eastern Asia as Atlantic North America is for immigrants from Eu- rope. While manifestly it would be easy to push such a criterion of unit area of peoples too far, yet recognition of it to the extent of its validity is of great practical importance. The fundamental nature of the issue be- tween Asiatics and Americans is clearly re- flected in the character of the American legis- . lative measures which have been proposed, and in some instances made into law, against. the immigration of Asiaties. That the issue is not primarily one of race 3In Fundamental Geological Problems of the North Pacific Ocean Region, contributed to the symposium by George D. Louderback, occurs this: ‘ O=NCOH, NH, but this compound is unstable and it loses water to form H,N,O, AL 0=NConl => H,0 40=NC i a and finally this H,N,O loses another molecule of water to form O=N==N in which one atom of nitrogen has a negative valence of three and the other a positive valence of five as in the original molecule of ammonium nitrate. In other words, neither atom of nitrogen has experienced any change with re- gard to its state of oxidation. This hypothesis is certainly no more difi- eult to understand than many hypotheses which have been advocated in the past by chemists in both the so-called “ organic” and “inorganic” fields. It is objectionable, how- ever, because it assumes the formation of two very unstable, hypothetical, intermediate prod- ucts. These intermediate compounds are cer- tainly not very well known and there appears to be no proof of their formation during the progress of the reaction in question. Such a hypothesis is in line with the assumption of “nascent hydrogen” being formed when a chemical reduction is accomplished by a metal far above hydrogen in the electro- motive series and it reminds one of the “primary products” which electro-chemists formerly believed to be formed as a result of electrolysis. Such an explanation, moreover, is contrary to the evidence which can be deduced from the behavior of other ammonium salts upon igni- tion. It loses sight of the fact that nitrogen in its lowest state of oxidation is relatively un- stable and easily oxidized and of the fact that nitrogen in its highest state of oxidation is easily reduced. Jn general, when an element is present in a compound in two states of oxi- dation, the decomposition of the compound is likely to result in the element assuming a state of oxidation intermediate between the two states in which it previously existed. When ammonium dichromate is _ heated, nitrogen gas is evolved and chromic oxide is SCIENCE [N. 8. Von. L. No, 1287 left behind. Heating ammonia sulfate re- sults in the formation of nitrogen and sulfur dioxide. When ammonium nitrate is heated one atom of nitrogen is oxidized to form free nitrogen and the other is reduced to form nitrogen. In this case, Noyes would assume that neither atom of nitrogen is affected by oxidation or reduction but does not all our information with regard to the stability of ammonia and of nitrous acid make it seem simpler to assume that the polarity of nitrogen is zero when in the free condition rather than to insist that one atom has a positive valence of three and the other a negative valence of three ? Finally, Noyes claims that his formula seems more in accord with the ease with which nitrous oxide gives up its oxygen. As one writes the formula on paper it seems very easy to take away the oxygen from the O—=N=N molecule and “ organic” chemists always love to get atoms on the blackboard where they can easily erase them to show stu- dents how new compounds are formed, but it isn’t quite clear why ammonium nitrate should withstand strong ignition without any effect upon the state of oxidation of either atom of nitrogen and yet after undergoing all this severe treatment, with the nitrous oxide re- taining one nitrogen like that of nitric acid and the other like that of ammonia, be very susceptible to reduction. It would seem far simpler to assume that nitrogen with a valence of one is easily reduced. The writer has respect for the views of Pro- fessor Noyes and has been under obligation to him in the past for helpful advice. He re- joices to learn that Professor Noyes is willing to aecept much of the modern theory of valence. Winrmam T. Harn CAMBRIDGE A SNOW EFFECT To THe Eprror or Science: On March 3 of the present year a very interesting snow effect occurred in Orono and vicinity, which is per- haps worth recording in the columns of Sor- ENCE. The writer has not been able to find any one who ever saw a similar effect, and it AveusT 30, 1919] would be interesting to know if others have observed anything like it in other localities. About four inches of light dry snow fell dur- ing the afternoon and night of March 2. Towards the end of the storm the flakes were very large and the wind blew at a considerable velocity. This high wind continued most of the day of March 3. After the sun had been shin- ing on the snow for three or four hours and had probably formed a thin layer of moist snow on top, the wind would catch up a por- tion of this moist snow and roll it over and over, forming a snowball of increasing size until the gust of wind had spent its energy, or the ball had become too large to be rolled any farther. Some people who saw this process taking place said that the fields were literally alive with moving snowballs. This peculiar phenomenon continued until about noon and the fields around Orono and Bangor were left with countless snowballs everywhere. Back of each snowball could be seen the triangular shaped path, from which the snow had been rolled up. In one instance this triangle was found to be approximately thirty-six feet in length, but that was for an unusually large snowball. The snowballs were of all sizes, from two or three inches in diameter up to nearly two feet. Of course the largest ones were formed where the ground sloped so that the ball rolled down hill, but even on the level some of the balls were a foot or more in diam- eter. One ball in particular, on which meas- urements were taken and recorded, was ellip- ‘tical in shape, the horizontal diameter being twenty inches and the vertical diameter being fourteen inches. Lron Eimer WoopMan UNIVERSITY OF MAINE, Orono, MAINE ON MEASURING THE DENSITY OF THE “17-YEAR LOCUST” POPULATION To THE Epitor oF ScrmmNncE: According to the Bulletin of the Department of Agriculture No. 127, on the “17-year locust” of 1919 there was to be expected a very dense population of locusts this summer in the eastern and south- ern states. Brood 10 of the “17-year locust” and brood 18 of the “18-year locusts” are co- incident this year. One of the items of inter- SCIENCE 211 est in the periodicity of these insects is the number of individuals appearing from time to time. I wish to suggest a means of measuring the numbers of them in a manner that will make it easy to compare the density of them from year to year. Wherever these cicade are there is pro- duced an incessant sereech. The intensity of this ‘‘secreechy ” sound is dependent upon the density of “locust” population. A measure- ment of the intensity of this sound may be referred to the density of the population in the environment where the intensity of the sound is produced. This is applying “sound ranging.” The proper environment would have to be chosen. This means would at least afford an excel- lent way to record the activity of the cicada during any one season; and might be devel- oped to give relative seasonal activity also. Enoch Karrer BUREAU OF STANDARDS SCIENTIFIC BOOKS World-Power and Evolution. By EtuswortH Huntineton. New Haven, Yale University Press, 287 pp., 30 figures. 1919. This is a far-reaching book, written in an interesting style, and is suggestive of thought along new lines, not only to students of evolu- tion (especially those interested in the ac- cepted laws of heredity), but to biologists, paleontologists, physicians and statesmen as well. The underlying thesis of the study is organic change, largely brought about by the changing environment, chiefly climate, which affects the well being and health of organisms. “Training, heredity and physical environment are like food, drink and air.” They are nec- essary materials and conditions that are at the basis of all life. Humanity “does not yet realize that the human species must be bred as carefully as race horses,” and even when people inherit perfect constitutions their health must receive much care. That climate largely underlies human health, this book abundantly demonstrates, and that it is a changing climate that develops the strongest 212 and most intellectual peoples is clearly set forth. The author asks: Have religion, education, philanthropy and gov- ernment failed? Shall we despair because the church, the school, the charity organization, and the state have not yet destroyed war, pestilence, lust, greed, cruelty and selfishness? Far from it. These agencies can not possibly play their proper parts unless science comes to their aid. Not me- chanical science, although that has its useful part to play, but biological science. The sum and sub- stance of biology is evolution, the Darwinian idea that no type of living creature is permanent. In this book health is studied, not from the standpoint of the physician, but from that of the geographer and evolutionist. Fluctuations in health, even the rise and decline of nations, are found to be conditioned by changes in the climate, in a small way, by the daily and seasonal changes, and in the large by the sweeping climatic ones that historians have as yet made so little use of in their interpreta- tions of the fluctuations in national prosperity. The expansion of great nations is to a large extent determined by climatic condi- tions. We talk, indeed, about trade, but back of trade ... lies the question of health. Health, however, depends chiefly upon air, food and water; and all three of these depend upon climate. Every nation that has been stimulated by an energizing climate has apparently spread its power over neighboring regions either by land or by sea. The author establishes his argument in a study of Health and Business, followed by other chapters on Business Cycles in Foreign Countries, How Health does its Work, and Climate and Health. The prosperity curve follows the health curve with no apparent regard for the crops. Contrary as it seems to our established convictions, there ap- pears to be no way of avoiding the conclusion that economic eyeles of adversity and prosperity in the United States depend upon health far more than upon any other factor. And health depends largely upon the weather. Aside from a good inheritance, which is of course the first essential, good health depends upon three material factors—proper food, proper drink and proper air and climate. SCIENCE [N. S. Von. L. No. 1287 Air is the first necessity of life. We may live without food for days and without water for hours; but we can not live without air more than a few minutes. Our air supply is therefore of more importance than our food or water supply, and good ventilation becomes the first rule of hygiene, Huntington says that it is not enough to understand man’s extremely sensitive adjust- ment to temperature and humidity. We must understand the effect of changes. A variable climate has utterly different effects from a uniform climate, even though both have the same average temperature and humidity. This thesis is developed in the section on The Importance of Variability. One of the best possible safeguards of health is constant change of temperature. ‘“ We need to return to the conditions under which the evolution of our unclothed ancestors took place.” In the chapter called The Voyage of Evolu- tion, we read of the rise of the organisms into man, and that the last glacial epoch was peculiarly stimulating toward the mental de- velopment of humanity. “The coldest places were not favorable, but on their borders where the climate was severe enough to be highly bracing, but not benumbing, there occurred an extraordinary development of brain power.” Then follow chapters in The Environment of Mental Evolution, The Origin of New Types among Animals, and The Origin of New Types among Men. The culminating chapters of the book come next in order. First in the one on The Ex- ample of Rome, we are told that mighty Rome fell because “men’s energy and power of self- control, as well as their crops, were suffering at the behest of the inexorably changing climate.” The human world to the north was disarranged by the same climatic change, and “the barbarians were constantly swooping down first on one part of the empire and then on another.” The enervated Romans could not overcome the more vigorous peoples of the north. “So Rome fell, and her fall was fol- lowed by that period of unfavorable climate which is known as the Dark Ages.” In the chapter on The Problems of Turkey, we learn that: Aveust 30, 1919] In ancient days, when the climate of the Turk- ish empire was favorable, the ancestors of some of the present inhabitants were the leaders of civili- zation, To-day their descendants are crushed and discouraged by the insurmountable obstacles of na- ture. No wonder their spirit is broken, their chil- dren ignorant, their religion corrupt, and their gov- ernment diabolical. Truly Turkey is the sick nation of Europe, and her civilization corresponds to her phys- ical environment. This does not mean that she is forever doomed to misgovernment, race hatred and massacre. It does mean, however, that there is little hope of any favorable development from within, We now attain to the climax of the book in a consideration of Germany and her Neigh- bors, and the Great War. Racial character, Huntington says, “is the effect of physical environment acting upon generation after generation.” The Germans are living in one of the most invigorating climates, one that is superior to that of her enemies who live east and south of them, and it has made them the virile and persisting people. that they are. No other nation in the world has so many people who live under a highly stimulating climate. The German devotion to the national cause is like that which made early Rome so formidable. Wherever and whenever the climate is stimula- ting, civilization seems to rise to a high level. The character of the civilization of course varies ac- cording to the race and training of the people. Yet no matter what the race, it seems under such circumstances to acquire the power to originate new ideas, to stick to them until they are carried out, and to impress its rule and its civilization upon the less favored people with whom it comes in contact. 4 CHARLES SCHUCHERT NEW ACTIVITIES IN THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE THE active interest in the history of science which exists at the present time in Europe is indicated by the numerous publications which are appearing and announced in this field. In Italy the journal Scientia (Rivista di Scienza), International Review of Scientific Synthesis, is in its thirteenth year of publica- SCIENCE 213 tion. The present editor is E. Rignano, whose works are favorably known to American read- ers. This is a monthly publication (subscrip- tion at 33 francs per year, Felix Alcan, pub- lishers, Paris), with articles in French, Italian and English, but articles in Italian and English are repeated in French transla- tion. The title indicates the purpose, synthesis of science, of the journal, particularly to counterbalance the ill effects of over-special- ization and also to have due regard for the ‘bonds of unity among the different sciences. The social sciences and the history of science are included within the program of this pub- lication. It deserves the hearty support of all scientists, particularly the support by sub- scription of college and technical libraries and by individuals. Professor Gino Loria has published for nearly twenty years the quarterly journal, Bollettino di Bibliografia e Storia delle Sci- enze Matematiche (Torino, Rosenberg et Sellier, Via Maria Vittoria, 18). The editor is notable among historians of mathematics as a mathematician of the first rank, con- tributing equally to the field of pure mathe- matics and to the history of the science. This journal is always interesting and instructive, particularly valuable to all students of mathe- matics. In March of this year appeared the first number of a new Italian publication, quar- terly, devoted entirely to the history of sci- ence, the Archivio di Storia della Scienza. The editor, Professor Aldo Mieli, of the Uni- versity of Rome, is a well-known contributor to the fields of the history and philosophy of the sciences. Each volume of the Archivio will consist of about 500 pages (foreign sub- scription 85 frances, Dott Attilio Nardecchia, Via dell’Umilta, 14, Rome 19). While par- ticular attention is to be paid to Italian sci- ence and scientists, all publications in the history of the various sciences and relating to the philosophy and development of science come within the range of the journal. The first number contains the following articles and departments: G. B. De Toni, “Francesco Griselini, viaggiatore e natural- 214 ista yeneziano del sec. XVIII.”; Ant. Favaro, “Matteo Carosio (Amici e corrispondenti di Galileo. XLI.)”; Gino Loria, “ Per una storia della matematica nel secolo XIX.”; Andrea Corsini, ‘“ L’‘ influenza’ oggi e nel passato”’; Studi e Note Vinciane Proemio, D. T. Per Vedizione nazionale delle opere di Leonardo, Notizie varie; Bibliografia metodica dei lavori di storia della scienza publicati in Italia; Analisi critiche: R. Almagia, Cristoforo Colombo (G. Stefanini); U. Viviana, Andrea Cesalpino; R. Marcolongo, Il problema dei tre corpi; W. Libby, An Introduction to the History of Science (A. Mieli); Gli Scienziati Italiani, Aggiunte, note e discussiono; Notizie e Commenti: Organizzazioni italiane per pro- muovere lo studio della storia della scienza (A. Mieli). La storia della scienza nelle Uni- versita—Notizie varie. Due credit, must be given, even to-day, to the Germans for their activity in the publi- eation of journals of an international char- acter. However, Americans should now realize the desirability of stimulating and encour- aging Italian, English and other European scientific publications of an international character. The revived Belgian journal Isis, now published by Dr. George Sarton and Dr. Charles Singer, of Oxford, should be remem- bered in this connection. The best way to stimulate these publica- tions is by personal subscription and by per- sonal interest on the part of scientists in urging upon librarians the subscription to these enterprises. Louis C. KarPINskI UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SPECIAL ARTICLES THE MOTION OF A GRAVITATING NEEDLE! 1. Static Elongations—The apparatus? with which I am working is of the simplest char- acter, but judiciously designed. Two shots (m= .6 gram), one at each end of a straw shaft 22 em. long (diagram 1a), are sup- ported by a long quartz fiber, fixed with 1 Advance note from a Report to the Carnegie Institution of Washington, D. C. 2 Proc. Nat. Ac. Sc., IV., 338, 1918. SCIENCE [N. 8. Vou. L. No. 1287 cement above and below. The attracting weight (M —1 kilog., or more) can easily be moved from one side to the other and defi- nitely placed by a smooth-working crank mechanism, between stops. Observations are made in a dark room (except for distant lamp light), in a damp, semi-subterranéan basement, in midsummer, with very fair constancy of temperature and no electric charges. The motion of the needle is essentially creeping with a period (if I may so call it) of 20 or 30 minutes. The scale distance is over 4 meters from the little mirror at the center of the shaft. The observer keeps out of the way. Under these circumstances reasonably con- stant scale deflections, for periods of alterna- tion exceeding 30 minutes would be expected; but the reverse of the case. Here is an ex- ample of the successive mean excursions or double amplitudes of the ‘needle during the day: fe Sil aigssiaobomodons IG) dl lB 1), 2D) Seale displacement iN Gril dns no bloe ss 2.79 3.02 3.27 2.79 3.65 Duly Peeve poeesecine 21 22 23 25 8625 Scale displacement THY Gi Sogo sooosbe 4.03 3.64 3.07 .4.50 5.39 The values of the morning and afternoon readings were equally different. Individual excursions may run as high as 6 cm. on cer- tain days, though the behavior is throughout, of course, quite systematic. 2. Triplets for three-minute Periods—The results for short period alternations of the pull of M (8 minutes in the examples given, Figs. 1, 2, 3) are equally bizarre; though, here they become interesting. In Fig. 1, the turning points of M are indicated by little circles, R and L are pulls to right and to left, respec- tively, and the mean double amplitude of the suecessive triplets are marked on the curves. There is drift throughout the figure; other- wise the behavior is about what would be ex- pected. Inertia apparently carries the ball a little time after the gravitational pull has changed sign. But for this, there would be a phase difference of 90° as there should be. Moreover, the motion of the needle, after turning, is uniform. Aveust 30, 1919] p | § Rll os | qe it AAT & Trt hi eee ee A. | al a” 10" 0" a A ——— Fia. 1, 5) In Fig. 2, made under the same circum- stances on a different day, the phenomenon is totally changed. The needle turns in the middle of the interval between the turning times of the pulling weight. There is no phase difference, while the drift has been ac- centuated. The triplets are larger, though the motion within the branches is still uniform. Similar observations were obtained with a downward drift. So I might adduce examples with all kinds of phase-differences, in some of which what was called “inertia” in relation to Fig. 1, comes just before the reversal of the pull! For the same reason alternations in periods of one minute each rarely succeed. It is obvious therefore, that in addition to the gravitational attraction there is in all these cases evidence of the development of an attractive (or in Fig. 2, of a repulsive) force more or less rapidly after the weight is turned. 3. Radiation—The extraneous forces origi- nating in M are clearly referable to radiation. We may argue plausibly that, if JJ be warmer than m, there is excess of convection on the M side and a corresponding part of the pressure is converted into kinetic energy. Attraction apparently results. In the opposite case (colder M), there is repulsion such as is evidenced, for instance, after the semi-periods in Fig. 2. The relative magnitude of the radiation forces is astonishing. One has merely to warm the ball M with the hands, in order to increase the “oravitational attraction” five or ten times. Again on cooling the ball in tap water only a few degrees below that of the room, repulsion may be obtained. Thus when the external SCIENCE eee | Oi Oe alin fs FAN 215 4y™ Exhaustion, 0. cmv. Fig. 2. Fig. 3. temperatures are increasing even if very slowly, outside objects like M are hotter and the excursions of § 1 are large; and vice versa. The warmer ball remains effectively though decreasingly so, for hours, even when it has become cold to the touch. Normal experi- ments are not again feasible until the day after. 4. Radiation in Vacuo.—At this point it was therefore necessary to build another apparatus, capable of being exhausted. This was done, and experiments similar to the last performed, by exhausting the interior in successive steps of 0-10 em., 10-20 em., ete. Thus again the interior was cooled relative to the exterior and there was an influx of radiation, the character of which was made evident by hanging the needle somewhat obliquely to the vertical walls of the case.2 The ball M was discarded. It was found that the attractive forces obtained in each of these successive steps of exhaustion (allowing the needle to get back to equilibrium before the next step) gradually diminished with the decrease of pressure, until between 60 and 70 em., there was no appreciable effect. For higher exhaustions (70-74 em.) the at- tractive forces were reversed and became strong repulsive forces.4 In other words at this point the radiometer forces supervene 31 give this explanation with some reservations. All that is in question is a reversible inequality of radiation on the two sides, 4Deflections of +15 em, and —15 em. were observed, respectively, at the first and last drop of pressure, whereas the gravitational deflection is but 3 or 4 em. 216 and the pressures are larger on the warmer side of the needle. It follows therefore that one can eliminate the radiation discrepancies by work done in partial vacuum. In fact with the exhaustion somewhat below 70 cm., I heated the ball M (restored) as far as was safe, 60°-70°, without obtaining any ap- preciable effect on the needle. This suggests the method of obtaining trustworthy static data. ‘ Exhaustions of even 40 cm. give very good results. In Fig. 8 for instance, obtained with the new apparatus (scale distance 265 em., therefore less sensitive), there is no drift and the whole motion soon becomes steady, so that the triplets (data given on the curve) become repetitions of each other. Between the turning points the motion is uniform. A further important result was substan- tiated. The size of the triplets, or better the speed of uniform motion between the turning points was the same, independent of pressure, from a plenum up to 70 cm. In Fig. 3 some of these speeds are given as displacements per 5 minutes inscribed on the lines prolonged. Improvement would not be difficult. Hence these resistances independent of the pressure or density of the air must be due purely to the viscosity of the medium and it must be pos- sible to express the gravitational attraction in terms of the viscosity of air. This project is further elucidated tentatively, in the next paragraph. 5. Tentative Estimate—The resistance ex- perienced by a sphere of radius, r moving in a viscous fluid (7) with the velocity v=lw, is well known to be 6zyrv. I do not happen to be familiar with the corresponding expression for a cylinder of radius r, semi-length J and with hemispherical ends, moving broadsides on. To get a mere order of values, however, I will postulate, that for equal frontal areas, Ti — Or AL the resistances are alike. Thus the element of resistance is aF = 6rnrv = 6Y rylwY rr? = 6Y rlwy 2r . AT= wn V 24rrA (1) and this is to be integrated for the double SCIENCE [N. S. Vor. L. No. 1287 length of the needle (21). To carry out the integration put J=n X 2r where n is a serial number. The equation becomes AF = 8wnr?V 377A (n*) and the problem is reduced to the summation of a series of cubes 2Vini=n(n+1), the length being 2/7. Hence finally for two masses M, m, at a distance R apart, disregard- in corrections, y= 8V3rnw(R?/Mm)n(n +1). The constants of the second apparatus were: M—1602 grams, m—.563 grams, K=5.1 em., 27 = .4 em., 21 = 22.8 em., 7 = .00019, n= 28.5. In Fig. 3, the last three scale rates have the mean value ¥.17 per 5 minutes, or w = 2.17/300 X £30 = .00001364 radians per second, the scale being off 265 em. Inserting these data into the equation, Y =.10°8 X 6.2, which is much closer to the standard value than, from the improvised ap- paratus and inadequate theory, I had expected to get. It sufficiently substantiates, I think, the assumed purely viscous character of the resistance and moreover shows that the con- stant of gravitation may probably be found, with precision, in terms of the resistance, in air, to the uniform motion, broad-sides on, of a cylinder with hemispherical ends. Cart Barus Brown UNIVERSITY, PROVIDENCE, R. I. SCIENCE A Weekly Journal devoted to the Advancement of Science, publishing the official notices and pro- ceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Published every Friday by THE SCIENCE PRESS LANCASTER, PA. GARRISON, N. Y. NEW YORK, N. Y. Entered in the post-office at Lancaster, Pa., as second class matter SCIENCE NEw SERIES VoL. L, No. 1288 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1919 Overton and Denno’s The Health Officer This book contains the information the average health officer must have in order to discharge his duties. It tells him what to do, how to do it, and why he should do it. It describes the various activities in which a health officer engages; his relations to boards of health, physicians, social agencies, and the public; his qualifications and methods of work; the various diseases and unsanitary conditions with which he deals, and the scien- tific principles upon which preventive medicine is founded. There are chapters on organ- ization and powers of a health department, the health officer himself, local boards, relation of the public and of the physician to the health officer, rural work, records and reports, public health nursing, bacteriology, immunity, epidemiology, communicable diseases, milk, food sanitation, sanitary engineering, disposal of wastes, water supply, ventilation, indus- trial hygiene, camp sanitation, child hygiene, life extension. Octavo of 504 pages, illustrated. By FRANK OVERTON, M.D., D.P.H., Sanitary Supervisor, New York State Department of Health; and WILLARD J. DENNo, M.D., D.P.H., Medical Director, Standard Oil Company. Cloth, $4.50 net. SINGLE Copiss, 15 Ors. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION, $5.06 Whiting’s Bandaging 12mo of 151 pages, with 117 illustrations. By A. D. Wauitinc, M.D., Instructor in Surgery at the University of Pennsyl- vania. Cloth, $1.50 net. This work takes up each bandage in detail, telling you and showing you how to apply the bandage. Catlin’s Hospital Social Service 12mo of 115 pages, illustrated. By Lucy CorNELIa CaTLin, R.N.,'! Director Social Service Work, Youngstown, Ohio. Cloth, $1.25 net. It completes the hospital’s service to its out- patients. W. B. SAUNDERS COMPANY Stokes’ Third Great Plague 12mo of 204 pages, illustrated. By JOHN H. Sroxes, M.D., Head of Section on Dermatology and Syphilology, The Mayo Clinic. Cloth, $2.00 net. A timely book for soldier, sailor, social econo- mist, physician, and all those interested in wel fare work. Everyday discussion of syphilis. Bergey’s Hygiene Octavo of 543 pages, illustrated. By D. H. Bercey, M.D., Assistant Professor of Hygiene and Bacteriology, University of Pennsylvania. Sixth Edition. Cloth, $3.50 net. A standard work covering every division of hygiene and sanitation, with much collateral information. Philadelphia and London SCIENCE—ADV ERTISEMENTS Laboratory Supplies +Personal Service There are occasions when you require more than Chemicals, Glass- ware and other Laboratory Apparatus or supplies. You need such equip- ment, to be sure, but you need, just as keenly at timesg reliable sugges- tions in its selection and adaptation to your particular purposes. We are peculiarly qualified to meet this double requirement—for back of our unusually complete stock of carefully selected Laboratory Supplies is an organization fitted by training and experience to give you just this personal service you are looking for. The men composing our consulting staff include organic, analytical, manufacturing, research and industrial chemists and engineers. They have been chosen for their ingenuity and initiative, as well as their ex- perience. ‘They consequently enable us to give a distinct personality to our service in supplying the unusual, as well as the usual, which accounts for the number of large research laboratories numbered among our patrons. Write for our new Glassware Catalog—or ask us for literature and advice on any of your laboratory requirements. Che Will Corporation Glassware—Chemicals—Laboratory Apparatus ROCHESTER, N. Y. SCIENCE Frmay, SEPTEMBER 5, 1919 CONTENTS The American Chemical Society :— Research and Application: Dr. Wm. H, NICHOLS, The Interallied Chemical Conference The Brussels Meeting of the International RESCOMCH a COUNCUM Maer yeie eile acseteisareyeioe 226 Scientific Events :— The Galton Laboratory; The Potato Disease Conference; Mr. Carnegie’s Will ......... 226 Scientific Notes and News University and Educational News ......... 229 Discussion and Correspondence :— Direct Photography of Colonies of Bac- teria: A. A. Corr. Shell-shock in the Battle of Marathon: Dran A. Worcester. The Aurora of August 11: JEAN DiIcKINSON. Will there be another Aurora about Septem- ber 7-8: Dr. CHARLES F. Brooks ........ 229 Quotations :— Jeane euike) SHARED” Fevelo dos doa sea eweeo se 230 Scientific Books :— The Schrammen Collection of Cretaceous Silicispongie: PRoressor A. W. GRABAU. 231 Organization of the American Section of the Proposed International Geophysical. Union: DREARY O VeNVOODEe Eien iain cee ete 233 Special Articles :— Bacterium solanacearum in Beans: Dr. Erwin F. Smiru, Lucia McCotuocu .... 238 MSS. intended for publication and books, etc., intended for review should be sent to The Editor of Science, Garrison-on- Hudson, N. Y. ———$—————— RESEARCH AND APPLICATION? For nearly half a century, it has been the custom in this society to give its president every year “his day in court,” and in con- formity therewith many brilliant addresses have been delivered, and almost every con- ceivable subject has been discussed. It is therefore becoming more and more difficult for the incumbent to select a theme which shall have the merit of novelty, unless, per- chance, he is himself working in the labora- tory, and can bring forth some new and shining example of the progress of his science. I have not the good fortune to be so situated, and I must perforce satisfy myself with some other line of procedure in the hope that even in a discussion of old and well-known facts, some new light may be thrown, which will not be altogether without value. I have therefore selected for my subject, “ Research and Appli- cation,” knowing that many of my hearers have been spending their lives in considering and teaching it, and are far better prepared to instruct me than I am to reciprocate. I would remind such that there is at last a large and growing number of people who are intensely interested in what the chemist has done and is doing and still more in what he will accom- plish in the future. It is therefore rather to that public, many representatives of which are present to-night, than to the chemists in this gathering that I would address myseif. Research in the distant past was the priv- ilezge of the few. In chemistry, during the middle ages, the alchemists were practically the only ones pursuing it, and they in secret, and not always from the highest of motives. Working by themselves, as they did, they had not the great advantage of meeting and dis- cussing with others similarly engaged, and using their progress and mistakes to intensify 1 Address of the president of the American Chemical Society, Philadelphia, September 4, 1919. 218 their own increase in knowledge. Thus it has come about that the science of chemistry is little more than a century old, and its tre- mendous advances only a few decades. The first chemical society in the world was born in Philadelphia in 1793, and yet the real ad- vances have been made since the formation of this society in 1876. Since that time, how- ever, the advance in knowledge has been start- ling, not alone in this country, of course, but in all civilized countries. It is not boasting to say, however, that during all that time, the progress in this country has been in no wise behind that of the best anywhere, which our public is at last beginning to recognize. Par- ticularly during the trying period of the war, when vast and new problems were suddenly thrust upon them, the work of our chemists has been beyond praise. At the foundation of all this advance, re- search is firmly imbedded. Without it, the structure could not have risen, or the glowing anticipations of the future even imagined. Twenty centuries ago, we were told “ Seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.” No one can deny that there have been accidental discoveries, some of great moment; but this has not been and will not be a safe dependence. Walking on the street one day, I picked up a roll of bills, whose owner curiously enough could not be found; but this did not lead me to give up my ordinary occu- pations, and wander around the streets of New York with the hope of further and continued good fortune of like character. Accidental discoveries are not to be relied on, of course, although they are not to be scorned. In chem- istry the accidental good fortunes have usually come to those who were really seeking, al- though possibly for something far different, but, note this, they were usually made by men qualified to recognize an important discovery when it flashed across their vision. Research, of course, is not of necessity to result in invention. It may in that respect terminate in a cul-de-sac from which with present knowledge there is no egress, or what more frequently happens, it may lead to a line of reasoning, which in time leads to an- other, and so on, until suddenly a bright light SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1288 illumines the way, and a goal of the greatest possible importance is attained. Many in- stances illustrative of this will occur to you. I will cite only one, and that one because of the importance it has assumed in the light of recent developments. As early as 1882 scientists rigidly estab- lished by chemical research what chemists call the “constitution ” of the blue vegetable dye, indigo, and clinched that scientific conclusion by preparing the identical material in the lab- oratory. This particular important addition to human knowledge has remained a discovery merely; yet it so stimulated the search for practicable methods of applying that discovery to human needs that voluminous researches in a number of European countries were under- taken almost at once for that purpose. Of the host of scientific discoveries made as the direct result of chemical research in this direction, one was selected in 1897 as of such promise as to warrant the expectation that it would successfully displace vegetable indigo. Such was the ultimate fact. But, in 1901, others succeeded in devising a commercial mode of making indigo which was so formidable a rival to the mode adopted in 1897 that it seriously and at once threatened the suprem- aey of the latter, a thing which is now, some eighteen years later, actually coming to pass. It is worth while reflecting that the men who accomplished the scientific work of 1882 them- selves never succeeded in making that work anything more than a discovery, despite the fact that for more than fifteen years they energetically tried to do so, and in their efforts they had the close cooperation of a large com- mercial organization. However, it remained for a college professor of chemistry in another country and himself working in quite a differ- ent field, and as a direct result of that work, to hit upon the central idea of the successful indigo mode of 1897 and to clinch it by ap- propriate laboratory methods. Yet his work remained for almost seven years a discovery only—a promising discovery to be sure—until the intensive work of others, overcoming many obstacles, made it serviceable to mankind. These two sets of workers were engaged in the same general class of chemical research, that SEPTEMBER 5, 1919] is, they were working in the organic division of chemistry. As you know, chemistry is serv- iceably, even though crudely, grouped under two grand divisions, organic and inorganic, and for many years these were treated quite separately from each other; I know “ organic ” chemists who look with mild indulgence upon the “inorganic” chemists and I also know inorganic chemists who return the compliment —with interest. In 1901, however, one of these so-called “inorganic” chemists, in searching for new worlds to conquer, hit upon an idea which he thought would make one of the discarded and discredited methods of making indigo a worthy rival of the only com- mercially successful indigo method of that day. And he was right! The owners of the 1897 method were forced to look to their laurels. The history of the synthetic production of indigo is filled with many different dis- coveries of how indigo may be made in the laboratory, most of them wholly unrelated to the methods of 1882, 1897 and 1901. Two, at least, of them have made an unsuccessful and short-lived attempt to grow into an invention eapable of meeting competitive conditions. Now, it is curious to note that the 1901 method was an offspring of the cyanide method of extracting gold which in turn is the gold-extraction method that made the South African gold fields so valuable. Im- mense amounts of that deadly poison, sodium cyanide, were needed in preparation for this gold extraction; that, in turn, called for un- usually large amounts of other things and among these was that particular inorganic material that gave competitive ability in the world’s markets to one of the theretofore dis- carded indigo methods. From the gold fields of South Africa to synthetic indigo is, indeed, along ery. Is it, therefore, not wholly reason- able to expect that from some other equally far-off branch of chemical industry or of chemical research may come the proper stim- ulus to bring to active competitive life some of these other discarded indigo methods or even to create new methods superior to any we know of to-day? Among chemists we also distinguish physical chemists who are curious SCIENCE 219 about subjects in that great twilight zone be- tween the field of chemistry on the one hand and_of physics on the other; also we have the electrochemist who is always searching for more or less direct chemical applications of the electric current. Just as the inorganic chemist in 1901 taught the organic chemist the secret of endowing a discarded indigo method with competitive life, may we not reasonably expect that some day the physical chemist and the electrochemist may, one or both, in the course of wholly unrelated chem- ical research work, come across facts which when intelligently applied to the indigo prob- lem may still further advance it? The chemical knowledge and research that enter into the synthetic production of indigo, as we know it to-day, come from over three generations of chemists, scattered all over the globe, speaking many languages, researching on many different and separate problems which touch almost every phase of human endeavor, and the end is not yet. For centuries indigo has been the undis- puted king among dyes. Chemists have made many attempts to displace it by other dyes, but it has so far successfully withstood all such attacks upon it—except as to its source or origin. Indigo is still the king, but its supremacy is threatened and threatened seri- ously and its undoing, if that should ensue, is traceable directly to itself. Chemists have long felt sure that the true reason for the supremacy of indigo lay in the manner in which it dyes fabric. It possesses the unique faculty of being, what you have all so often read of in the daily papers, a “vat” dye. It is the pioneer vat-dye and until comparatively recently it was the only vat-dye. Vain at- tempts to create or imitate this vat-dyeing property in other dyes are recorded by the score in the history of coal tar dyes. But, about twenty years ago, a real vat-dye was constructed in a research laboratory which ultimately turned out to have an entirely different constitution from indigo. This sup- plied the key to an entirely new class of dyes. Although among the multitudes of “vat” dyes constructed along these new lines many are wholly worthless, there are, nevertheless, a 220 goodly number of them having all the desired advantages of indigo and others equally numerous, possessing highly prized advantages which indigo lacks. All of these good ones are free from certain disadvantages of indigo and, what is more important, their shades cover every tint in the rainbow satisfactorily except the reds and those can not much longer elude the searchers. Some day a new blue dye may result from these researches or from other researches growing out of them and indigo will no longer be king. In still other directions the chemical study of indigo has been fruitful. By proceeding along lines sim- ilar to those of the 1897 method, but dis- placing the nitrogen by sulfur, an entirely new line of materials has been made accessible through chemical research and no man is wise enough to place the limit upon the directions and the extent that chemical ingenuity and research will ultimately go in this one very small field of chemical effort, which requires and draws upon all the sources of chemical knowledge we have. The possibilities seem limitless. True research must be intentional and in- tensive. We must really seek if we would find. We must really knock at the doors of the secret chambers of knowledge, if they are to be opened to us. We must have imagina- tion, it is true, but we must have more than that. There must be the foundation of sound education, and the ability to extend it to em- brace new and unexpected knowledge, and apply this in turn as we progress upwards. To fit a man for research in chemistry or any other science, many things must be ac- complished before the candidate is ready to take his first advanced step. Many methods of procedure have been suggested, and some heat of argument generated; but all agree that education which produces real practical knowl- edge is absolutely essential. All agree, also, that the person to be prepared must be a likely subject; and that energy and time should not be wasted on those who do not show that they possess certain necessary qualifications. I think that it will also be generally admitted that the teacher himself should not only have great attainments, but must also possess the rare SCIENCE [N. 8. Vou. L. No. 1288 quality of being able to transmit knowledge in such a way that it will be truly absorbed by the pupil and form part of him. One of the greatest mathematicians I have ever known was about the poorest teacher. He knew but could not impart. The future of the world, therefore, depends in a very large degree, on the teacher in the school and on the professor in the college. They have an opportunity to mold the world, which many of them thor- oughly appreciate. Alas, in most instances, . the consciousness of work well done is about their only reward. Some day, and I hope not a very distant one, it will be generally recog- nized that, like other laborers, they are worthy of their hire, and their compensation will more nearly approximate the value of the work done. When that happy day arrives, they may experience a little less of the satisfaction of sacrifice, but they will have other comforts | and hopes which will more than make this up to them and to their families. Like others before me, I advise the people of this country that they can make no better investment than one liberal enough to cause the teaching pro- fession to attract not only those whose high sense of duty leads them to embrace it at a sacrifice, but also those who can not afford to make the sacrifice, however anxious they may be to do so. Men preparing for research must have the best men in the country to euide them, and it is not fair to expect these men, as so many have done in the past, to live the narrowing life of poverty. Neither is it wise. There are a few foundations specifically provided for chemical research, such as the Warren Fund of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the C. M. Warren Fund of Harvard University, and the Wolcott Gibbs Fund of the National Academy of Sciences. There are a number of foundations for pro- moting research generally which have in- cluded chemical research within their fields, such as the Bache Fund of the National Academy of Sciences and the Elizabeth Thompson Science Fund. The Rockefeller In- stitute for Medical Research fosters chemical research contributory to its main object, the Carnegie Institution of Washington supports SEPTEMBER 5, 1919] chemical research in its general policy of ad- vancing knowledge through research. The newest of all is the fund recently placed at the disposal of the National Research Council for stimulating chemical research. There is need for many more foundations if we are to keep pace with the rapid strides of civilization, or better still, to determine the direction they will take. The importance of research is being more and more recognized and understood by the public. One of the most encouraging evi- dences of this is shown in the preamble and resolution adopted recently by the American Federation of Labor at Atlantic City, indi- cating, as these do, a clear appreciation by that great association of how much we all depend on what science will disclose to amel- iorate the conditions of the future. It is well worth while to read these in full here. They are as follows: WHEREAS, scientific research and the technical application of results of research form a funda- mental basis upon which the development of our industries, manufacturing, agriculture, and others must rest; and WHEREAS, the productivity of industry is greatly increased by the technical application of the re- sults of scientific research in physics, chemistry, biology and geology, in engineering and agricul- ture, and in the related sciences; and the health and well-being not only of the workers but of the whole population as well, are dependent upon advances in medicine and sanitation; so that the value of scientific advancement to the welfare of the nation is many times greater than the cost of the necessary research; and WHEREAS, the increased productivity of indus- try resulting from scientific research is a most potent factor in the ever-increasing struggle of the workers to raise their standards of living, and the importance of this factor must steadily in- crease since there is a limit beyond which the aver- age standard of living of the whole population can not progress by the usual methods of read- justment, which limit can only be raised by re- search and the utilization of the results of re- search in industry; and WHEREAS, there are numerous important and pressing problems of administration and regula- tion now faced by federal, state and local govy- mining SCIENCE 221 ernments, the wise solution of which depends upon scientific and technical research; and WHEREAS, the war has brought home to all the nations engaged in the overwhelming impor- tance of science and technology to national wel- fare, whether in war or in peace, and not only is private initiative attempting to organize far- reaching research in these fields on a national scale, but in several countries governmental par- ticipation and support of such undertaking are already active; therefore be it Resolved, by the American Federation of Labor in convention assembled, that a broad program of scientific and technical research is of major importance to the national welfare and should be fostered in every way by the federal government, and that the activities of the government itself in such research should be adequately and gener- ously supported in order that the work may be greatly strengthened and extended; and the sec- retary of the federation is instructed to transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the president pro tempore of the Senate, and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. I hope and believe that this matter coming as it does from a new direction will be most seriously considered by the proper authorities —not that it has not already been well under- stood in Washington, but that renewed in- terest may be taken and even more liberal ap- propriations granted. The federation resolu- tion urges that “a broad program of scientific and technical research is of major importance to the national welfare.” Good! Now that everybody is agreed, how was it possible that for so long a time this belief was held by so few, and these composed almost entirely of men of science? The question, therefore, is squarely before the country, and the urgency of it thoroughly appreciated by those who have the most to gain by it; namely, the workers on whose efficiency so much depends. Now this opens the way to a scientific solution of vital questions about which there has been such fundamental differences of opinion, based largely on what may be ealled the point of view. People have divided themselves into classes—a very dangerous course—and many —a very great many—have actually believed that there must of necessity be a deeply rooted 222 difference between capital and labor, and that the true interests of either were entirely apart from those of the other. Many have held that labor is a commodity which it was to their best interest to get the most of for the least money, while many others believed that labor was the sole source of all wealth, and that the fewer hours worked, and the smaller the out- put of those hours, the better it would be, somehow or another, for the laboring classes. I have cited the extreme views for purpose of illustration, realizing the somewhere be- tween the two would be found the great body of all reasonable and thoughtful men. We may leave out of consideration here that ultra- extreme class who teach, whether they believe it or not, that the true interests of labor would be best served by sabotage and syndicalism, and all the other fantastic notions which have of late years been more or less in evidence, and liable to catch the unwary. To these, re- search presents no attractions. Now I am going to venture to suggest to the working man who is earnestly desirous of bettering his own and his family’s condition, that there are a good many sciences besides chemistry and the engineering and abstract sciences in general. Some of these he is better able to study and practise than any one else. “Many of the fundamental truths concerning labor and its conditions would never be dis- covered by the scientist per se, because he has not had the benefit of practical preparation. Let our friends of the American Federation of Labor not be content with what the govern- ment can do in the line of their resolution, good as it has been and will be, but let them start a carefully planned series of researches themselves, and follow them up until the truth stands revealed. They can depend upon the assistance of this great society. The em- ployers of labor have been doing this for years, singly and in groups, seeking the same end. The shining goal of all research is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Thus, starting from different angles, with fairness and thoroughness, the various so- called interests will arrive at the same truth, for there can only be one truth concerning any question. Thus will it come to pass that cap- SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No, 1288 ital and labor will discover that the true in- terest of one is the true interest of all, and instead of bickerings and suspicions we will have that cordial cooperation which is abso- lutely essential if we could get the best out of this good old world of ours. Scientific discovery is really not a haphazard matter. The art of making it can be culti- vated, and definite rules of research can be laid down. Many elements enter into the problem and these have been very well tabu- lated by the late Dr. Gore, F.R.S., in his book, “The Art of Scientific Discovery.” While the list he gives may not be complete, it is so nearly so that it is well worth quoting here. His table is as follows: . Aid to analogy. . Hypotheses. . Analysis and synthesis. . Application of (a) electricity to bodies; (6) heat to substances. 5. Asking questions and testing such questions. 6. Assumptions that— (a) There is certainty of all the great prin- ciples of science. (6) Complete homologous series exist. (c) Converse principles of action -exist. (d) Certain general statements which are true of one force or substance are true to some extent of others. 7. Combined action of many observers. 8. Comparison of— (a) Facts, and collecting similar ones. (b) Collections of facts with each other (c) Facets with hypotheses. (c) The orders of collections of facts. (d) Facets with hypotheses. 9. Deducting process. 10. Employment of new or improved means of ob- servation. 11. Examination of— (a) Common but neglected substances. (b) Effects of forces on substances. (c) Effects of contact on substances. (d) Effects of extreme degrees of force. (e) Extreme or conspicuous instances. (f) Influence of time upon phenomena. (g) Neglected truths and hypotheses. (h) Peculiar minerals. (i) Unexpected truths. (j) Rare substances. (kK) Residue phenomena, HB CO bo et SEPTEMBER 5, 1919] (1) Residues of manufacture. (m) The ashes of rare plants and animals. 12. Extension of— (a) The researches of others. (6) The researches of neglected parts of science. 13. Inductive process. 14, Investigations of— (a) Exceptional cases. (b) Unexplained phenomena. (¢e) Classification unexplained. 15. Means of— (a) Converse experiments. (0) Hypotheses. (c) Homologous series. (d) Instruments of great power. (e) Improved methods of intellectual oper- ation. (f) Measurements, (g) The method of curves. ‘ (h) The method of least squares. (i) The method of means. (j) The method of residues. (k) New instruments. (1) Modes of observation. (m) Observations. (n) More intelligent and acute observation. (0) Additional observations by known methods. (p) Periodic functions. (q) More refined methods of working. (r) Repetition of experiments. 16. Simple comparisons of facts of phenomena. 17. Search for— (a) So-called ‘‘impossible’’ things. (b) One thing and finding another. 18. Subjecting series of forces or substances to new conditions. 19. Use of— (a) Known instruments or forces in a new way. (b) Improved instruments, (c) More powerful instruments. (d) Causes by the methods of averages, (e) Coincidences. 20. Conditions of— (a) Scientific discovery. (6) Determination of the nature of a dis- covery contrasted with barren rea- soning, 21. Dependence of discovery upon art of excep- tional instances, 22, Fundamental laws of discovery. SCIENCK 223 Research does not always lead to discovery, nor discovery to invention, but the sequence is logical. Gore defines the difference between discovery and invention in these words: “ Dis- covery consists in finding new truths of na- ture, whilst invention consists in applying those truths to some desired purpose;” and that definition is sufficiently accurate. The natural application of research is therefore in- vention. How can this application and its corollaries best be carried out? The concrete application of a truth is of course necessary for its widest usefulness. There are various theories as to the best way of accomplishing this. Take our old friend Wackford Squeers for instance—a highly in- teresting character in one of Dickens’s best books: This is the first class in English spelling and philosophy, Nickleby. Now then, where’s the first boy? Please, sir, he’s cleaning the back parlour win- dow, said the temporary head of the philosophical class. So he is, to be sure, rejoined Squeers. We go upon the practical mode of teaching, Nickleby; the regular educational system. O-l-e-a-n, clean; verb, active, to make bright, to scour. W-i-n, win, d-e-r, der, winder, a casement. When the boy knows this out of a book, he goes and does it. It’s just the same principle as the rule of globes. Where’s the second boy? Please, sir, he’s weeding the garden, replied a small voice. To be sure, said Squeers, by no means discon- certed. So he is. B-o-t, bot, t-in, tin, bottin, n-e-y, ney, bottiney; noun, substantive; when he has learned that bottiney means a knowledge of plants, he goes and knows ’em. That’s our sys- tem, Nickleby; what do you think of it? During the intense pressure of recent years, this Squeers system has had a good trial, and seems to have left more or less to be desired. The taxpayer knows the sequel, and will be reminded of it from time to time for the rest of his life. The application of research has always re- quired a high order of talent. In the future, a still higher order of talent will be necessary, but in addition this talent must be prepared 224 by education to do this very thing. Sir Robert Hadfield, F.R.S., has said, after Eng- Jand had been struggling with belated prep- aration for nearly two years: Until quite recently many mistakes were made, either because the scientific man had been in- stalled in view of his special knowledge, or, at the other end of the scale, the practical man was given the preference. In a general way neither of these types has been a success. Admitting Sir Robert’s conclusion, how can we produce the leaders who shall adequately combine both qualifications? That is one of the greatest and most interesting problems awaiting solution by our educators, and on its correct solution depends in a larger degree than many imagine, the future of successful and contented industry in this country. I shall not attempt in the presence of so many educators of acknowledged ability, to show the way, even if I felt persuaded that I knew it, as the matter is of too great consequence to run the risk of an amateur’ indicating the wrong road. I shall content myself by point- ing out the need, with the hope of turning the attention of the great public to its existence. In our free country, the people generally get what they really want, and it is worth while to lead them to want the greater things, and not to be satisfied with the lesser. There are certain fundamentals, however, that all will agree to, if it be true that the leaders of the future will have far greater problems to solve than have yet been con- ceived. 1. The candidate for leadership should have a healthy body. Great things have been ac- complished by men and women of fragile physique, but they would have accomplished greater if they had not been thus handi- capped. 2. He should have good habits, which in- volves good character. This is vital if we would have leaders who would be a blessing and not a curse. We can easily call to mind men of splendid health and intellect who used these gifts to the injury of their fellows, and not to their advantage. Do not waste time or energy in educating for leadership a man of bad or doubtful character or whose aims are selfish. SCIENCE fics [N. 8. Vou. L. No, 1288 3. Of course he should have a good mind, educated to the highest degree attainable. This education should be specialized in the desired direction, while good all around. No really great leader can be lop-sided if he would avoid being a “ crank.” 4. He should have a thorough knowledge of human nature. To play on the “harp of a thousand strings” requires on unusual ac- quaintance with the instrument. How many men otherwise great have broken down here, sometimes because they have given too much confidence, sometimes not enough, sometimes because they did not know how to select assist- ants. The knowledge of human nature is a ereat gift in itself, which can be acquired and increased. It lies at the foundation of wis- dom, which King Solomon pronounced the “principal thing.” With the qualifications enumerated and others which will occur to you, the candidate for leadership is well equipped. To direct him to full fruition is a noble task. Let us proceed to fill our high places of every kind with the men and women specifically prepared to fill them, being assured that the effort to do so will produce an army of those not quite qualified for the top, but of the greatest value to assist those who are, and who without such aid would resemble “faith without works,” we are told, is “‘ dead being alone.” Research leads to discovery, discovery to in- vention, Invention—no one knows where. Ap- plied and supervised by those prepared for the task, the strides of progress will be long, and the benefit to the human race in proportion. Let us educate for living—certainly—but let us also educate for leadership—that superla- tive leadership of which civilization will stand more and more in need, as it increases in com- plexity, and reaches higher and higher planes. Wm. H. NicHons THE INTERALLIED CHEMICAL CON- FERENCE! Tur delegates of the Federated Chemical Societies of America, Belgium, England, France and Italy met in London, July 14 to 1 Based on advance sheets from Journal of In- dustrial and Engineering Chemistry. SEPTEMBER 5, 1919] 17, 1919. The United States was represented as follows: Dr. F. G. Cottrell, chief metal- lurgist, U. S. Bureau of Mines; Dr. C. L. Par- sons, chief chemist, U. S. Bureau of Mines, secretary of the American Chemical Society; Dr. E. W. Washburn, professor’ of ‘ceramic chemistry at the University of Illinois, past chairman of the division of chemistry and chemical technology of the National Research Council. The proceedings of the conference were con- ducted in French, M. Moureu acting as chair- man and M. Gérard as secretary. Almost the whole time was taken up in framing the con- stitution of the new body, which is to be known as the “ International Union of Pure and Ap- - plied Chemistry,” and in discussing the desira- bility of its inclusion in the scheme of organi- zation projected by the Conference on Scien- tific Academies. The following officers were elected for a term of three years: President, M. Moureu; Vice-presidents, M. Chavanne (Belgium), Signor L. Parodi Defino, Dr. C: L. Parsons and Sir William Pope; General Sec- retary, M. Jean Gérard, 49 rue des Mathurins, Paris. In addition to the five countries represented at this meeting, it was agreed that the British Dominions and the nations signatory to the Peace Treaty should each have separate repre- sentatives on making application. In this con- nection Canada and Poland have already sig- nified their adhesion. It was also decided to admit neutral countries. With the exception of Belgium, each of the nations at present rep- resented in the International Chemical Union has formed a national organization similar to the British Federal Council for Pure and Ap- plied Chemistry; thus the United States has instituted a Chemical Division of the Na- tional Research Council; France, the Fédéra- tion Nationale des Associations de Chimie Pure et Appliquée; Italy, the Associazone Italiana di Chimica Generale ed Applicata. The following resolutions were passed: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, meeting in conference in London from July 14 to 18, 1919, hereby reeords the following opinions: SCIENCE 225 1. That the Confederation should be included in the scheme of organization contemplated by the Conference of Scientific Academies, with au- tonomous powers, as the Chemical Section of the International Research Council. 2. That it shall constitute ‘‘The International Committee of Chemistry.’’ 3. That the various international delegates rep- resenting chemistry at the meeting of the Inter- national Research Council shall be appointed by the same National Federation which appoints the delegates to the Confederation. 4. That the officers of the present Confedera- tion be, ex officio officers of the Chemical Section of the International Research Council. It was decided to hold the next meeting of the International Chemical Union in Italy during the first two weeks of June, 1920. The conference adjourned to meet again in Brussels on July 22 in connection with the International Research Council. The Ameri- can delegates were joined by Dr. H. S. Wash- Professor Albin Haller joined the French delegation and presided over the meet- ing. ington. The meeting at Brussels was largely engaged in the discussion, modification and final adop- tion of the statutes of the new International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. It was informally agreed that the only apparent basis for international cooperation on the abstract- ing of chemical literature was a simple ex- change of proof sheets of abstracts between the various countries interested, although it was thought possible that the Latin countries might be able to combine to advantage in pub- lishing an abstract journal in French. Also it was informally agreed that America should go ahead with her proposed program on Scien- tific and Technical Monographs, the issuance of these to be later correlated, if possible, with the English program on Compendia of Or- ganic and Inorganic Chemistry should their plans at first proposed be extensively modified. The election of officers as made in London was confirmed and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry became officially the chemical section of the International Re- search Council. 226 THE BRUSSELS MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL A FEDERATION of National Research Coun- cils met in Brussels on July 18-28. From an - article in Nature we learn that the following countries and dominions were represented by their delegates: Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, Roumania, Serbia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. On the morning of July 18, the delegates met in the Palais des Académies, where King Albert was present. M. Harmignie, the min- ister of science and arts, welcomed them in a short address in which he dwelt on the impor- tance of the occasion and on the valuable results which would be obtained from inter- national cooperation in science, and wished them success in their deliberations. M. E. Picard, the president of the executive committee, was prevented by ill health from being present, M. A. Lacroix presided at the meetings of the general assembly. The first business was the consideration of the statutes of the International Research Council which had been provisionally agreed upon in Paris, and now came up for consideration in the final form as recommended by the executive com- mittee. The objects of the council are therein de- fined to be: (a) To coordinate international efforts in the different branches of science and its applications. (b) To initiate the formation of international associations or unions deemed to be useful to the progress of science. (c) To direct international scientific action in subjects which do not fall within the province of any existing association. (d) To enter, through the proper channels, into relations with the governments of the countries adhering to the council to recommend the study of questions falling within the competence of the council. The countries adhering to the council are those already mentioned as represented by their delegates as well as Brazil, Ausiralia, SCIENCE [N. 8. Von. L. No. 1288 South Africa, Greece and Portugal—that is, those of the allied nations who were originally invited to form the International Council as possessing academies of science, and being engaged in scientific work. To these, other nations may be added at their own request or on the proposal of a country already belonging to the council, or union, by a three-fourths vote in favor of admission. The work of the council will be directed by the general assembly, which will meet or- dinarily every three years, but in the interval between its successive meetings business will be transacted by an executive committee of five members nominated by the general as- sembly and holding office until the next meet- ing of the general assembly. In the present - case the executive committee, consisting of Professor E. Picard, Dr. A. Schuster, Dr. G. E. Hale, M. Volterra and M. Lecointe, has been reelected and will consider its character and constitution and report to the next meet- ing of the general assembly before its organi- zation is finally laid down. The concluding meeting of the council was held on July 28, when it was decided that all neutral nations should be invited to join the International Research Council and the Inter- national Unions created under its auspices, thus providing for the reconstitution of inter- national scientific associations so far as is practicable at the present time. SCIENTIFIC EVENTS THE GALTON LABORATORY Iy a letter to the London Times Professor Karl Pearson calls attention to the fact that in 1908 Sir Francis Galton died and left the residue of his estate to the University of Lon- don for the maintenance of a laboratory for the study of eugenics. The objects of that lab- oratory were to be: (1) Research concerning all that tends mentally or physically to the improvement of the race; (2) dissemination of the knowledge thus acquired by public lec- tures and publications; and (3) the accumu- lation of material bearing on problems of ra- cial fitness. Owing to the generosity of Sir Herbert Bartlett, a building for the housing SEPTEMBER 5, 1919] of the Drapers’ Biometric Laboratory and the Galton Eugenics Laboratory was completed in 1914. This building contains a public lecture theater, a public museum and library, archive and instrument rooms, anthropometric labor- atories and investigation rooms, besides full provision for laboratory and class teaching, with private rooms for research workers. The building was used for war purposes and mhoney is now needed to complete its equip- ment. Professor Pearson writes: The Biometrie and the Galton Laboratories were the first of their kind to be established; they no longer stand alone. The United States have their professors of biometry and their eugenics labora- tories backed by funds which we can not hope to rival. Why is it that Britain so often starts the new idea, but leaves it to fructify in other lands? specially important is at the present moment the field of activity for our science. The war has brought many problems to the fore; eu- genical research has much ground to make up, and most serious questions as to national efficiency are demanding scientific treatment. The Galton Lab- oratory is in every respect in a worse position in 1919 than it was in 1914; its staff has to under- take far heavier and more urgent work than it then dreamt of; its buildings can not be properly equipped; its publication funds, slender in 1914, can not now encompass a third of what was pos- sible at that date, for the price of printing, bind- ing and publication is now nearly threefold; me- moirs awaiting publication. can not be issued. And, lastly, the highly-trained staff, largely ab- sorbed into national work during the past five years, can not be reestablished on the old basis, for the old scale of payment has ceased to provide a living wage. The war has in many cases crippled institutions as well as men. Are we to see the scheme of one of the most suggestive and inspir- ing men of modern times and a science wholly British in its inception reduced to infruition be- cause the university and the Galton Laboratory staff did what lay in their power to aid the na- tional cause in a time of grave pressure? THE POTATO DISEASE CONFERENCE On June twenty-fifth to twenty-eighth the advisory board of American Plant Pathol- ogists held a Potato Disease Conference on Long Island at which nearly one hundred persons chiefly interested in plant disease at- SCIENCE 227 tended. Meetings were held at Riverhead and Watermill, Long Island and at the Hotel Mc- Alpin, New York City. Three automobile excursions were taken through the island. On Wedneslay, June 25, a tour was made of the north side where several most interesting field experiments were inspected. These experiments were conducted under the direction of representatives from the New York State College of Agriculture, the Suffolk County Farm Bureau, The Bureau of Plant Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, representatives from Canada and Bermuda, and the Geneva Agricultural Experiment Station. On Thursday a trip was taken to the south side, where further experiments: were in- spected. During the afternoon, a meeting was held at Watermill, where addresses were made by Dr. A. D. Cotton, of the Board of Agri- culture, England, who spoke on the develop- ment of plant pathology in England; by Dr. George H. Pethybridge, of the Board of Agri- culture, Ireland, who gave a history of the phytopathological work in Ireland; by Dr. H. M. Quanjer, of the Pathological Laboratories, Wageningen, Holland, who gave a résumé of his researches on leaf-roll and mosaic of potato; and by Dr. H. A. Edson, of the Office of Cotton, Truck and Forage Crops Disease Investigations, Bureau of Plant Industry, who read a paper by Schultz, Folson, Hildebrandt and Hawkins on “The Mosaic Disease of the Trish Potato.” On Friday, a tour of Nassau county was enjoyed by those attending the conference. Among the places of especial interest visited on this trip were the field laboratory of the New York State College of Agriculture, at Greenlawn, the Pratt Estate, at Glen Cove and Sagamore Hill, the home of the late Colonel Roosevelt. A special visit was also made to Colonel Roosevelt’s grave. On Saturday, about forty met at the Brook- lyn Botanic Garden for a conference of the North East Pathologists on general plant diseases. At this meeting they were addressed by Dr. H. M. Quznjer, who gave an illustrated 228 lecture on potato leaf-roll. A short discussion was held upon some apple and tomato diseases. The arrangements for this conference were in the hands of a committee under the chair- manship of Dr. M. F. Barrus, of Cornell Uni- versity. The other members of the committee were: Messrs. H. H. Whetzel, of Cornell Uni- versity; P. A. Murphy of Canada; E. J. Wortley, of Bermuda; W. A. Orton, of the Bureau of Plant Industry, and ©. R. Orton, of the Pennsylvania State College. MR. CARNEGIE’S WILL Tue will of the late Andrew Carnegie was filed on August 28. A statement issued by Elihu Root, Jr., says: Mr. Carnegie’s gifts to charity during his life- time totalled somewhat in excess of $350,000,000. The value of his estate is estimated at between $25,000,000 and $30,000,000. He really did divest himself of his great fortune for the benefit of mankind, as he long ago said that he would. The will leaves the real estate and all the works of art and household goods to Mrs. Carnegie. Financial provision for Mrs. Carnegie and for Mrs. Carnegie’s daughter, Mrs. Miller, was made during Mr. Carnegie’s lifetime rather than by will. The fourth article of the will contains a series of legacies, the most substantial of which are to charitable institutions. The fifth artiele of the will contains a series of annuities to relatives and friends. The Carnegie Corporation of New York is the residuary legatee, and Home Trust Com- pany of New Jersey is the executor and trustee under the will. The public bequests include: To the Cooper Union, $60,000; to the University of Pitts- burgh, $200,000; to Hampton Institute, $300,- 000, and to Stevens Institute, $100,000. The annuities include $10,000 to Dr. Henry S. Pritchett, president of the Carnegie Foun- dation for the Advancement of Teaching and $5,000 to Dr. Robert S. Woodward, president of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, and Dr. W. J. Holland, director of the Car- negie Museum at Pittsburgh. SCIENCE [N. 8. Vou. L. No, 1288 SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS Mayor Lawrence Martin, General Staff, U. 8. Army, who is chief, Geographical Sec- tion, Military Intelligence, U. S. Army, left Paris on August 17 for Turkish Armenia, Russian Transcaucasia and Persia, as geog- rapher to General Harbord’s Mission to Ar- menia. With the approval of President Wilson, Dr. Charles H. Herty has sailed for France to obtain for dye consumers of this country a six months’ supply of such dyes as are now needed but have not yet been manufactured here. The dyes include the so-called “vat colors,” which are used chiefly by the manu- facturers of wash goods. It is expected they will be shipped to this country within sixty days. Masor F. E. Breituut, formerly of the Chemical Warfare Service Division of the United States Army, also assistant professor of chemistry at the College of the City of New York, has resigned to accept a position with The Foundation Oven Corporation. Mr. Freperick L. Horrman, vice-president and statistician of the Prudential Insurance Company, has gone to England to make an intensive investigation into the effects of war on insurance, including the methods and re- sults of national health insurance in Great Britain. Dr. Roti T. CHAMBERLIN and Mr. Ben Herzberg are spending the summer in Alaska and northwestern Canada. The working sea- son down to the early part of August was spent in special lines of investigation on par- ticular phases of the mechanics of glacier movement in western Alaska and the re- mainder of the season down to the middle of September will be given to field work on the evidences of diastrophism in the northern Rockies. Proressor W. B. Herms, associate professor of parasitology in the University of Cali- fornia, and a party of assistants, have com- pleted a malaria-mosquito survey of California during the past summer and the former has resumed his university work. The survey was SEPTEMBER 5, 1919] begun early in 1916 and carried through the summer of 1917, but, owing to Professor Herms’s absence while serving with the United States Army, the work was held in abeyance until the opening of this year. The greater part of the summer’s work was carried on in the San Joaquin Valley, however, several weeks were spent in the mountainous coun- tries of Alpine, Mono and Inyo and in portions of San Bernardino. The highest elevation reached was approximately ten thousand feet and the highest elevation at which Anopheline mosquitoes (Anopheles quadrimaculatus) were ' encountered at any time during the survey was 5,482 feet. A total of 18,088 miles were covered in the survey, all by automobile. A report of the survey in the northern third of the state has already been published (U. S. Public Health Report, July 18, 1919) and other reports will be issued in due time. The survey was conducted under the joint aus- pices of the California State Board of Health and the University of California. Dr. Stuart WELLER, professor of paleon- tologie geology at the University of Chicago, succeeds the late Samuel Wendell Williston ag director of the Walker Museum. During summer quarter at the Yerkes Ob- servatory of the University of Chicago, Paul Beifold, professor of astronomy and director of Swasey Observatory, Denison University, acted as voluntary assistant; Francis P. Leavenworth, professor of astronomy and di- rector of the observatory at the University of Minnesota, as visiting professor, and Clifford C. Crump, professor of astronomy and di- rector of the Perkins Observatory; at Ohio Wesleyan University, as volunteer research assistant. Mr. Juan S. Huxtey, a scholar of Balliol College, Oxford, from 1905 to 1909, and from 1913 to 1916 associate professor of biology in the Rice Institute, Houston, Texas, has been elected a fellow of New College. UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL NEWS Tue board of trustees of the University of Tennessee is planning to erect a building for SCIENCE 229 the medical department of the university at Memphis, to cost $100,000. At the University of Arkansas Dr. John T. Buchholz, formerly of the West Texas Nor- mal College, has been appointed head of the department of botany, and G. P. Stocker, for- merly professor of civil engineering in the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Miss- issippi, head of the department of civil engi- neering: B. L. Ricuarps, Ph.D. (Wisconsin), has been appointed associate professor of botany at the Utah Agricultural College and Experi- ment Station. Mr. W. H. Timer, author of books on elec- trical engineering and applied electricity, has been appointed associate professor of electrical engineering in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. AtpHonsE RaymMonp DocuHez, of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, has been appointed associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University. Proressor ANDREW Hunter has been ap- pointed to the chair of biochemistry in the University of Toronto, vacant through the resignation of Professor Brailsford Robertson, Dr. S. CHapman, chief assistant at Green- wich Observatory, has been appointed pro- fessor of mathematics in the University of Manchester. DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE DIRECT PHOTOGRAPHY OF COLONIES OF BACTERIA In view of the desirability at times of obtaining photographic record of Petri dishes which have been inoculated with bacteria and incubated, the following extremely simple and rapid method may prove useful. The special value of this method from the pedagogical point of view is its simplicity, no camera, plates, or dark room being necessary. This makes it possible for all members of a class to preserve accurate and permanent records in comparing bacterial counts in samples of water or milk, to show form of growth on Petri dishes, to illustrate the 230 colonies arising from the tracks of flies walk- ing across the gelatine, ete. The method consists of placing the un- covered Petri dish against photographic paper _ in a dark corner of the laboratory, bringing forward into the light, and returning to a dark corner for development and fixing. I have had very good results by using Azo hard X exposed to a medium light for five seconds. Good results can also be obtained by using blue-print paper exposed to bright sunlight for forty-five seconds. This paper requires less care in handling in the light and only water for fixing but must be fastened to the Petri dish by spring clip or gummed label to prevent moving during the long exposure. The result of this direct photography is a positive; that is the white bacterial colonies on the Petri dish appear white on the print; not black as they would on a negative. Care- ful comparison of the direct prints with ordinary photographs made from a negative shows no loss by the shorter method. A. A. CopE SHELL-SHOCK IN THE BATTLE OF MARATHON To THE Epitor or Science: Herodotus, de- srcibing the battle of Marathon, 490 B.c. (Book VI., section 117), says: The following prodigy occurred there: an Athenian, Epizelus, son of Cuphagoras, while fighting in the medley, and behaving valiantly, was deprived of sight, though wounded in no part of his body, nor struck from a distance; and he continued to be blind from that time for the re- mainder of his life. I have heard that he used to give the following account of his loss. He thought that a large heavy-armed man stood be- fore him, whose beard shaded the whole of his shield; that this specter passed by him, and killed the man “that stood by his side. Such is the ac- count I have been informed Epizelus used to give. Is this, perchance, the first account of “ shell-shock ” ? Dean A. WoRCESTER THE AURORA OF AUGUST 11 AT BURLINGTON, VERMONT On August 11, at approximately 10 p.m. (E’n “Summer” Time), the aurora borealis, as seen in Burlington, Vt., appeared as follows: SCIENCE [N. 8S. Vou. L. No, 1288 On a cloudless night with a nearly full moon, and east-west band of light, from horizon to horizon, increased in brightness as each end broadened northward. The zenith became brilliant violet, an inverted bowl of shifting color. Practically the whole sky was bright: and especially just above the northern horizon intensely white rays shot up toward the zenith. Near the violet center, pale pink and green occasionally showed. The lights lasted for several minutes, lingering longest near the northern skyline. JEAN DICKINSON WILL THERE BE ANOTHER AURORA ABOUT SEPTEMBER 7-8, 1919? Tue intensity of the magnetic storm and the brilliance of the aurora of August 11-12 would indicate a disturbed region on the sun, the next presentation of which, opposite the earth about September 7-8, may produce an- other aurora. Such was the case April 4-6, 1918, following the brilliant aurora of March 7-8. CHarLEs F. Brooxs QUOTATIONS LABOR AND SCIENCE Are the great industrial countries moving in a vicious circle? The manifesto of the American Federation of Labor, which we publish [reprinted from ScrmncE] in another ‘column, takes this view, and moreover, sug- gests a remedy. There is an “ ever-increasing struggle of the workers to raise the standard of their living.” Hitherto this has implied increased wages and shorter hours, or less pro- duction at higher cost. But now the “limit has been reached after which the average standard of living can not progress by the usual means of adjustment,” by which are meant strikes, politicians’ promises and public subsidies. If bankruptcy, moral and financial, is not to ensue, production, says the manifesto, must be increased by research and by the utilization in industry of the results of re- search. The vital necessity of scientific meth- ods is clearly and cogently stated. In an age of steel and telegraphy, of aseptic surgery and of preventive medicine, of Mendelian breeding SEPTEMBER 5, 1919] and of tanks and poison gas, science is ac- cepted as a paying proposition; but it is still too often looked on as a consultant to be called in special cases, or as a piecework artisan to be paid by the job. The manifesto proclaims a wider and a truer view. It dis- tinguishes between “scientific” and “ tech- nical” research—that is to say, between dis- interested and utilitarian explorations of na- ture. The former are demanded by those who know history; the latter mesmerize the bureau- cracy. Labor demands a program of research in both senses; it declares the value of the advancement of knowledge to be many times greater than its cost; and it insists that many urgent problems can find wise solution only through scientific and technical research.— London Times. SCIENTIFIC BOOKS The Schrammen Collection of Cretaceous Silictspongie in the American Museum of Natural History. By Marsorm O’ConneELL, Ph.D. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, Vol. XLI., Art. I., pp. 1-261, Plates I-XIV., Map and five text figures. Aug. 1, 1919. In 1914 the American Museum purchased a collection of 800 specimens of fossil Silici- spongiz, comprising 116 genera and 222 species, and purporting to be types (Belege- stiicke) used by Dr. Anton Schrammen of Hildesheim in the preparation of his impor- tant monograph on the Cretaceous Silici- spongie of northwest Germany. This mate- rial was entrusted to Dr. O’Connell for arrangement in the exhibition hall of the museum, in the course of which work she undertook a careful comparison of each speci- men with the descriptions and illustrations in Schrammen’s monograph. This led to the discovery that the term “ Belegestiick” was used in a very loose sense for material repre- senting not only the true types, but also all material collected from type localities, and so included supplementary types (apotypes) as well as typical specimens (icotypes), the total of 358 types including only 86 primary types (with only 5 holotypes). This led Dr. SCIENCE 231 O’Connell to a careful evaluation of the stand- ing of each one of these specimens, which pro- ceeding has greatly enhanced the value of the collection. But beyond this, Dr. O’Connell has gone most thoroughly into the synonymies of the genera and species, Schrammen’s work in this respect being misleadingly incomplete, and so she has produced a distinct contri- bution to the literature of the Silicispongie, and supplemented Schrammen’s monograph in a manner for which students of these organ- isms owe her thanks. This constitutes the major part of the work before us, being Chap- ter IV., and comprising pp. 97-207 of the Bulletin. The first 97 pages of the bulletin however, are of broader scope, and will be of general interest, not only to students of paleontology but to those of stratigraphy as well. The in- troduction deals with the classification of the sponges and makes the latest classification by Broili (Zittel Grundziige, 1915), and Schram- men available to American students. Chapter T. (pp. 8-80) gives a review of the develop- ment of the science of spongiology, dealing first with the investigations on recent, and then with those on fossil species. The history of investigation on recent forms is divided into five periods: (1) From the days of Aris- totle to the seventeenth century; (2) period of determination of systematic position (1600- 1750); (3) period of anatomical discoveries and classification (1750-1825); (4) period of detailed microscopic studies (1825-1874), and (5) period of modern investigations (1875— present), which opens with the first paper pub- lished by F. E. Schulze. The history of paleospongiology is thus summarized by Dr. O’Connell: In going through the literature on fossil sponges, one is struck with the close parallelism in the development of thought in the study of fossil and recent forms but one sees epitomized in the paleontological literature of two hundred years what is spread over two thousand years in zoolog- ical literature. The besetting difficulty for both groups of investigators was the determination of the best method of work, and, until this was dis- covered, all classifications were unsatisfactory and often artificial. 232 Classification on the basis of form has now given way to classification on the basis of the skeletal elements, a method adopted for recent sponges by Schulze in 1875, and for fossil forms by Zittel in 1876. In this chapter Dr. O’Connell gives a review of the work done on fossil sponges to date in Great Britain, France, Russia, Bohemia and Germany. Based upon the summaries given by Rauff (Paleontographica, 1893-94) the au- thor has brought the review up to date, and given us moreover a critical evaluation of all the important works which she has been able to examine personally, so that the student, especially the one not conversant with German, will find this the most satisfactory general his- torical summary in print. It is true that a few important papers have been overlooked, among them Siemiradski’s monograph, “ Die Spongien der Polnischen Juraformation ” (“Beitrige zur Paleontologie und Geologie Osterreich-Ungarns und des Orients,” Bd. XXVL., pp. 163-211, 1913, and in the Polish language in the publications of the Scientific Society of Warsaw for the same year), in which 92 species including a number of new ones are described according to modern meth- ods, and illustrated on six quarto pages, and Vinassa P. de Regny’s “ Trias-Spongien aus dem Bakony” (“Resultate der wissenschaft- lichen Erforschung des Balatonsees,’ Bd. I., 1901) and “Neue Schwimme, Tabulaten und Hydrozoen aus dem Bakony” (2bid., 1908), but as the author’s work was primarily with the Cretaceous sponges, such an oversight is not to be wondered at. Chapter II. deals with the morphological characters of the Silicispongiz, and this chap- ter is of value because it gives to the student the only comprehensive account of the char- acters and classification of the skeletal ele- ments to be found in the English language not excepting that of Hinde. It is a more systematic presentation, because arranged chietly in tabular form, than the elaborate one given by Rauff, and on that account will be found more serviceable to the general stu- dent. It is also more complete than. that of Rauff, because it includes a number of new SCIENCE [N. 8S. Vou. L. No. 1288 types introduced by Schrammen, and renders moreover into English a number of terms so far only used in German literature. This chapter is illustrated by 14 plates of outline drawings, selected from the illustrations given by Rauff and Schrammen. By an oversight these are all credited to Schrammen on page 34, though 48 out of the total of 71 are from Rauff, as correctly given in the description of plates. Plates I—V. give an illustration for each type of spicule, while on Plates VI—XIV. are given illustrations of the actual spicules of the species represented in the American Museum collection. The relationships of the many special types of spicules to, and their derivation from the three fundamental types the triod, tetraxon and the triaxon are also clearly set forth. In the discussion of the microscleres, reference should have been made to the important, though preliminary paper by P. Ortman, “ Die Mikroscleren der Kiesel- spongien in Schwammegesteinen der Senonen Kreide” (“Neues Jahrbuch fiir Mineralogie,” ete., 1912. Bd. II., pp. 127-149). Chapter III. presents in 50 pages a sum- mary of the stratigraphy of the Upper Cre- taceous formations of Europe, and is in many respects the most valuable part of the work. Here the student will find what is probably the best general summary of this subject in the English language and the reviewer would .recommend the perusal of this chapter to all students of European stratigraphy. It is not merely a summary of text-book literature, but is evidently based on a study of the original works, and reveals the author’s grasp of the fundamental principles of stratigraphy. The study of the Oretaceous stratigraphy of Eu- rope was undertaken by Miss O’Connell, as she tells us in the preface, as a part of the research work under the Sarah Berliner Re- search Fellowship for Women which she held for the year 1917-1918, and which was a study of the “Habitat of the Silicispongie.” In this discussion of the stratigraphy the field is divided into eleven provinces, the disconnected character of which is primarily the result of post-Cretaceous erosion, which in many areas has removed the transitional facies of the SEPTEMBER 5, 1919] sediments, so that there is often a decided lithie and faunal distinction between the deposits of the several provinces. In the British province the chalk shows a transgressive character from the southeast to- wards the northwest, and generally. begins with a basal clastic series which rests upon the eroded surface of various older formations. This is followed by greensands and glauconitic chalk, which formations are thus lithic rather than stratigraphic units, being of Aptian age in southeast England, of Cenomanian age in southern Antrim, Treland, and of Senonian age in northern Antrim. The age of the base of the pure chalk varies in like manner. From the detailed analysis of the sponge faunas of Great Britain, it appears that there was in general a corresponding shifting in the max- ima in the same general direction, the sili- ceous sponges of the Cenomanian, Turonian and Emsherian, being confined to the southern and southeastern counties, while the Senonian sponge fauna is best represented in Norfolk and Yorkshire. A similar transgressive character of the Cretaceous sea and corresponding overlap and change of facies of the sediments is seen in the deposits which underlie the Tertiaries of the Paris Basin, and which are structurally stratigraphically and faunally united with those of southeast England and belong to the sediments of the Boreal sea of Cretaceous time. Marine conditioms in part of this region began however in Lower Cretaceous time. The deposits of southern France, to- gether with those of the Alps, belong to the persistent Tethys sea, and here extensive ma- ‘rine limestones accumulated in Lower Creta- ceous time as well. The Cretaceous deposits of northern Germany (indicated upon an ex- cellent copy of Walther’s map, which un- fortunately is reproduced on too small a scale), and those of Bohemia, also illustrate the transgressive character of the Cretaceous sea, most extensive in the Cenomanian, and further show a striking general change in facies from prevailingly sandy (Quadersand- stein) on the east to caleareous character on the northwest, the caleareous facies beginning SCIENCE 233 as intercalations of thin-bedded limestones (Pliner) in the sandstone series. Local con- tributions of sands from the Harz uplands, ete., also modify the facies, but the main events of Cretaceous paleogeography of the northern European basin as indicated by the sediments were the progressive transgression of the sea towards the west and north and the simultaneous advance of the terrigenous sands from the Bohemian and Vienna regions over the calcareous deposits, the two types being in the relation of replacing overlap. This is the key to the distribution of the sponge fauna of the several districts. The bibliography which is limited to Ore- taceous Silicispongie and important strati- graphic papers contains 280 titles all of which except 24 were consulted by the author, surely a remarkable piece of industry when it is con- sidered that many of these are monographic works, and that several European languages are represented. A few typographical errors have crept in, those noted being as follows: p. 52, end first paragraph, the reference to the following table should be to the preceding table; p. 61, Wealden anticline is used instead of Wealden anticlinal as elsewhere, to indicate the com- pound character of this structure. Altogether the work here reviewed is most creditable, alike to the author and to the geo- logical-paleontological department of the mu- seum, and while it does not pretend to be an original contribution either to spongiology or to European stratigraphy, it is distinctly one in its keen analysis of European literature, and in the synthesis of the important facts of European stratigraphy into a comprehensive and very readable unit and for this American students will be grateful to the author. A. W. Grapau ORGANIZATION OF THE AMERICAN SECTION OF THE PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL GEO- PHYSICAL UNION At the invitation of the Royal Society issued June 17, 1918, an Inter-Allied Confer- ence on International Scientific Organizations 234 was held in London from October 9 to 11, 1918. A further conference was held in Paris from November 26 to 29, 1918, at which organization was advanced, and the designa- tion “International Research Council” was adopted. At the Paris conference resolutions were passed by this International Research Council in favor of the establishment of an Interna- tional Geophysical Union, “ for the purpose of initiating and promoting researches in geo- physics.” The fields in science to be com- prised under this title were not completely specified and only two sections were proposed at that time, viz.: (a) A section dealing with geodesy and allied branches of science, such as the study of tides and mathematical ‘‘ cartography ;’ (b) A section of cen with which shall be associated terrestrial magnetism, seismology and vuleanology ; but it was intended that other sections should be provided for. In these resolutions it was provided that “National Committees”! shall be appointed under the authority of the prin- cipal academy of science in each country, or by its government. Following this an informal meeting of the Division of Physical Sciences, and invited guests, was held in Washington, D. C., on February 27, 1919, in response to a call by Mr. George E. Hale, chairman of the National Research Council, at which the actions of the London and Paris conferences were reported and discussed, and the general subject and content of the field of geophysics was con- sidered. A committee, consisting of Messrs. R. S. Woodward, chairman, L. A. Bauer, Wm. Bowie, Whitman Cross, A. O. Leuschner and C: F. Marvin, was appointed to consider the organization of an American Section of the proposed International Geophysical Union. Under date of March 4, 1919, this committee submitted the following report: 1 Following the precedent in astronomy, in the United States the ‘‘ National Committee’’ has been designated the ‘‘ American Section,’’ of the pro- posed International Geophysical Union. SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1288 To THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH CouNCIL: Your committee appointed to consider the ques- tion of a logical and practicable organization of the proposed American Section of the Interna- tional Geophysical Union respectfully submits the following report: The earth is at once the subject and the object of many sciences. Of these the most important are astronomy, geodesy, geology, meteorology, seis- mology, terrestrial magnetism, terrestrial electric- ity, tides and vuleanology. While each of these sciences is more or less dis- tinet in itself, they are closely related to one another, and progress in any one of them may be expected to depend to a great extent on the general progress attained in the others. Hach of these sci- ences has its devotees and its experts, and the num- ber of these in the aggregate is now very large. Hence in any scheme of effective organization it is essential to secure groupings of these various sub- divisions of geophysics in order that the number of groups may not be too unwieldy in the transac- tion of business essential to such organizations. But it should be distinctly understood that in ree- ommending a limited number of groups for pur- poses of administration it is not desired to dis- courage relations of closest reciprocity between the devotees to the various sciences included in the groups. On the contrary, it is the opinion of your committee that progress in the future is most likely to result from active cultivation of the borderlands that now serve to diminish, but only indefinitely, the several fields of geophysics. It should be understood also that the groupings recommended are to be regarded as provisional and subject to such changes as future experience may suggest. It is recognized also that the groupings here recommended may not be the most appropri- ate for all countries or possibly for an interna- tional organization, since much regard should be given in all such matters to historical precedents and to the circumstances presented at any epoch by individual investigators, and especially by gov- ernmental organizations, of any country. With these reservations the committee recom- mends that the following groups of subjects should be recognized in the organization of the American Section of the International Geophysical Union: Group 1: Geodesy. This group may be as- sumed to deal with questions concerning the size, the shape and the mechanical properties of the earth. Group 2: Seismology and Vuleanology. SEPTEMBER 95, 1919] Group 3: Meteorology and Mareology, including especially all questions presented by the mechanical properties of the atmosphere and the oceans. Group 4: Terrestrial Magnetism and Terrestrial _ Electricity. This group is intended to deal with the magnetic and the electric properties of the earth, including its atmosphere. The committee recommends that initially the designation of members to constitute the proposed Geophysical Section be made by the National Academy of Sciences. It is further recommended that in making such designations regard be had to the desirability of securing representatives from the following government bureaus: Bureau of Fisheries, Bureau of Mines, Bureau of Standards, Coast and Geodetic Survey, Hydrographic Office, U. S. N. Geological Survey, Weather Bureau. Similarly, the committee suggests that represent- atives also may be fitly chosen from the following national societies: American Astronomical Society, American Mathematical Society, American Physical Society, Geological Society of America, Seismological Society of America. The committee further recommends that in order to promote research and discovery in geo- physical science in general steps be taken by the American Section of the International Geophys- ical Union toward the formation of a new society to be ealled the American Geophysical Society. Signed: R. S. Woopwarp, for the Committee This report was referred to the Division of Physical Sciences of the National Research Council, and was considered by this division at a special meeting held on March 10, 1919, called, in part, “to consider the organization of a Geophysical Section of the division to represent the division on the proposed Inter- national Geophysical Union.” After discus- sion the Division of Physical Sciences voted to recommend to the Council of the Academy and to the Executive Board of the National Research Council. 1. The approval of the organization of a Section on Geophysics, to include the following groups of subjects: SCIENCE 235 Geodesy, Seismology and Vuleanology, Meteorology and Aerology, Earth and Ocean Tides and Mareology, Terrestrial Magnetism, with the provision that the exact designation of subjects to be included and their grouping be de- termined by the section after its organization, in harmony with the general plans of the Interna- tional Geophysical Union. 2. That the question of the formation of a geo- physical society be referred to the Geophysical Section after its formation; 3. That the initial membership of the Section on Geophysics be constituted as follows: Messrs. J. F. Hayford, R. S. Woodward, William Bowie, Joseph Barrell, Frank Schlesinger, A. O. Leuschner, E. W. Brown. Messrs. H. F. Reid, J. C. Branner, H. O. Wood, A. L. Day, R. A. Daly, R. B. Sosman, Whit- man Cross. Messrs. A. G. McAdie, C. F. Marvin, W. J. Humphreys, E. H. Bowie, W. R. Blair, Max Mason, R. A. Millikan. Messrs. G. W. Littlehales, J. T. Watkins, A. A. Michelson, F. R. Moulton, G. F. MacEwen, H. B. Bigelow. Messrs. L. A. Bauer, 8. T. Barnett, R. L. Faris, W. F. G. Swann. On April 15, 1919, upon recommendation of Mr. A. O. Leuschner, acting chairman of the Division of Physical Sciences, the executive board of the National Research Council made the following appointments: 1, Acting Chairman of the American Section of the proposed International Geophysical Union, Mr. William Bowie. 2. A committee to prepare recommendations re- garding international. cooperation in geophysical subjects for consideration by the American Section of the proposed International Geophysical Union, Messrs. R. S. Woodward, chairman, L. A. Bauer, William Bowie, Whitman Cross, A. O. Leuschner, C. F. Marvin and H. F. Reid, with power to in- crease its membership. At its first meeting, on May 20, 1919, this com- mittee assumed the title, Provisional Executive Committee, and added Mr. H. O. Wood to its mem- bership as its secretary. 3. A Committee on Variation of Latitude of the American Section of the proposed International Geophysical Union to confer with a similar com- 236 mittee of the American Section of the proposed International Astronomical Union to make joint recommendations with this Committee in regard to the future organization of researches on the varia- tion of latitude, Messrs. William Bowie, chairman, F. R. Moulton and C. F. Marvin. The executive board also determined that the organization meeting of the American section of the proposed International Geo- physical Union should be held in Washington, in conjunction with the June, 1919, meeting of the American Section of the proposed International Astronomical Union, and that pending that meeting further organization of the American Section of the proposed Inter- national Geophysical Union should be left with its acting chairman with power. At the meeting of the Interim Committee of the Executive Board of the National Research Council, on May 20, Mr. H. O. Wood was appointed acting secretary of the American Section of the proposed International Geo- physical Union. In preparation for the organization meeting and for the meetings in Brussels in July, 1919, of the International Research Council and the International Geophysical Union, four meetings of the Provisional Executive Com- mittee were held, on May 20, June 3, June 10 and June 17. The organization meeting was held in three sessions, on June 24 and 25, 1919, at the building of the National Research Council, in Washington, D. C. A digest of the action taken at these meet- ings is given below: At the first meeting of the Provisional Ex- ecutive Committee on May 29 the following gentlemen were designated as committees of one to prepare brief statements for the use of the delegates to the meetings at Brussels in regard to the past history, present status, and scientific purposes of each of the following international scientific bodies: 1. International Geodetic Association, Mr. Wm. Bowie. 2. International Seismological Association, Mr. H. F. Reid. 3. (a) International Meteorological Committee and (b) International Committee for the Study of the Free Atmosphere, Mr. C. F. Marvin. SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No, 1288 4, International Commission of Terrestrial Mag- netism, Mr. W. J. Peters. Also Mr. R. S. Woodward, as chairman of the committee, was requested to prepare a brief statement for the use of the delegates in regard to the past history, present status, and scientific purposes of geophysics as a distine- tive field in science. As a result of discussion with respect to the appropriate place of vulcanology in the organic scheme Mr. Whitman Cross was re- quested to prepare a statement in regard to vuleanology similar, so far as possible, to those regarding the other subdivisions of geopliys- ical science in their international aspects. Two printed pamphlets issued by the Royal Society, entitled “ Proposals for the Conven- tion for an International Union of Geophysics —Approved by the Royal Society” and “ In- ternational Geophysical Union,” were read and discussed, and Mr. Leuschner was requested to prepare a clarifying statement in regard to foreign proposals for organization. A committee consisting of the acting chair- man of the American Section and the Chair- man of the Provisional Executive Committee was appointed to consider the appointment of delegates to the Brussels meeting. A Committee on Publications was appointed, consisting of the acting chairman and the act- ing secretary of the American Section, and Messrs. F. E. Fowle and G. S. Fulcher. At the second meeting of the Provisional Executive Committee, on June 3, considerable time was devoted to the consideration of a project for geophysical investigations in the Arctic regions in cooperation with Roald Ammundsen’s expedition, under the auspices of the Norwegian government, which had been brought to the attention of the National Re- search Council by the Director of Naval In- telligence. Recommendations with respect to feasible action were made by the committee which were transmitted by the acting chair- man of the section to the council. Mr. Leuschner read a clarifying statement in regard to foreign proposals for organiza- tion which he had been.requested to prepare. The substance of this, omitting illustrative SEPTEMBER 5, 1919] information given at length, is summed up in the following paragraph. A large number of formal and informal international scientific organizations existed previous to the war. As a result of it these have lapsed, effectively, and in some cases the terms have expired,during the course of the conflict. Because of the war the International Association of Academies has become defunct practically. A strong effort is being made to reconstitute the latter in the “International Research Council,” and at the same time, to reconstitute, centralize, simplify in organiza- tion and minimize in number the previously very numerous international scientific organi- zations as “International Unions” affiliated with the International Research Council. Attention was given to a “ Proposed Inter- national Hydrographic Conference to be held in London, in June, 1919,” and action was recommended intended to secure a suitable correlation of this with the interests of the Mareological subsection as represented at Brussels. A report was read by Mr. Bowie, for the Committee on Variation of Latitude which met jointly with the committee of the same title of the American Section of the proposed International Astronomical Union; and the report was approved for transmittal to the section. : A report was read by Mr. Wood, for the Committee on Publications, which was ap- proved for transmittal to the section. At the third meeting of the Provisional Executive Committee, on June 10, in con- - nection with consideration of delegates to the meetings in Brussels, action was recommended to the chairman of the National Research Council toward the appointment of men al- ready delegated to attend the Hydrographic Conference in London. A Committee on the Investigation of Earth Tides, consisting of Messrs. A. A. Michelson, chairman, T. C. Chamberlin and F. R. Moul- ton, was appointed in response to a communi- cation from Mr. Moulton recommending action on this subject. A request from the Division of Geology and SCIENCE 237 Geography to the Division of Physical Sci- ences that a member of the latter division be appointed to represent the division on a com- mittee of the Division of Geology and Geog- raphy to consider a specific project in seismol- ogy, was referred to this committee and the acting chairman of the American Section was requested to recommend to the Division of Physical Sciences a member of the division to be appointed to serve with the committee of the Division of Geology and Geography. After brief comments on the subject Mr. Bowie was requested to prepare a statement in regard to isostasy for the June meeting. At the fourth meeting of the Provisional Executive Committee, on June 17, further consideration was given to the matter of the delegates to the Brussels meeting and of the instructions or advice which should be given them. After discussion it was the sense of the committee that the delegates to Brussels should have power to confer for the purpose of arriving at definite understandings in re- gard to the future status of international or- ganization in science. But, in order to provoke discussion and the free exchange of ideas in regard to this it was decided to transmit to the section the follow- ing recommendations: That the International Research Council take such steps as are required to perpetuate the work of international organizations in science, if necessary by terminating previously existing arrangements, whether informal or dependent upon treaties or conventions; and That the International Research Council recommend to the appropriate international the appointment of suitable com- mittees on special subjects where continuation unions is desirable or necessary to provide plans for resumption and continuation of organization. The opinion was stated that definite action to terminate previous international arrange- ments would probably be necessary in most cases. The plan of the Royal Society in regard to financing the administration of the Inter- national Geophysical Union was discussed in 238 connection with a general consideration of this problem and certain specific details. It was the sense of the committee that geo- ’ chemical investigation should have appro- priate representation in the American Section of the proposed International Geophysical Union. It was recommended to postpone the ques- tion of the formation of an American Geo- physical Society until after the Brussels meeting. Harry O. Woop, Acting Secretary (To be concluded) SPECIAL ARTICLES BACTERIUM SOLANACEARUM IN BEANS In June, 1919, some badly diseased bush beans were received from Lynn Haven, Florida. The leaves were wilted and more or less brown. Often the petioles also were brown and wilted to their base. The roots were brown and the epidermis somewhat de- ecayed in places. The woody parts of the plants, both stems and roots, had dark stained. vascular bundles. Cross sections examined microscopically showed from 50 to 100 per cent. of the vessels to be full of bacteria and no fungi were visible. As the discoloration of the leaves was generally uniform, with no lesions apparent while the roots showed lesions and contained bacteria in great numbers the supposition was that the disease must be due to the bacteria and that they must have entered through the root system. The loss in the Florida field was about 20 per cent. of the beans planted. Agar-poured plates gave pure cultures of a white bacterial organism having all the char- acteristics of Bacterium solanacearum. Cultural work in other media and needle- prick inoculations made with sub-cultures of colonies taken from the poured plates con- firmed this diagnosis. A number of different legumes were in- oculated by pricking the bacteria into the stems. Of beans, Waxbush, Red Valentine and Refugee proved very susceptible. These plants began to wilt two days after inocula- SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1288 tion and a number were entirely wilted and fallen over in seven days. In addition to those already mentioned, good infections were secured in: Lima beans (Fordhood variety), Pinto beans (a brown speckled variety) and Great Northern (a white Navy bean). Inoculated in peas this parasite acts: more slowly than in beans, but is not without patho- genic properties at least on some varieties. Following stem inoculation by needle pricks there is a slow drying and shriveling of the leaves but not a sudden wilt. The plants be- come stunted. Cross sections of the stems show bundles discolored and containing bac- teria though in less abundance than in in- fected beans, tobaccoes, or tomatoes. Tele- phone, Little Marvel and Mammoth Luscious Sugar were the varieties of peas that became infected. The organism has been reisolated from both beans and peas, and proved to have the same characters and infectiousness (tested on tobacco and beans), as the original culture. The organism was also found to be in- fectious to soy beans (variety Ito San) and to cowpeas (variety Black Cow). Tobacco and tomato plants used for con- trol showed typical Bacterium solanacearum infections. So far as known this is the first time this disease has been observed in beans, peas, soy beans or cowpeas, although known to occur in peanuts, in Mucuna sp., and in some other legumes. Fortunately beans appear to be very susceptible only in early stages of growth. Erwin F. Smira, Lucia McCutioce SCIENCE A Weekly Journal devoted to the Advancement of Science, publishing the official notices and pro- ceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Published every Friday by THE SCIENCE PRESS LANCASTER, PA. GARRISON, N. Y. NEW YORK, N. Y. Entered in the post-office at Lancaster, Pa., as second class matter SCIENC New SERIES : SINGLE CoPIEs, 15 Crs. Vou. L, No. 1289 Fripay, SEPTEMBER 12, 1919 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION, $3.00 MARSHALL—Microbiology 2d Edition, Revised and Enlarged. 186 Illustrations. Flexible Cloth, Round Corners. $3.00 Postpaid A Text-book of Microédrganisms, General and Applied, by various writers. Edited by CHarLes E. MarsHALL, Professor of Microbiology and Director of Grad- uate School, Massachusetts Agricultural College, Amherst. Discusses Morphology, Culture and Physiology of Microédrganisms, including Nutrition and Metabolism, Physical Influences ; Bacteriology of Dairy, Soil, Water Supplies, Sewage Disposal, Air, Special Manufactures, Diseases of Man, Animals and Plants. CONN—Agricultural Bacteriology 3d Edition, Revised. 63 Illustrations, 12mo. Cloth, $2.00 Postpaid A Study of the Relation of Germ Life to the Farm, with Laboratory Experiments for Students. Including Microérganisms of Soil, Fertilizers, Sewage, Water, Dairy Products, Miscellaneous Farm Products and of Diseases of Animals and Plants. By H..W. Conn, Ph.D., Formerly Professor of Biology, Wesleyan University, Middle- town, Connecticut. Revised by Harotp JoEL Conn, Associate Bacteriologist, N. Y. Agricultural Experimental Station. RODDY—Medical Bacteriology 46 Illustrations, 8 in Colors. 8vo. Cloth, $2.50 Postpaid A text-book for beginners and laboratory guide for medical practitioners and pharmacists. By JoHn A. Roppy, M.D., Associate in Hygiene and Bacteriology, Jefferson Medical College; Chief Assistant, Department of Clinical Medicine, Jefferson Hospital, Philadelphia. MACNEAL—Pathogenic Microorganisms 213 Illustrations. 12mo. Flexible Cloth, Round Corners. $2.50 Postpaid An introduction to the study of pathogenic microérganisms. Part I is devoted to technical procedures; Part II general biology of microédrganisms, and Part III dis- cusses individual microbes. By Warp J. MacNeat, M.D., Professor of Pathology and Bacteriology, New York Post-Graduate Medical School. P. BLAKISTON’S SON & CO. PUBLISHERS 1012 Walnut Steeet PHILADELPHIA Hee SCIENCE—ADVERTISEMENTS The University of California Press Berkley, California 280 Madison Avenue, New York Elementary Biology STUDIES ON THE PARASITES An Introduction to the Science OF THE TERMITES of Life By CHARLES ATWOOD KOFOID AND OLIVE SWEZY 4 By BENJAMIN CHARLES GRUENBERG ( 116 pages, 14 plates, 8 Figures m dext) Head of the Biology Department, Julia Richman I. On Streblomastiz strix, a Polymastigote ao Savealh, NED Wes Flagellate with a Linear Plasmodial Jast Published Phase 2 6 Fe 3 6 S 3 A) CRG GES Il. On Vrichomitus termitidis, a Polymasti- pais coud aest eh his Surppneines - . . through the application of more an gote Flagellate with a Highly Developed eee a Orin? Ianoisslae 1 dhe Neuromotor System : 0 5 3) 8) leading motive of the book. Ill. On TVyrichonympha campanula Sp. Noy. .75 Written particularly for the first or 5 5 a second year of the high school, or for IV. On Leidyopsis sphaerica, Gen. Nov., ie Biny TGA Ganon ects, GHG Geile andl Sp. Nov. ‘ g . : 0 0) character of the book nevertheless , ; : : NSS : fit it for a variety of uses. It furn- The University of California Publications deal with ishes a sound basis for later studies in various lines of scientific investigations: Agricultural agriculture, psychology, or in any Sciences, American Archaeology and Ethnology, Bot- specialized branch of biology. any, Economics, Education, Entomology, Geography, Geology, History, Pathology, Philology, Philosophy, Physiology, Psychology, and Zoology. Ginn an d C omp any Complete Lists of Titles and Prices will be sent Boston New York. (Chicago) |) London on Request Spencer Microscopes Nos. 44 and 64 Are now supplied with our NEW 4 Millimeter OBJECTIVE made from a new formula from optical glass made in our own factory. This objective not only gives superb definition but has a Long Working Distance nearly twice that of the old objectives of equal magni- fication. Now that we are released from war work, we are again in position to give to our customers the prompt service which has characterized our business in former days. Spencer Microscope No. 44H SPENCER’ SPENCER LENS COMPANY BUFFALO, N. Y. [BUrrALU SCIENCE Fripay, SEPTEMBER 12, 1919 CONTENTS Not Ten but Twelve: Dr. WILLIAM BENJAMIN SHMGUUST, og doudoadooopoUdosUdeuoooUdboueD 239 A National Institute of Nutrition: Dr. H. P. JMBNISENS Vg o'o pQodo doo Modo soondUoooOUodOS 242 The Osler Presentation: LIEUTENANT COLONEL AH pELas GHARRISONP an eretctershericleisieleieletsleeistsherctele 244 Scientific Events :— Medical Education and Practise in China; Mineral Production of the United States in 1918; Fifth National Exposition of Chem- MCOURIMAUSTTUCS act peter stey telcleeraictotsickelersicrchcisicte 246 Sctentific Notes and News ............-+06 248 University and Educational News ......... 251 Discussion and Correspondence :— A Possible Sounce of Cosmical Energy: Dr. Inco W. D. Hacky. Imperfect Stage of Leptospheria tritici of Wheat: L. W. TORRE eyeact ven bolsverai sieve lace ciove siete ts le creeieue 252 Scientific Books :— A Brief Survey of Some Recent Chemical Literature: Proressor H. P. TaLpor ...... 253 Organization of the American Section of the International Geophysical Union: Dr. PARRY, Ov WOOD \(- nseret poteievereneverel cheval a: iclsieiste 255 Special Articles :— Resemblances between the Properties of Sur- face-Films in Passive Metals and in Proto- plasm: PRoFessor RautpH S. LILLIE ...... 259 Societies and Academies :— The North Carolina Academy of Science: BERT CUNNINGHAM ........0020sececsee 262 MSS. intended for ‘publication and books, etc., intended for review should be sent to The Editor of Science, Garrison-on- Hudson, N. Y. NOT TEN BUT TWELVE! THERE has come to my hands a petition in the form of an open “ Letter to Lord Balfour ” (“Chairman on Weights, Measures, Coinage, ete.”), circulated in the name of the “ World Trade Club,” and calling upon “ United States American President, His Excellency Wood- row Wilson, United States American Con- gress, ete.,” and “British Premier, His Ex- eellency David Lloyd George, Houses of Par- liament, ete.,” for “legislation, promulgation, Orders in council that will bring about the exclusive use of Meter-Liter-Gram by the United States of America” and “ The British Isles.” As the matter is of far-reaching scope and prime importance, may I be allowed a word of earnest protest. The reasons advanced in the fifteen pages of argument, on disregarding the ill-advised and ill-founded appeal to national prejudice against the alleged Germanic character of our present system (or chaos), amount merely to the oft-repeated affirmation that the metric system, being consistently decimal, is far simpler, more convenient, and time-saving than any non-decimal system, since reduc- tions from unit to unit are made merely by shifting the point, as in dollars and cents. That herein lies a certain very considerable convenience is not denied in any quarter and needs no detailed exposition. Also the ad- vantage of world-wide uniformity in weights, measures, and coinage are plain and uncon- tested. But this latter fact is no reason for the Anglo-Saxon world to pass over to the Latin-German system, rather than for the latter to yield to some far superior system of the former. While conceding all that may be said with any show of reason in favor of a decimal system, we must not forget nor dis- guise the very grave disadvantages that in- here ineradicably in it, especially in its cum- 240 brous expression of many simple, important, and frequent fractions, as 1/3, 1/4, 1/6, 178, 1/9, 1/12, ete. We protest most earnestly against the adoption of the Latin-German system, not because it is not better than our present lack of all system, but because such adoption would postpone perhaps forever the introduction of a far superior system, which is a capital desideratum of our modern civili- zation and life. The meter-liter-gram is at least in some ways comparatively good, but the good is the enemy of the best, with which only we can rest content, and it would be an infinite blunder to establish and eternize such a defective system as the M.L.G. when it is almost as easy—at least, when it is entirely possible—to introduce and establish once and for all time the best system that the nature of number and of the human mind permits. This best of numerical systems is not the ten-system (which is recommended only by the fact that man has ten fingers and ten toes!) but the twelve-system, whose virtues are imbedded in the nature of number itself. Its notation requires at once the introduction of two new symbols, one for ten, one for eleven, which may be made as pretty and simple as you will, but the initials ¢ and e will answer all present purposes. We shall have then the ciphers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, t, e. Twelve is then to be written 10, and we shall have the next set; 11, 12, 18— 19, 1¢, le, 20—to be read tel-one, tel-two, tel- three, . . ., tel-nine, tel-ten, tel-len, twentel. The reasons for such names are obvious, tel and len are natural simplifications of twelve and eleven. Our present forms, such as six- teen, seventeen, which read the numbers 16, 17 backwards, are a stumbling-block to begin- ners, hindering and confusing them to no purpose whatever. Twentel (20) equals of course our present twenty-four. Similarly thirtel-one, etc., fortel, fiftel, sixtel (sistel), sentel (for seventel), eightel, ninetel, tentel, lentel, teltel. This last, 100, equal to our present 144, is of course the second power of the base twelve (10), and should have some appropriate name, as dipo, or two-po, or what- ever may seem best, and similarly the higher powers, as 1000(1728), 10,000(20,736, etc.). SCIENCE [N. S. Vou. L. No. 1289 We see here at once the greater power of this system; with four figures it expresses num- bers up to 20,735 (ee ee in the twelve-system), more than twice as many as are so expressible at present—an advantage that steadily in- ereases with the numbers, and shows itself clearly in logarithmic and other tables, where, with the same number of figures, the accuracy of expression would be sensibly higher. Thus, a unit in the sixth decimal place now signifies a millionth, in the Tel-system it would mean about a three-millionth. In the billions, the Tel-notation economizes one place. Among the many advantages shared by this system with no other, the chief is the high factorability of the base twelve, divisible ex- actly by 2, 3, 4, 6, and simply related to 8 and 9. Thence result extremely simple ex- pressions for the principal fractions: 10/226 WW = 4 Wess 33 WG 2 1/8 = .16 1/9 = .14 one twelfth =.1 1/14 = .09 1/16 = .08 1/20 = .06, ete. The fractions 1/5, 1/7 one tenth, one eleventh (111... .) remain interminate series, but for them we have little practical use. With the foregoing compare the current dec- imal expressions for the fundamental con- stantly recurring fractions: /21—=E5) 1/3 = .33338 - - - 1/4 = .25 1/6 = .16666 - - - 1/8 = .125 9 — allel one twelfth = .08333 ... and the great superiority of the tel-system becomes evident. The multiplication table! becomes mark- edly simplified. No one has any trouble now in multiplying by 5, because of its simple cycle, 5, 0 (as in 5, 10, 15, 20, etc.): 4 has the much longer, more involved cycle, 4, 8, 2, 6, 0, (as in 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, ete.); 6 has the cycle 6, SEPTEMBER 12, 1919] 2, 8, 4, 0 (6, 12, 18, 24, 30); 8, the cycle 8, 6, 4,2, 0. Compare with these the cycles in the Tel-system: 2(2, 4, 6, 8, t, 0), 3(3, 6, 9, 0), 4(4, 8, 0), 6(6, 0), 8(8, 4, 0), 9(9, 6, 3, 0), and the surpassing simplicity of this system is again apparent. A child will learn this multiplication table with much less effort than ual Ziq cnn nO Mia OWT min Sul. NO! cv bemane 2 4 3 @ .@ 4 8 10 14 5 t 13 18 21 6; 10 16 20 26 30 7| 12 19 24 2e 36 41 8 | 14 20 28 34 40 48 54 9/16 23 30 39 46 53 60 69 t| 18 26 34 42 50 St 68 76 84 e| lt 29 38 47 56 65 74 83 92 #1 1 ZEON Lin OU OMe ey SO Lao 2) 4 3 Ga) 4; 8 12 16 5 | 10 15 20 25 6} 12 18 24 30 36 7|14 21 28 385 42 49 8 | 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 9{18 27 36 45 54 63 72 81 Compare these two multiplication tables. In the ten-table the end digits are: 0, 4 times; 1, 2 times; 2, 5 times; 3, 1 time; 4, 6 times; 5, 4 times; 6, 6 times; 7, 1 time; 8, 5 times; 9, 2 times. In the tel-table the end-figures in the corresponding products are: 0, 8 times; 1, 2 times; 3, 3 times; 4, 6 times; 6, 6 times; 8, 4 times; 9, 4 times; ft, 2 and e each 1 time; 5 and 7, not at all, though each occurs once of course, in the products of e. No- tice the much greater simplicity, due to their ab- sence and to the presence of 0, 8 times. Notice also the simplicity in the squares, and the double central symmetry in 1, 4, 9, 4, 1, 0, 1, 4, 9, 4, 1, and compare with the 1, 4, 9, 6, 5, 6, 9, 4, 1 of the ten-table, also an anagram but with only single symmetry, and with 5 different digits against only 4 in the tel-system, which is thus notably simpler. SCIENCE 241 the ten-table, and will find the range of its power and the scope of his attainment just 44 per cent. greater (since 100 in the tel- system — 144 in the ten-system). The year is divided into twelve months, and no other division is likely within any for- seeable time. Accordingly, in time-reckoning the advantages of the tel-system are obvious. In this notation the number of days in the year is 265. To each month we should by all means assign the same number of days, thirty (30) as now or twentel-six (26) in the tel- system: that is, 260 month-days in all; the remaining 5 should be extra-mensual, legal holidays, easily and instructively distributable over the year, with a sixth such in leap years. Monthly and annual accounts and rates would be turned into each other by merely moving the point one place to right or left. If one received $100 a month, one would receive $1,000 a year; if the interest rate was 6 (per dipo) per year, it would be .6 per month. Similarly the day is already divided into (twice) twelve hours, that is, 20 in the tel- system. The circle (or round angle) is now divided into 360 degrees (or 250 in the tel- system); this Babylonian division is unfortu- nate but may be easily conformed to the divi- sions of the clock-face into twelve parts, each of these divided into twelve (stretches of 5 minutes or of 2 1/2 degrees), each of these into twelve again, and so on. With our estab- lished time-divisions the ten-system can never be harmonized. The better unit of coinage is the American quarter, the English shilling (German mark). The dollar is too large, a fact in some meas- ure responsible for the sinful and ruinous extravagance of American life. The shilling is already divided into twelve pence, a division that admits of no improvement; it remains only to be consistent and to coin the twelve- shilling piece (a convenient coin, which might be named twilling or tel-quar); with its frac- tions and multiples, which Anglo-American commerce would spread all over the earth. So, too, the foot is already divided into twelve inches. To convert inches and feet into each other, it would be necessary only to move the point. The meter has no superiority over the yard; 242 if the latter be taken as standard, it should be divided into twelfths (or telths), and these again into twelfths, ete. The mile might be slightly reduced to 1,728 yards (in the tel- system 1,000 yards, 3,000 feet). All such de- tails and all proper preliminaries to the pas- sage from ten to twelve could be worked out by scientific committees appointed for the purpose, once the number twelve is laid at the base of our numeration, notation and all forms of measurement—a position for which it is uniquely fitted. One and only one objection can be made to this proposal, namely, that it is impractical, infeasible and visionary. We dare not an- swer with the favorite Scripture, “ Where there is no vision, the people perish,” for this sentiment alas! is foreign to the Hebrew proverb. But the objectors themselves reject with scorn the similar objection to the intro- duction of the metric system, that it is im- practical and visionary and could only with great difficulty be effected. It is the stock objection of all conservatism, the objection that confronts every effort to rationalize, humanize, beautify, glorify and justify our life on earth, the objection that it can not be done! The same has been said of a hun- dred proposals, all declared unrealizable, and all now actually realized. It may be hard to answer Zeno’s arguments against the possi- bility of motion, but it is none the less easy to move! So it will be with the change from ten to twelve. Attempted, it will be accom- plished. Not in a day or a year, but at most in a generation. Let the children be taught the tel-system year after year. The time nec- essary to learn it will be quite inconsiderable. Once learned, it will also be loved. In the meantime scientific commissions can go over the whole ground carefully and prepare the way in the wilderness and level up in the desert a road for the age to come. When the change is finally carried into effect, the jar of switching off the ten-track to the twelve-track will be much less severe than we now imagine. But it will bring incalculable blessings to all future generations. The great giant arith- metic will be shorn of half his terrors. It is very common in these loud-mouthed days to SCIENCE [N. 8. Vou. L. No. 1289 make Brobdingnagian pretensions. We are told that each of a score of trifles (base-ball among them) won the war, when each made only a paltry contribution to the collective re- sult. So we are assured that each of many things would have abridged the war by months or years. The World Trade Club in- forms us that had Congress adopted the “meter-liter-gram legislation before Congress (1904), the war would have been shortened two years.” If a few other such things had been done, perhaps the war would have been stopped like Buck Fanshaw’s riot, before it was started or even imagined! As such in- debtedness heaps up on all sides, one is re- minded of the famous couplet: Owen More has run away, Owin’ more than he ean pay. We are further assured that Clyde Wolfe, Master Mathematician, University of California, writes: A conservative estimate is that the exclusive use of meter-liter-gram would shorten the time of teaching arithmetic to the aver- age child by 2 years. If so, then the substitution of twelve for ten as a base ought to shorten it by at least four years. No such claim is made here, but it is affirmed that a very large and sorely needed saving of time and energy would be effected, and that if the introduction of the thoroughly rational twelve-system should be supplemented by the adoption of a thoroughly rational alphabet, with one-to-one correspond- ence of sign and sound, then would the words of the English language indeed be winged and fly over all the earth, then would our Anglo- American civilization lead the van of prog- ress, and its commerce would fulfil the boast of its poet: Trade is the golden girdle of the globe. Wituiam BengamMin SMITH A NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NUTRITION In a recent issue of Scrence (August 1, 1919) Lusk calls attention to a reconstruction problem which seems in danger of receiving less consideration than its fundamental sig- nificance demands, viz., the food problem, vital SEPTEMBER 12, 1919] to the very existence of civilization, and pro- poses as one agency for its study the founda- tion of a national laboratory of human nutri- tion. The importance of the subject is such that Lusk’s proposal seems to invite discussion on the part of those more or less directly interested in the science of nutrition and its utilization for the benefit of humanity. Ac- cordingly I venture to submit for consider- ation certain personal notions regarding the kind of organization which is desirable and as to steps which might be taken to secure it. It is to be remarked in the first place that the subject of national (and still more of international) nutrition is a very broad one, involving much more than the mere laboratory study of the laws of human nutrition, im- portant as that is. It is a two-fold subject, including the economical production of food as well as its efficient utilization. The farmer, like other producers, rightly desires a reason- able reward for his services. The interests of the consuming public demand a liberal food supply at prices low enough to ensure the adequate nourishment of all classes of the community. It should be the aim of any national organization of students of nutrition to contribute to the harmonizing of these ap- parently conflicting interests and to demon- strating that in the large view they are not antagonistic. Accordingly I feel inclined to broaden the caption of Lusk’s article and to speak provisionally of a national institute of nutrition. In the organization of such an institute there are certain general principles which should, as I think, control. 1. It should not be burdened with executive duties. Questions of transportation, market- ing, cold storage, profiteering, price control, rationing, ete., should be recognized as sub- jects lying outside its field and with which students of nutrition as such are not specially qualified to deal. In brief, it should not be an executive department of the government nor have the functions of a food administra- tion but should supply to legislative and ex- ecutive authorities the scientific data upon which any successful measures of food policy must be based. SCIENCE 243 2. It should be distinctly national in char- acter and should be a means of integrating and coordinating without controlling the activities of the various existing agencies of investigation. It should be so constituted that it may represent the United States officially in any international conference in- volving questions of nutrition. 3. It should be under the control of scientific men and not subject to the vagaries of legis- lative bodies nor dependent upon them for annual appropriations with the accompanying pressure to emphasize popular and spectacular work. This is an additional reason for not making it an executive department. The natural organizing authority of such an institute as is here contemplated would seem to be the National Research Council. Both because of its intimate relations with the National Academy of Sciences and by virtue of the executive order of May 11, 1918, it is recognized as a national body representing the organized scientific activities of the United States. Moreover, the Research Council has already taken a first step in the direction in- dicated by authorizing the appointment of a committee on food and nutrition. Presumably the purpose has been to select a committee representative of the nutrition investigators of the country while the matter is still suffi- ciently fluid to permit of any necessary modi- fications. Here, as it seems to me, is an ideal body to constitute a board of control of the proposed institute. It would determine, sub- ject to the approval of the National Research Council, the general policy of the institute, while the immediate administration would naturally be confided to a director selected or nominated by the governing body and respon- sible to it but given large discretionary powers. It would be premature to attempt to outline in any detail the field of work of a national institute of nutrition but it would seem that it would rather naturally divide itself into four sections: I. Statistical—What are the total food re- quirements of the United States? What is the actual food consumption and how much of this is avoidable waste? How is food consumption and food waste distributed among different classes of 244 the population? What is our total food produc- tion, and can it be modified so as to secure more efficient utilization? Information on these and re- lated questions should be kept up to date and available, using present statistical data so far as they suffice and collecting additional data if needed. II. Physiological—A scientific study of prob- lems of human nutrition, such as those instanced by Lusk and others which might be added. The results of these investigations would afford the indispensable groundwork of the statistical stud- ies just mentioned. Ill. Agricultural—aA broad study of the econ- omy of food production in the light of the food requirements of the nation and from the stand- point of the mutual interests of producer and con- sumer, All the innumerable problems of plant and animal nutrition would find their place here, as well as broader questions regarding the rela- tive economy of production of animal and vege- table foods and of different classes of each and of the most economical level of production under varying conditions. IV. Extension and Publicity—A very impor- tant function of the institute would be to bring the results of its work effectively to the attention of the community and of legislatures and execu- tives, and to impress on them its vast economic and social importance. Tt goes without saying that such an insti- tute should cultivate most cordial relations with existing agencies. It should supplement, not supplant. If wisely and conservatively directed it might do much to bring about cooperation and coordination in the activities of extension departments, of nutrition labora- tories, of experiment stations, and of the re- search and statistical divisions of the depart- ment of agriculture, so far as they relate to nutrition. Whether its objects could be suffi- ciently attained in this way or whether its policy should include in addition the estab- lishment of laboratories of its own would be a question for the decision of the board of control. Finally, as regards financial support, I be- lieve that if as the result of free discussion and comparison of views a scheme can be worked out which has the approval of the scientific men of the country and which commends itself to the National Research Council as SCIENCE [N. 8. Vou. L. No. 1289 practicable and as promising material benefit to the public, past experience warrants the belief that the necessary funds will be forth- coming. H. P. Armspy THE OSLER PRESENTATION — On July 11, 1919, Sir William Osler, Regius professor of medicine in the University of Oxford, was honored by the presentation of two anniversary volumes, made up of medical contributions by English and American eol- leagues, commemorating his seventieth birth- day (July 12). The presentation was made by Sir Clifford Allbutt at the house of the Royal Society of Medicine on behalf of some 150 subscribers and contributors, in the presence of a large and distinguished audience. The plan of a birthday memorial originated at Oxford, and was “successfully earried through by a committee with Dr. William H. Welch as chairman, Dr. Casey A. Wood, as secretary and Dr. Henry Barton Jacobs as treasurer. In the early stages, the work was financed through the energy and initiative of Colonel Casey A. Wood, and the manuscripts: were edited and carried through the press by Drs. Charles L. Dana (New York) and Charles Singer (Oxford). Sir William Osler, the recipient of this un- usual tribute, is looked up to and honored everywhere as a leader of British and Amer- ican medicine. In succession, he has held the chairs of medicine at McGill (1874), the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania (1884), the Johns Hopkins University (1889) and Oxford (1904). His eminence in clinical medicine is based upon an extraordinary knowledge of pathology, acquired in his early days at Montreal, and upon the fact that he has taught medicine to students inductively, away from the text- books, and by direct contact with the sick in the wards. At an early age (1874) he de- scribed the blood-platelets, which he was the first to define as the third corpuscle of the blood and in relation to the formation of thrombi. He also discovered the parasite of verminous aneurism (F%laria Oslert), first pointed out the relation between mycotic SEPTEMBER 12, 1919] aneurism and mycotic endocarditis, first de- scribed the ball-valve thrombus at the mitral orifice, the visceral complications of erythema multiform (1895), chronic cyanosis with poly- eythemia (1895), the erythematous spots in malignant endocarditis (1908), and other clin- ical minutie recorded in the bibliography of 730 titles in the Osler number of the Bulletin of the Johns Hopkins Hospital (July, 1919). These discoveries are all the more remarkable, in that Osler’s life has not been that of the laboratory physician, but one of absolute and exclusive devotion to his patients and his pupils. No other physician has been such an universal friend to his colleagues, to students and to the younger members of his profession. He enjoys the esteem and affection of the entire medical profession. An account of the presentation is given in the British Medical Journal (July 19, p. 80): In presenting the volumes, Sir Clifford Allbutt said: In these volumes we hope you will find the kind of offering from your fellow workers which will please you best—immaterial offerings indeed, but such as may outlive a more material gift. As to you we owe much of the inspiration of these es- says, and as in many of their subjects you have taken a bountiful part, so by them we desire to give some form to our common interests and affee- tions. We pray that health and strength may long be spared to you and to her who is the partner of your life; and that for many years to come you will abide in your place as a Nestor of modern Oxford, as a leader in the van of medicine, and as an example to us all. In reply Sir William Osler said: Sir Clifford Allbutt, Ladies and Gentlemen: As the possessor of a wild and wagging tongue that has often got me into trouble, I thought it would be better on such an oceasion to make full notes beforehand of what I wanted to say. Two cir- cumstances deepen the pride a man may justly feel at this demonstration of affection by his col- leagues on both sides of the Atlantic—one, that amid so much mental and physical tribulation my friends should have had the courage to undertake this heavy two-volume task, and the other, that this honor is received at the hands of my brother Regius, a friend of more than forty years. (Ap- plause.) There is no sound more pleasing than SCIENCE 245 one’s own praises, but surely an added pleasure is given to an occasion which graces the honorer as much as the honored. To you, Sir Clifford, in fuller measure than to any one in our generation has been given a rare privilege; to you, when young, the old listened as eagerly as do now, when old, the young. (Applatse.) Like Hai ben Yag- zan of Avicenna’s allegory, you have wrought de- liverance to all with whom you have come in con- tact. To have enshrined your gracious wishes in two goodly volumes appeals strongly to one the love of whose life has been given equally to books and to men. A glance at the long list of contributors, so scattered over the world, recalls my vagrant career—Toronto, Montreal, London, Berlin and Vienna as a student; Montreal, Philadelphia, Bal- timore and Oxford as a teacher. Many cities, many men. Truly with Ulysses I may say, ‘‘I am a part of all that I have met.’’ Uppermost in my mind are feelings of gratitude that my lot has been cast in such pleasant places and in such glorious days, so full of achievement and so full of promise for the future. Paraphras- ing my lifelong mentor—of course I refer to Sir Thomas Browne—among multiplied acknowledg- ment I ean lift up one hand to heaven that I was born of honest parents, that modesty, humility, patience and veracity lay in the same egg, and came into the world with me. To have had a happy home in which unselfishness reigned, par- ents whose self-sacrifice remained a blessed mem- ory, brothers and sisters helpful far beyond the usual measure—all these make a picture delightful to look back upon. Then to have had the bene- diction of friendship follow one like a shadow, to have always had the sense of comradeship in work, without the petty pinpricks of jealousies and con- troversies, to be able to rehearse in the sessions of sweet, silent thought the experiences of long years without a single bitter memory—to have and to do all this fills the heart with gratitude. That three transplantations have been borne successfully is a witness to the brotherly care with which you have tended me. Loving our profession, and believing ardently in its future, I have been content to live in it and for it. A moving ambition to become a good teacher and a sound clinician was fostered by opportunities of an exceptional character, and any success I may have attained must be attrib- uted in large part to the unceasing kindness of col- leagues and to a long series of devoted pupils whose success in life is my special pride. To a larger circle of men with whom my con- 246 tact has been through the written word—to the general practitioners of the English-speaking world—I should like to say how deeply their loyal support has been appreciated. Nothing in my career has moved me more, pleased me more, than to have received letters from men at a distance— men I have never seen in the flesh—who have written to me as a friend. And if in this great struggle through which we have passed sorrow came where she has not been before, the blow was softened by the loving sympathies of many dear friends. And may I add the thanks of one who has loved and worked for our profession, and the sweet influences of whose home have been felt by successive generations of students? To the committee and the editors I am deeply indebted for the trouble they have taken in these hard days, and to the publisher, Mr. Paul Hoeber, for his really pre-war bravery; and our special thanks are due to you, kind friends—and in say- ing this also I would associate Lady Osler with myself—who have graced this happy ceremony with your presence. The ceremonies terminated with the pro- posal of a vote of thanks to Sir Clifford Allbutt by Sir D’Arcy Power, and concluding remarks by Sir Donald McAlister and Sir Clifford Allbutt. F, H. GARRISON ArMy MepicaL MusEuM SCIENTIFIC EVENTS MEDICAL EDUCATION AND PRACTISE IN CHINA THE Journal of the American Medical As- sociation calls attention to the fact that under the influence of several American and other missionary boards and by the aid of such prominent American medical schools as Har- vard, Yale and the University of Pennsyl- vania, and with the generous financial assist- ance of the China Medical Board, which was organized by the Rockefeller Foundation, there has been great medical progress in China in recent years, and there are twenty- six medical schools in China. Five of these at present are members of the Association of Medical .Colleges of China. Membership in this association is limited to colleges, which provide a four-year medical course, and which require for admission two or more years of college work, including courses with labora- SCIENCE [N. S. Von. L. No. 1289 tory work in physics, chemistry and biology. Two practically new medical schools, in- cluding premedical departments, are being erected as Peking and Shanghai by the China Medical Board of the Rockefeller Foundation. These are the Peking Union Medical College and the Shanghai Medical School. The plan is to make these equal to any other medical schools in the world in buildings and equip- ments, as well as in hospital facilities and in educational standards. The Rockefeller Foundation is also aiding financially other medical schools in China, particularly the Shantung University School of Medicine at Tsinan, The Hunan-Yale Col- lege of Medicine at Changsha, and the medical schools of Nankin, Canton, Soochow and else- where. A strong appeal is still being made for med- ical missionaries. In China, with an esti- mated population of more than 400,000,000 people, including Manchuria and Mongolia, there are said to be at present only 2,000 scientifically trained physicians. It is stated that at the end of 1917 there were 351 foreign medical missionaries who had working with them 212 foreign physicians. During that year these physicians cared for about 120,000 hospital inpatients. Although large, these figures do not begin to touch the great needs of medical service in that country. The Journal notes that all civilized nations are interested in helping to provide better medical service in China for the sake of their own people, if not for the sake of the Chinese, because China is at present the source of many of the epidemics which are liable to sweep over the entire world. It is for the medical practise of the entire world to combat disease wherever it is found by checking it at its very source. If any physician would pre- fer to have a large practise regardless of the financial income involved, he would have no difficulty in securing it in China, where there is indeed great need of skilled medical service. MINERAL PRODUCTION OF THE UNITED STATES IN 1918 Tue Department of the Interior has issued a preliminary report on the mineral produc- SEPTEMBER 12, 1919] tion of the United States in 1918 for the pur- pose of making public as soon as possible the statistics collected by the U. S. Geological Survey for that year. The statistics given for most commodities are final; those for a few are only estimates based on incomplete re- turns; but on the whole the report gives a fairly complete record of the mineral output of the country during the year. The total value of the minerals produced was about $5,526,000,000, more than half a billion dollars in excess of the value recorded for 1917, but the total quantity produced was less. The output of fuels was greater than in 1917, though somewhat less anthracite coal was marketed. The increase in the quantity of coal marketed was about 5 per cent. but the increase in value, due to higher prices, was more than 17 per cent. It is significant that though the increase in the quantity of petro- leum marketed was only a little more than 4 per cent. the increase in value was over 82 per cent. The value of the metals produced was about 3 per cent. greater in 1918 than in 1917. The figures show that less iron ore and steel were produced, but here again values were higher. A little more pig iron was made, though the quantity shipped was less. Copper and zinc not only in themselves but as the components of brass are perhaps next in importance to iron in the world’s industry to-day, and in 1918 they stood high on the list of war metals. A little more copper but less zinc was pro- duced, and the values of both were lower, that of zine falling about 25 per cent. The output of the war metals manganese and chromite, used in hardening steel, was greater than in any preceding year. Chromite increased 88 per cent. in quantity and 275 per cent. in value over 1917, and the increases in man- ganese ore were 136 and 100 per cent., respec- tively. Less gold and silver were mined than for many years. Though the price of silver rose from 81 cents an ounce in 1917 nearly to 97 cents in 1918, the increase was not enough to cover the increased cost of mining. The output of building material—clay prod- SCIENCE 247 ucts, building stone, cement, lime, gypsum— showed a great decline. The domestic productions of potash in 1918 was 54,000 tons, an increase of 68 per cent. over the output in 1917. FIFTH NATIONAL EXPOSITION OF CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES Tue forthcoming National Exposition of Chemical Industries at the Coliseum and First Regiment Armory, Chicago, during the week of September 22 to 27, inclusive, promises great benefit to American chemical industry as in the past during the war period when it con- tributed so directly to the advance of chemical industry in this country. The meetings of the societies which are being held in conjunction with the exposition are as follows: American Institute of Mining and Metallurg- ical Engineers, September 22 to 27. American Ceramic Society, September 24. American Electrochemical Society, September 24 to 26. At the opening exercises on Monday Gov- ernor Frank O. Lowden, will make the address of welcome, to which Dr. Charles H. Herty, chairman of the advisory committee will reply. John W. O’Leary, president of the Metal Trades Association of Chicago, will give an address on “ The relation of the chemist to the manufacturer.” On Tuesday there will be a symposium on “ America’s case in chemis- try,” in which the speakers will be: Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, September 24 to 27. Chairman’s address, Ellwood Hendrick. ‘“Dyestuffs,’’ J. Merritt Matthews, editor, Color Trade Journal. ‘“Glassware,’’? E, C. Sullivan, of Corning Glass Company. ‘‘Optical glass,’? Harvey N. Ott, of Spencer Lens Company. *¢Chemical porcelain,’’ Herman S. Coors, of Herold China and Pottery Company. ‘¢Essential mental minerals,’’ J. E. Spurr, of the War Minerals Relief Committee, ‘¢Laboratory supplies,’’ C. G. Fischer, of Scientific Materials Company. ‘‘Laboratory supplies,’’? J. M. Roberts, secretary, Apparatus Makers Association of United States. ‘¢Fine chemicals,’’ H. T, Clarke, of Eastman Ko- dak Company. 248 Plans have been made for a joint session of the American Electrochemical Society with the Mining Institute upon the subject of “ Flectric steel and electric furnaces ” on Wed- nesday of the week. This will be followed by another joint session on “ Pyrometry,” prob- ably on Friday, when the following phases of the subject will be considered and discussed: Methods of Pyrometry, Industrial Pyrometry, Pyrometry and its Relation to Science. The Electrochemical Society is arranging a meet- ing on “ Catalysis.” About a hundred papers have been prepared for the meeting of the Mining Institute. Addresses of general inter- est include one by Dr. H. E. Howe, on “ The organization and plans of the National Re- search Council with special reference to the Industries.” SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS Dr. TuroporeE W. RicHarps, professor of chemistry at Harvard University, has been elected president of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Masor GENERAL Wo. L. Siwert, director of the Chemical Warfare Service, U. S. A., has been made a commander of the French Legion of Honor. Proressor ALEXANDER SMITH, head of the department of chemistry at Columbia Univer- sity, was granted on July 10, the honorary de- gree of doctor of laws by the University of Edinburgh. The following was the introduc- tion: “ Alexander Smith, B.Sc., Ph.D., director of the chemistry department of Columbia Uni- versity, New York.—A most distinguished graduate of our own university, Professor Smith has risen to the rank of a super-chem- ist in the United States, head of a department embracing many specialized professorships, and director of one of the most important lab- oratories in the new world. We congratulate Columbia University on the possession of a teacher and investigator of such rare ability, and we congratulate ourselves on the oppor- tunity of laureating an alumnus whose suc- cess reflects no little lustre on the institution where he received his early training.” SCIENCE [N. S. Von. L. No. 1289 Cuarence Oustey, assistant secretary of agriculture, has resigned, leaving the Depart- ment of Agriculture on July 31. He gave as his reasons that he had finished the work for which he went to the department during ‘the war and that he could not afford longer to hold public office. In transmitting the resignation to the president, Secretary Houston expressed deep regret that Mr. Ousley felt obliged to leave the department and stated that he was constrained to recommend the acceptance of the resignation only in deference to Mr. Ousley’s wishes. The retiring assistant sec- retary remains in Washington. Dr. Samuet T. Orton, of the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, has been appointed head of the new psychopathic hospital at lowa City, which is being erected at a cost of $150,000. Dr. M. Ozorio pr Aumema has been placed in charge of the recently organized section of physiology of the Institute Oswaldo Cruz in Rio de Janeiro. Mr. F. J. Currrenpen, the head of the Wisley scientific station and laboratory, has been appointed director of the Royal Horti- cultural Society’s Gardens at Wisley. Ir is stated in Nature that Dr. Shaiffer, of the University of Toronto, has been appointed expert in animal husbandry to the government of Mysore. He will work under Dr. Coleman, the director of agriculture. THE Bessemer medal of the Iron and Steel Institute for the present year has been awarded to Professor F. Giolitti, of Turin. Lorp Ler, of Fareham, has been appointed to the presidency of the British Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, in succession to Lord Ernle. GONVILLE and Caius College, Cambridge, has elected to a fellowship Lieutenant-Colonel C. S. Myers, who has been university lecturer in experimental psychology since 1907, and is director of the university laboratory of experi- mental psychology. Dr. S. W. Parrerson has been appointed director of the Eliza Hall Institute of Re- SEPTEMBER 12, 1919] search, in connection with the Melbourne Hos- pital. Nuss B. Ecxso, a member of the Forest Service since 1907, has left for Pretoria, South Africa, to assume the duties of chief of wood investigations in the Forest Depart- ment. Dr. J. P. Srreer, chemist in charge of the analytical laboratory of the Connecticut Agri- cultural Experiment Station and recently major in the Sanitary Corps of the United States Army, has been assigned by the Na- tional Canners’ Association as chief inspector for the state of Indiana. Caprain Epwarp B. StepHEnson, Engineers, U.S. A., formerly assistant professor of phys- ics, University of North Dakota, who has been connected with experimental and development work in sound ranging for the past two years and with the Engineer School at Camp Hum- phreys, Va., has been honorably discharged from the military service and employed as physicist in charge of Ranging and Camou- flage Development, Office, Chief of Engineers, Washington, D. C. Lirutenant Cononen O. G. Storm, Ord- nance Department, U. S. A., chief of the Re- search Section, Ammunition Division, has been honorably discharged from the service and is now engaged in research work with the Pennsylvania Trojan Powder Company, Allen- town, Pa. Mr. H. E. Harine, for the last two years in the inspection division of the Ordnance De- partment, is now connected with the Bureau of Standards where he will be engaged in elec- trochemical research. S. T. Dana, forest economist in the Forest Service, has been assigned to the joint con- gressional committee for the reclassification of salaries to assist in the formulation of a report to the congress. Proressor J. E. Kirxwoop, head of the department of botany at the State University of Montana, has been granted leave of absence for the coming academic year. He will spend much of his time in research and study at the University of California. SCIENCE 249 Dr. W. ArmstronG Price, assistant pro- fessor of geology at West Virginia University, has resigned this position to devote full time to his duties as paleontologist of the West Virginia Geological Survey. CuHarLtes Conrap Aspott died at Bristol, Pa., on July 27, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. Dr. Abbott was the author of “ Primitive Industries” published in the early ?70’s, and of a number of books on natural history, including the “Archeology of the Delaware Valley.” SamueL T. WELLMAN, past-president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, well known in the iron and steel industry of the Great Lakes, died on July 11, at the age of seventy-two years. Dr. JosrpH ZEISLER, professor of dermatol- ogy at Northwestern University since 1889, died on September 1. Grorce STEPHEN WEsT, professor of botany in the University of Birmingham, has died at the age of forty-three years. Dr. J. G6mez OcaNa, professor of physiol- ogy at the University of Madrid, and life senator, has died, aged fifty-nine years. Tue Civil Service Commission of the state of New York will hold examinations on Sep- tember 27 for the position of assistant director, Division of Laboratories and Research, State Department of Health, with a salary of $4,000. This position is open to men between the ages of thirty and forty-five years and to non-resi- dents and non-citizens. Applicants will be rated on education, experience and personal qualifications. An interview may be required. There will also be an examination for a bacteriologist-pathologist, Division of Lab- oratories and Research, State Department of Health with a salary of $2,500, open to men and women, twenty-five to forty-five years of age. Candidates will be rated on a written examination relating to the duties of the posi- tion, weight 1; and on their education, experi- ence and personal qualifications, weight 1. Harvarp UNIVERSITY announces that Dr. Thomas M. Legge, chief medical inspector of factories in Great Britain, has been invited to 250 give a course of Lowell Lectures and the Cut- ter Lectures in Preventive Medicine for the coming year. These lectures will be given under the auspices of the school of public health of Harvard University, the division of industrial hygiene and the Massachusetts In- stitute of Technology. Dr. Legge will lecture in Boston on November 18 and ensuing dates upon the following subjects: ‘«Twenty years’ experience of the notification of industrial disease.’’ ‘«Twelve years’ experience of workman’s compen- sation act and industrial diseases.’ ‘‘Medical supervision in factories.’’ ‘‘Industrial poisons and their prevention.’’ ¢¢ Anthrax.’ ‘“«Fumes and gases.’’ ‘