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ties worthy of the mythological characteristics conceived by the unrestrained imaginations of men in prescientific times. Not a few of them have proved to be obvious fakers, schemers or incompetents masquerading in the name of learning with the confident expectation that the institution. would indorse, finance or otherwise promote their objects under the guise of research. But, as might have been predicted, the history of all this varied experience is a history of futility clouded here and there by manifestations of the baser traits of mankind and lighted up only occasionally by flashes of wit, wisdom or humor in the prevailing pathologic cast.

ROBERT S. WOODWARD

SCIENTIFIC EVENTS

CONJOINT BOARD OF SCIENTIFIC STUDIES IN GREAT BRITAIN

THE first annual report of the Conjoint Board of Scientific Studies, established at the instance of the Council of the Royal Society in June, 1916, has been issued. As reported in the British Medical Journal, the objects of the board are to promote the cooperation of those interested in pure or applied science; to supply means by which the scientific opinion of the country on matters relating to science, industry and education, may find effective expression; to promote the application of science to industries and the service of the nation; and to discuss scientific questions in which international cooperation seems advisable. The chairman of the board, which consists of representatives of numerous societies, is the president of the Royal Society. Among the constituent societies are the Royal Anthropological Institute, the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons in England, the Royal Society of Medicine, the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, the Psychological, Linnean, Zoological, Biochemical, and Psychological Societies, the Institute of Chemistry, the Society of Chemical Industry, the Chemical Society, and the Royal Institute of British Architects. There is a small execu

tive committee, of which Sir Joseph J. Thomson, president of the Royal Society, is chairman, and Dr. W. W. Watts, professor of geology in the Imperial College of Science and Technology, secretary; among the other members are Sir Alfred Keogh and Sir Ray Lankester. The board has appointed a number of sub-committees, some of which appear to have got to work during the year, including The International Catalogue Subcommittee which has obtained information regarding the extent of the use made by scientific men of the present International Catalogue of Scientific Literature; the Watching Subcommittee on Education, of which Sir Ray Lankester is convener, the Metric System Subcommittee, and the Anthropological Survey Subcommittee. The last named consists of Major Leonard Darwin (convener), Professor A. Keith (secretary), Dr. James Galloway, Dr. P. Chalmers Mitchell, and Professors G. Elliot Smith, Karl Pearson and Arthur Thomson. It has presented a report on the need of a physical survey of the British people, and intends to institute further inquiries before drafting recommendations. On its advice the executive committee asked the Board of Education, the Local Government Board, and the RegistrarGeneral's Office to nominate representatives on the subcommittee, and Sir George Newman, Sir Arthur Newsholme, and Dr. T. H. C. Stevenson, have been appointed. The Watching Subcommittee on Education has held a conference with the Council of Humanistic Studies, and has made a report to the Conjoint Board, in the course of which it recommended that both natural science and literary subjects should be taught to all pupils below the age of 16, and that afterwards specialization should be gradual and not complete. It points out that in many schools of the older type more time, which can often be obtained by economy in the time allotted to classics, is needed for instruction in natural science, but that in many schools more time is needed for instruction in languages, history and geography. The opinion is also expressed that while it is impossible and undesirable to provide instruction in both Latin and Greek in all secondary

schools, provision should be made in every area for teaching these subjects. The subcommittee also transmitted to the Government Committee on Science in the Educational System of Great Britain two recommendations on which it was unanimous; one is that in order to secure teachers able to give inspiring and attractive courses in science adequate salaries should be paid, and the other, that while prime importance must be attached to provision for laboratory work it was essential that there should be instruction also in the romance of scientific discovery and its applications. Every pupil should not only receive training in observational and experimental science, but should be given a view of natural science as a whole, the object being to evoke interest in science in relation to ordinary life, "rather than to impart facts or data of science presented by an examination syllabus, or even to systematize their rediscovery."

WIRELESS TIME SERVICE IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

THE progress in the time service of the Philippine Islands is made evident from the fact that since October 1, 1917, the Cavite Radio Station, cooperating with the Bureau of Posts and the Manila Observatory, sends out time signals of the 120th meridian East of Greenwich at 11 A.M. and 10 P.M. every day, Sundays and holidays inclusive. Manila holds an enviable position in the Pacific and the interests of shipping companies making Manila a port of call are too prosperous to be overlooked. Accurate time signals and wise typhoon warnings are of immense value to the units of the United States Asiatic Fleet, to Army transports and in general to oversea shipping.

For the purpose of sending time signals, the transmitting clock of the Manila Observatory is connected with the Cavite wireless station through the Bureau of Posts. Manila Observatory time signals begin at 10:55 A.M. and 9:55 P.M., standard time of the 120th meridian East of Greenwich; and continue for five minutes. During this interval every tick of the clock is transmitted, except the 28th, 29th, 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th, 58th and 59th of each

minute. Experiments made on board the U. S. Wilmington, Monterey, Sheridan, Merrit and the commercial steamer Colombia, of the Pacific Mail, gave satisfactory results.

PROFESSOR W. A. NOYES AND THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

RESOLUTIONS on the services of Professor W. A. Noyes to the American Chemical Society have been passed, as follows:

WHEREAS, Dr. William A. Noyes is soon to terminate his service as editor of the Journal of the American Chemical Society, to which for fifteen years he has, with unceasing devotion and conscientious care, given a large portion of his time; and

WHEREAS, During these years he has by his effective conduct of the Journal raised it to a scientific publication of the very first rank, in which is now published by far the greater part of the best chemical research carried on in this country, and

WHEREAS, He was the leading spirit in the organization and detailed planning of the Abstract Journal of the Society, which has made available to American chemists in an exceptionally comprehensive and satisfactory form the current chemical research of the world; and

WHEREAS, He has thus contributed in a vital way to the phenomenal increase in membership and scientific activity of the Society during the last two decades, in which the success of its journals has been one of the most important factors; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the Society expresses its keen regret that other tasks have compelled the resignation of Dr. Noyes from the editorship of the Journal, and records its high appreciation of his services to the Society, especially of his ardor in developing the Society's journals, which will remain a splendid monument to the success of his work. (For the Council) Signed by

WILDER D. BANCROFT,
MARSTON T. BOGERT,
JOHN H. LONG,

ARTHUR A. NOYES,

THEODORE W. RICHARDS, Chairman

THE ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL

SOCIETIES

THE annual scientific meetings of the Biological Societies (The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, The American Association of Anatomists and The American Society of Zoologists) will be held in the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 27, 28 and 29.

The Hotel Radisson will be headquarters for all the societies. Arrangements will also be made with fraternity and boarding houses for those desiring them.

The federation has arranged to hold a day session at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, on December 29. For this purpose arrangements have been made to have sleeping cars leave Minneapolis on the night of the 28th in order that no time shall be lost. The Mayo surgical hospitals will be visited, as will also the experimental laboratories and at the afternoon session a scientific program will be presented. Members of the federation should have their tickets from the east routed from Chicago to Minneapolis and from the west through Omaha or Kansas City to Minneapolis. Tickets for the return trip should be routed from Minneapolis over the Chicago and Great Western Railway to Rochester and from Rochester to Chicago for the east, and to Omaha or Kansas City for the west. bers of the Anatomical and Zoological Societies are cordially invited to attend this Rochester meeting if they care to do so, although programs for these societies have been arranged for the same date in Minneapolis.

Mem

There will be a joint dinner in the Gold Room, Hotel Radisson, on Thursday at 6:30 P.M. at $1.50 per plate, also, a joint smoker will be held at the Teco Inn, Hotel Radisson, at 8:15 P.M. on Friday. Fifty-cent luncheons will be served at 1 P.M. in the Minnesota Union, University of Minnesota, each day throughout the meetings.

After full consideration by the executive committees and councils of the societies concerned, it has been decided to hold the meetings in Minneapolis on December 27, 28 and 29, as voted one year ago. This action is taken on the ground that it would be disastrous to

the progress of research and the best interests of the biological sciences if no annual meetings for the reporting of investigations, for the exchange of ideas and for mutual encouragement should be held.

The local committee at Minneapolis cordially endorses this decision on the part of the authorities of the several societies and desires to emphasize in addition the impetus that can be given to science in the northwest by a successful meeting at the University of Minnesota. To this end they are planning for a program of unusual interest. Not only will scientific papers of value be presented before the various societies-papers which in many instances will deal with matters pertaining to the war-but also visitors will have an opportunity to see the recent new laboratories of the University of Minnesota and especially to visit under the best of conditions the Mayo Clinic at Rochester and become acquainted with the research work going on there under the Mayo Foundation.

On behalf, therefore, of the University of Minnesota and with the cordial concurrence of its president and board of regents we invite you to attend these meetings. We urge you as a duty to science to help make the gathering a success. We believe that it is incumbent upon every scientific man to support the cause to which he has devoted his life, the cause of scientific progress. We, therefore, most respectfully and earnestly urge you to attend these meetings, to contribute to the programs, to take part in the discussions and to bring to the support of science the same loyalty and sacrifice that America is giving to every other basic principle of our civilization.

We also ask that you inform young scientists of your staff and acquaintance who are not yet members of the societies, concerning these meetings, and invite them to be present. L. G. ROWNTREE, Chairman, Local Committee

SECTION M (AGRICULTURE) OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION AT PITTSBURGH

THE Section of Agriculture will hold sessions on Friday and Saturday, December 28 and 29. A symposium on the topic "Factors

concerned in an increased agricultural production" will be held on Friday afternoon, December 28, at 2 o'clock, the subject to be considered under the following five heads:

Present status of production, Dr. John Lee Coulter, dean of agriculture, West Virginia University. Feasibility of increasing production, Dean E. Davenport, college of agriculture, University of Illinois.

Obstacles to enlarged production, Professor W. D. Hurd, assistant to the Secretary of Agriculture. Limiting factors in production, Professor Chas. E. Thorne, director of the Ohio Experiment Station.

The human element, Mr. Herbert Quick, member of the Federal Farm Loan Board.

The address of the retiring vice-president of the section, Dr. W. H. Jordan, director of the New York State Experiment Station, upon "The future of agricultural education and research in the United States," will be given on Saturday morning, December 29, at 11 o'clock. The sessions will be presided over by Dr. H. J. Waters, president of the Kansas State Agricultural College. They will be held in Room 105, Thaw Hall, University of Pittsburgh.

The symposium deals with a subject of the first importance to agriculture and to the welfare of the nation. It will be treated in a semi-popular manner, having in mind the broad general interest relating to it.

SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS THE Royal Society has conferred Royal medals on Dr. John Aitken, for his researches on cloudy condensations, and on Dr. Arthur Smith Woodward, for his researches in vertebrate paleonteology, and the Copley medal on M. Emile Roux, for his services to bacteriology and as a pioneer in serum therapy; the Davy medal on M. Albin Haller, for his researches in organic chemistry; the Buchanan medal on Sir Almroth Wright, for his contributions to preventive medicine; and the Hughes medal on Professor C. G. Barkla, for his work on X-ray radiation.

DR. CHRISTOPHER ADDISON, minister of reconstruction in Great Britain, has been ap

pointed minister of public health, and hopes to carry a bill through parliament before Christmas, forming a new ministry to forward a place for the nationalization of the medical profession with free medical attendance for every one.

MAJOR BENEDICT CROWELL, of Cleveland, an engineer officer, now in charge of the Washington office of the Panama Canal, has been appointed assistant secretary of war to succeed William Ingraham, who has become surveyor of the Port of Portland.

DEAN KLEIN, of the veterinary department of the University of Pennsylvania, is at present in France, having been sent by the government on a special mission to General Pershing to consult him regarding the organization of the Veterinary Corps, and to make a survey of the situation in France.

DR. R. B. OWENS, Secretary of the Franklin Institute, now in France on leave of absence, acting as head of the Army Intelligence Bureau, has been elevated to the rank of major. He is serving under General Pershing.

MR. GEORGE E. HOLM, research assistant in the division of agricultural biochemistry of the University of Minnesota, has been commissioned first lieutenant in the Sanitary Corps. He will be assigned to investigational work in the Gas Defense Service.

DR. CHARLES L. REESE, chemical director of the du Pont Powder Company, has been elected a member of the board of directors of that company.

MR. F. G. MOSES has been appointed hydrometallurgist in the U. S. Bureau of Mines, with headquarters at Salt Lake City station.

J. W. TURRENTINE is directing the work of the government's experimental kelp-potash plant at Summerland, near Santa Barbara, Cal. The plant is in operation and is producing crude potash. Apparatus is now being installed which will make possible the production of refined potash and by-products, particularly iodine, for both of which chemicals there is a large demand for industrial and military purposes.

PROFESSOR H. E. GREGORY, of Yale University, has left for the Hawaiian Islands, where he plans to spend a few months in geological investigation.

PROFESSOR C. C. NUTTING, who will lead a party of Iowa scientific men in an expedition to the West Indies next summer, has received word that the English government buildings on the Pelican islands, which will be the base of the expedition, will be turned over to the explorers without cost. Some of the men who intended to go with this expedition at first have since entered war service, but plans are going forward rapidly and the outlook is promising. Professor Nutting made a preliminary visit to the islands last summer and reported that he had never seen a place where the opportunity for scientific research was greater.

PRESIDENT STIEGLITZ, of the American Chemical Society, has appointed the following committee on the supply of organic chemicals for research during the war: E. Emmet Reid, Chairman, Roger Adams, H. L. Fisher, J. W. E. Glattfeld, Wm. J. Hale.

Ar the annual meeting of the Cambridge Philosophical Society held on October 29 the following were elected officers of the society for the ensuing session: President, Professor Marr; Vice-presidents, Professor Newall, Dr. Doncaster and Mr. W. H. Mills; Treasurer, Professor Hobson; Secretaries, Mr. A. Wood, Mr. G. H. Hardy and Mr. H. H. Brindley; New Members of Council, Sir J. Larmor, Professor Eddington and Dr. Marshall.

AT the anniversary meeting of the Mineralogical Society, held on November 6, the following were elected officers: President, Mr. W. Barlow; Vice-presidents, Professor H. L. Bowman and Mr. A. Hutchinson; Treasurer, Sir William P. Beale, Bart.; General Secretary, Dr. G. T. Prior; Foreign Secretary, Professor W. W. Watts; Editor of the Journal, Mr. L. J. Spencer.

Ar Yale University, Director Russell H. Chittenden and Professor Irving Fisher have delivered the first two of the special University Lectures on Food Conservation, and

Frederic C. Walcott, '91, of Mr. Hoover's staff, will give the third lecture, on Governmental aspects of food conservation," in January.

ALONZO DORUS MELVIN, chief of the Bureau of Animal Industry, since 1905, known for his work on animal diseases and their bearing on human health, died at his home in Washington, aged fifty-five years.

UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL
NEWS

THE Harvard University Corporation has announced the receipt of securities to the value of $89,946.50 from James Byrne, '77, of New York City, to establish the "Byrne professorship of administrative law." The securities are the first payment towards a total foundation of $150,000.

THE following telegram was sent by Dr. Hollis Godfrey, December 5, to presidents of all institutions giving degrees in technical courses: "I have just been authorized by the Secretary of War to request you to inform all your technical students that if they wait until drafted they can, upon summons to the draft camp, take with them a letter from you stating their special qualifications, such letter to be filed with occupational census questionnaire of the War Department. Under authority of this authorized telegram, the Secretary of War also authorizes me to say that every effort will be made to use each student's special training in connection with specialized occupations in the army, so as to afford technical students of draft age fully as great an opportunity through the draft as if they enlisted now."

THE annual meeting of the American Mathematical Society will be held in New York City on Thursday and Friday, December 27-28. The fortieth regular meeting of the Chicago Section will be held at the University of Chicago on Friday and Saturday, December 2829. Friday afternoon will be devoted to a joint meeting with the Mathematical Association of America, at which Professor W. B. Ford will deliver his retiring address as chairman of the section.

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