656 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



of calcium chloride brine) for periods of interruption. No research of any kind 

 where temperature is a function can be considered complete that does not go 

 down to the lowest limit reasonably obtainable, yet how many institutions are 

 there where such investigations are possible ? The lack of such facilities in the 

 light of recent advances all over the world will constitute a serious disadvantage 

 to our men of science, and the question must be taken up by every scientific body 

 in the kingdom." 



We are of the opinion that these suggestions should receive the most careful 

 thought from our scientific institutions. 



Uncut Books 



Many people wonder why it is that books are still issued with uncut pages. 

 Such people may be lazy or may be very busy ; but in either case they might like 

 to have the interesting explanation which Mr. Murray has been kind enough to 

 send to us. He says : 



"As regards uncut pages, there are very few books published nowadays with 

 their pages uncut. For a fine book, I greatly prefer it in that form, as it leaves a 

 margin of paper for trimming in the case of a book which one wishes to put into 

 a good permanent binding later on. Moreover, for any one with leisure to read, 

 I think it is a positive luxury to cut the pages with a good paper knife. I did this 

 yesterday in the case of an old book which I had not taken from my shelves for 

 many years, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Another objection to cut leaves in the 

 old days was that certain people came into booksellers' shops and spent a long 

 time there ; in fact, they were able to get all they wanted out of a book without 

 buying it ! It was said that Southey could tear the heart out of a book by turning 

 the leaves in a bookseller's shop. Many years ago my father subscribed one of 

 Darwin's books in two forms, with cut edges and uncut edges, and in those days 

 the uncut edges found such favour with the booksellers that a preponderant 

 amount were sold in that form. But now everybody is in a hurry, and uncut 

 edges are gradually disappearing except in the case of fine books. I am sorry for 

 it, but the uncut form must now be regarded as a ' back number.' " 



Notes and News (D. 0. W.) 



Workers in pure science were almost entirely ignored in the honours list 

 published on New Year's Day, but the following awards may, perhaps, be of 

 interest: — Baronet: Prof. J. Ritchie, Irvine Professor of Bacteriology at the 

 University of Edinburgh. Knighthoods : Mr. W. N. Atkinson, who has contri- 

 buted largely to our knowledge of the dangers of coal-dust in mines ; Dr. J. T. 

 Horder, Prof. J. Phillips, and Prof. H. J. Stiles, all three workers in medical 

 science ; Dr. A. Macphail, Professor of the History of Medicine, McGill Univer- 

 sity, and Mr. J. S. Keltie, who is retiring from the secretaryship of the Royal 

 Geographical Society. 



The appointments to the Order of the British Empire were largely made up of 

 Government and railway officials ; the scientific men whose names appear in the 

 list are, for the most part, temporarily in Government employ. The vast amount 

 of gratuitous work that is being done by science for the nation has been almost 

 entirely overlooked. 



Knights Commanders (K.B.E.) : Mr. J. Cantlie (Red Cross Council) ; Col. C. F. 

 Close (Director of Ordnance Survey); Dr. W. M. Fletcher (Secretary, Medical 

 Research Committee) ; Dr. R. Robertson, F.R.S. (Superintending Chemist, 

 Research Department, Woolwich Arsenal); Dr. W. H. Thompson (Scientific 

 Adviser, Ministry of Food). 



