NOTES 281 



both the Optical Society and the Hunterian Society) ; Dr. R. G. Hebb (editor of 

 the Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society); Dr. F. Hodson (head master 

 of Bablake School, Coventry, and editor of Broad Lines in Science Teaching) ; 

 Col. Bertram Hopkinson, F.R.S., C.M.G. (Professor of Applied Mechanics at the 

 University of Cambridge), in a flying accident ; M. Jules Lachelier (French 

 philosopher) ; Dr. E. Newall Arber (demonstrator in Paleobotany at the 

 University of Cambridge), Prof. H. G. Plimmer, F.R.S. (Professor of Com- 

 parative Pathology at the Imperial College of Science) ; Dr. G. M. Searle 

 (Professor of Mathematics at the Catholic University, Washington) ; Prof. K. 

 Toyama (Professor of Zoology in the University of Tokyo). 



Mr. Charles Hawksley bequeathed a sum of .£3,000 to the Institution of Civil 

 Engineers for the provision of scholarships and prizes. 



Sir Basil Zaharoff has provided ,£25,000 for the establishment of a Chair of 

 Aviation at the University of London. 



It was reported in Science (Feb. 22, I9i8)that the anti-vivisectionist contributors 

 to the Red Cross in the U.S.A. had commenced a lawsuit to prevent the 

 Society from devoting $100,000 of their funds to medical research involving 

 experiments on animals. In order that the investigations, so urgently needed for 

 the relief of sufferers from trench fever, gas gangrene, gas poisoning, and similar 

 war diseases should not be hindered, Dr. Cleveland H. Dodge of New York has 

 offered to provide the funds required for the whole of the work, and has subscribed 

 $250,000 for the purpose. His generous action will permit of a large extension 

 of the research originally planned. 



The following extract from the report of the proceedings in the libel action 

 between Sir Charles Hobhouse and Mr. Godfrey Isaacs typifies the Government 

 attitude towards scientific matters in pre-war days, although it is perhaps unusual 

 to find it stated in so bare-faced a fashion and by such authority. 



"Asked why he had been selected to be the chairman of the Wireless Research 

 Committee, having no scientific knowledge of Wireless, Sir Charles said that this 

 was the principle on which appointments to committees were made. (Laughter.) 



" He was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and was used for all sorts of 

 odd jobs. The Chancellor of the Duchy was supposed to have the least to do of 

 all Ministers, although he had plenty on his hands. Before the witness was 

 chairman of the Research Committee he was chairman of the Fisheries Committee." 



There does not seem to be any very reassuring evidence that the same 

 method of appointment will not be used in future also. 



At a special general meeting, held on July 31st, the Royal Society discussed 

 the desirability of expelling enemy alien members on a motion by Sir George 

 Beilby and Dr. M. O. Forster, that " as there is no indication that the scientific 

 men of Germany are unsympathetic towards the ' abominable malpractices of their 

 Government,' steps should be taken for removing all enemy aliens from the 

 membership of the Society." It was decided that the delegates of the Royal 

 Society should raise the question at the forthcoming conference with the repre- 

 sentatives of the academies of Allied countries. 



It is stated in the daily press, on Brazilian authority, that the guns used for the 

 bombardment of Paris are made of Zirconium-steel ; the basis of the report being 

 apparently that large quantities of baddeleyite were purchased by Germany 

 (? before the war commenced). Zirconia has a high melting-point and is used 

 as a refractory for furnace linings, etc., and in the Report on the Metallijerous 

 Ores used in the Iron and Steel Industry, published by the Department of 



