NOTES 443 



I think that several learned societies should have helped in 

 getting the matter set right, in the interests of science in general. 

 After all, the most important part of the mechanism of discovery 

 is the discoverer. 



R. R. 



The Pasteur Centenary. 



The University of the town of Strasbourg, in agreement with the Pasteur 

 Institute of Paris, has decided to commemorate with the greatest eclat possible 

 the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Pasteur, who made his debut at Stras- 

 bourg, and it has been decided to erect a monument of him before this Univer- 

 sity, and to have an exposition and a Congress of Hygiene and of Bacteriology 

 there in May 1923, under the patronage of the President of the Republic 

 and other notables. Subscriptions are invited, and should be sent to Mon- 

 sieur Th. Hering, 6 Rue des Veaux, Strasbourg. The Commissaire General 

 of the Exposition Interalli^e D'hygiene is Prof. Borrell, 3 Rue Koeberle, 

 Strasbourg. 



Public Museums and Galleries 



The recent advance in the education of the general public is seen by the 

 increase in the interest taken in the museums of London. In the House of 

 Commons last March Lord Sudeley proved this statement by giving statistics 

 showing the profits gained by the sale of publications within the museums 

 and of picture postcards of the notable pictures in the galleries. He called 

 " attention to the recent return on museums and further results of the past 

 year, and to their general satisfactory character in showing how largely the 

 public has responded to the facilities offered in certain museums and galleries 

 for gaining information as to the exhibits by popular lectures, and by the 

 issue of hand-books, pictorial, and other illustrations." This success was 

 due, he said, to the popularity of the gviide-lecturers, who so greatly helped 

 the public in understanding the exhibits. The Resolution was moved : 

 " That the Government be asked to take immediate steps to extend the 

 employment of guide-lecturers and the sale of pictorial illustrations to all 

 museums and similar institutions which are under Government control or 

 influence." 



National Collection of Type Cultures 



The Lister Institute states in a leaflet that " The Medical Research Council 

 had long had in view the formation of a National Collection of Type Cultures, 

 from which biologists in general and bacteriologists in particular might 

 obtain from a trustworthy source authentic strains of bacteria and protozoa 

 for use in scientific work. The need of an available supply of this kind had 

 long been felt in many directions, and particularly in medical research work, 

 for the study of principles and methods in bacteriological technique and 

 for the systematic classification of bacteria and protozoa in their various 

 species and strains. In the past the needs of workers in this respect had 

 never been fully met. . . . Early last year the Medical Research Council were 

 able, by the courtesy of the Governing Body of the Lister Institute, to make 

 arrangements to maintain a National Collection of Type Cultures at the 

 Institute, where all the necessary facilities have been provided." They also 

 propose " to collect and maintain cultures of fungi of importance in phyto- 

 pathology, medicine, veterinary science, technology, and soil biology, types 

 useful for teaching purposes, and any rare or interesting species. At present 

 it is not possible to cope with the innumerable strains of common fungi, and 

 room can only be found for those forms with some published distinguishing 



