MINUTES. xix 



this perhaps is not the worst aspect of the matter. A vast deal of 

 what has been published is scientifically worthless, and, to uncritical 

 readers, harmful. It may therefore be said that one of the most 

 serious questions that now confronts an author is that of how to 

 treat, or whether to cite as authority, titularly pertinent publications 

 which, although they may be found on the shelves and in the cata- 

 logues of our larger libraries, are incompetently written and essen- 

 tially misleading. Such a condition of things increases an author's 

 burdens, even though he be inclined, as I personally think he should 

 be, to apply a proscriptive rule, and to refrain from citing such pub- 

 lications, unless for correction or reproof. 



In conclusion, I desire again to congratulate the author of the 

 Crowned Essay on the results of his work, and I have great pleasure 

 in presenting to him the substantial token of his success. 



The Prize of two thousand dollars was handed to the successful 

 author by the President. 



The John Scott Medals for " Useful Inventions " were presented 

 by the Board of City Trusts on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, 

 Trustee, to Mr. C. E. K. Mees, of Rochester, N. Y. ; Hon. James 

 Hartness, Governor of Vermont ; Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, of the Rocke- 

 feller Institute, New York, and Dr. E. C. Kendall, of the Mayo 

 Foundation, Rochester, Minn. 



The following papers were read : 



Symposium on Atomic Structure : 



" General Statement of the Problem," by David L. Webster, 

 Professor of Physics, Leland Stanford University. 



" X-Ray Spectra," by William Duane, Professor of Bio- 

 Physics, Harvard University. 



"X-Ray Emission," by Bergen Davis, Professor of Physics, 

 Columbia University. 



" Chemical Evidence Concerning Atomic Structure," by Gil- 

 bert N. Lewis, Ph.D., Professor of Physical Chemistry, 

 University of California. 



The above papers were discussed by Professors Webster, Snyder 

 and G. N. Lewis. 



