554 SILAS WHITCOMB HOLMAN. 



had been made up to their date, and the results are still of standard value. 

 Indeed within tlie |)ast few years they have played an important part in 

 the advancement of the kinetic theory of gases. 



In tlie Proceedings for 1888 is found a further noteworthy paper 

 written in conjunction with one of his pupils, upon the determination of 

 fixed reference points for thermometric measurements at high tempera- 

 tures, in which several such points are established. 



A number of years later, in 1895, appeared another groi>p of papers, 

 the last published by him, relating to the thermo-electric measurement of 

 high temperatui'es, and a single paper upon calorimetry, which subjects 

 had occupied much of his attention for some time previously. Of these, 

 the one entitled " Thermo-electric Interpolation Formulse " is particularly 

 valuable for its critique of the various methods of interpolation which have 

 been employed in dealing with the results of high temperature observa- 

 tions, and that upon the "Melting Points of Aluminium, Silver, Gold, 

 Copper, and Platinum," published in colhiboration with his pupils, Law- 

 rence and Barr, contains wliat are undoubtedly the best measurements of 

 the points of fusion of these metals that had been obtained at the time of 

 their publication. A third paper contains a description of a novel method 

 of calibrating the Le Chatelier thermo-electric pyrometer, and the fourth 

 a new method of applying the cooling correction in measurements of the 

 heat of combustion. 



The papers of Professor Hoi man thus far referred to have all been 

 published in the Proceedings of this Academy. Several others of minor 

 importance have appeared in different scientific journals. An extended 

 critique upon thermometry of precision presented at the Boston meeting 

 of the American Association of the Advancement of Science in 1880 

 unfortunately was never printed. 



Besides his published researches, Professor Holman was the author of 

 several valuable scientific works. The two volumes of " Physical Labora- 

 tory Notes," prepared for the use of his pupils in the Massachusetts 

 Institute of Technology, embody the results of many years of successful 

 experience in teaching and form an important contribution to the litera- 

 ture of that subject. They contain much original matter and exhibit a 

 rare discrimination in the selection and comparison of the methods of 

 measurement which are discussed. This is particularly the case with the 

 volume relating to electrical measurement and testing. 



In 1892 he published a treatise upon " The Discussion of the Precision 

 of Measurements," the basis of which consisted of the notes of lectures 

 given to his classes. This volume, which is quite unique in its contents, 



