32 



ILLINOIS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



This is a conclusion of rather far-reaching consequence, 

 for it must mean that the relative proportions of the gases are 

 constantly in process of local change — a fact which is sup- 

 ported by the very considerable differences between the an- 

 alyses of the gases contained in different tubes which were 

 filled at the same time. Since these reactions are strongly 

 exothermic, it also follows that a very large and constantly 

 increasing amount of heat is set free during the rise of the 

 gases to the surface. In support of this view it was also ob- 

 served that when the quantity of gas set free was large, the 

 temperature of the liquid lava in the basin was higher (July 6, 

 1912, 1185°) ; when the amount of discharged gas was small 

 it was lower (June 13, 1912, 1070°), the quantity of lava in 

 the basin remaining substantially the same. 



Controverting a view recently put forth, H 2 was found to 

 be present as such among the gases set free as, indeed it in- 

 evitably must be, for it has long been known that free hydro- 

 gen in association with S0 2 and C0 2 will react to form water 

 at these temperatures. 



Neither hydrocarbons nor chlorine in appreciable quantities 

 were found. 



RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN SURGERY 

 Don W. Deal, Springfield, 111. 



One cannot enter upon the discussion of the recent devel- 

 opments of surgery without coming at once upon ithe part 

 which animal experimentation has played in the reduction of 

 human mortality. 



There has been a great deal said and written on this sub- 

 ject — much which is sane and sound and much which is hys- 

 terical and sentimental. Medical men and scientific workers 

 are not in any sense unmindful of the sufferings of lower 

 animals and, in animal experimentation, pain is reduced to 

 the minimum or eliminated altogether. In fact, it has seemed 

 to me that scientific investigators hold these animals in higher 

 regard — that they are appreciative of what these animals con- 

 tribute to science — that they are kinder and gentler in han- 

 dling them than would be many of the heart-throbbing senti- 

 mentalists. 



These sentimentalists do not speak of "animal experimenta- 

 tion." They prefer to talk of "vivisection" which has a dis- 

 tressingly quivery sound like the tremulo of the fiddle in the 



