1 86 



NATURE 



[December 7, 191 



\ Columbia University. Thirty scientific and other V . wn 'i^ 

 societies have indicat>-<] their intention to meet <-'• 

 ington on the !>ame dates in affiliation with the . > 



, Association for the Advancement of Science, liie 

 manent secretary of the astociation is Dr. L. O. How. 

 Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 



The twentieth report of the Board of Health on 

 in New South Wales for the year 1910 (dated July 

 191 1) states that nineteen lepers remained under 

 tion at the lazaret, and that five new cases were re 

 in 19 10. The histories of these new cases are 

 together with surveys of the white patients remaining 

 treatment. Nine excellent plates of the condition of 

 of the lepers are appended. 



In The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Phyti 

 for October (iv., No. 3) Messrs. Vernon and Stolz di 

 the influence of forced breathing and of oxygen on at 

 performance. It is well known that several deep ini 

 tions enable the breath to be held for a longer period 

 without this preliminary, but it is shown that to 

 this result the forced breathing should be continue 

 two or three minutes. .An addition of oxygen 

 lengthens the period during which the breath can be 

 Thus Mr. Vernon found that after six minutes of fd 

 I breathing of air, followed by four breaths of oxygen 

 j could hold his breath for no less than 8m. 13s. 



I In Himmcl und Erde for November (Jahrg. 24, He 

 I Dr. E. W. Schmidt, under the title of " Die Pansf 

 I Hyf>othese," gives an account of the views of .Arrhfl 

 on the possible transference of living germs through 

 stellar space from one star or planet to another ; 

 Ficker continues his series of articles on bacteri 

 enemies and friends of man ; and Dr. Emil Carthaus| 

 cusses the origin of pearls, and gives many inter 

 historical details concerning them. 



In a recently published pamphlet entitled " The 

 against Tuberculosis and the Death-rate from Phthi^ 

 (Dulau and Co., pp. 35, price 15. net). Prof. Karl Pea 

 criticises the evidence which has been advanced in fav 

 of a belief that the prevalence of phthisis can be, or 

 been, diminished by measures intended to reduce the oppor- 

 tunities of infection. Prof. Pearson strongly urges tli? 

 importance of some constitutional factor, and publ: 

 diagrams which, in his opinion, render it difficult to --..,. 

 pose that the fall in the phthisis death-fate which has been 

 observed in modern times can be attributed to increased 

 segregation of the diseased, bettered environment, or 

 changes in treatment. The pamphlet will repay perusal, 

 although its style, which is more vigorous than urbane, is 

 not likely to facilitate an impartial consideration of P'~* 

 Pearson's views. 



The report of the Manchester Museum for 1910-11 coo- 

 tains plans and a view of the front elevation of the pro- 

 posed new wing, part of which is now in course of coo- 

 struction, while the remainder is reserved for the future. 

 It appears that in the original scheme for the natiu^ 

 history museum Egyptology and anthropology were not 

 included ; but during the last thirty years large collections 

 in these subjects have accumulated, which require adequate 

 accommodation, and it is for these that the new building 

 is being erected. The cost of the whole scheme of extension 

 is estimated at 10,000/., of which 5000Z. has been given by 

 Mr. Jesse Haworth, while 2825Z. has been raised by public 

 subscription. The general progress of the museum has 

 been very satisfactory during the year, and the attenda"'"'^ 

 at the courses of lectures fairly good. 



been sent off with regularity on the intern.itional days, 

 and of sixteen balloons liberated, eight have been returned 

 to the Central Office with good records. In comparison 

 with the results obtained in Europe, the percentage of 

 successful ascents may be regarded as very encouraging. 

 The heights reached have varied from ii-a to 33-2 kilo- 

 metres. The isothermal layer has been found at an 

 average height of 13 kilometres. The lowest temperature 

 recorded was —70° C. at 15 kilometres on July 5, and the 

 highest altitude reached was 23-2 kilometres on Sep- 

 tember 9, when the lowest temperature, —SS'S" C., was 

 recorded at 14 kilometres. 



Tiir promises of the Institute of Chemistry, the lease of 

 whi( li will expire shortly, and cannot be renewed, have 

 become inadequate for the increasing activities of the 

 institute. To carry on the work, the council of the insti- 

 tute requires new buildings, which should include more 

 commodious meeting rooms, library, laboratories, examina- 

 tion rooms, and offices. It is proposed to begin the pre- 

 paration of plans next year, and it is estimated that the 

 necessary building and fittings will cost about 15,000!. An 

 appeal has been made to fellows and associates of the 

 institute, which has already resulted in the receipt of con- 

 tributions and promises amounting to more than 8000/. 

 With more than half of the required sum assured, it may 

 be confidently hoped that the appeal will result in the 

 completion of the necessary amount at an early date. It 

 is gratifying to notice that the preliminary list of con- 

 tributions includes the names of some of the great city 

 companies and of business firms not directly connected with 

 the institute. Contributions may be forwarded to the 

 president, Dr. G. T. Beilby, F.R.S., at 30 Bloomsbury 

 Square, London, VV.C, or may be sent direct to the account 

 of the Institute of Chemistry (Buildings Fund) with the 

 London County and Westminster Bank, 214 High Holborn, 

 London, W.C. 



The annual meeting of the American Association for the 

 Advancement of Science will be held this year in Wash- 

 ington on December 27-30. The retiring president. Dr. 

 A. A. Michelson, will, on the evening of December 27, 

 introduce the new president. Dr. C. E. Bessey, of the 

 University of Nebraska, and afterwards deliver his address 

 on " Recent Progress in Spectroscopic Methods." On 

 December 27 the presidential addresses in the sections will 

 be : — the resins and their chemical relations to the terpenes, 

 Mr. Frankforter ; adaptation, Mr. Reighard ; some current 

 conceptions of the germ plasm, Mr. Harper. On 

 December 28 : — work of the electrical division of the 

 Bureau of Standards, Mr. Rosa ; aerial engineering, Mr. 

 Rotch ; the teaching of general courses in science, Mr. Hill. 

 On December 29 : — on the foundations of the theory of 

 linear integral equations, Mr. Moore ; the independence of 

 the culture of the American Indian, Mr. Dixon ; the cause 

 of high prices, Mr. Burton. The presidents of the sections 

 for the ensuing year are as follows : — A, Mathematics and 

 Astronomy, E. B. Frost, Yerkes Observatory ; B, Physics, 

 R. A. Millikan, University of Chicago ; C, Chem- 

 istry, F. K. Cameron, U.S. Department of .Agriculture, 

 Washington, D.C. ; D, Mechanical Science and Engineer- 

 ing, C. S. Howe, Case School of Applied Science, Cleve- 

 land, Ohio ; E, Geology and Geography, B. Shimek, State 

 University of Iowa; F, Zoology, H. F. Nachtrieb, Uni- 

 versity of Minnesota; G, Botany, F. C. Newcombe, Uni- 

 versity of Michigan ; H, Anthropology and Psychology, 

 G. T. Ladd, Yale University ; I, Social and Economic 

 Science, J. Pease Norton, Yale University ; K, Physiology 

 and Experimental Medicine, W. T. Porter, Harvard 

 Medical School, Boston ; L, Education, E. L. Thorndike, 

 NO. 2197, VOL. 88] 



