468 



NATURE 



[February i, 191 2 



A gtightly pnlarged stereoncopic view of one of these 



vibratory rings in one phase of its motions is shown in 

 Kig. 8. In this view, as also in Fifjs. 3 and 4, note the 

 line of particli's lying in thf filimontary axis of the ring. 

 These particles probably consist of materials less dense 

 than water which have been gathered up by the ring in its 

 progress through the water, not entirely free from 

 suspended matter, and swept into the axis and carried 

 along with the ring. 



The results of the research above outlined were first 

 described in th(> September and October numbers (1911) of 

 the Jourii.il 1 I ilir Franklin Institute. In the original 

 paper ai< L;iM n ntlier photographs than those reproduced 

 here, and the apparatus is described in sufficient detail to 

 enable one to rfprockue it. The electric circuits and oilii r 

 devices employed in taking the pictures are fully descrilxci, 

 and physical explanations of the vortex motions observed 

 are given. It is there shown that most, if not all, of the 

 observed motions of liquid vortices may be approximately 

 explained by employing the principle first laid down by 

 Bernoulli, that since the sum of the potential and kinetic 

 energies in a liquid is constant, it results that where the 

 velocity of the fluid is high the hydrostatic pressure is 

 diminished. The attraction and final union of two rings 

 is supposed to be explained by this principle. 



It is hoped that this experimental study of actual vorte.x 

 motions in fluids having viscosity will throw light upon 

 and constitute a proper basis for mathematical investiga- 

 tions regarding ideal fluids. 



EnwiN F. NoRTiiRii'. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



Cambridge. — The governing body of Gonville imd ( .lius 

 College has resolved to place in the hands of the tnivfiNiu 

 .Association for transference to the university the sum of 

 500/., to be invested for the maintenance of buildings. It 

 hopes that the sum will be added to the fund now being 

 collected for the maintenance of the new buildings for 

 physiology and experimental psychology. 



Dr. Macalister, professor of anatomy, and Dr. Haddon 

 have been nominated to represent the university at the 

 International Congress of Americanists to be held in London 

 in May next, and Prof. Burkitt has been chosen to repre- 

 sent the university at an International Congress on the 

 History of Religion to be held at Leyden in September 

 next. 



Four Gresham lectures on " Sleeping Sickness " will be 

 delivered on February 13, 14, 15, and 16 by Dr. F. M. 

 Sandwith, Gresham professor of phvsic. The lectures, 

 which will be delivered at the City' of London School, 

 Victoria Embankment, E.C, are free to the public, and 

 will begin . a, li . vmiiii; at six o'clock. 



It is announced in The Times that Dr. Francis, honorary 

 secretary of the Education Fund for Europeans and 

 Eurasians in India, has been promised bv an anonymous 

 donor a lakh of rupees (about 6600/.) if 'four lakhs more 

 are raised in India. Between 80,000/. and 90,000/. of the 

 250,000/. needed has already been raised in this country, 

 and it is hoped that the recent impetus given to native 

 education in India will also direct attention to the urgent 

 need of those whom the fund will benefit. 



The Goldsmiths' Company has made the following 

 grants to the Senate of the University of London :— for 

 the building fund of King's College for Women, 10,000/. ; 

 for the endowment fund of Bedford College for Women. 

 5000/. ; for the building and equipment fund of the chemical 

 department of University College, Gower Street, 1000/. 

 The company has also made a grant of 1000/. to the 

 National Physical Laboratory at Teddington for the- equip- 

 ment of the metallurgical department at that institution. 



The Education Committee of the London County Council 

 has published some interesting particulars as' to the 

 number and ages of pupils in London secondary schools 

 receiving financial aid from the Council. During the year 

 ended on March 31 last there were in such schools 14,036 

 pupils — 9369 boys and 4667 girls. Of this total there were 



NO. 2205, VOL. 88] 



113 boys and 31 girU aKov. . ighteen years of age; 6i8 

 boys and 403 gfrU J)etw«.ii sixteen and eighteen years; and 

 3830 boys and 1435 girls between fourteen and 

 years. That is to say, less than half of thr puj 

 these secondary schools, which include many of the best 

 in Ixtndon, are above fourteen years of age, and 941, it 

 may be added, are below ten years of age. 



TiiK Central Bureau for the Employment of Won 

 5 Prince's Street, Cavendish Square, I^ndon, W., 1 

 published a pamphlet entitled " Openings for Universit 

 Women other than Teaching." The bcwklet contains 

 summary of professions suitable for women of high- 

 education, suggestions on more recent spheres of f 

 munerative labour, and a comparative table of universit 

 <l'grees and diplomas in the British Isles. Miss M. (■ 

 Sf)encer, the secretary of the Central liureau, may !>• 

 gratulated upon the success which has followed her . 

 in the pamphlet to provide a bird's-eye view of tlh 

 now open to educated women who desire to take part : 

 the world's work. The particulars as to courses of trail: 

 ing, and the in'ormation as to probable salaries in various 

 appointments, should be of assistance to parents arranging 

 for the education of their girls. 



In the issue of Science for January 5 Prof. Rudolf 

 Tombo, iun., of Columbia University, gives his annual 

 analysis of the registration statistics of .American universi- 

 ties. A decrease in the total enrolment for the current 

 session was noticeable at Chicago, Missouri, Northwestern, 

 Texas, and Yale Universities. This year only four 

 institutions exhibit an increase of above 200 students, -; 

 against seven in 1910 and eleven in 1009. .According to t' 

 figures for 1910, twenty-seven universities ranked as f' 

 as regards number of students : — Columbia, Ci 

 Michigan, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Cornell, Minm s.., 

 California, Wisconsin, Illinois, New York Universit 

 Nebraska, Northwestern, Yale, Syracuse, Ohio Stat 

 Missouri, Texas, Kansas, Indiana, Tulane, Iowa, Sta 

 ford, Princeton, Western Reserve, Johns Hopkin- 

 Virginia. Comparing this with the order for 191 1, we find 

 that Columbia, with 8642 students, continues to maintain 

 its long lead, that California has passed from the eighth 

 to the second place, that Cornell has passed from the 

 sixth to the third place, that Michigan and Harvard have 

 each dropped down one place, Pennsylvania two placf 

 and Chicago four, and that Wisconsin and Illinois ha\ 

 advanced a place. 



The Birmingham Education Committee has decided to 

 recommend the City Council to make a grant annually to 

 the University equal to the net produce of a penny rate, 

 x^hich is estimated to realise about 16,000/. It has also 

 recommended that the University should offer annually 

 fifteen major scholarships entitling the holders to a r*"- 

 mission of fees, together with a maintenance grant in ca- 

 of necessity of not more than 30/. per annum, and shoui •: 

 appoint certain additional lecturers. It may be noted that 

 as a consequence of the grant of an > xtra halfpenny rate 

 (making a penny rate in all) made by the City Council 

 last year, before the extension of the city boundaries, 

 twelve city scholarships were offered for competition, the 

 successful candidates being entitled to maintenance grants 

 of an annual value not exceeding 30/. each if their circum- 

 stances were such as to rerder pecuniary aid of this kind 

 desirable. Nine of these scholarships have been awarded, 

 and six of the holders are receiving maintenance gran- 

 (five at 30/. per annum and one at 25/.). The Worker 

 Educational Association has hitherto received valuable sii: 

 port from the University, and members of the Univers: 

 staff have given their services gratuitously. The Birmin^ 

 ham Education Committee now suggests that such servic' 

 should receive formal recognition, and presumably appr^ 

 priate remuneration, which the increase in value of th< 

 grant in consequence of the enlargement of the city should 

 render possible. 



It is expected that the Rice Institute at Houston, Texas, 

 U.S.A., will be opened for the reception of students next 

 autumn. The institute is described as being " of liberal 

 and technical learning founded by William Marsh Rice, 

 and dedicated by h:m to the advancement of Letters, 

 Science, and .Art." .An artistically illustrated prospectus of 

 this latest -American institute has reached us, which shows 



