July 28, 1923] 



.VA TURE 



141 



library (with many valuable MSS.), remarkably rich 

 physiographical and anthropological collections, a 

 permanent scientific station at Paris (4 Quai d'Orleans), 

 and a quasi-permanent station (chiefly for historical 

 investigation) at Rome. 



Dr. a. E. H. Tutton is to be congratulated on 

 the completion of a laborious piece of work which 

 he set himself in 1890. This was the investigation 

 of the isomorphous relations existing between the 

 sulphates and selenates of the alkali metals and 

 ammonium and the double salts of these with certain 

 divalent metals. It is noteworthy that this work 

 has been performed in his spare time, and for the 

 last twelve years in Devonshire. In his presidential 

 address to the Devonshire Association at Salcombe 

 on July 10, he gave a general review of the results 

 attained and of their bearing on the structure of 

 crystals and of- atoms. In all, seventy-five salts have 

 been worked out in the greatest possible detail and 

 their crystallographic and other constants determined 

 with the highest degree of accuracy, for which purpose 

 several elaborate instruments were specially designed. 

 In eighteen groups, in which potassium, rubidium, 

 and caesium are the replacing elements, it is repeatedly 

 and conclusively proved that the constants vary 

 with the atomic weights of these elements, and 

 consequently also with their atomic number and 

 atomic diameters. The dimensions deduced for the 

 structural units of these crystals have since been 

 amply confirmed by the X-ray analysis of crystal- 

 structure. But the more direct and very carefully 

 made observations will be of permanent value for 

 testing theories of the future. 



At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the 

 -Manchester Chamber of Commerce held on July 16, 

 the following resolutions were passed unanimously : 

 That, whereas the word " gallon " is at present 

 apable of different interpretations (due to the 

 lifference of about 20 per cent, between the Imperial 

 • iid the American gallon), and whereas the alternative 

 use of the litre is already sanctioned by law throughout 

 the commercial world, it is desirable that all traders 

 — especially those concerned in overseas trade — 

 should promote uniformity of trading practice by 

 in ploying the litre as thB sole unit of capaeity. 

 y>i .B. If those engaged in any special trade desire to 

 retain the word gallon it should be in the form of a 

 " new gallon " equal to 4 litres, which would ap- 

 proximately represent the average value of the 

 present conflicting gallons.) That, whereas the word 

 " ton " is at present capable of different interpreta- 

 tions according to whether the *■' long," " short," or 

 " metric " ton is intended, and whereas the use of 

 cwts.. quarters, stones, and other local weights 

 involves further confusion and loss of commercial 

 Kiciency, it is desirable that all traders — especially 

 iliose concerned in overseas trade— should express 

 the weights of goods in pounds only, and convert 

 uch pounds when desirable into equivalent weights 

 11 kilograms. 



Owing to the work of redecorating the rooms of 

 the Chemical Society, the library will be closed during 



NO. 2804, VOL. I 12] 



the entire month of August, and in accordance with 

 the usual practice will close at 5 p.m. daily on 

 September 1-17. 



The following have been elected honorary members 

 of the Society of Chemical Industry : Prof. C. F. 

 Chandler, United States ; Prince Ginori Conti, 

 president of the Italian Chemical Society ; M. Paul 

 Kestner, president of the French Society of Chemical 

 Industry ; Prof. Joji Sakurai, Japan ; and Sir 

 Dorabji J. Tata, India. 



The annual autumn meeting of the Institute of 

 Metals will be held in Manchester, on September 

 10-13. The meeting will open with the second 

 annual autumn lecture, to be delivered by Sir Henry 

 Fowler, on " The Use of Non-ferrous Metals in 

 Engineering." Papers will be read and discussed on 

 the mornings of September 11 and 12, and visits to 

 works and places of interest in the neighbourhood 

 have been arranged. 



Applications for Yarrow Research Professorships 

 will be received by the Secretaries of the Royal 

 Society until October i next, as the president and 

 council of the society will in the autumn consider 

 the appointment of one, or possibly more, professors 

 who will be expected to devote their whole time to 

 research in the mathematical, physical, chemical, or 

 engineering sciences. Further particulars are obtain- 

 able from the Assistant Secretary of the Royal 

 Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W.i. 



At the annual general meeting of the Royal 

 Veterinary College held on July 17 the Duke of 

 Connaught, president of the College, announced that, 

 in conformity with the recommendation recently 

 made by the advisory committee on Research in 

 Animal Diseases, the Development Commission, 

 through the Ministry of Agriculture, has made a 

 grant of 25,000/. for the erection of a new research 

 institute in connexion with the College. It is hoped 

 that the new premises will be ready for occupation 

 in less than a year. 



At the recent meeting of the trustees of the Beit 

 Memorial Fellowships for Medical Research, the 

 honorary secretary, Sir James Fowler, presented a 

 review of the work of the trust for the period 19 10- 

 1923. Since the foundation of the trust in 1909, 

 seventy-nine fellowships have been awarded. Origin- 

 ally the annual value of the fellowships was 250/. ; 

 this was increased to 300/. in 19 19 and to 400/. 

 in 1920. In 1922 they were reclassified as junior, 

 fourth-year, and senior, with the values, 350/., 400/. 

 and 600/. respectively. Of the first fifty fellows 

 elected, two have been made fellows of the Royal 

 Society, eight have secured professorships, four 

 have become directors of research institutes, and 

 most of the remainder are holding responsible 

 appointments. 



The Ramsay Memorial Fellowship Trustees have 

 made the following elections to fellowships and 

 renewals of fellowships for the Session 1923-24, the 

 place of research where stated being given after the 



