NATURE 



[November 3. 1910 



published about forty years ago, a country was pictured 

 in which moral delinquency was treated with sympathy 

 and condolence, while bodily disease of all kinds was held 

 to be a crime, and was punished by fine or imprisonment. 

 I suppose it will take a good many generations to reach 

 that condition of enlightenment, but the time cannot be 

 far off when the propagation of infectious disease will in 

 all civili?-3d countries be abolished. 



The habitability of the planet Mars has of late been a 

 subject of much revived discussion. The possibility or 

 probability of the existence of intelligent beings in other 

 parts of the universe, long a subject of debate, is a ques- 

 tion of profound interest, but whether communication 

 with them from the earth can ever be established, who 

 can tell? 



But as to discovery in physical science, as already said, 

 the horizon widens as we go on ; but it seems not improb- 

 able that there is a limit set, though as yet very far off, 

 by the capacity of the human intellect. " Nature's ways 

 used to be thought simple, but now we know that she 

 is not only mysterious, but complex. However, there is 

 every reason to expect that great strides are possible, even 

 in the immediate future. The sort of problems which 

 remain to be solved are represented by such questions as 

 the following : — What is the cause and nature of gravita- 

 tion and other sorts of attraction? What is the difference 

 between positive and negative electricity, and what is 

 the relation of electricity to matter? What is the nature 

 of chemical affinity, and is it really electrical? What is 

 the constitution of the elements, and is the transmutation 

 of metals a dream or a physical possibility? 



The penetration into final causes seems as we proceed 

 to be further and further out of our reach. The problems 

 of life and mind are, up to the present, inaccessible to 

 man in his present state, and, notwithstanding the hopes 

 and beliefs of some physiologists, it is safe to say that 

 they will remain so for a long time to come, if not 

 always. 



And even in regard to common matter and the phvsical 

 forces, all we know about them is derived from the per- 

 ception of phenomena through the agency of our senses. 

 Now the senses, sight, hearing, and the rest, have been 

 evolved, not to provide the means of surveying nature, 

 but for the protection and advantage of the body to which 

 they belong. It is possible, therefore, that the human 

 view of phenomena is only a partial and imperfect view ; 

 at any rate, the world which is open to the sense percep- 

 tion of a man must be very different from that which is 

 perceived by many animals' with their highly specialised 

 senses, such as the scent of the dog, the sight of the 

 carrier pigeon, and perhaps other senses for which we 

 have no name. 



^^ " In its ultimate nature," said Herbert Spencer, 

 "matter is as absolutely incomprehensible as Space and 

 Time. Whatever supposition we frame leaves us nothing 

 but a choice between opposite absurdities." 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



Cambridge. — The Vice-Chancellor has published to the 

 Senate certain letters from the clerk to the Drapers' Com- 

 pany in which it is announced that the company is pre- 

 pared to erect a physiological laboratory at Cambridge at 

 a cost not exceeding 22,000/., and to make a further grant 

 of loooZ. for the equipment of it upon the following con- 

 ditions : — (i) that the site be given by the University and 

 approved by the company; (2) that the architect be 

 appointed and the plans approved by the company ; (3) that 

 the University undertake adequately to maintain the 

 laboratory when erected, and to provide the salaries of 

 teachers and demonstrators. A Grace will be proposed at 

 the next Congregation gratefully accepting the offer of the 

 Worshipful Company of Drapers, and a syndicate will be 

 appointed to discuss details with the company. 



Mr. R. S. Goodchild has been reappointed assistant secre- 

 tary to the Appointments Board for three j^ears. 



Glasgow. — On Wednesday, October 26, the services of 



Prof. William Jack, who lately resigned the chair of 



mathematics in the University of Glasgow after a tenure 



of thirty years, were suitably recognised at an interesting 



NO. 2140, VOL. 85] 



and largely attended ceremony in the Bute Hall. Si 

 Henry Craik, M.P. for the University, presented to th 

 Vice-Chancellor, Sir Donald MacAlister, K.C.B., a fin 

 portrait of the professor, painted by Sir James Guthri. 

 president of the Royal Scottish Academy, which had bet ■ 

 subscribed for as a gift to the Court by a large numb' : 

 of colleagues, students, and friends in all parts of th 

 world. In addition, a sum of 300Z. was provided for th 

 foundation of a William Jack prize, to be awarded a 

 intervals of three or four years to the author of the br- 

 dissertation on a mathematical subject submitted durin. 

 the period in question for the degree of Doctor of Scien 

 in the University. A present of plate bearing a corn 

 memorative inscription was made at the same time l' 

 Prof. Jack. The latter, in an interesting speech o 

 reminiscence, recalled the notable teachers and student 

 with whom he had been associated during the half-ccntur 

 of his connection with Glasgow. His successor, Prol 

 Gibson, explained the value of the new prize as a stimulus 

 to post-graduate study and research. The Vice-Chancellor, 

 on behalf of the Senate and Court, acknowledged its debt 

 to Prof. Jack, not only for what he had done, and done 

 well, but for what he had been — the trusted friend and 

 guide as well as the instructor of his students, the loyal 

 comrade and peacemaker among his fellow-workers. 



Mr. S. Brierley, formerly head of the Textile School, 

 Stroud, has been appointed head of the textile department 

 of the Huddersfield Technical College. 



Dr. J. A. EwiNG, C.B., F.R.S., Director of Naval 

 Education to the Admiralty, will distribute the prizes at 

 the Merchant Venturers' Technical College, Bristol, on 

 Thursday, December 15. 



Mr. J. G. Stewart, of Edinburgh, has been appointed 

 by the Essex Education Committee principal of the County 

 Laboratory at Chelmsford. One of the chief duties of the 

 office is to teach scientific farming to the agriculturists of 

 Essex and Herts. 



It is announced in Science that Mr. J. D. Rockefeller 

 has recently offered to give to Western Reserve University 

 for further endowment of its medical department the sum 

 of 5o,oooZ., provided 150,000/. additional is raised. Toward 

 this 20o,oooZ. fund Mr. H. M. Hanna, of Cleveland, ha? 

 given 50,000/. The trustees of the University have indi- 

 cated their intention to undertake to secure the 100,000/. 

 needed to complete the fund. Yale University is to receive 

 the residue of the estate of the late Mr. S. H. Lyman on 

 the death of the testator's brother, with the exception of 

 5000/. The value of the bequest is not known, but the 

 estate is said to be large. 



In Nature of October 13 a letter appeared from Mr. 

 E. G. Reiss, honorary secretary of the Apprenticeship and 

 Skilled Employment Association, directing attention to th. 

 fact that a number of laboratory monitors in secondar 

 schools, who, having reached the age of sixteen years, 

 were no longer eligible for employment by the London 

 County Council, wanted situations. Mr. Reiss writes to 

 say that he has succeeded in placing in various suitable 

 posts all the boys referred to, and points out that a number 

 of girls who have been employed in a similar capacity 

 also want suitable employment. As yet Mr. Reiss has 

 been unable to discover posts for these girls, and would 

 be glad of any suggestions as to openings for them. They 

 are about seventeen years of age. The address x>f the 

 association is 36 Denison House, 296 Vauxhall Bridge 

 Road, London, S.W. 



The Yarrow Educational Fund of the Institution of 

 Civil Engineers was established to afford assistance to 

 young men who desire to become engineers, who have 

 given proof of their capacity to profit by specialised educa- 

 tion and training, but who lack sufficient means to obtain 

 it. Grants varying between 50/. and 100/. per annum, for 

 a period not exceeding three years, may be made in the 

 discretion of the committee. Applicants for such grants 

 must be of British birth, not more than twenty-one years 

 of age, and must be prepared to qualify for attachment 

 as students of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Several 

 vacancies for scholarships under the fund will occur in 

 March, 191 1, and the council of the institution are pre- 

 ) pared to receive and consider applications therefor. 



