;86 



NATURE 



[January 19, 191 1 



realised, was, in fact, reborn, and existed in our present 

 phase of civilisation in the splendid creations and the 

 self-reliant, hopeful, and sober enthusiasm of the men of 

 science of the nineteenth century. The Greeks, were they 

 able to visit us now, would have nothing but contempt 

 for our Greek compulsionists. At the conclusion of his 

 address he proposed a possible and desirable course of 

 -school education when compulsory science had banished 

 the usurper — compulsory Greek. 



Sir William Tilden, in proposing a vote of thanks, 

 pointed out the advances made in the schools during recent 

 years, and mentioned that the boys who were compelled 

 to learn Greek were fewer than those obliged to study 

 science. 



Sir J. J. Thomson was elected president for the coming 

 year. 



Mr. A. Vassall read a paper on the education of 

 medical students, and explained the powers which the 

 General Medical Council actually possess, and referred to 

 further powers to which the General Medical Council 

 appear to lay claim. He deprecated any attempt on the 

 part of the Medical Council to dictate a syllabus of 

 ■general, as distinct from technical, education. Prof. 

 Osier, in the course of the discussion, supported the view 

 that the early scientific training of medical students could 

 be undertaken by public schools. 



In his paper on the experimental determination of the 

 equivalent of magnesium, Mr. W. M. Hooton explained 

 the complex reactions which actually occur when 

 magnesium is heated in a porcelain crucible. .As usually 

 performed, the products include, in addition to the oxide 

 of the metal, magnesium nitride and silicide, carbon, and 

 •possibly silicon. We should like to see more papers of 

 this type, for there are many text-book exercises in vogue, 

 both in class and in examinations, which call for careful 

 revision. Mr. Hooton did not only succeed in the 

 -analytical investigation — he further developed a revised 

 and satisfactory manner of performing this quantitative 

 exercise which is of considerable value in an elementary 

 course. 



A good discussion was evoked by Mr. Eggar's paper on 

 teaching English in connection with science lessons. The 

 opener and Mr. Lewis, who followed, dwelt mainly on the 

 Taults prevalent in boys' notes, but subsequent speakers 

 ■offered constructive suggestions for improvement. Prof. 

 R. \. Gregory asked that more prominence be given to 

 the romance of science. Scientific work of the last ten 

 years had been concentrated on the drudgery of the labora- 

 tory, and the inspiration of early days had been neglected. 

 This neglect was detrimental to scientific progress, and he 

 wished schools more effectually to cultivate interest in 

 the higher aspects of science. Dr. Gow (Westminster) 

 said that the difficulty in regard to accurate language was 

 felt in every branch of school teaching. After a long 

 and interesting debate, the chairman suggested the possi- 

 bility of a correlation report, to be drawn up in associa- 

 tion with teachers of English. 



.Another useful debate arose on the question of "W^ave 

 Theory versus Rays " in the teaching of light, the respec- 

 tive protagonists being Mr. J. Talbot and Mr. C. F. Mott. 

 Dr. T. P. Nunn uttered a needed caveat against dogmatic 

 exposition of ideas relating to the aether, and showed how 

 simply some of the most useful formula; of optics could 

 be obtained by heuristic lessons without unverified assump- 

 tions. The outcome of the discussion appeared to us to 

 be that it was possible to secure the .presentation of useful 

 concepts of the wave theory to a class of boys of age 

 sixteen, and that the process was valuable educationally. 



Mr. R. W. Sloley contributed a paper on teaching con- 

 cepts of energv and potential. 



The exhibition of scientific apparatus and books was 

 of large extent and good quality. Twelve of the best 

 known firms in the trade had arranged extensive exhibits, 

 which included not a few novelties. There were also 

 about forty pieces of apparatus contributed by the members 

 of the association, in some instances the handiwork of 

 pupils. Half a dozen leading publishers sent their latest 

 books on science subjects, and it was satisfactory to note 

 the large proportion of advanced books which were shown, 

 ^ost of the members and guests devoted a considerable 

 time to the examination of the exhibits, which were well 



NO. 2 15 I, VOL, 85] 



displayed, and suggested many practical aids to work in 

 laboratory and lecture-room. 



In promoting social intercourse among science and 

 mathematical masters from various parts of the country, 

 this year's congress was even more successful than its 

 predecessors. Much of the credit for this must be given 

 to Mr. D. J. P. Berridge, who is retiring from the oftica 

 of honorary secretary after giving to the Public School 

 Science Masters' Association several years of hard, 

 successful work. G. F. D. 



GEOLOGY OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 

 A .MONG the later memoirs of the Geological Survey of 

 ■^ Great Britain, for which Mr. T. Fisher Unwin is 

 wholesale agent, is that accompanying Sheet 142 of th^ 

 i-inch map, on " The Geology of the Melton Mowbray 

 District and South-east Nottinghamshire," by Messrs. 

 Lamplugh, Gibson, Wedd, Sherlock, and Smith (price 

 25. 3d.). The map (price 15. 6d.) is a good one for show- 

 ing the irregular distribution of boulder-clay across the 

 ridge of Middle Lias, and its cessation in the Vale of 

 Belvoir. Rhaetic beds are recognised above the " to 

 green marls " of the Keuper in the north and west. 1 

 the memoir it is pointed out that the Vale of Belvoir 

 must have lain in the glaciated region, but was an area 

 of stripping rather than of accumulation. Melton Mow- 

 bray probably stands over a concealed coalfield, which 

 has been proved by borings to the north-west, and which 

 may extend far to the south-east. 



The tenth part of " The Geology of the South Wales 

 Coalfield " has also been issued by the Survey, and is 

 written by Messrs. Strahan, Cantrill, Dixon, and Thoma* 

 (price 2S.). It accompanies Sheet 229 of the map, whicf 

 appears both in " solid " and drift editions. Part of the 

 area was surveyed by Mr. B. S. N. Wilkinson, now 

 senior geologist on the Irish Survey. The features of 

 economic importance are dealt with in the description of 

 the coalfield, which appears in the south-east of the map, 

 and in chapter xv., on metallic ores, building stones, &c. 

 The subdivisions of the Ordovician strata, including t'" 

 Llanvirn series, are now shown in considerable detail ■ 

 the colour-printed map, and Upper Tremadoc beds a 

 also recognised in a band south of Carmarthen tow 

 The Old Red Sandstone makes distinctly hilly couni. 

 along the coast, and is cut across its strike by the main 

 streams. The journey westward from Kidwelly thus 

 involves two picturesque but sometimes breezy ferri*^- 

 while the railway runs in milder Ordovician country 

 the north. The drift map shows patchy remnants of 

 sheet of boulder-clay, deposited by ice moving westwa 

 and southward down the Towy Valley, but disregard! 

 its local windings. In the extreme west of the area 

 probably came in from the north-west. It is sugges; 

 (p. 147) that the chalk-flints which are fairly common 

 the glacial gravels were derived from Cainozoic depo>; 

 which have been swept away. 



Messrs. Lamplugh and Gibson have described " 1 

 Geology of the Country around Nottingham " (1910, pr; 

 25.), with an accompanying map, specially composed .^ot 

 parts of four sheets (price 15. 6d.). .Attention is directed 

 to points where local research is still required, a featiK- 

 of the memoir that will be welcomed in a district fame 

 for its amateur geologists. This official work has, ind.-i 

 been undertaken in an educational spirit, and is cert.i 

 to meet with a gratifying response. 



Mr. H. J. Osborne White writes on " The Geology 

 the Country around Alresford " (19 10, price 2s.), and 

 colour-printed reproduction (price is. 6d.) is now issu 

 of the drift-sheet No. 300, first published in i8q8. T 

 district lies on the edge of the chalk of Salisbury Pla: 

 which is followed so picturesquely on the east by the higij | 

 commons of the Lower Greensand beyond Lyss and 

 Kingsley. A memoir describing the country that includes j 

 the village of Selborne, nestling in its vale at the foot ofj 

 the Lower Chalk escarpment, will appeal to manv 

 naturalists. Mr. O. White pavs special attention to t 

 zoning of the Chalk. Types' of soil and questions ■ _ 

 water supply are dealt with in the concluding pages, and, 

 there are some interesting notes on river-capture (pp. 74! 

 and 75). 



