July 21, 1921] 



NATURE 



^S7 



forms of literary or scientific learning, nor will its 

 value be less as an instrument for equipping the 

 intellect and training the mind." On the subject 

 of touch with industry, he continued: "Until 

 the student knows some of the features of 

 the industry in which he will be engaged, 

 he finds it difficult to realise the significance 

 of many parts of his training. . . . In my 

 opinion, the advantages of early touch outweigh its 

 disadvantages. " " The type of men which it should 

 be the aim of the universities to turn out . . . must 

 be willing to study all the conditions of their prob- 

 lems before they are sufficiently satisfied with their 

 solutions to carry them into effect. These con- 

 ditions require, not a solution, but the solution 

 which can be brought into operation with the least 

 possible disturbance of the things that are, with- 

 out needless change of raw material, machinery, 

 or personnel, but w ith the advantage of diminished 

 cost, enlarged production, and increased value or 

 efficiency." 



Presiding over the morning session on July 8, 

 which was devoted to the consideration of "The 

 Universities and Research," Lord Robert Cecil 

 spoke of his friendship with Lord Rayleigh and of 

 his astonishment at the freshness with which he 

 retained until the last days of his life his interest 

 in the advance of knowledge. 



After a paper by Sir Frederic Kenyon on 

 humanistic research, and one by Prof. Firth on 

 historical research and university teaching, Prof. 

 Joly spoke on scientific research. He recalled 



the fact that it was in Oxford that the Royal 

 Society, the greatest of research societies, had 

 Its origin in the endeavours of such diverse spirits 

 as W'ilkins, Boyle, Wren, Seth Ward, and \\ allis. 

 "The argument for research in universities rests 

 upon the broad basis of the value of the intel- 

 lectual progress of mankind. I think I am correct 

 in saying that most men who have adopted a life 

 of research, or have made research the object of 

 their special interest, have acquired their intel- 

 lectual ideals in the days of their college 

 life." If his teachers are without interest 

 in research, the enthusiasm to create new- 

 knowledge is not implanted in the student. 

 " Perhaps the most striking feature of Ameri- 

 can universities, as viewed by the British 

 visitor, is the prevalence of research, and the 

 lavish provision made for its prosecution. It ex- 

 tends into every branch of university work.". 

 "The American recognises to the full the value 

 of the mental attitude induced by research, and 

 this recognition is not confined to the university 

 professor, from whom it may be expected, but 

 extends, <,o far as I could gather, everywhere 

 throughout the States." 



The discussions of the Congress, which were 

 carried on with great vigour, are likely to prove 

 fruitful in the minds of those who heard them. 

 The permanent, and perhaps more important, out- 

 come will be the full Report of the Proceedings of 

 the Congress, which will be published by Messrs. 

 G. Bell and Sons in the autumn. 



Gold Medal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 



Award to Sir Almroth Wright. 

 A T "the recent annual meeting of the fellows of 

 ■^^ the Royal Society of Medicine the president, 

 Sir John Bland-Sutton, announced that the re- 

 cently founded gold medal of the society had been 

 awarded to Sir Almroth Wright in recognition of 

 the value of his important con- 

 tributions to medical science, 

 and particularly of those made 

 during the war. Unfortunately , 

 Sir Almroth Wright, who had 

 been compelled to go abroad, 

 was unable to be present, but 

 had written very cordially 

 thanking the council of the 

 society and expressing his 

 great appreciation of the 

 honour bestowed upon him. 

 In his absence, the medal was 

 handed to his brother. Dr. 

 Hagberg Wright. 



The council of the society 

 was enabled to institute the 

 gold medal by the generosity of the late 

 Dr. Robert Murray Leslie, who transferred 

 to the society investments in perpetual trust for 

 the purpose. The trust deed provides that the 

 medal is to be awarded every three years, and is 

 hereafter to be presented 0:1 St. Luke's Day 

 XO. 26qQ. VOL. 107] 



(October 18) to a scientific worker, man or 

 woman, who has made valuable contributions to 

 the science and art of medicine. It was specially 

 provided that the first award should, if possible, 

 be made for original or other work in con- 

 nection with military medicine and surgery 



which had proved of value during the Great 

 War. 



The council of the society felt that for such an 

 award an effort should be made to produce a medal 

 which, in art and symbolism, should be worthy of 

 'he occasion, and upon the advice of Mr. G. F. 



