l82 



NATURE 



[February 9, 1922 



and more apparent in the effect they produce on 

 receiving appliances. 



The view that the strays which produce continu- 

 ous rattling or grinding noises in the telephone have 

 their origin in the high-level permanently conductive 

 layer of the atmosphere was also put forward by 

 Dr. de Groot, and he has employed ingenious argu- 

 ments to obtain an estimate of the height of this 

 layer, which he places at between 180 and 

 200 km. 



These estimates must, however, be brought into 

 comparison with the observations which have been 

 made on the heights of the aurora. Stormer has 

 made precise measurements of the parallax of the 

 beams and arches of aurorae by photographic ob- 

 servations at places connected by telephone, and 

 found, out of 150 observations, that the lowest 

 occurred at 40 km. and the highest at 260 km. 

 Much, however, depends upon latitude and the 

 height of the region ionised by cosmic dust may be 



greater at the terrestrial equator than at the poles. 

 The whole subject is of great importance in con- 

 nection with meteorology and terrestrial magnetism, 

 and invites the co-operation of physicists, astro- 

 nomers and meteorologists, as well as radio- 

 engineers. 



The matter is, however, of such immense prac- 

 tical importance in radio-telegraphy that improve- 

 ments or inventions connected with it are generally 

 kept as carefully-guarded secrets, at least, for some 

 time. Senatore Marconi spoke recently of inventions 

 due to himself and his technical staff which promise 

 a great advance in overcoming the interruptions of 

 service due to strays, but details are at present with- 

 held. 



The problem of eliminating altogether the effect 

 of strays on the receiver is at present the paramount 

 one in long-distance wireless telegraphy, as they 

 are a source of far greater difficulty than in short- 

 distance working. 



A Journal for Physical Measurements and Instruments. 



READERS of Nature, whether physicists or 

 others, will be interested to learn of the steps 

 which are being taken and the progress which has 

 been made in connection with the proposed new 

 journal dealing with physical instruments, the first 

 important task which the newly founded Institute of 

 Physics has set itself to accomplish. At the National 

 Physical Laboratory the need for such a journal has 

 long been felt; accordingly in 191 9 the director 

 addressed a letter directing attention to the needs of 

 a number of Government departments and workers 

 in various branches of science. 



The response was most gratifying. The 

 Admiralty, War Office, Ordnance Committee, 

 engineering department of the Post Office, and other 

 important bodies, all wrote approving the sugges- 

 tion and in many cases offering support, while men 

 of science — physicists, physiologists, miscroscopists, 

 zoologists, and engineers — warmly commended the 

 scheme, which also received the support of some 

 leading instrument makers, including the British 

 Optical Instrument Makers' Association and the 

 British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers 'Associa- 

 tion. As a result the Institute of Physics brought 

 the proposal before the Department of Scientific 

 and Industrial Research. A meeting was held 

 between representatives of ttie department and of 

 the institute under the chairmanship of Sir J. J. 



Thomson, at which a suggestion was made that a 

 single number might be prepared and issued as a 

 specimen with the view of seeing what support could 

 be obtained. 



This suggestion was, at a later date, conveyed 

 in a more formal manner to the department and 

 approved by their advisory council, and a joint 

 committee appointed by the department, the 

 National Physical Laboratory, and the institute has 

 been formed to give effect to it. 



The institute has accepted financial responsibility 

 for the publication of the journal provided scientific 

 and industrial associations and individuals to whom 

 the journal will be of service are prepared to 

 furnish adequate guarantees for its support. The 

 department will make a grant towards the cost of 

 printing the specimen number. 



The institute is to have the assistance of the staff 

 of the National Physical Laboratory in the prepara- 

 tion of this number, and Dr. Rayner has, at the 

 request of the committee, undertaken the duties of 

 editor. An announcement of the proposed journal 

 has been prepared and will be widely circulated 

 along with a request for support, and it is hoped 

 that the response will be such as to enable the in- 

 stitute to continue the task it has set itself and 

 produce a work which will fill the acknowledged 

 need. 



Obituary. 



Sir Henry Jones. 



IN Sir Henry Jones, professor of moral philo- 

 sophy in the University of Glasgow, who died on 

 February 4 at his home in Argyllshire, we lose 

 one of our greatest teachers and, since Edward 

 Caird, the leading representative of the Hegelian 

 influence and tradition in English university life. 

 A pathos surrounds the last few years of his life 

 NO. 2728, VOL. 109] 



and also throws light on his personal character and 

 strong mentality. He struggled against the painful 

 disease which has proved fatal with a courage 

 nothing short of heroic. He refused to give up, 

 or even to slacken, his regular work. He perse- 

 vered with his last undertaking, the Gifford lecture- 

 ship, under conditions which few could have en- 

 dured. He lectured even when speech was becoming 



