Physics 557 



In 1873 there was issued among the "Miscellaneous Con- 

 tributions " the beginning of a very important series of statis- 

 tical publications, under the general title of " The Constants 

 of Nature," by Professor F. W. Clarke. Part i of the series con- 

 sists of a table of specific gravities, boiling and melting points 

 for solids and liquids, and chemical formula;. It has been 

 supplemented and revised from time to time, the latest addi- 

 tion bearing date of 1888. Other volumes contained tables 

 of specific heats, coefficients of expansion, etc., and that con- 

 taining atomic weights was compiled by Mr. G. F. Becker. 

 The whole series, to which additions are being continually 

 made, has hardly a rival in any language, and its issue well 

 illustrates the usefulness of the publication feature of the 

 Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian Reports for 1873 

 and 1874 contain a technical paper of considerable length and 

 great value " On Warming and Ventilating Occupied Build- 

 ings," by the well-known French engineer and technologist, 

 Morin. Its reproduction was most timely, for little consider- 

 ation was given this important matter by architects and 

 builders a quarter of a century ago. The Report for 1880 

 contains a reprint from the report of the United States Light- 

 house Board for 1875 of Henry's "Investigations Relative to 

 Illuminating Material," made in the interest of the Lighthouse 

 establishment. This is a detailed account of the earlier 

 stages of the study of illuminants carried on by the Board 

 during the past thirty years, which has resulted in the exclu- 

 sive use of petroleum oils in the Lighthouse service. Pro- 

 fessor Henry's report brings the work down to the begiiiniiig 

 of this use. 



With the Report for 1880 there was begun a series of an- 

 nual " Reports of Progress " in the various branches of sci- 

 ence, prepared by well-known specialists. This series was 

 discontinued in 1888, for reasons given in the Smithsonian 

 36* 



