September i6, 1915J 



NATURE 



81 



loyalty of the staff. The prospectus follows the 

 i^eneral lines of previous years, and is, as usual, pro- 

 fusely illustrated. The Queen's University of Belfast 

 and the Corporation of Belfast have entered into an 

 li^reement whereby the Technical Institute is recog- 

 lised as a college in which students of the Univer- 

 sity may pursue a course, or part of a course, of study 

 qualifying for a degree or a diploma of the Univer- 

 -ity. The degrees obtainable are those of bachelor, 

 iiaster, and doctor of science. The departments 

 recognised are those of mechanical and electrical 

 engineering, chemical and textile technology, archi- 

 tecture and naval architecture. The day technical col- 

 lege has been established to provide instruction in the 

 science and technology of mechanical and electrical 

 engineering, the textile industries, and pure and 

 applied chemistry, and gives a sound training for 

 youths who aim at filling positions of responsibility in 

 the various industries. Belfast may be congratulated 

 upon the enterprise which has resulted in the establish- 

 ment of an institution in w^hich its young citizens can 

 equip themselves fully for their parts in the Industrial 

 life of the community. 



The new session of the Battersea Polytechnic opens 

 on September 21, and particulars of all the courses 

 and classes are given in its calendar, which is now 

 available. Full day and evening courses in prepara- 

 tion for the University of London intermediate and 

 final degree examinations in science, engineering, and 

 music have been arranged. In the day technical col- 

 lege, courses are arranged in mechanical, civil, elec- 

 trical, and motor engineering, architecture and build- 

 ing, and chemical engineering. The training depart- 

 ment of domestic science offers courses in preparation 

 for the teachers' diploma in domestic subjects. The 

 department of hygiene and physiology provides com- 

 plete courses In training for women sanitary inspectors 

 and health visitors. Full evening courses are pro- 

 vided in the various departments. In addition to Its 

 usual work, the polytechnic has adapted itself to meet 

 the needs occasioned by the war, and the following 

 will give some Indication of what is being done : — 

 Special Red Cross courses in first aid, home nursing, 

 cookery, and laundrywork for women are being held. 

 Belgian refugees are admitted to classes free of fee, 

 and many such students have taken the motor-car 

 engineering course, with a view to war service in 

 France or Belgium. The mechanical engineering de- 

 partment Is engaged in the manufacture of munitions, 

 and the chemical department on the preparation of 

 chemical substances for the Government. So far as Is 

 known at present 384 members of the polytechnic 

 governors, staff, and students have joined the Forces, 

 and at least forty-three of these hold commissions. 



The calendar for the next session, which is the 

 hundred and twentieth, of the Roval Technical Col- 

 lege, Glasgow, has reached us. It will be remem- 

 bered that in 1913 the college was afliliated to the 

 University of Glasgow. Candidates for tTie degree of 

 B.Sc. in applied science may attend the necessary 

 qualifying courses either in the University or In the 

 college, or In both. A noteworthy testimony to the 

 value of the instruction given at the college is its 

 recognition by various professional bodies and Govern- 

 ment departments. Thus, success in the civil engineering 

 courses exempts from the examinations of the Insti- 

 tution of Civil Engineers ; the college has been recog- 

 nised by the Board of Trade as suitable for the train- 

 ing of marine engineers ; the Home Secretary has 

 approved the college course of study in mining 

 engineering, and holders of the college diploma or 

 B.Sc. degree in mining are entitled to the exemption 

 authorised by the Coal Mines Act, iqii; the college 

 is on the register of the Institute of Chemistry; and 

 NO. 2394, VOL. 96] 



other instances could be given. The governors of the 

 college have succeeded in securing the co-operation 

 of employers. The calendar contains a long list of 

 firms willing to allow a selected number of their 

 apprentices facilities for carrying out a scheme of 

 college study conjoined with practical work; and 

 many Clyde shipping companies have promised to give 

 special consideration to applications for employment 

 from men who have gone through the college course 

 in navigation. The work of great technical colleges 

 like this institution is of vital national importance, 

 and it may be hoped it will receive from the State 

 the recognition it deserves. 



The acting registrar of the University of Durham 

 has sent us a list of the members of the staff of the 

 colleges of the university now serving with H.M. 

 Forces to supplement the lists given in Nature of 

 July 15 and in other issues. The list includes fifty-five 

 names, twenty of which are of members of the staff 

 of the College of Medicine, Newcastle. We give the 

 names only of members of the scientific staff on active 

 service. Durham Division : — P. A. Brown, lecturer in 

 economics, 2nd Lieut. 13th D.L.I. ; F. C. H. Carpenter, 

 lecturer in astronomy and observer, Lieut. 8th D.L.I. 

 Newcastle Division {Armstrong College) : — J. Gal- 

 lon, prize demonstrator in mining, 2nd Lieut. R.F.A. ; 

 F. C. Garrett, lecturer in chemistry, Lt.-Col. N. 

 Cyclists ; A. A. Hall, assistant lecturer in agricultural 

 chemistry, Lieut. 5th N.F. ; H. M. Hallsworth, pro- 

 fessor of economics, 2nd Lieut. O.T.C. ; T. H. Have- 

 lock, professor of applied mathematics and mathe- 

 matical physics, 2nd Lieut. O.T.C. ; W. B. Little, in- 

 structor in horticulture, 2nd Lieut. 9th D.L.I. ; H. 

 Morris-Airey, lecturer in physics, Lieut. R.N.V.R. ; 

 J. Morrow, lecturer In engineering, Major, O.C., 

 O.T.C. ; A. D. Peacock, lecturer in zoology, Sergt. 

 R.A.M.C. ; J. H. Poulton, prize demonstrator in phy- 

 sics, Sergt. 9th N.F.; J. W. Ramsbottom, lecturer in 

 commercial and industrial economics, Lieut. 20th 

 Manchester Regt. ; J. Small, demonstrator in botany, 

 Corpl. R.A.M.C; L. A. Thompson, lecturer In agri- 

 cultural surveying, Lieut. 7th D.L.I. ; L. M. Thomp- 

 son, prize demonstrator in geology, 2nd Lieut, nth 

 N. Staffs. ; T. Whitehead, assistant lecturer In agri- 

 cultural and forest botany, Capt. O.T.C. ; D. Woola- 

 cott, lecturer in geology, 2nd Lieut. O.T.C. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 

 Paris. 

 Academy of Sciences, September 6. — M. Camille 

 Jordan In the chair. — A. Lacroix : A new type of alka- 

 line granitic rock containing a eucolite. This rock 

 was found at Ampaslndava (Madagascar), and belongs 

 to the eudialyte-eucolite group, containing zirconia 

 (16-4 per cent.), and the oxides of cerium, lanthanum, 

 and didymium (22-5 per cent.).— J. Boussinesq : The 

 effect of a gradual contraction in a w-ater main on 

 the pressure In the contracted portion. A mathe- 

 matical discussion of the Venturi effect. — Charles 

 Richet : The stimulating action of magnesium salts 

 on the lactic fermentation. The maximum efTect on 

 the lactic fermentation is produced by 125 grams per 

 litre of crystallised magnesium chloride, MgCl2,6HjO, 

 very near to the concentration of the same salt found 

 by P. Delbet to exert the maximum effect on phago- 

 cytosis.— Paul Vulllemin : The morphological value of 

 the corona of the Amaryllidaceae. — Pierre Delbet and 

 M. Karajanopoulo : Cytophylaxy. In the defence of the 

 organism against infection the protection of the blood 

 cells (cytophylaxy) is at least as important as the use 

 of antiseptics, and the present paper gives an account 

 of experimental studies of the action of the various 

 solutions employed In the treatment of wounds on the 



