February 3, 19 16] 



NATURE 



629 



investigations of this department. One of his most 

 important inquiries was that on which he was engaged 

 from 1886 to 1890 in the solution of the problem of the 

 buffalo gnat in the valley of the Lower Mississippi. 



Dr. E. W. Hilgard, who has died in California at 

 the age of eighty-three, was a native of Rhenish 

 Bavaria, but was taken to the United States by his 

 parents in early childhood. His scientific studies were 

 pursued at Heidelberg, Zurich, and Freiberg. He be- 

 came successively State geologist of Mississippi, pro- 

 fessor of chemistry at the University of Mississippi, 

 and professor of geology at the University of Michigan. 

 His chief work was done as professor of agriculture 

 at the University of California from 1874 to 1904, and 

 as director of the California Agricultural Experiment 

 Station from 1888 to 1904. In 1875 he established the 

 first experiment station in the United States. He also 

 inaugurated the system of "farmers' institutes." He 

 received the Liebig medal from the Munich Academy 

 of Sciences, and a gold medal from the Paris Exposi- 

 tion of 1900. Dr. Hilgard was the author of numerous 

 reports and monographs, dealing especially with the 

 investigation of soils. 



By the death of Sir Francis H. Lovell on January 28 

 tropical medicine has lost one of its most ardent 

 advocates. For a period of many years, as dean of 

 the London School of Tropical Medicine, Sir Francis 

 directed and encouraged a work of incalculable benefit 

 to mankind. By missions to the East and to the 

 West he was able to bring home to the dwellers in the 

 tropics the value of a study of tropical diseases, and 

 collected funds to a substantial amount for the endow- 

 ment of the school. Francis Lovell began his life- 

 work as Colonial Surgeon of Sierra Leone, 1873-78. 

 He then became chief medical officer of Mauritius, and 

 member of the Legislative Council, 1878-93, and was 

 afterwards appointed Surgeon-General of Trinidad and 

 Tobago, and member of the Executive and Legislative 

 Councils, 1893-1901. He retired from the Colonial 

 service in the latter year, and in 1903 became dean 

 of the Tropical School, to the council of which he 

 brought a ripe experience and a full appreciation of 

 the value of scientific research. He was a fellow of 

 the Royal College of Surgeons, was created C.M.G. 

 in 1893, and received the honour of knighthood in 

 1900. A man of sterling worth and genial personality, 

 his death leaves a blank which will not be filled easily. 



There is now at the London Library a small but 

 very interesting exhibit of early printed books on 

 astronomy, from the collection of Mr. Gilbert R. Red- 

 grave. Many of them are from the press of Erhard 

 Ratdolt, whose fine work at Augsberg and Venice is 

 so well known. There is a splendid copy of a 

 "Kalendar" by Monteregio (otherwise Regiomon- 

 tanus), in Italian, and an even finer one in Latin, both 

 printed by Ratdolt at Venice in 1476 — works now of 

 great rarity. There is also a very rare folio tract by 

 the same author, " Universis Bonarum Artium Studi," 

 printed at Nuremberg in 1476. These appear to be 

 in absolutely perfect condition. Among other fifteenth- 

 century books mention may be made of a fine copy 

 of Hyginus, " Poeticon Astronomicon," of 1487, as 

 well as the less rare edition of 1488. The diagrams 

 NO. 2414, VOL. 96] 



of eclipses, etc. , are frequently coloured — some by hand 

 and some printed in colours. Two works of later 

 date, but of special interest, are Galileo's " Istoria e 

 dimostrazioni," of 1613, describing the newly dis- 

 covered spots on the sun, and announcing the con- 

 figurations of Jupiter's satellites, and his "Dialogo" 

 on the Ptolemaic and Copernican systems, which 

 occasioned his condemnation by the Inquisition. The 

 only English book is a fine copy of the first edition 

 of Newton's "Principia" (1687). 



On the occasion of the establishment of the Willard 

 Gibbs chair of research in pure chemistry in the 

 University of Pittsburgh, Prof. M. T. Bogert delivered 

 an address on the "Value of Research in Pure Chem- 

 istry," which is printed in Science (vol. xlii.. No. 109 1, 

 P- 737)- The part played by chemistry, "the intelli- 

 gence department of industry," in bringing about the 

 astonishing achievements of the last fifty years is 

 sketched briefly but convincingly. Investigations in 

 pure science laid those broad foundations upon which 

 has been erected the wonderful structure of modern 

 industrial operations. It will be recalled that two 

 years ago, when in England, Prof. Bogert put forward 

 the opinion that the most pressing need of the day was 

 the proper endowment of chemical research by the 

 providing of great research institutes and the creation 

 of research professorships. Whilst it seems that in 

 England these words had little effect, the United States 

 are " beginning to awaken to the fact that civilisation 

 unarmed by science is at a terrible disadvantage in the 

 event of a struggle for existence, and that this arming 

 cannot be done at short notice. The result is a loud 

 and urgent call upon the universities, colleges, and 

 technical schools of the land for help." The establish- 

 ment of a chair of research in pure chemistry in so 

 eminently a practical centre as Pittsburgh is an occa- 

 sion for warmest congratulations. It is peculiarly 

 appropriate that the new chair should bear the name 

 of Josiah Willard Gibbs, who has been styled by 

 Ostwald "by far the greatest man of science America 

 has yet produced." 



Many representatives of chambers of commerce, with 

 mayors, lord provosts, bankers, merchants, and busi- 

 ness men attended a meeting held at the Guildhall, 

 London, on Monday, to consider measures which 

 should be taken after the war for the promotion of 

 trade and commerce, and to deal with the subject of 

 industrial employment. The Lord Mayor presided, 

 supported by the Sheriffs and many members of the 

 Corporation. The following motion, proposed by Sir 

 Algernon Firth, president of the Association of Cham- 

 bers of Commerce, was carried unanimously: — "That 

 in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that 

 immediate steps be taken by his Majesty's Govern- 

 ment, chambers of commerce, and other kindred asso- 

 ciations, throughout the country, to formulate in close 

 co-operation adequate action for the defence and im- 

 provement of trade and employment after the war, and 

 with this object in view this meeting suggests full 

 discussion of the fiscal, legislative, and voluntary 

 efforts which ought to be made, and of the concen- 

 trated action and decisions which must be taken ; and 

 recommends the establishment of a Ministry of Com- 



