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NATURE 



[December io, 1914 



The following are among the lecture arrangements 

 at the Royal Institution, before Easter : — Prof. C. V. 

 Boys, a course of six experimentally illustrated lec- 

 tures, adapted to juvenile auditory, on science in the 

 home ; Prof. W. J. Pope, two lectures on colour photo- 

 graphy; Sir J. G. Frazer, two lectures on the belief 

 in immortality among the Polynesians ; Dr. H. G. 

 Plimmer, three lectures on modern theories and 

 methods in medicine; Dr. Chalmers Mitchell, three 

 lectures on zoological studies : war and evolution ; 

 Dr. Aubrey Strahan, two lectures on London geology ; 

 Dr. R. T. Glazebrook, two lectures on aerial naviga- 

 tion — scientific principles ; Sir J. J. Thomson, six lec- 

 tures on recent researches on atoms and ions. The 

 Friday evening- meetings will commence on January 

 22, when Sir James Dewar will deliver a discourse 

 on problems of hydrogen and the rare gases. Suc- 

 ceeding discourses will probably be given by Dr. 

 Dugald Clerk, Prof. A. W. Crossley, Dr. W. S. 

 Bruce, Prof. E. B. Poulton, Rev. A. L. Cortie, Sir 

 Rickman John Godlee, Prof. G. H. Bryan, Sir J. J. 

 Thomson, and other gentlemen. 



The death is announced, at fifty-seven years of age, 

 of Dr. A. Celli, professor of hygiene in the University 

 of Rome. The British Medical Journal gives the 

 following account of his career and scientific work : — - 

 When still quite young Prof. Celli was appointed to 

 the chair of hygiene at Palermo, from which, twelve 

 months later, he was transferred to Rome. There he 

 continued to work — teaching, investigating, and pro- 

 moting social legislation — till last May. To his per- 

 severing efi'orts were largely due the sanitary improve- 

 ments that have been made in the Campagna, and the 

 organised campaign for the suppression of malaria. 

 His scientific work covered a vast extent of ground, 

 including research on the parasites which cause 

 malaria, on cholera, on pellagra, on cerebro-spinal 

 meningitis, on dysentery, on flies as transmitters of 

 disease, on rabies, and many other subjects. He was 

 an untiring worker in the cause of social reform 

 through the spread of scientific knowledge. 



The death is reported, in his sixty-second year, of 

 Dr. John Nisbet, Forestry Adviser to the Scottish 

 Board of Agriculture. Dr. Nisbet was educated at 

 the Edinburgh Institution and University, passing 

 into the Indian Forest Service in 1875. He studied 

 forestry at Munich, taking the degree of Doctor in 

 National Economy. In Burma Nisbet proved himself 

 a sound forester and a brilliant writer. He rose to 

 the grade of Conservator of Forests, retiring in 1900. 

 In 1903 he was decorated with the Kaiser-i-Hind 

 gold medal for public service. His " Burma under 

 British Rule," published in 1901, received high com- 

 mendation. Dr. Nisbet spent his periods of furlough 

 in studying British forestry and in making extensive 

 tours in Continental woods. Ho thus proved a valu- 

 able coadjutor in the early 'nineties to Sir William 

 Schlich in the campaign the latter inaugurated to 

 arouse in these islands an interest in the forestrv 

 problem. Among the most important of Dr. Nisbet 's 

 publications of this period are " British Forest Trees " 

 (1893), "Protection of Woodlands" (1893), "Essays 

 on Sylviculture" (1893), "Studies in Forestry" (1894). 

 NO. 2354, VOL. 94] 



After retiring from India Dr. Nisbet was appointed 

 lecturer in forestry at the West of Scotland Agricul- 

 tural College, relinquishing this post in 1912 when 

 he was appointed to the Board of Agriculture. In these 

 posts he devoted himself and his whole energies with 

 an ardour which has not improbably shortened his life. 

 He proved himself, with his wide and ripe experience, 

 gained in many countries, a most valuable adviser 

 and interesting lecturer, and his loss will be severely 

 felt in Scotland by his Department, by the Scottish 

 Arboricultural Society, the Transactions of which he 

 edited at one time, and by many who sought his 

 advice. His later publications included "The Fores- 

 ter" (1905), "Our Forests and Woodlands" (1908), 

 and "The Elements of British Forestry" (191 1). 



The death of Emeritus Prof. Campbell Eraser, of 

 the University of Edinburgh, at the advanced age of 

 ninety-five years, removes one who knew the city 

 almost as Scott knew it. Dr. Eraser became pro- 

 fessor of logic in the New College, Edinburgh, in 

 1846, and ten years later he succeeded Sir William 

 Hamilton in the chair of logic and metaphysics in the 

 University of Edinburgh. To the active duties of his 

 chair he added very soon those of the dean of the 

 faculty of arts, and continued to act as dean until his 

 retirement from academic labours in 189 1. In the 

 early 'fifties he also edited the North British Review, 

 and came into touch with many of the most distin- 

 guished essayists and philosophers of the day. He 

 lectured in a simple, clear, unimpassioned style, which 

 did not appeal strongly to the ordinary student, but 

 to those who had philosophical tastes he proved an 

 admirable guide, and retained their affection to the 

 end. Some twenty of his students have occupied 

 chairs of philosophy in Great Britain and the Colonies, 

 and if we include professors in theological colleges 

 the number may be substantially increased. His 

 literary output was considerable, the editions of 

 Locke and Berkeley being of especial value ; and no 

 scientific man aiming at a philosophic understanding 

 of the principles of science can afford to neglect 

 Berkeley. As Gifford lecturer in Edinburgh in 1894-5 

 Campbell Eraser developed a philosophy of theism, 

 based on traditional Scottish lines, but worked out 

 in the broad spirit of the nineteenth century. His 

 interest in science was shown by his becoming, early 

 in his professorial career, a fellow of the Royal 

 Society of Edinburgh, serving as a member of 

 council for a term of years. Long after his retire- 

 ment he appeared with great regularity at the annual 

 graduation functions of the University, a tall though 

 slightly stooping figure, with lofty head and flowing 

 beard, the typical calm philosopher. 



We regret to learn of the death of Dr. G. B. 

 Guccia, whose work will always be regarded as one 

 of the outstanding elements in the development of 

 recent Italian mathematical science. Living in 

 Palermo, where he was connected with the business of 

 a printer and publisher, it occurred to Guccia in 1884 

 to start a local mathematical society, and to publish 

 printed accounts of its proceedings. Thus sprang into 

 existence the Circolo matematico di Palermo, with 

 twenty-seven original members, which number 



