15^ 



NATURE 



[January 3, 19 18 



place, there seems to be no reason why abstracts of 

 scientific papers should be prepared by the national 

 societies. At present, for instance, there are at leasit 

 four complete sets of abstracts of chemical papers pre- 

 pared in different countries, together with a number 

 of less complete sets, and this represents a great over- 

 lapping and duplication of effort. Secondly, sciences 

 which have not so many or such wealthy workers 

 as chemistry cannot afford to produce any complete 

 abstract journals, so that in these sciences reference to 

 the literature is much more difficult. There seems to 

 be no reason why an interchange of abstracts between 

 different countries could not be arranged, and, indeed, 

 it might be the best method of obtaining abstracts to 

 have 'the author of a paper supply an aibstract suitable 

 in form and length for the abstract journal at the 

 same time that he sends his paper to the journal which 

 publishes it. 



(3) The Utilisation of Scientific Knowledge. 



The actual application of science to industry is so 

 vas(t a subject that it cannot be considered here, but 

 it is not satisfactory to leave the results of research 

 at the point where they are published an papers and 

 filed in the abstract journals. In order to make them 

 available as a pant of scientific know,ledge the new 

 information as it is obtained must be incorporated in 

 books. 



There are three classes of books dealing with scien- 

 tific work, which require separate consideration. The 

 first class comprises the dictionaries, in wihich almost 

 all the progress in some (branches of science can con- 

 veniently be summarised. Beilstein's "Dictionary of 

 Organic Chemistry" is a good example of the way 

 in which almost all the facts of a science can be absorbed 

 in a classified form and made available for ready refer- 

 ence. These dictionaries, in fact, represent the critical 

 and discriminating summary of the scientific publica- 

 tions on the subjects with which they deal, and the 

 preparation of such dictionaries should be ensured by 

 international co-operation of the national societies. 



Other sciences^ however, do not by their nature 

 lend themselves to the convenient preparation of dic- 

 tionaries, and what is wanted in this case are critical 

 and well-arranged handbooks covering the whole 

 science, and resuming impartially, but critically, the 

 various additions which are made from time to time 

 in the different branches of the subject. These hand- 

 books, as well as the dictionaries, would, of course, 

 require the addition of supplementary volumes from 

 time to time, and occasional complete revision. 



The preparation of both dictionaries and handbooks 

 would, of course, be greatly facilitated by the existence 

 of a numerically classified card index to the literature 

 concerned, and the preparation and revision of such 

 books might well be undertaken in connection with the 

 large libraries having (in their possession the complete 

 classified card indexes. 



On the other hand, for the assistance of advanced 

 students of science, what is required is a steady supply 

 of monographs correlating critically and comprehen- 

 sively all the literature in a special field, and these 

 must be brought up to date from time to time. Such 

 monographs are especially required in connection with 

 rapidly developing new branches of science ; it is diffi- 

 cult to over-esitimate the importance and value for pro- 

 gress in research of such a book as Bragg's "X-rays 

 and Crystal Structure," for instance, and while nothing 

 should be done to hinder individual initiative in pub- 

 lishing such books, it would seem that when it was 

 apparent that some branch of science required such 

 a monogranh a national society might very well ap- 

 proach well-known workers in the field and request 

 them to write such a book, offering its assistance in 

 the matter of bibliography, and also offering to arrange 

 for the publication of the manuscript. 

 NO. 2514, VOL. 100] 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



The Science Museum, South Kensington, was re- 

 opened to the public on Tuesday, January i. The 

 museum has been closed to the public for nearly two 

 years; it has, however, been open without interruption 

 for students. As compared with 19 14 conditions, the 

 extent and the hours of opening for 1918 are somewhat 

 reduced, but the greater part of the museum will be 

 open free on every weekday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 

 and on Sundays from 2.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. The collec- 

 tions contain many unique objects of great interest as 

 representing discoveries, inventions, and appliances that 

 have been of first-rate importance in the advancement 

 of science and of industry. Such objects as Watt's 

 engines, early locomotives, steamships, flying machines, 

 reaping machines, and textile machinery are records of 

 British contributions to the progress of the world ; and 

 it is gratifying that these can again be made available 

 for inspection by visitors to London from all parts of 

 the United Kingdom and from distant parts of the 

 Empire. 



A COPY of the calendar for the session 1917-18 of 

 the University of Sheffield has been received. In addi- 

 tion to the courses of study arranged for students 

 preparing for graduation in the ordinary university 

 faculties, many other departments, designed to meet 

 the more special needs of the area served by the Univer- 

 sity, have been inaugurated. Among these may be 

 mentioned the two years' course of work in the Univer- 

 sity and the Sheffield Training College of Domestic 

 Science ; lectures on welfare work for men and women ; 

 and an extensive system of University extension work. 

 The departments of applied science are intimately asso- 

 ciated with local industries. The faculty of engineer- 

 ing, for instance, includes departments of mechanical, 

 electrical, civil, mining, and chemical engineering, ap- 

 plied chemistry, building, and glass technology. The 

 faculty of metallurgy is concerned with ferrous and 

 non-ferrous metallurgy. The diplomas and certificates 

 of the University are recognised as exempting from 

 examinations for admission to manv professional insti- 

 tutions ; and the University has. also, been recognised 

 by the Home Office as an approved institution for the 

 examination of mine surveyors. A research delegacy 

 in glass technology, consisting partly of members of 

 the University and partlv of representatives of the glass 

 industry, has been instituted. The aims of the dele- 

 gacy are to promote research in glass technology and 

 to provide for the teaching and training of students in 

 this subject. 



An interesting account was published in the Times 

 of December 29 of " Khaki College," a school of civil 

 learning which has been inaugurated in a division of 

 the Canadian Army stationed at Witley Camp in 

 Surrey. Khaki College is the expression of the spirit 

 and ideal of a young and vigorous Oversea nation ; 

 and its most important aim is to help young soldiers, 

 whose studies may have been interrupted by the war, 

 still to equip themselves for the return to civil life. 

 At a camp there is little for the men to do in the 

 evenings, and those responsible for providing healthy 

 recreation for the Canadian soldiers organised regular 

 meetings of men under a tree in the " Pine Grove " to 

 discuss questions of academic interest, and to listen to 

 lectures by officers in command. Soon a demand 

 arose for regular classes, and the would-be students 

 were so many that the authorities of the Canadian 

 Army decided to organise Khaki College. The teach- 

 ing staffs are recruited from within the Canadian 

 Army, and consist of university professors and others. 

 The courses of lectures cover classics, history, modern 

 languages and literatures, mathematics and engineer- 



