^ 



NATURE 



[November v], 1892 



number of workers, and the first step taken in this direction 

 was the founding of a laboratory by the Boston Society of 

 Natural History. In their report for 1881 these words occur : 



" It has been considered dcrsirable to found a summer labo- 

 ratory sufficient to supply the needs of a class of persons who 

 have begun to work practically under our direction, but have 

 hitherto had no convenient means for pursuing their studies on 



the seashore We are sure that such a laboratory i> 



needed for a limited number of persons, such as our own pupils 

 in natural history, and some of the teachers of the Boston public 

 schools, about a dozm in all, but we are not sure of any real 

 demand outside of these." 



Arrangements for laboratory work were speedily made at 

 Aiinisquam, Mass. Boats and appliances for collecting were 

 at once provioed, and in the spring of 1881 a circular was 

 issued armouncmg the openins^ of the new laboratory. From 

 this the following extracts are taken : — 



"The liberality and co operation of the Woman's Educa- 

 tional Association enable the Boston Society of Natural History 

 •to announce that a seaside laboratory, under the direction of 

 the curator (Prof. Alpheus Hyatt), and capable of accommo- 

 dating a limited number of students, will be open at Annis- 

 quam, Mass., from June 5 to September 15. 



"The purpose of this laboratory is to afford opportunities 

 for the study and observation of the development, anatomy, 

 and habits of common types of marine animals, under 

 suitable direction and advice. There will, therefore, be no at- 

 tempt during the coming summer to give any stated course of 

 instruction or lectures. 



"It is believed that such a laboratory will meet the wants of 

 a number of students, teachers, and others who have already 

 made a beginning in the study of natural history." 



Twenty two persons were attracted to the Annisquam labo- 

 rat ry during its first season. Prof. Hyatt, in his report for 

 1882, remarks as follows : — 



"The great need of an institution for teaching field work can- 

 not be properly estimated by the number of those who are at- 

 tracted by the opening of such opportunities for study. The 

 mental condition of those who attend, and what it has done for 

 them, and the sphere of influence which it reaches through 

 them, are the only true standards by which its present and 

 future usefulness can be properly measured. Nearly all the 

 pupils were persons who could be termed ' well educated ; ' 

 nevertheless they were, with the exception of some who had 

 already worked in the laboratory or field, entirely unable to 

 obtain knowledge with their own eyes and hands, and had even 

 acquired a notion that this was not possible for anybody except the 

 tramed man of science. Several of these teachers, after their work 

 was finished, expressed their gratefulness for the new powers the 

 course had developed in themselves, and the fascinating pleasure 

 they had experienced in learning to use their own eyes and 

 hands in the study of things hitherto unapproachable for their 

 uncultivated senses except through the deceptive mediation of 

 books. When it is remembered that these teachers influence 

 and mould the minds of thousands of young persons it is at the 

 same time proved that what this laboratory has done and can do 

 is not to be estimated by the nnmber of its own pupils." 



The success of the undertaking seemed assured, and arrange- 

 ments were made for its continuance during the five years fol- 

 lowing. The number of students fluctuated greatly, fallmg to 

 ten in the third year, and running up in the sixth year to twenty- 

 six. 



During these six years the laboratory was carried on jointly 

 by the Boston Society of Natural History and the Woman's 

 Educational Association of Boston, It has been the policy of 

 both of these associations to originate new enterprises, but to 

 turn them over when well started into other hands. It seemed 

 in 1887 that the time had come when the maintenance of the 

 laboratory should be put on a firmer basis. It had been sup- 

 ported long enough to demonstrate its practicability and useful- 

 ness. The demands upon it had increased. It was no longer 

 an experiment. The associations believed that a permanent 

 organization should be effected, the working facilities increased, 

 and the whole established on a larger scale. Moreover, it 

 seemed that something more might be done to give the labo- 

 ratory a wider sphere of usefulness in advancing knowledge of 

 marine like. Great as was its work in teaching, it seemed to 

 depend for its support upon a circle of people too small for 

 the extent of its benefits. It seemed desirable that a change 

 should come which would lead to a more widespread interest in 



NO. 1203, VOL. 47] 



the laboratory, and bring together more investigators. The 

 Marine Biological Laboratory was the result of this movement. 



While space will permit but a brief account of this labo- 

 ratory, its history, development, aims, &c., it may be said 

 that the one point which distinguished it from the Annisquam 

 laboratory was the prominence given to research. Students are 

 received, but from the outset there has been a settled deter- 

 mination to so adjust the claims of each as to secure the greatest 

 amount of efficiency and do most to advance science. The 

 organization was therefore effected so as to secure a permanent 

 staff of investigators, who would always be present, increasing 

 knowledge by their own work, and by their example stimulating 

 others to follow. Moreover, the principle was thoroughly 

 recognized that the best investigation is prompted by the work 

 of teaching. The best investigator is often the best teacher, 

 but the work of teaching reacts upon the work of investigation, 

 influencing it for the better. 



The experience of the laboratory shows that these points, 

 which had previously been carefully considered, were well taken. 

 Various means were resorted to for providing funds, and in 

 March, 1888, the laboratory was incorporated. 



Wood's Holl was chosen as a locality because of its con- 

 venience, accessibility, and the variety of its land and marine 

 flora and fauna. The building was at once begun, and finished 

 in time for work during the summer. Circulars could not be 

 issued until after most of the colleges had disbanded for the 

 summer, and yet during the first season seven investigators and 

 eight students were attracted to the laboratory. 



In subsequent years the growth has been a steady one. The 

 number of workers has greatly increased, and even now, when 

 only its third season has been passed, it is stated that the space 

 is insufficient to meet the demands upon it ; the facilities for 

 collecting are too small, and the staff of instructors is not large 

 enough for their classes. Its usefulness is now established, and 

 the time is ripe for it. To it in great measure the United 

 States must look for the advancement of biology. Let us hope 

 that its trustees, all of whom are working biologists, may be 

 successful in placing the laboratory upon such a financial basis 

 that its full possibilities for usefulness may be realized. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



Cambridge,— Dr. Hill, Master of Downing College, has 

 been appointed Chairman of the Natural Science Tripos 

 Examiners for 1893. An election to an Isaac Newton Student- 

 ship in Astronomy, Astronomical Physics, and Physical Optics, 

 will be held in the Lent term 1893. Candidates must be B. A.'s, 

 and under twenty-five years of age on January i. The emolu- 

 ments are £200 per annum for three years. Applications are 

 to be addressed to the Vice-Chancellor between January 17 and 

 27, with testimonials or other evidence of competency. 



Dr. Lorrain-Smith, M.D. Edin., Demonstrator of Physiology 

 at Oxford, and Dr. F F. Wesbrook, M D., Manitoba, Pro- 

 fessor of Pathology at Winnipeg, have been elected John Lucas 

 Walker Students in Pathology. The Managers express their 

 high approval of the valuable researches conducted by the late 

 student. Dr. A. A. Kanthack, of St. John's College. The 

 State Medicine Syndicate slate that, at the two examinations 

 held in April and October, 1892, there were in all sixty-four 

 candidates, of whom thirty-five received Diplomas in Public 

 Health, The fee in future will be five guineas for each of the 

 two parts of the examination in State Medicine. 



Examinations for open scholarships and exhibitions in 

 Natural Science will be held in twelve of the Colleges in 

 December and January next. A li-t giving the conditions and 

 value of the scholarships is published in the University Reporter 

 of November 12, pp. 198, 199. 



SCIENTIFIC SERIALS. 

 Wiedemann's Annalen der Physik und Chemie, No, 10. — 

 Refraction and di-persion of light in metal prisms, by D. Shea. 

 Thin prisms of gold, silver, nickel, and cobalt were prepared by 

 the electrolysis of cyanide solutions by Kundi's method. 

 Prisms of platinum were also prepared by the disintegration of 

 platinum foil. A piece of ioil 4 mrr, broad and 0'02 mm. 

 thick placed perpendicularly to a piece of plate glass at a dis- 

 tance ol 0*5 mm. produced under the action of a current of 20 

 amperes a double wedge-shaped layer of oxide in half an hour. 



