^'^ 1 



NA TURE 



[Septemuer 6, 1894 



Mr. G. J. Burch showed a series of photographs of the excur- 

 sions of a very sensitive capillary electrometer when projected 

 on to a rapidly travelling plate and actuated by speaking into a 

 telephone placed in the circuit. The excursions formed the 

 basis for calculations of the E.M. F. of such telephone cur- 

 rents as are produced by the sounds of ordinary con- 

 versation : this varied from "05 to 'i of a volt, but with 

 loader sounds might be sufficient to produce electrolysis. 

 Photographs were shown which demonstrated that the instru- 

 ment used could respond to changes of potential difference 

 when these occurred one after another at a rale of nearly 3000 

 double vibrations in one second. The efTect of the sounds of 

 certain %'oweli and consonants were shown, such as ah, te, z, 

 and •. In each case the fundamental tone of the voice and 

 some of its harmonics combined to give a characteristic electro- 

 meter excursion with higher rapid vibrations superimposed upon 

 it. These in the case of z were just visible under a lens, and 

 appeared to have a rate of 3000 in one .second. Photographs 

 were also shown of the characteristic excursion caused by the 

 jironunciation of the words, " Pop, pop," and " Dod, dod," the 

 difference between the labial and the dental being well marked. 

 Finally another series of photographs was exhibited which 

 demonstrated that when electrolysis occurs in the electrometer, 

 and the evolution of the gas recorded on the travelling photo- 

 graphic plate, this evolution is seen to take place without any 

 measnrable delay the instant the electrolysing current com- 

 menced. 



BRITISH ASSOCIATION CONFERENCES OF 

 THE DELEGATES CF THE CORRESPOND- 

 IXC SOCIETIES. 



'T'HE meetings of the Conference of Delegates were held at 

 the New Examination Schools. Forty-two societies 

 nominated delegates to represent them at the Conference. 



First Conference, August 9. 



The Corresponding Societies' Committee was represented by 

 Prof. R. Meldola (chairman). Prof. T. G. lionney, Sir John 

 Evans, Sir Douglas Galton, Dr. Garson, Mr. Hopkinson, Mr. 

 Caihl>ert Peek, .Sir Rawson Rawson, Mr. .Symons, Mr. Topley, 

 Mr. Whitaker, and Mr. T. V. Holmes (secretary). 



The Chairman remarked that this was their tenth Conference. 

 Hiiheito the reports of these Conferences had always been a 

 year behind, as regards their publication in the British Associa- 

 tion volume ; the leport of the Conference held at Edinburgh 

 in 1S92, for example, appearing in the volume giving an 

 account of the proceedings at Nottingham in 1893. .Steps had 

 been taken to prevent this delay in future. They had also 

 taken a new departure in announcing beforehand that some 

 special subject would be discussed at the Conference. On that 

 occasion they had been fortunaic enough to secure the attend- 

 ance of Mr. Cuthbert Peek to open a discussion on Local 

 Museums. 



Mr. Cuthbert Peek dealt with the subject under the follow- 

 ing headings : — 



(11 Methods cf registration and cataloguing. 



(2) The protection of specimens from injury and dust. 



(3 The circulation of specimens and type collections for 

 educational purposes. 



(4) Central referees for nomenclature and classificatioD. 



(5) The most satisfactory methods of making museums 

 attractive. 



(6) Museum lectures and demonstrations. 



(7) The relations between museums and County Councils. 

 (I) For small museums he thought a card catalogue was the 



be>i. Sectional letters should distinguish the various classes of 

 ohjecu. Each specimen, when received, .should have a number 

 under the letter of the section assigned to it, painted on the 

 specimen. It was a good thing to have the dimensions of the 

 tpccimen, with a rough outline of it, on the back of the card. 



1 2) Every closed case was acted upon by changes in the pres- 

 sure of the atmoipheic, so that it dicw in ami gave out air and 

 du«l with every change of pressure. It was desirable to admit 

 air into each case by means of an opening filled with cotton- 

 wool, or sjnie similar inaicrial, so that the air entering might 

 be tillered. 



(3) At Liverpool a system had been elaborated by which 

 ioan-colicciions were prepared and circulated among a large 



NO. 1297, VOL. 50] 



number of schools. Each collection contained some special 

 class of objects, such as food products, woods, &c. Those 

 wishing to organise a plan of this kind should consult a paper 

 by Mr. J. Chard, in the Report of the Museums' .Association 

 for 1S90. 



(4) The average curator of a small museum was often in difii- 

 culties as to the correct names of certain specimens. .Vn 

 oi^anisation of specialists who would, for a small fee, allow 

 specimens to be forwarded to them for identification, would be 

 of ihegreatest use. 



(5) While there were many well-arranged and attractive 

 museums, there were others dusty, with labels illegible or in- 

 visible, which were almost unvisited and unknown. The 

 English as well as the Latin names of specimens should be 

 given. Much might be done to exhibit the variations of struc- 

 ture in creatures of difi'erent families or genera. Thus, in the 

 Natural History Museum, South Kensington, there had recently 

 been placed the skeletons of a man and of a horse, both in 

 the attitude of running, so that the relations of the two, bone 

 for bone, could be distinctly seen. The surgical, ordinary, 

 and veterinary names of the bones were added. 



(6) It was extremely difticult to make a museum demonstra- 

 tion useful to more than about a dozen persons. One 

 experienced demonstrator had suggested that a lecture should 

 be given in an ordinary lecture-room, illustrated by specimens, 

 &c. , to the whole of a large gathering, and a case-demonstra- 

 tion afterwards to the few seeking further information. The 

 demonstrator should be placed on a temporary stand, so that 

 he might see, and be seen by, his audience. 



(7) It had always appeared to him that demonstrations in 

 museums should take a very prominent part in technical 

 instruction, and he had been surprised that so little aid had 

 been given by County Councils to museums. Having sent out a 

 circular to County Council Technical Education Committees, 

 he had found that local museums and free libraries had been 

 assisted in only nine cases. From some counties no informa- 

 tion had yet been received, but it would appear from the 

 answers received that there was no insuperable obstacle to the 

 application of money intended for technical education to the 

 development of museums. 



In conclusion, .Mr. Peek drew attention to the magnificent 

 museum founded at Oxford by General I'itt-Rivers, the arrange- 

 ment of which was unique. 



The Chairman thought they were greatly indebted to Mr. 

 Peek, and invited discussion. 



Sir John Evans said that Mr. Peek had left but little for any 

 one to add. He approved of the card cat.ilogue, but thought 

 that the .\merican system cf having a perforated card through 

 which a wire passed might perhaps be preferable. He would 

 be glad to know the best way ol keeping a cabinet free from 

 dust. He had tried a lining of cotton wool, but did not think 

 I the result perfectly satisfactory. As regards referees for 

 nomenclature and classification, he would suggest the keepers 

 of the various departments of the British Museum, who would 

 always give prompt and valuable assistance. 



The Kev. O. P. Cambridge, having a large collection in 

 spirits of wine, had found that the best place for the labels was 

 inside the gla^s jars, not outside. The writing should be with a 

 , pencil. 



Sir Kawson Rawson had not always found pencil-marks in- 

 delible ; and the Rev. O. P. Cambridge added that the pencil 

 should be neither very hard nor very soft. 



Dr. Garson could coiroborate what had been said as to the 

 adv,antages ol using pencils in spirit preparations. Mr. Gray 

 remarked that variation in the aspect uf a museum constiiuted 

 a most important element o( attraciion. The circulation of 

 specimens tended, in itself, to make a museum attractive. 



Mr. T. W. Shore hoped that Conference might do something 

 towards obtaining aid for museums Irom County Councils. It 

 was clear that grants could be lu.ide by County Councils to defray 

 the expense ol leciurts and deniinsiiatuins in museums. 



Mr. Sowerbutis remarked that though County Councils might 

 be subject to the Governinent auditor, boroughs were not ; and 

 Mr. Kenward said that at liirmingham the Corporation had 

 esiablishcd a museutii and ait gallery without any help from the 

 County Ciiuncil. 



Mr. T. v. Holmes had in his hanils a letter from Mr. W. 

 Cole, secretary to the Essex Field Club, who wa-. most inti- 

 mately acquainted with technical education as it existed in 

 Essex. Mr. Cole's enperiencc had given him a very low notion 



