634 



NA TURE 



[October 25, 1S94 



we may never be called on to make original discoveries or have 

 the opportunity. But as you proceed I trust that you will 

 realise that the method which you are learning to apply is one 

 which can be made use of in all your work — that the course has 

 a broad educational value far transcending its special value as an 

 introduction to physical science. 



Lastly, I should like to take this opportunity of calling atten- 

 tion to the very great value to girls, as well as to boys, of 

 teaching such as you are about to give. I fear that much that 

 girls are being taught under the guise of domestic economy is 

 of slight value educationally or otherwise, and that they are 

 but having imparted to them little tit-bits of information which 

 they are as likely as not to misapply. Nothing is done by way 

 of increasing their intelligence and forming their characters. 

 Lessons which would lead them to be observant, thoughtful 

 and, above all, exact — lessons in method — would be ol far 

 higher and abiding value. They would then carry out their 

 household functions with greater ease ; there would be far less 

 waste ; less unhealthiness ; far more comfort. I believe the 

 need for such training to be indeed far greater in the case of 

 girls than in that of lioys. Bjys are naturally apt in many 

 ways, and even if neglected at school, perforce develop wnen 

 they go out into the world ; but girls are of a different disposi- 

 tion, and rarely seeoi to spontaneously acquire the mental 

 habits which a training in scientific method can confer, the 

 possession of which would be of inestimable value to them. 

 Extraordinarily little has been done as yet on their behalf, and 

 they have been cruelly sacrificed at examinations — for which, 

 unlortunately, they appear themselves to have an insatiable 

 natural appetite. It is to be hoped that the new Boird will 

 give the most serious attention to this matter, and that it will 

 take steps to secure the teaching of scientific method in all the 

 schools under its charge, whether boys' schools or girls' schools. 

 Unhealthy buildings have attracted much attention ; but the 

 existence of a far more serious evil — the absence of healthy 

 teaching suited to the times — has not even lieen noticed. 



In these remarks, I have been able but briefly to bring before 

 you a number of questions of importance^it must rest with 

 you to seriously study the subject. It is a subject worth hard 

 study, which will afford infinite opportunity and infinite satis- 

 faction to the earnest worker. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 

 Cambridge. — The following examiners for the Natural 

 Sciences Tripos were appointed on October 25. Physics : 

 L. R. Wilberforce and I'rof. G. F. Fitzgerald, F. K..S. 

 Chemistry. W. J. Sell and Prof. \V. Ramsay, F.K.S. 

 Mineralogy: Prof. Lewis and H. A. Miers. Geology: P. 

 Lake and Prof. G. A. J. Cole. Botany : Prof. F. W. Oliver, 

 F.R.S., and \V. Gardiner, F.R.S. Zoology: W. Bateson, 

 F.R.S., and Prof. .S. J. Mickson. Human .\natomy : Prof. 

 A. Macalister, F.R.S. , and Ur. H D. Rolleston. Physiology: 

 W, B. Mardy and Prol. E. A. Schafer, F.R.S. 



Prof. Bradbury delivered his inaugural lecture, as Downing 

 Professor, on Wednesday, October 24, before a large audience. 

 The suojcct was " Pharmacology and Therapeutics." 



The Univeisiiy Lecturer in Geography, Mr. Yule Oldham, 

 delivered a public lecture on the evening of October 24, on 

 "A New Discovery of America." He will give during the 

 present and the Lent terms a course on the " History of 

 (jeographical Discovery," on Thursdays at noon in the 

 Chemical Theatre. 



An election to the Royal Geographical Society's Studentship 

 of ;^IC» will be held in the Lent Term. The studentship is 

 open to members of the University who have attended the 

 lectures on Geography. 



Of the Freshmen entered this term, 137 have announced 

 their intention to study medicine at the University. 



The pcrioti of five years (or which Dr. Donald Micalisler was 

 elected as the University member of the General Medical 

 C'lUiicil expires on November 13. The Vice Chancellor gives 

 notice thai an election will be held in the Senate House on 

 Friday, November 9, (rom 2.3010 3.0, at which all members of 

 the .Senate may vote. Dr. Macalister is eligible for re- 

 appointment. 



Dr. Charles Ricu, late keeper of the Oriental MSS. in the 

 British .Museum, has been clecicd Sir Thomas Adams Professor 

 of Arabic in succession to Prof. Robertson Smith. 



The Council of the Senate have issued a second report i 

 special degrees (Litt.B. and Sc. B) for advanced study 11 

 research, in which they call attention to the steps in the s n 

 direction taken by the Univirrsity of Oxford, the Sc > 

 Universities, the Gresham (London) University Commissiu; 

 and the University of Harvard. They propose that, :i^ ;! 

 bearings of the subject have greatly widened since theiv in 

 report on post-graduate study, the whole question shoul ' ' 

 referred to a special .Syndicate, with power to confer with . 

 bodies and with the several teachers concerned. 



We have received an advance copy of the report on the \m>i 

 of the Examinations Department of the City and GuilU 

 London Institute for the session 1893-94. During this se~^i. 

 the number of classes registered by the Institute was 853, vi 

 701 in Technology and 152 in Manual Training. The tot 

 number of students in attendance was 25,718, viz. 22,703 

 technology and 3015 in manual training. At the exaininatio; 

 this year, 11,631 candidates presented themselves, being 1377 

 excess of the number examined last year. The examiners f 

 the Institute, like those ol the Department of Science and Ai 

 find that the Honours papers are the least satisfactory. It 

 pointed out that Honours students should be taught in speci 

 Honours classes. To quote the report : — 



" It often happens that facilities for higher or advanced i 

 struction are not pru\'ided at the schools, and that the cane 

 dates for Honours seeking further teaching are only able 

 attend the ordinary class a second session. This absence 

 higher instruction is a matter to be carefully considered by tl 

 Technical ^Instruction Committees of County Councils. lU 

 mentary technical instruction is of little value unless it e 

 courages the (Student to seek further knowledge ; and elloi 

 should be made, even where the number of students is sma 

 either to establish advanced classes, or -to enable students 

 pursue their studies at other institutions where stich advanci 

 instruction may be obtained." 



Mr. Heruekt Tomlinson, F.R.S., has been appoint 

 Principal of the South- West London Polytechnic InstituI 

 now in course of erection in Chelsea. The instituie, which w 

 be I f the same dimensions and be conducted on somewhat t 

 same lines as the Battersea Polytechnic, will, it is hoped, 

 finished by .Vpril next. 



It is announced that Dr. William Peterson, who for the h 

 twelve years has lieen the Principal o( Universiiy C'llef 

 Dundee, has been appointed to the post of Principal ol McG 

 University, .Montreal, vacated by Sir William Daw.son, F. K.! 

 more than a year ago. 



SCIENTIFIC SERIALS 



American Journal of ScUnce, October. — The standardisati 

 of potassium permanganate in iron analysis, by Charlotte 

 Roberts. A simple and rapid luetho.i for standardising a pi 

 manganate solution is to determine its strength, first, liy coi 

 parison with electrolytic iron, and then by immediate titrati 

 with ferric chloride 10 determine the exact amount ol iron 

 each culiic centimetre of the latter solution. This being asc< 

 tamed, the ferric chloride solution can be employed at any tir 

 lor the standardisation of potassium permanganate. — T 

 detection and approximate estimation of minute quantities 

 arsenic in copper, by F. A. Gooch and H. P. Moseley. TI 

 is a modification of Sanger's process for wall-papers, who 

 application is rendered dilhcult by the fact that the presen 

 ol copper in the Marsh generator holds back the arseni 

 The new proce s is ba-.ed upon the simultaneous action 

 strong hydrochloric acid and potassium bromide upon the si 

 of arsenic. — Wavelengths of electiicity in iron wire^, by 1 

 K. St. J ihn. .\ Lecher wire system was used in which tl 

 discs at the end towards the induction coil were left out, so as 

 obtain a form depending more directly upon the principle 

 electrical resonance. The indicator used was a bolometer 

 ailapied by Rubens. It was found that the self-induction 

 iron circuits is greater than that of similar copper circuits und 

 very rapid electric oscillations (115 million reversals p 

 second). The difference in sell-induction vanes from 3 4 to 4 

 per cent., and increases with decreasing diameters. I'he I 

 crease in sellimluction produces greater damping and ashorte 

 ing of the wave-length of I'S to 2 per cent. The pc-rmcabili 



NO. 1304. VOL. 50] 



