June 15, 1916] 



NATURE 



323 



\ 



arose in any of the ways mentioned. What the 

 experiments show is the legitimacy of the assump- 

 tion that bhndness may arise as a germinal 

 variation or factorial mutation. And that is 

 considerable gain. 



(4) Other experiments deal with the influence 

 of balanced and non-balanced salt solutions upon 

 the osmotic pressure of the body liquids of Fun- 

 dulus; with the functional importance of the ratio 

 of concentration of antagonistic salts with uni- 

 valent and bivalent cations ; and with the mem- 

 brane formation in the eggs of the sea-urchin. 



(5) In an illuminating essay on the stimulation 

 of growth, Loeb states his view that it may be 

 inherent in an unfettered cell to grow and divide 

 eternally in appropriate conditions, as is illus- 

 trated, indeed, by both Protozoa and Proto- 

 phytes. This capacity may depend on the 

 presence of synthetic ferments or " synthetic 

 mechanisms " which are formed from the food 

 taken up by the cells. But few cells show this 

 capacity, and the question rises, What stimulates 

 growth and what keeps the cell at rest? In 

 most cases the unfertilised ovum soon dies, in 

 spite of its potential' immortality. If it is fer- 

 tilised or treated with the methods of artificial 

 parthenogenesis, it divides actively. The con- 

 dition of rest or activity in this case depends, 

 according to Loeb, upon the condition of the 

 cortical layer of the ^^^ and the alteration in the 

 rate of oxidations connected with this condition. 

 We do not know whether the resting of body- 

 cells is determined by conditions identical with 

 those determining rest in the ^%^. 



We know, however, that specific substances circulat- 

 ing in the blood can induce certain resting cells in the 

 body to grow, and that these substances differ appar- 

 ently for different types of cells. It may be that in 

 the body substances antagonistic to these may enforce 

 the inactivity of the cells. 



(6) In a vigorous and characteristic paper en- 

 titled "Mechanistic Science and Metaphysical 

 Romance," Loeb argues that the demonstration 

 of the reality of molecules and the counting of 

 their number in a given mass of matter "puts 

 science for a long time, and probably irrevocably, 

 on a mechanistic basis. It marks, perhaps, the 

 greatest epoch in the history of the theory of 

 cognition. It enables and compels us to define 

 the task of science differently from Kirchhoff, 

 Mach, and Ostwald. W^e may say it is the 

 task of science to visualise completely and cor- 

 rectly the phenomena of nature, of which our 

 senses give us only very fragmentary and dis- 

 connected perceptions. We must try to visualise 

 the numerous hidden processes and conditions 

 connecting the disconnected phenomena we per- 

 ceive." We cannot argue the question here, but 

 we must be allowed to enter our dissent from 

 Loeb's conclusion that the activities, develop- 

 ment, and evolution of organisms can be ade- 

 quately and exhaustively described in mechanical 

 terms, or in chemico-physical terms (which are 

 regarded by many as ideally mechanical). We 

 are convinced that in living creatures new 

 aspects of reality have emerged which transcend 



NO. 2433, VOL. 97] 



mechanistic formulation. We are inclined to 

 think that further study of the metaphysics which 

 this consummately ingenious experimenter slangs 

 so vigorously might render him less confident 

 in the stability of his mechanistic system. We 

 yield to none in our admiration of his illumin- 

 ating scientific achievements, but we cannot 

 agree with his philosophy. J. A. T. 



THE GREAT CANADIAN REFLECTOR. 



\7ERY satisfactory progress is being made on 

 * the great 72-in. reflecting telescope which 

 is being constructed for the Canadian Govern- 

 ment, and is now approaching the final stages of 

 erection and adjusting. 



The mounting has been completed by the 

 Warner and Swasey Co., of Cleveland, Ohio, and 

 has been temporarily erected at their factory. 

 Exhaustive tests have shown that the operating 

 mechanism works perfectly. The entire mount- 

 ing weighs about 120,000 lb., of which the 

 moving parts weigh upwards of 80,000 lb., 

 and yet it moves with the greatest smoothness 

 and ease. The worm wheel for driving the tele- 

 scope weighs more than 4000 lb., and yet it may 

 be turned readily on its axis with the finger. By 

 means of seven electric motors and conveniently 

 situated stationary and portable switchboards, 

 the instrument can be set, driven, and guided with 

 the utmost facility. Indeed, the immense machine 

 can be operated and handled with greater ease 

 than many small telescopes. The mounting will 

 be taken down and shipped to the observatory as 

 soon as the erection of its dome is sufficiently 

 advanced. 



The optical portions of the telescope are being 

 made by the John A. Brashear Co., of Pittsburgh, 

 Pa. The principal part, namely, the great mirror, 

 73 in. in diameter, is also well advanced. It 

 has been brought to the spherical form, and will 

 be given the paraboloidal form and finally 

 polished as soon as the firm has completed a large 

 plane mirror which is required for testing it. The 

 smaller optical parts are all completed, and have 

 been attached to the mounting. It is hoped that 

 the mirror will be ready as soon as the mounting 

 is erected and in condition to receive it, which 

 will be about the end of the summer. 



The pier to support the telescope was com- 

 pleted last autumn. It is made of reinforced con- 

 crete, and is of massive construction. The walls 

 of the surrounding circular steel building, 66 ft. 

 in diameter, were erected during the winter, and 

 the dome, constructed by the Warner and Swasey 

 Co., which will rest and revolve upon these walls, 

 arrived in Victoria, B.C., about the end of March, 

 and is now being put in place. The shutter open- 

 ing is 15 ft. in width. The dome has been very 

 carefully designed to work in conjunction with 

 the telescope, and it is confidently believed that it 

 will be the most complete and convenient of any 

 in the world. 



One of the observers' residences has been 

 erected, but none of the other buildings required 

 have yet been begun. It is hoped, however, that 



