70 



NA TURE 



[NOVEMBER ,20, 1902 



these were pronounced, world-shaking earthquakes had been 

 frequent. A comparison of the varying number at different 

 periods of small earthquakes showed that the number recorded 

 increased ; but this was evidence, not of the growth of seismic 

 activity, but of more general observation. Nearly all large 

 earthquakes were followed by a long series' of afier-shocks. For 

 example, after the disturbance of October 28, 1901, which had 

 its origin in Central Japan and which might be regarded as a 

 typical world-shaking earthquake, during the first twelve 

 months, 2956 shocks were noted. Next year the number fell to 

 391. The conclusion seemed to be that in any given year 

 there were 27,500 shocks which could be recorded in epifocal 

 districts, and that, on the average, there annually were 30,000 

 small earthquakes. From seismograms obtained in epifocal 

 areas, measures of earthquake energy had been obtained. The 

 result was that engineers and builders were now able to build 

 to withstand known forces, and in Japan, in particular, effectual 

 methods had been adopted to resist the severe shakings to which 

 that country was subject. The Japanese Government had so 

 far recognised the importance of seismology as to establish pro- 

 fessorships to encourage its study. *, 



THE ROYAL PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF 

 GLASGOW. 



IVTOT many scientific societies of the kingdom can boast of 

 having existed for a hundred years, but the Royal Society 

 of Edinburgh a few years ago celebrated its centenary, and last 

 week what is now known as the Royal Philosophical Society 

 of Glasgow was engaged in celebrating the attainment of its 

 hundredth year, for it came into being on November 9, 1S02, with 

 sixty-two of the most prominent men in the city as members, many 

 of whom have since acquired prosperity and reputation. There 

 was Dr. William Meikleham, the professor of astronomy and 

 natural philosophy in the University, and who was Lord Kelvin's 

 predecessor in the natural philosophy chair, so that those two 

 men practically covered the century between them. There was 

 also Dr. George Birkbeck, subsequently a professor in the 

 " Andersonian," and the founder (in London) of mechanics' 

 institutions. Patrick Cumin, another foundation member, was 

 the professor of Oriental languages. A particularly notable man 

 in the membership was David Mushet, the discoverer of the 

 famous blackband ironstone which did so much to make Scotland 

 the leading element in the creation of the iron industry. Among 

 other original members were Charles Macintosh, who originated 

 the " macintosh " as an article of clothing for wet weather ; Mr. 

 John Roberton, a famous iron-founder, who read many papers 

 in subsequent years ; and Mr. William Dunn, of Duntocher, 

 a well-known machine-maker Mr. James Boaz was an ac- 

 c ountant ; he took a warm interest in the Society, and became 

 secretary in the year 1S04, remaining in that office to the great 

 credit of the Society for twenty-six years. Sundry other original 

 members might be named and descanted upon, men from the 

 very highest ranks, and who collectively made Glasgow or con- 

 tributed very materially towards it, but we must refrain from 

 doing so. Worthy John Geddes, of Verreville, glass manu- 

 facturer and potter, was an early member, and he was the 

 second president. The Society did not publish any Proceedings 

 or Transactions until the year 1S44, after Dr. Thomas Thomson, 

 F. R. S., had become president. That gentleman was the 

 famous professor of chemistry in the University, and his 

 knowledge was frequently called forth during the eighteen 

 years that he held the office of president. Mr. Walter 

 Crum, F.R.S., famous as a scientific calico printer, succeeded 

 Dr. Thomson in the chair, and then there was a somewhat con- 

 tinuous run of University presidents, such as Dr. Allen Thomson, 

 F.R.S., Prof. Wm. Thomson, F.R.S. (now Lord Kelvin), 

 Prof. Thomas Anderson(distinguished as a chemist), Prof. W. J. 

 Macquorn Rankine, C.E., F.R.S. , and Prof. Henry D. Rogers 

 (American geologist). After he had been knighted, the pro- 

 fessor of natural philosophy was again made president for the 

 years 1S74-75-76-77. The Society was always in a position to 

 command the services of able and learned men to take the 

 presidential chair, and business men have always been in 

 abundance to fill the executive offices and to discharge the 

 duties pertaining to them for periods extending from six years 

 (in the case of Prof. McKendrick as secretary) to upwards of 

 thirty years, as in the case of Mr. John Mann, the present 

 treasurer. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



Cambridge. — An Isaac Newton studentship in physical 

 astronomy and optics, of the value of 200/. a year for three 

 years, will be awarded in the Lent term, 1903. Candidates 

 must be Bachelors of Arts who are under twenty-five years of 

 age on January I, 1903. 



It is announced that a chair of tropical medicine has been 

 founded in University College, Liverpool, with an endowment 

 of 10,000/. Major Ronald Ross C. B. , F.R.S., has been elected 

 to the chair. 



Sir Oliver Lodge, F.RS., was on November 14 enter- 

 tained at the annual dinner of the Liverpool Philomathic Society, 

 when he delivered an address. Me said his removal to Bir- 

 mingham was solely because of the greater opportunity for his 

 own work which his position in that city afforded him. Speak- 

 ing of universities, he remarked that the competition among 

 cities to make themselves worthy to become the seat of a 

 university was healthy and holy, and he trusted the movement 

 for establishing a university for Liverpool was gaining ground. 



The second subsection of Clause iSof the Education Bill, as 

 amended in Committee of the Mouse of Commons on Friday 

 last, lays it down that " the power to provide instruction under 

 the Elementary Education Acts, 1870 to 1900, shall, except 

 where those Acts expressly provide to the contrary, be limited 

 to the provision of instruction given under the regulations of the 

 Board of Education to scholars of not more than fifteen years of 

 age in a public elementary school, but any scholar may remain 

 in such a school to the close of the school year in which he or 

 she reaches the age of fifteen." The difficulty which has 

 existed for some time of defining what constitutes elementary 

 education is thus in a large measure disposed of. An attempt 

 was made to remove the age limit and so allow it to be possible 

 for a child to stay at an elementary school so long as the parents 

 wished. But the intention of the Government appears to be to 

 encourage the drafting of children of capacity into secondary 

 schools, and in this way to reduce expense and also prevent 

 overlapping. 



At the invitation ot the University of Cambridge, repre- 

 sentatives of all the universities of England and Wales, of the 

 numerous educational associations concerned with secondary 

 education, as well as of the Board of Education, assembled in the 

 Senate House at Cambridge on November 14 and 15 to confer 

 as to the training of teachers in secondary schools for boys. 

 Among men of science who took part in the interesting debates, 

 following the papers on different subjects requiring consider- 

 ation, were Prof. H. E. Armstrong, F.R.S., Sir Oliver Lodge, 

 F.R.S., Prof. John Perry, F.R.S., and Sir Arthur Riicker, 

 F.R.S. The Vice-Chancellor of the University presided at both 

 meetings, and among the papers, those of Sir Richard Jebb, 

 Mr. Sidgwick and the Master of Marlborough were of par 

 ticular importance. As Sir John Gorst, whose speech con- 

 cluded the proceedings, pointed out, if the universities intend to 

 remain at the head of this movement for obtaining suitable 

 training for the masters in secondary schools, they must be pro- 

 gressive and make use of the best of the methods which experi- 

 ence has shown to be suitable to the new demands. One such 

 method, he pointed out, is that by which science is studied by 

 research carried on by the pupils. 



NO. 1725, VOL. 67] 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 

 London. 

 Mathematical Society, November 13. — Dr. E. W. Hob- 

 son, president, in the chair. — The De Morgan medal for 1902 

 was presented to Prof. A. G. Greenhill. — Mr. Tucker having 

 retired from the office of secretary, the following resolution was 

 proposed by Dr. Hobson, seconded by Dr. Glaisher, and carried 

 unanimously : — " That the thanks of the London Mathematical 

 Society be offered to Mr. Robert Tucker for the eminent 

 services which he has rendered to the Society during the thirty- 

 five years in which he has held the office of honorary secretary." 

 — The council and officers for the ensuing session were elected. 

 They are as follows : — President, Prof. Lamb ; vice-presidents, 

 Mr. Tucker, Dr. Hobson, Dr. Baker ; treasurer, Dr. Larmor ; 

 secretaries, Prof. Love and Prof. Burnside ; other members of 



