September 29, 1904] 



NATURE 



lived on, in spite of his terrible affliction, devoted to 

 his work, develoijing- his theories, and putting them 

 to practical use in the treatment of disease. For some 

 time past he had been confined to his house, and 

 could only direct the labours of others in the great 

 Light Institute at Copenhagen. His death occurred 

 on Saturday, -September 24, at the early age of forty- 

 three. 



Niels R. Finsen was born in the Fseroe Isles, and 

 spent some of his earlier years in Iceland. After 

 eight years' study at the University of Copenhagen, 

 he was appointed lecturer on anatomy. But his 

 attention was soon directed to the investigation of the 

 influence of light on living organisms. 



Starting from W'idmark's observations on the 

 inflammation of the skin caused bv the ultra-violet 

 rays of light, he developed in 1893 the red-light 

 treatment of small-pox. The exclusion of the chemical 

 rays by red curtains modifies the course of this 

 disease, and diminishes scarring. A prolonged 

 series of observations was then made on the influ- 

 ence of light upon various animals, proving that the 

 chemical rays produce irritative and deleterious 

 olTects. 



Later, Finsen investigated in a masterly manner 

 the bactericidal power of the ultra-violet rays, a 

 development of the work of Downes and Blunt. The 

 practical application of these experimental researches 

 was the treatment of lupus by light, an advance in 

 therapeutics which has placed in the hands of the 

 medical profession a means of combating this 

 intractable and most disfiguring disease. 



Fortunately, Finsen 's work was not allowed to 

 languish for want of financial support. His friends 

 helped him, and then the State aided him with a 

 loan, free of interest, and the Light Institute was 

 built. Since it was opened, 2000 patients have been 

 treated. 



The interest taken by Queen Alexandra in the work 

 of her countryman led to the introduction of the light 

 treatment into this country, and her gift of the 

 ■apparatus to the London Hospital was followed bv 

 generous assistance from private donors enabling that 

 institution to carry out the Finsen treatment with 

 remarkable success. 



Finsen was a man of noble qualities, of high 

 scientific attainments, and of a remarkably inventive 

 mind. The construction of his apparatus is sufficient 

 to indicate this. It was no chance discovery, but was 

 laboriously built up by the adaptation of scientific 

 principles. His modesty, quiet humour, and total 

 absence of self-seeking brought him the esteem and 

 affection of all who knew him. 



.Alwavs a poor man, Finsen could with difficulty 

 be persuaded to retain for the use of his family any 

 part of the Nobel prize of 100,000 crowns which was 

 awarded him. He wanted to give all to his 

 institute, but eventually agreed that half should be 

 placed at interest for his family, to revert subse- 

 quently to his great work. This institute and its 

 beneficial cures are a fitting memorial of a splendid 

 life of quiet heroism in the cause of science. 



nOTES. 

 A CAREER of high promise was cut short by a lament- 

 able accident at the "Devil's Kitchen," near Bethesda, 

 North Wales, on September 20. Mr. Ronald William Henry 

 Turnbull Hudson, lecturer in mathematics at the University 

 of Liverpool, who, with Mr. J. F. Cameron, lecturer of 

 Caius College, Cambridge, was climbing a difficult couloir, 

 dislodged a mass of rock, and, falling with it, was instantly 

 killed. Mr. Hudson, who was just twenty-eight years of 



NO. 1822, VOL. 70] 



age, was the son of Prof. W. H. H. Hudson, of King's- 

 College, London, and the brother of two sisters who recently 

 distinguished themselves in mathematics at Kewnham 

 College. He was educated at -St- Paul's School and St> 

 John's College, Cambridge. He gained every college award 

 that was open to him, arid graduated as senior wrangler 

 in iSqS, his friend Mr. Cameron being second wrangler. 

 The two comrades were alone in the first division of the 

 first class in part ii. of the tripos in 1899, and in the follow- 

 ing year eaich was a Smith's prizeman. In igoo Mr. Hudson 

 was elected a fellow of his college, and engaged with success 

 in teaching and research. He graduated M.A. in 1902, and 

 was appointed lecturer at Liverpool, where his powers 

 rapidly matured. He published a number of papers, chiefly 

 on analytical and geometrical subjects, which manifested 

 much freshness and skill, as well as width of interest and 

 of knowledge. He was unusually well read in classical and 

 modern literature, and in e.\perimental science. In athletic 

 pursuits he was also keenly interested, and more than once 

 steered his college boat to victory. It was confidently ex- 

 pected that ere long he would be promoted to a professorial 

 chair, for which his gifts and acquirements specially fitted 

 him. The news of his untimely death was received in 

 Cambridge with the deepest regret, and with sincere 

 sympathy for his family and college. 



The fifth annual Hu.vley memorial lecture of the .iVnthro- 

 pological Institute will be delivered on Friday, October 7, 

 in the theatre of the Civil Service Commission, Burlington 

 Gardens, when Dr. J. Deniker, of Paris, will lecture on 

 the different racial elements in the present population of 

 Europe. 



The King has conferred the title " Royal " upon the Edin- 

 burgh Museum of Science and Art, and approved its 

 designation being altered to " The Royal Scottish Museum." 



Extensions made to Millport Marine Biological Station, 

 including new laboratory, research rooms, tank-room, and 

 library, all the gift of Mr. James Coats, jun., of Paisley, 

 were opened on Tuesday by Sir John Primrose, Lord Provost 

 of Glasgow. 



The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine proposes to 

 dispatch a second expedition to the Amazon in view of the 

 necessity of further investigation of yellow fever. The 

 expedition will probably start at the end of this year. 



The National Association for the Feeble-minded and the 

 National Union of Special School Teachers have arranged 

 a conference to be held at the Guildhall on October 13 

 and 14 to discuss various aspects of physically, mentally, 

 and morally defective children. 



Reuter's correspondent at Naples states that the Vesuvius- 

 Observatory has issued the following notice :— " The 

 activity of Vesuvius is very great. The walls of the crater, 

 which have collapsed, tend to obstruct the bottom of the 

 crater, whence proceed immense explosions and volcanic 

 dust. The torrent of lava in the valley of Atrio del Cavallo 

 is forming small volcanoes, the explosions from which 

 attain a height of 150 metres. Large fissures have occurred 

 in the great cone, the rupture of which is considered 

 possible." The eruption of Mount Vesuvius on Sep- 

 tember 23 is said to have been the greatest within the last 

 ten years. On September 25 explosions were frequent, and 

 masses of igneous matter were hurled to great heights. 

 Parts of the neighbouring woods have been burned, the 

 funicular railway has been damaged, and the guides' 

 quarters have been destroyed. 



