226 



NATURE 



[November 21, 1918 



Zeiss Abbe Refractometer. 



In an interesting note by Mr. Churcher communi- 

 cated to the Physical Society of London (Proc. Roy. 

 Sue, vol. xxx., part iii., April 15, 1918) on the occa- 

 sion of my paper on refractometers, it is pointed out 

 that it had been observed that the Zeiss Abbe refracto- 

 meter fails when measurements are required of liquids 

 having an index exceeding 1-52. This Mr. Churcher 

 stated to be due to the substitution of a crown prism 

 of refractive index 152 for D in the place of the 

 dense flint prism formerly used as lower or illumina- 

 ting prism. 



The fact that Messrs. Zeiss had changed their 

 procedure with regard to the material of this lower 

 prism in certain instances was of great interest to 

 me, and I have been on the look-out for an instrument 

 having the singularities described. Hitherto I have 

 been unable to find any Zeiss refractometer having 

 the defect mentioned. 



If, therefore, any other of your readers possess such 

 an instrument, I should be greatly obliged if they 

 would let me know; and if they are aware of any 

 special purpose for which the instrument should have 

 been so made, I should greatly appreciate it if they 

 would communicate the information to me. 



F. Simeon. 



Research Laboratory, Adam Hilger, Ltd., 

 75A Camden Road, N.W.i. 



British Thermometers. 



In .111 article prinled in the catalogue of the British 

 Scientific Products Exhibition (p. 47) I directed atten- 

 tion to the fact that Beckmann thermometers of 

 British make were not then procurable. It will 

 interest scientific workers to know that good thermo- 

 meters of this type are now manufactured in this 

 country, and may be procured through the ordinary 

 dealers. • Chas. R. Darling. 



City and Guilds Technical College, 

 Finsbury, E.C.2. 



RESEARCH ON HEALTH AND DISEASE. 



THE outbreak of influenza has directed atten- 

 tion to what ought to have been sufficiently 

 clear before — namely, the vital necessity for much 

 more attention being- given to the provision of 

 adequate scientific inquiry into the causes of 

 diseases. The question, indeed, is all one with 

 that of research on other scientific problems, and 

 most of the remarks that follow apply, with the 

 appropriate changes of titles, to scientific investi- 

 gation in general. 



The provision for matters relating to disease is 

 closely linked with the establishment of the pro- 

 posed Ministry of Health. Although a part of the 

 activity of such a body would be the important 

 one of co-ordinating the various departments and 

 authorities connected with the health of the 

 nation, it would be a fatal defect if the equally 

 important one of making full and generous pro- 

 vision for advance by systematic research were 

 left out of sight. Since the functions of the 

 Ministry of Health must of necessity demand the 

 assistance of many and various branches of science, 

 it would seem that those at its head should be 

 NO. 2560, VOL. I02J 



men of the widest knowledge and sympathy. It 

 is doubtful whether it would be the wisest thing 

 lor the Ministry to be given over entirely to the 

 medical profession, as has been assumed in some 

 quarters. The medical profession would, of 

 course, be largely represented, but the most effec- 

 tive way of getting work done on any particular 

 problem would be to appoint a special committee 

 consisting of heads of laboratories and representa- 

 tives "I institutions where similar research is being 

 carried on. These men would be in touch with the 

 capacities in existence and the capabilities of those 

 actually at work. Such committees should be 

 abK: to advise the granting of funds by the various 

 bodies having them at their disposal, such as the 

 Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, 

 the Medical Research Committee, and so on. 



It is a' question whether the Ministry of Health 

 need itself finance research. The multiplication of 

 departments doing this is apt to lead to overlap- 

 ping and to waste of valuable resources. The 

 grants made on the advice of the committees 

 suggested above might well be limited to the 

 payment of actual laboratory expenses, inclusive 

 of assistance when necessary. The really import- 

 ant thing is that there should be men always at 

 work and ready to take up problems of urgency 

 when they appear. It is unnecessary in this place 

 to insist on the fundamental importance of what 

 is often called abstract research in science. It is 

 but rarely that work directed to a definite limited 

 practical object leads to really valuable permanent 

 results. Take the case of influenza. The mere 

 knowledge that the disease is associated with the 

 presence of Pfeiffer's bacillus is not enough. We 

 must know the conditions which are favourable 

 to the growth and virulence of this organism, 

 and again what changes in the body render it a 

 prey to the attacks of this and other agents. All 

 this implies a far greater knowledge of the general 

 biology of micro-organisms and of the physiology 

 of the animal body than we yet possess. Re- 

 searches of this kind must always be provided for 

 and in continuous, uninterrupted course. They 

 lead to direct practical applications, frequently 

 making special investigation unnecessary, or at 

 least rendering such work comparatively simple. 



But, as is universally agreed, the number of 

 such workers at the disposal of the nation is griev- 

 ously inadequate. Why is this the case? There 

 can be no doubt that it is due to the fact that no 

 permanent careers in sufficient number are open to 

 men who are attracted to research work, especi- 

 ally when of a character not directly connected 

 with immediate practical applications. This must 

 be remedied and without delay. In that branch 

 of science with which the writer is more particu- 

 larly acquainted, it often happens that a man with 

 talent for research is obliged to devote himself to 

 medical practice because he can see no reasonable 

 prospeel of a future career to support himself and 

 his family. The only way to remedy such a state 

 of affairs is to provide permanent research posts 

 at an adequate salary. Grants for limited periods 

 are of no real use, and the Beit fellowships, valu- 



