_———_—_ SS 
NOvEMBER 26, 1903] 
NATURE 
87 
histology and physiology of muscle generally Rollett 
wrote in Eulenburg’s ‘‘ Encyclopedie.’? To physio- 
logical optics he contributed several papers on spatial 
perception, on contrast, on the effect of plane parallel 
glass plates, and various other subjects. He was also 
cone of the first discoverers of sense organs in tendons, 
and published various observations on the sense of 
taste, of smell, and on cutaneous sensations. 
That Rollett was no less of a teacher than of an 
observer is proved by the success of many of his pupils. 
The University of Graz acknowledged his merit by 
choosing him for rector no less than four different 
years, including the year of inauguration of the new 
buildings, when the Emperor and other illustrious 
guests were to be received. Rollett was also frequently 
elected as a representative on the local board, and the 
organisation, of the new physiological institute, built 
under his supervision, testifies to his practical ability. 
Most scientific men are naturally diffident to commit 
themselves in writing to a verdict on the merit of a 
fellow worker, but it is a curious fact that in verbal 
conversation this diffidence does not appear. The 
mere way in which the name of an observer is 
mentioned is often equivalent to a fairly strong ex- 
pression of opinion. A careful and conscientious 
observer commands a degree of admiration and rever- 
ence that affects the tone of every chance remark. 
Judged by this standard, Alexander Rollett was a true 
follower of science. R. pu Bots-REYMOND. 
NOTES. 
A RuMOUR has reached us that at the annual meeting of 
the Royal Society on Monday next an attempt is to be made 
by a certain section of the fellows to upset the selection of 
officers made last week by the council. It appears that the 
physiologists are under the belief that they have acquired 
a prescriptive right to hold one of the two secretaryships. 
It is true that for upwards of forty years they have so held 
it, but the group of natural sciences includes more than 
physiology or even biology, and the council, in the exercise 
of its discretion, has thought that it was high time that 
one of the other sciences should be represented in this 
secretaryship. We are further informed that a copy of a 
letter is being circulated which appears to convey an in- 
vitation from the president and council to a certain physio- 
logist to accept the vacant office. That letter was, it is 
stated, written in error, without the sanction or knowledge 
of the president and council, but in view of it a special 
meeting was called to consider the matter, when the council 
decided to adhere to the decision at which they had already 
arrived in the ordinary and regular way—a decision which 
is obviously in the best interests of the Royal Society as 
a whole, and doubtless the great majority of the fellows 
will support it by their votes on Monday. 
A CORRESPONDENT of the Times directs attention to the 
wise recognition given to science and other branches 
of learning by Continental nations on all occasions of 
national importance; and the comparison he makes with 
our own official customs is not creditable to our dignity. 
When a monarch or the supreme authority of a State visits 
the Court of another nation, men of ‘‘ light and leading ”’ 
are usually invited as guests to meet him. These are the 
men who give distinction to a nation; and a people which 
fosters intellectual accomplishments cannot conceive a State 
function in which they are not represented. Here, how- 
ever, there is little pride in the glory which learning brings 
to a State, and little encouragement is given to the men 
who devote themselves to the advance of knowledge. Not 
NO. 1778, VOL. 69] 
a single writer, painter, sculptor, architect, musician or 
man of science of distinguished eminence was invited to 
Windsor or to the Guildhall to meet the King and Queen 
of Italy during the recent visit; and the omission, incon- 
ceivable to a foreigner, is characteristic of our customs. 
The Times correspondent concludes his letter with the 
following remark, with which we are entirely in sym- 
pathy :—‘I believe I shall be expressing the opinion of 
many of my countrymen if I say that it is much to be 
regretted that, on great national occasions, persons of 
titular rank, of great wealth, or of political prominence 
should be considered adequately representative of the Realm, 
and that the arts and sciences should be ignored, as though 
they were non-existent among us.” 
Since the termination of the Bayliss versus Coleridge 
case, which is discussed in another part of this issue, two 
further communications, which appear to us as striking 
confirmation of the views expressed in our article, have 
been received by the daily papers; they are :—(1) a letter 
from Mr. Coleridge in which he announces that he has 
paid the damages (which would be interesting, had it been 
optional) and that he intends to continue on his former 
courses; (2) a letter from Mr. Bayliss, from which we 
learn that the large sum which he might, after having 
personally borne the expense and long months of worry, 
have used, with perfect justice, for his own advantage, 
has been devoted by him to the furtherance of that branch 
of physical science which was the object of the recent 
attack. Mr. Bayliss’s employment of this money as a 
public trust is in complete consonance with the sense of 
public duty which has actuated his conduct throughout 
this matter. It will be endorsed by English physiologists 
and by the public as forming a worthy and fitting termin- 
ation to the struggle which has been followed with so 
widespread an interest. 
A Reuter message from Buenos Ayres announces that 
the Argentine war vessel Uruguay has arrived at Rio 
Gallegos with the members of the Nordenskjold Antarctic 
Expedition on board. Two of the missing Swedish ex- 
plorers were found on Seymour Island on November 8, and 
others at Snow Hill. The Uruguay then proceeded to 
Paulete Island, where the main body had wintered, and 
took the remaining members of the expedition on board. 
Dr. Nordenskjéld’s expedition left Falmouth in the steam 
yacht Antarctic in October, 1901, and he expected to be 
home again early in the present year. From the outset of 
the voyage the expedition met with countless difficulties 
owing to the state of the ice. In December, 1902, the 
vessel reached the north-east coast of Louis Philippe Land, 
where Dr. Nordenskjéld, Lieutenant Anderson, and two 
sailors were left at Mount Bransfield. Dr. Nordenskjéld 
proposed to proceed to Snow Hill in sledges. It was 
arranged that Mount Bransfield should be the rendezvous 
for the whole expedition. The Antarctic meanwhile made 
her way to the east of Joinville Island and entered Erebus 
and Terror Bay. There she was caught in the ice, which 
finally crushed and sank her. Captain Larsen succeeded 
in saving all on board, and the party took to three of the 
ship's boats, which they equipped with provisions. They 
drifted about for sixteen days, and finally reached Paulete 
Island, where they established their winter quarters. In 
September, 1902, Dr. Nordenskjold, accompanied by 
Lieutenant Sobral and one sailor, made a sledge journey 
with two sledges and five dogs in a south-westerly direc- 
tion. Travelling by way of King Oscar Land, a latitude 
of 66 degrees was reached, the longitude being 62 degrees 
west. The party returned to Snow Hill at the beginning 
