450 
selentifie investigator, and that it is only a question of time 
when the prawems still awaiting solution will cease to 
pueale us.” 
This important change in the character of the subject is made 
the foundation of a claim for its fuller recognition by the 
University, 
In considering what should be the place of agriculture in 
University teaching, it is of primary importance that we should 
grasp the fact of the existence of this great body of agricultural 
science which has grown up during Che last century, — Tfagri- 
eulture is still merely an art, it has no proper place in Univer | 
sity teaching, and those who wish to learn it must resort to 
some teehnical school for the purpose, Tf, on the other hand, 
agriculture is now as much a department of science as geology 
or medicine, it has an undoubted claim to be recognised, and 
its claim becomes urgent when we consider the vast importance 
of the subject.” 
The most inyportant steps which have been taken in the 
development of agricultural teaching are Chen noticed, especial 
emphasis being laid on the great extension of such teaching 
daring the last ten years, chiefly through the exertions of the 
County Councils and the Board of Agriculture, Not only have 
the means of instruction been greatly increased, there has also 
been a remarkable growth of opinion among the higher class 
of agriculturists as to the value of a thoroughly scientific 
training in the department of agriculture, ‘Thus, in Febraary 
t8o3, the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society passed the 
‘ . pach : ean S 
following resolution s="' That, in the opinion of the Royal | 
Agricultural Society of England, it is desirable that provision 
be made in all Universities for the granting of a degree in Science 
for students of agriculture” “The same Society gave evidence 
before the Royal Commission on the proposed Gresham Uni- 
versity for London, and unged that a degree for students in 
Agriculuure should be given by the new University, 
Prof, Warington next proceeds to mention what is being at 
yvesent done in the way of agricultural teaching by British 
Tissverities and University Colleges, Tt appears that the 
Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Durham, and 
Wales, all grant the degree of B.Sc, in Agriculture to students 
who have successfully passed examinations in agriculture and in 
the sciences connected therewith, The scheme for agrieultual 
instruction at Cambridge did not sueceed in passing the Senate ; 
this University now grantsa diploma in Agriculture, the examina: 
tion for which is open to allkcomers, About one half of the 
University Colleges in England give a complete course of agri- 
enltural teaching, Resides these, there are the purely agricul: 
tural colleges, to which many additions have recently been 
made by the County Councils, 
The question is then asked, Does this great extension of 
agricultural teaching in recent years meet all our requirements ? 
The answer is that it does not, 
“A veal effort is being made to instruct and elevate the 
farmer and the more intelligent of the labouring class, while the 
landowner, who finds his education at Oxford or Cambridge, is 
left without the opportunity of fitting himself for his subsequent 
duties, and consequently cannot be expected to act the part of 
a Wise leader in the march of improvement which has become 
so necessary, In the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge 
there are, I suppose, about sooo undergraduates, of whom a 
NATURE 
| Marcu 11, 1897 
We do not wish to express an opinion on the details of a 
University scheme; but we heartily wish suecess to Prof, 
Warington’s proposal, The function of a University is the 
education of the mind, and the propagation of knowledge ; and 
such an important branch of knowledge as agricultural science 
should certainly find a place in our schemes of University 
education, 
DR. KOCH'S REPORTS ON RINDERPEST, 
TP HREE reports have now been published by Dr, Koch on 
Rinderpest, The Ca of Good Hope aAgrieudtuna’ 
Journal for Tooiay 14, reprints the first Owo, whilst the third 
has appeared in the weekly edition of the Gage Teer of 
Vebraary 10, “The first is dated December 0, four days after 
Dr, Koch arrived at Kimberley, and the second and third, 
January 3 and 31 respectively, AT hail from Kimberley, which 
city Dr, Koch has made his headquarters for the present, 
The scientific experiment station, which has been arranged 
and fitted up for him, is situated about two miles out, Yr. 
Edington’s research station is at Taungs, where it is stated 
that the inhabitants have lost as many as 20,000 head of cattle 
from the pest, Tt will be remembered that Dr, Edington has 
discovered and cultivated certain micro-organisms which he 
believes to be the virus of eattle plague, and Dr, Roch is carry: 
ing out some experiments with eaiire, placed at his disposal by 
Dr. Edington, to ascertain what, if any, part is played by them 
in the disease, Elaborate precautions have had to be taken 
at the Victorian Contant Dr, Koch's station, to avoid 
accidental infection of the animals under observation, whieh 
would entirely vitiate the inquiry, Dr, Koch provided himself’ 
with blood and other materials obtained from plague-stricken 
animals, and with these he has already carried out a lange number 
of inoculation experiments, In the first instance an efficient 
method had to be discovered of infecting animals artificially with 
the disease, for the methods hitherto employed were not attended 
with the desired success, Koch, instead of using the seeretions 
of infected animals, has employed hypodermic injections of 
blood taken from rinderpest vietims, and this method has proved 
extremely successful, Allefforts so far to find, whether by cultiva- 
tion, or microscopical examination, a specific micro-organism in 
the blood have proved fruitless; neither has any specific microbe 
been aimoversd among those abundantly present in the mucus 
from the nose, the secretions, and other mucous membranes, 
De, Koch has no intention of abandoning the search, but at 
present his etlorts are concentrated upon findinga process which 
may attenuate the virus of rinderpest, so as to transform it into 
an antidote, The first steps in this direction were made by 
inoculating animals, sueh as sheep and goats, less susceptible to 
the disease than other cattle, with rinderpest blood, The 
symptoms, consequent upon these inoculations, resembled 
those of a mitigated attack of rinderpest; the blood of 
these animals inoculated into other sheep and goats also 
induced symptoms of mild rinderpest, and the hope was raised 
that after these inoculations had been continued through further 
_ generations, the blood of these animals might induce a modified 
considerable proportion will in after life have the management | 
of land, A proper provision for the teaching of agriculture in 
these Universities would, I believe, do far more to Improve the 
condition of agriculture in this country than is effected by all 
the Government grants distributed by the Board of Agriculture,” 
Prof, Warington considers, in conclusion, what may be use 
fully done at Oxford in the direction just indicated, e twelve 
annual lectures required by statute from the Sibthorpian Pro- 
fessor, unconnected as they are with any examination or degree, 
are productive of little good, He does not ask that the Univer 
sity should institute a degree in Agriculture, or even that they 
should at present deal with the subject in any lange or com: 
prehensive way, ‘The proposal is that Agricultural Science 
should be placed among the science subjects, of which two may 
be selected as part of the final examination for a Pass degree, 
This plan would merely require the provision of additonal 
lectures, so that agricultural science might be taught throughout 
the whole acadenue year, Tf this modest scheme were adopted 
the agricultural teaching would become effective, being tested by 
exannation, and leading to that goal of all University men —a 
degree, 
NO. 1428, VOL. 55] 
attack of the disease in cattle. This hope proved, however, 
iusory, for cattle succumbed rapidly to rinderpest. after 
such inoculations, Dx Koch has also been endeavouring to 
yroduce an attenuated virus by chemical and physical means, 
Linderpest blood mixed with glycerine appears to suffer some 
abatement of its virulence, whilst even better results followed 
the addition of phenal to the virus, Cows inoculated with 
rinderpest blood and phenol did not contract the disease ; mores 
over, When subsequently Inoculated with virulent blood, they 
remained healthy, These experiments are being continued, 
Most Noteworthy experiment was, however, the dessication of 
rinderpest blood at a temperature of 31° C. during a period of 
four days, A headof cattle inoculated with this blood dissolved 
in water remained perfectly healthy, Unfortunately, however, 
although the inoculation produced no effect upon the animal, it 
also atlorded it no protection from subsequent infection with 
fresh rinderpest blood, OF all the anime ‘ which have been 
infected with rinderpest blood at the experimental station, only 
four have recovered, and Dr, Koch has used them for ascertains 
ing whether the blood of immune animals, for they did not 
contract the disease when remoculated, possesses any protective 
power, ‘The results were encotraging, for this blood certainly 
did exert a distinct Inmunising action ; bat it remains to be seen 
