68 
Prof, R. W. Wood. 
The professor of experimental physics in the Johns 
Hopkins University of Baltimore is a prolific experi- 
mentalist, and one to whose researches in physical 
optics modern science is greatly indebted. By in- 
genious use of little-known properties of light, he has 
explored the structure of molecules, applying the 
principle of resonance to determine their natural 
electronic period of vibration. He has, in fact, dis- 
covered a new type of spectra in the fluorescent reson- 
ance of metallic vapours. What more he has done, in 
connection with the anomalous absorption of sodium 
vapour, with specially designed diffraction gratings, 
and with the application of monochromatic photo- 
graphy to the geology of the moon, it were long to 
tell; among other things, he anticipated and realised 
the attainment of regular reflection from a sufficiently 
dense absorbing vapour; while to the public in 
America he is known as the inventor of a practical 
method of thawing frozen pipes by an electric current. 
The idea of a gigantic telescope in the form of a sunk 
well, with a revolving pool of mercury at its base to 
constitute a truly parabolic mirror, may not be a new 
one, but Prof. Wood has taken it out of the region of 
the chimerical and shown that it is possible, even if 
not practically useful. We in this country have reason 
to envy the splendid resources which the munificence 
of citizens in America, and of Governments elsewhere, 
places at the disposal of scientific explorers, and we 
honour and admire the use which is being made of 
those resources in every branch of science. As one of 
the most brilliant experimental physicists of the world, 
I present for our honorary degree Robert Williams 
Wood. 
Synopsis of grants of money appropriated for scien- 
tific purposes by the general committee at the Birming- 
ham meeting September, 1913 :— 
Section A—Mathematical and Physical Science. 
Prof. H. H. Turner, seismo- 
logical observations -- £60 0 0 
Dr. W. N. Shaw, upper atmo- 
sphere aie & Een “O/etC 
Sir W. Ramsay, constants and 
numerical data ods eet 40) 10!5-0 
Prof. M. J. M. Hill, calcula- 
tion of mathematical tables 20 0 o 
Lieut.-Col. A. Cunningham, 
copies of the ‘Binary 
Canon” for presentation... 5 0 o 
£150 0 O 
Section B—Chemistry. 
Dr. W. H. Perkin, study of 
hydro-aromatic substances 15 0 o 
Prof. H. EE. Armstrong, 
dynamic isomerism aes. 0) <0 
Prof. F. S. Kipping, trans- 
formation of aromatic nitro- 
amines be oe Bier eS Ww Or 60 
A. D. Hall, plant enzymes ... 25 0 o 
Prof. W. J. Pope, correlation 
of crystalline form with 
molecular structure Reena Sic (O) 4:0 
Prof. H. E. Armstrong, solu- 
bility phenomena tae 425.0: 0 
4120 0 oO 
Section C—Geology, 
R. H. Tiddeman, erratic 
blocks ac 7: -eree 5 e100 
Prof. P. F. Kendall, list of 
characteristic fossils Re Se: 30 
Dr. A. Strahan, Ramsay 
Island, Pembroke ... 
NO. 2290, VOL. 92 
TOTO n 10 
NATURE 
[SEPTEMBER 18, 1913 
Prof. Grenville Cole, Old 
Red Sandstone of Kiltor- 
CAN Mee oe ae wae 
G. Barrow, trias of western © 
midlands Be fi: =on to). 6 
Prof. W. W. Watts, sections 
in Lower Paleozoic rocks 15 0 
Section D—Zoology. 
Dr. A. E. Shipley, Belmullet 
Whaling Station... coc ZOE LO 
Dr. Chalmers Mitchell, 
nomenclator animalium 50 oO 
S. F. Harmer, Antarctic 
whaling industry go oO 
Section E—Geography. 
Prof. J. L. Myres, maps for 
school and university use... 40 0 
Prof. H. N. Dickson, tidal 
currents in Moray and 
adjacent firths sen POO 
Section G—Engineering. 
Sir W. H. Preece, gaseous 
explosions Ec ox ESO ONO 
Prof. J. Perry, stress distri- 
butions é. us 50 0 0 
Section H—Anthropology. 
Dr. R. Munro, Glastonbury 
Lake Village ae ne OO? 
Sir C. H. Read, age of stone 
circles ae “Se +34) 20 OURO: 
Dr. R. Munro, artificial 
islands in Highland lochs 5 o o 
Prof. G. Elliot Smith, physical 
character of ancient 
Egyptians... as sae SQA ENS 
Prof. J. L. Myres, anthropo- 
metric investigations in 
Cyprus or te 238, 50) 40) 10 
Prof. W. Ridgeway, Roman 
sites in Britain 5 eemlole Keys) (© 
Dr. R. R. Marett, Paleolithic 
site in Jersey 330 “416 SOpeO) 1G 
Section I—Physiology. 
Prof. E. A. Schafer, the duct- 
less glands... a Boe ig inpthnra| 
Prof. A. D. Waller, anzs- 
thetics oe Ge aay tye) 
Prof. J. S. Macdonald, calori- 
metric observations By oe topeeie) 
Prof. C. S. Sherrington, 
mammalian heart ... Ap Stcaatte) 
Section K—Botany. 
Prof. F. J. Oliver, structure 
of fossil plants hs Ait 
Prof. A. C. Seward, Jurassic 
flora of Yorkshire ... 50 
is 0 
Prof. F. Keeble, flora of peat 
of Kennet Valley ... Sry So) 
A. G. Tansley, vegetation of 
Ditcham Park S 20 0 
Prof. F. F. Blackman, physio- 
lovv of heredity Se Siohute) 
Prof. F. O. Bower, renting of 
Cinchona Botanic Station 
in Jamaica .. ae ees (0 
Prof. W. Bateson, breeding 
experiments with GEnotheras 20 0 
£55 0 0 
£160 0 oO 
#100 0 oO 
#199 16 6 
4130 0 O 
