410 
engineering course and laboratories at Columbia 
University. The course provides for post-graduate 
students who have taken a university degree. It has 
been observed that for several years more than 20 per 
cent. of the students of engineering at Columbia have 
possessed the college degree at entrance. 
A copy of Merck’s annual report on recent advances 
in pharmaceutical chemistry and therapeutics has 
recently reached us. Lecithin is taken as the subject 
of the special monograph this year, and some seventy 
pages are devoted to it. In these are given «in 
account of the chemistry and physiology of the 
lecithins, a discussion of the réle which they are 
believed to play in the phenomena of metabolism and 
nutrition, and a summary of the results obtained with 
them in therapeutical experiments. A large amount 
“of work has been done on these bodies, and students 
will find this account a convenient bird’s-eye view of 
the subject. An extensive bibliography of Jecithin 
literature is appended; both this and the description 
of the analytical tests will be found useful. Another 
special feature of the report is a supplement giving 
a detailed account of the methods used for the physio- 
logical standardisation of digitalis preparations in the 
Pharmacological Institute, Erlangen University. 
Gratusstrophanthin is used as the standard toxic sub- 
stance for comparison, the subjects being frogs, mice, 
rabbits, and cats. Among the ordinary records may 
be mentioned as of special medical interest those on 
salvarsan and neo-salvarsan, chineonal, mesothorium, 
hypophysis preparations, and nucleinic acid; whilst the 
attention of analysts may be directed to those on 
cobalt-sodium nitrite, hydrazine sulphate, blood tests, 
uranium acetate in the determination of albumen, and 
the use of dimethyl-glyoxal as a reagent for nickel 
and ferrous iron. 
In his second lecture to the Institute of Chemistry 
on ‘The research chemist in the works, with special 
reference to the textile industry,’ Mr. W. P. Dreaper 
directed attention to the importance of a knowledge 
of theory, and illustrated this point by a reference 
to the work done in connection with the presence of 
stains and loss of strength experienced on the storage 
of certain sill goods. These faults were found to be 
due to the free sulphuric acid. Only a knowledge 
of theory could suggest why this acid could be present 
in cases where it had never been used in any process 
of manufacture. The so-called ‘‘neutral salt re- 
action”? had offered a solution to this problem, and 
has relieved the dyer from constant blame. Con- 
tinuing, he said the British aniline dye industry has 
recently made remarkable progress, and its products 
are even being sold in Germany. The future will 
see considerable expansion in this reviving industry. 
In an address recently delivered before the Calcutta 
Chemical Club Prof. P. C. Ray emphasises the extra- 
ordinary progress made by chemical research in 
Bengal during recent years; in the session 1912-13 
alone more than sixty contributions were published 
from the chemical laboratory of Presidency College 
by Prof. Ray and’ his students. Owing to the recent 
munificent gifts of Sir T. Palit and Dr. Rashbehary 
NO, 2301, VOL. 92] 
NATURE 
[DECEMBER 4, I9T, 
Ghosh, it has become possible to found a Universit 
College of Science in Bengal, which it is hoped 1 
bring about a renaissance of the scientific sp 
India. It is noteworthy that Dr. Ghosh has expr 
the opinion that the higher academic degrees sho 
be conferred only on those who have done ori 
research work. He would abolish examinations 
these degrees and make research work the onl 
qualifying test, and Prof. Ray cites a case in w 
one of his recent students who was “ plucked" in 
B.Sc. examination, has since shown conspicuous ability 
in research, and is deserving of the highest degree. 
The Engineering Magazine for November contains 
an illustrated article by W. Wilson, dealing with the 
development of Auckland Harbour, New Zealand. — 
Nine years ago, when the present engineering staff — 
took up their duties, a wooden wharfing scheme was 
in existence. Various timbers had been used in its 
construction, but every available wood was destroyed 
by an energetic species of Teredo. Even wood that — 
is nearly impervious in Australian waters is attacked a 
here. Ferro-concrete construction has been adopted, — 
and after about seven years’ trial has proved an entire _ 
success; while the prevailing mudstone on the shores 
of the harbour is riddled with molluscs, the concrete 
is quite proof against attack. The article has several 
photographs showing the condition of the old wooden 
piles; inspection of these illustrations indicates that 
the Auckland Harbour Teredo does its work in a most 
thorough fashion. Often only three years is required 
to honeycomb even the hardest timber. 
Tue seventh part of Dr. Koningsberger’s Java is 
devoted to the faunas of open fallow lands and of 
fields which have been long under cultivation, the 
last chapter, dealing with the fauna of cacao planta- 
tions. On p. 311 the author speaks of the black- 
necked Lepus nigricollis, which haunts the fallows, as 
the Javan hare, whereas, according to Blanford, it is 
naturally restricted to southern India and Ceylon, 
whence it has apparently been introduced into Java. 
We have received from Washington a catalogue 
giving prices and carefully worded descriptions of the 
publications of the Carnegie Institution. Copies of 
each of the works, except the ‘‘ Index Medicus,”’ are 
sent gratuitously to a limited number of the greater 
libraries of the world, while the remainder of the 
edition is sold at a price sufficient only to cover the 
cost of publication and of transportation to purchasers. 
The catalogue concludes with an index of authors 
with condensed titles of their works. Copies of the 
catalogue may be obtained on application to the 
Carnegie Institution. at Washington, D.C., U.S.A. 
Tue issue for 1914 of The Scientists’ Reference 
Book and Diary, has been received from the pub- 
lishers, Messrs. Jas. Woolley, Sons, and Co., Ltd., 
of Manchester. The reference book contains useful 
chemical and physical consti nts, glossaries of scien- 
tific and technical terms, and a miscellany of useful 
information. The diary is compact and conveniently 
arranged. The volumes are contained in a neat 
leather case of pocket size. The price of this popular 
diary is 2s. 
