May 4, 1899] 
NATURE 
II 
The decrease in the number of students studying 
medicine is more apparent than real, the method of 
classifying and certain natural fluctuations being 
sufficient to explain it. The increase in the numbers 
taking law, science and literature has been steadily main- 
tained for some years, though, as the accompanying 
curves show, there have been temporary unimportant 
diminutions. 
The number of foreign students at the University 
during 1897-8 was 1258, of whom 110, representing 
eighteen nationalities, were studying science. There 
were 250 women students, of whom 187 were foreigners. 
The numbers of bachelors diplomas awarded in the 
faculty of Science for the two years referred to above 
1885 1897 
1886 86-87 87-88 88-89 89-90 90-91 A1-92 92-93 93-94 94-95 95-98 96-97 , IADR 
5.500 % 5,500 
4.000 5.000 
4.600 = 4.500 
4.000 
3.500 
3.000 
2.500 | 2 500 
2.000 Li] 
1.500 
1.000 
£00 
e 
91-92 92-93 98-94 94-95 95-96 96-97 1897 
1898 
1885 86-87 87-88 88-89 89-90 90-91 
1886 
Number of students in the various Faculties of the Paris University 
since 1885. 
were 947 and 795 respectively. These included several 
branches, as follows :— 
1897-8. 1896-7. 
Faculty {Classical (Literature—Mathematics) ... 585 444 
of Modern (Literature—Sciences) ... 197 203 
Science. | Modern (Literature—Mathematics) 165 148 
947 795 
It is interesting to note that fifty scholarships are 
offered by the State in science, out of a total number of 
146 in all faculties. No science scholarships are provided 
either by the city authorities or by private individuals, 
though fifty-six, spread over the other faculties, are avail- 
able from these sources. 
The Doctorate of the University of Paris.—Recognising 
that the systems of secondary education in other countries 
differ from those of France, and that in consequence 
foreigners are not able to rapidly pass the examinations 
NO. 1540, VOL. 60] 
necessary for the diploma of bachelor, which have- 
hitherto been compulsory before proceeding to the 
doctorate, the Council of the University of Paris has 
modified the regulations governing the bestowal of its 
doctorate as far as foreigners are concerned. As the 
report makes clear, the imperfect knowledge of French 
and French literature possessed by most of these foreign 
students has also been taken into account, and for the 
future the bachelorship will not be considered indispens- 
able. A foreigner may, without having taken the degree 
of bachelor at the University of Paris, be very strong in 
some subject or other. Why, asks Prof. Moissan, should 
he be prevented from taking the doctorate? The Council 
wish, as they say, to open their University to every 
type of mind; two things only are demanded of the 
aspirant to the doctorate—intelligence and work. No- 
kind of official stamp will be insisted upon. This will 
lead the way, the Council very properly think, to what 
they regard as their chief duty—the encouragement of 
scientific investigation. There is a large number of 
students at present in the science laboratories of the 
University itself, as well as those of the Pharmaceutical 
School, who are preparing theses for the new doctorate. 
New Gifts to the University——Many important gifts 
and bequests have been made to the University during 
| the year. 
(1) Charles Legroux Prize-——A donation of 10,000. 
francs, made by Madame Legroux, for the establishment 
| of a quinquennial prize, to be awarded to the best work 
on the treatment and causes of diabetes. 
(2) Marjolin Legacy.—The proceeds from property to 
be applied to paying the fees, for further terms, of French 
students of medicine who have been characterised for 
their zeal and exactness. fi 
(3) Mercet Donation—M. Emile Louis Mercet has 
given an annual amount of 3000 francs for six years, to 
be applied towards the salary of a secretary for a depart- 
ment of the Sorbonne. 
(4) Countess Chambrun Foundation.—An annual gift of | 
5000 francs for thirty years towards the foundation of a 
course of study in social economics. 
(5) Anonymous Gift of 50,000 francs.—This bequest 
was remitted to the Council by M. Lavisse. It brings an 
annual revenue of 2000 francs, which is to be devoted 
towards alleviating the needs of deserving French or 
foreign students. 
(6) Anonymous Gift of 75,000 francs for Travelling 
Scholarshifs.—The anonymous donor proposes, if neces- 
| sary, to renew this gift annually for three or four years. 
| It is to be devoted to founding five travelling scholarships, 
each of the value of 15,000 francs. Two are to go to old 
students of the Ecole normale supérieure, three to old 
students of the University. The choice of suitable 
students will be in the hands of the Council of the Uni- 
versity on the report of a commission appointed by the 
Rector. The scholarship holders will employ some 
fifteen months in travelling round the world with the 
object of studying the social conditions, forms of govern- 
ment, &c., of different countries. 
Of other important questions, such, for example, as an 
account of the work carried on in the laboratories and 
hospitals, the researches which have been made, and the 
technical applications arising therefrom, the errors rec- 
tified during the year, M. Moissan says space will permit 
him to say nothing. But there is more than enough in 
this interesting report to show that the University of Paris,. 
with its 116 professors, to say nothing of lecturers, labor- 
atory directors, and experimentalists, is doing a good 
work, and that its constitution in 1896, out of the older 
University of France, was fully justified. When it is 
borne in mind, moreover, that side by side with the 
instruction in science which is going on in the Uni- 
versity, Paris possesses such large schools as the College 
of France, the Natural History Museum, the School of 
