OcToBER 19, 1899] 
WA TORE 
611 
second paper Mr. Harmer discussed the meteorological con- 
ditions of North-western Europe during the Pliocene and Glacial 
periods, finding in the early glaciation of Scandinavia, and the 
consequent establishment of anticyclonic conditions over that 
area, a probable solution of the change in the direction of the 
prevalent winds which he believes to be necessary to account for 
the accumulation of the crag-deposits on our eastern coast. 
A short paper by Rev. J. M. Mello on some palzolithic imple- 
ments of North Kent, and the exhibition on behalf of Mr. B. 
Harrison of a collection of ‘‘eoliths” from the neighbourhood 
of Ightham, led to a brisk discussion, in which Sir John Evans, 
Prof. Boyd Dawkins and other speakers denied that the so- 
called ‘‘eolithic implements ” showed proof of human workman- 
ship, while Prof. T. Rupert Jones stated Mr. Harrison’s view 
of the case and was supported by Mr. Allen Brown. 
The chief paper of the final session on Wednesday was that 
of Mrs. M. M. (Ogilvie) Gordon on sigmoidal curves in the 
earth’s crust. This admirably rendered discourse was supple- 
mentary to the work recently published by Mrs. Gordon in the 
Quarterly Journal of the Geological Soctety and in NATURE, 
_ and had for its object the general statement of the phenomena 
which are presented when rock-folds in two directions intersect 
each other and produce “‘ crust-torsion,” with particular reference 
to the earth-forms which have been thus produced in the Alpine 
mountain-system. The complexity of the subject seemed to 
daunt most of the speakers in the discussion ; but Prof. Lapworth 
pointed out how well the results of Mrs. Gordon’s field-work 
agreed with the theoretical deductions to be drawn from the 
study of intercrossing earth-waves. 
As usual, some of the most solid work of the Section was 
embodied in the reports of the committees of research which 
were presented during the meeting, but of which lack of space 
forbids more than the bare mention. Among these were the 
reports presented by Prof. A. P. Coleman on Interglacial Beds 
in Canada; by Mr. P. M. C. Kermode on the Deposits con- 
taining Elk remains in the Isle of Man; by Prof. P. F. Kendall 
on Erratic Blocks; by Rev. G. C. H. Pollen onthe Ty Newydd 
Caves; by Mr. H. Bolton on the Uphill Caves ; and by Prof. 
W. W. Watts on Geological Photographs. 
Short afternoon excursions, which have become an established 
feature of the Section’s arrangements, were made during the 
week to the Ropersole Coal Boring, to the colliery works 
under Shakespeare Cliff, to the East Cliff and St. Margaret Bay, 
and to the Warren at Folkestone. 
To sum up the proceedings of the week—the sessions of the 
Section were well attended throughout, and the papers, though 
without any especially salient features, maintained a good 
average both in numbers and quality. Some paleontological 
papers which might have found place in the Section were taken 
in Sections D and K, and this branch of geological science was 
in consequence scantily represented in the list. 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 
INTELLIGENCE. 
CAMBRIDGE.—Mr. W, L. H. Duckworth has been appointed 
to the University lectureship in physical anthropology. 
Mr. R. G. K. Lempfert has been appointed Assistant 
Demonstrator in Experimental Physics. 
It is proposed that McGill University, Montreal, be adopted 
as an institution affiliated to the University. 
A NEw technical institute is to be erected, at a cost of 8450/., 
in Carisbrooke Road, Liverpool. 
THE sum of 25,000 dollars has been promised to Vassar 
College towards a biological laboratory on condition that an 
equal amount be raised for the same purpose by other means. 
THE foundation-stone of a new technical college for Sunder- 
land has just been laid. The college is to cost 25,000/,, and 
will, it is hoped, eventually be affiliated to Durham University. 
Dr. C. B. Davenrort, of Harvard University, has been 
appointed professor of zoology at the University of Chicago, in 
the place of Prof. Wheeler, who has gone to the University of 
Texas. 
Mr. H. B. KNow Les has been appointed principal of the 
Swindon and North Wilts Technical School. Hitherto he has 
been teacher of physics and electrical engineering at the Bradford 
Technical School. 
NO. 1564, VOL. 60] 
THE Technical Instruction Committee of the West Riding 
(Yorks.) County Council have consented to financially assist the 
managers of the district technical schools in forming reference 
libraries on the subjects of local instruction. 
Mr. Emerson E. McCMILiin has given the Ohio Academy 
of Science 250 dollars with which to carry on scientific in- 
vestigations, and declared his intention of giving a similar 
amount annually if the money is wisely expended. 
DarrmMoutH (U.S.A.) COLLEGE has recently received from 
Mr. E. Tuck, of New York, 300,000 dollars, to be used for the 
purposes of instruction, and Tuft’s College has had bequeathed 
to it the sum of 60,000 dollars by the late Mrs. M. D. Goddard, 
of Newton, Mass. 
THE regents of the University of California have accepted the 
plans designed by M. Bénard, of Paris, for their new university 
buildings, and some of the buildings will, it is stated, be begun 
next spring. The movement, as will be remembered, is mainly 
due to the generosity of Mrs. Phcebe A. Hearst. 
AT a meeting held at Newcastle on Monday last, it was 
decided to make an effort to raise funds for the completion of 
the buildings in connection with the Durham University College 
of Science. Subscriptions amounting to 9500/. were promised 
at the meeting, and the sum of 100,000/. will, it is hoped, be 
raised by the end of the year. 
IN connection with the Liverpool University College, Mr. W. 
Rathbone has made provision for the award annually of a Rath- 
bone medal to the most distinguished third-year student. Mrs. 
George Holt and Miss Emma Holt (to whom the College has 
on more than one former occasion been much indebted) have 
each given the sum of 5000/, towards the physical laboratories 
of the institution. 
AMONG recent appointments abroad we notice the following :— 
Dr. S. Avery to be professor of chemistry in the University of 
Idaho; Mr. H. B. Ward to be professor of zoology at Nebraska 
University ; Mr. P. Field to be professor of mathematics in 
Carthage College; Dr. E. O. Sisson to be director of the 
histological laboratory in the recently consolidated medical 
schools of Keoduk, Iowa. 
WITH reference to a recent note in this column respecting 
the admission of women students to the course of study at the 
Owens College which would qualify them for medical degrees 
and practice, we are requested to state that the resolution in 
favour of the course adopted was carried by a majority of nine- 
teen, the voting being twenty-one for the resolution and two 
against it. 
THE promoters of the Birmingham University scheme have 
recently received the munificent donation of 20,000/. from Mr. 
Charles Holcroft, and a number of large sums from other 
gentlemen, which bring the total amount promised to upwards 
of 315,400/, The total of over 300,000/. having been reached, 
the committee have secured the last 12,500/, which was offered 
by the friend of Mr. Joseph Chamberlain who prefers to remain 
anonymous, 
SCIENTIFIC SERIAL. 
American Journal of Science, October.—Explosive effect o1 
electrical discharges, by J. Trowbridge, T. C. McKay, and J. 
C. Howe. The authors investigated the sudden increase of 
pressure in the gas, through which the discharge passes, by 
means of a vacuum tube provided with a manometer gauge. 
When spark-gaps up to 50cm. were employed, with a maximum 
difference of potential of three million volts, they found that the 
explosive effect increased closely in proportion to the length of 
the spark, and began to diminish when the spark was longer 
than 50cm. The air itself then becomes a fairly good con- 
ductor, and is strongly ionised.—Colour vision and the flicker 
photometer, by O. N. Rood. The author’s flicker photometer 
reveals the fact that the curve of colour vision is not the same in 
any two persons supposed to have normal sight: Among five 
persons capable of sustaining Holmgren’s worsted test, differ- 
ences of colour values ranging from I to 14 per cent. were 
found.—Iodometric determination of gold, by F. A. Gooch and 
I. H. Morley. The authors investigate the effect upon the 
immediate evolution of iodine brought about by adding varying 
amounts of water to the gold solution before introducing the 
