334 
workers in biology has so greatly increased of late 
years that a proposal has emanated from the Univer- 
sity of Lund to hold, in one or other place, a yearly 
meeting at which professional biologists may be 
brought into closer personal relations with their 
amateur colleagues. The proposal is also supported 
by Prof. Loénnberg and others, 
Ir is announced that a school of mothercraft will be 
opened in February. The scheme is intended for 
educated women wishing to complete their qualifica- 
tions for posts as health visitors, superintendents of 
infant welfare centres, matrons of babies’ 
and the like. Mothers with babies will be resident, 
and students will have the care of them and be in- 
structed in breast-feeding and in various methods of 
artificial feeding. The course will extend over nine 
months, of which the first five will be spent in routine 
nursery work, and the last four at infant welfare 
centres, home visiting, etc. The school, named the 
Marlborough School of Mothercraft, is under the presi- 
dency of the Duchess of Marlborough. 
Tue second meeting of the Society of Glass Tech- 
nology was held on December 14, in the University of 
Sheffield, the president, Mr. W. F. J. Wood, in the 
chair. Dr. H. Frank Heath, secretary of the Depart- 
ment of Scientific and Industrial Research, addressed | 
the meeting, pointing out the good services the society 
could render to the nation, and assuring it of the | 
Government’s interest and support. The remarkable 
developments that have taken place in the glass in- 
_ dustry during the last two years were emphasised by 
an exhibition of various types of glass, including (1) 
scientific ware, (2) optical glass, artistic glass, (4) 
miscellaneous exhibits. Many firms and private indi- 
viduals sent collections for exhibition, and it was ap- 
parent that in chemical ware and other scientific glass 
there was no necessity to depend on German produc- 
tion in the future. Beautiful specimens of artistic 
glass, both ancient and modern, were shown, whilst 
there were several interesting and instructive exhibits 
of glasses illustrating the various effects met with in 
glass production. 
A MEETING of makers and users of refractory mate- 
rials was held in the Chemistry Theatre of the Univer- 
sity of Manchester on Wednesday, December 13, and 
was well attended. Mr. A. Cliff occupied the chair, 
and practically all the important manufacturing centres 
were represented. The opinion was generally ex- 
pressed that a technical society of some kind ought to 
be formed, and that it should emphasise the manu- 
facturers’ side and develop a close relationship with 
the users in the various industries, so that all may 
work together in harmony for the general good. After 
discussion, it was decided to form a special section of 
the Ceramic Society. which has its headquarters at 
Stoke-on-Trent. This section is to work independently 
of the parent body in electing its own officers and in 
the management of its own meetings, to be held in the 
different centres. A provisional committee was ap- 
pointed, which met at Newcastle-upon-Tyne on Wed- 
nesday, December 20, to formulate a scheme for the 
election of officers, to consider what modifications of 
the rules of the Ceramic Society are necessary to suit 
_the requirements of the new section, and to appoint a 
place for the next general meeting. It was decided 
to hold this meeting of the section at Leeds early in the 
new year, when Dr. J. W. Mellor, of Stoke-on-Trent, 
is to read a paper on ‘‘The Spalling of Magnesite 
Bricks.” 
A stupy of the individual and sex differences result- 
ing from fasting is reported by H. D. Marsh in the 
NO. 2461, VOL. 98] 
homes, | 
NATURE 
| other articles of great artistic value. 
[DECEMBER 28, 1916 
Psychological Review (vol. xxiii., No. 6). The writer 
and his wife undertook a fast of three weeks. During 
the first of the three weeks the food was gradually 
| reduced from normal to very little? during the second 
no food was taken except about 600 c.c. of water 
| daily; the third week reversed the procedure of the 
first week, The immediate effects of the fast, as shown 
by the tests, indicate a depletion of vitality and strength 
and to some extent a slowing down in the speed of 
activities, more for the motor than the mental. Some 
improvement in both sexes is shown in mental clear- 
ness and accuracy, and a most pronounced effect upon 
memory, disadvantageous for the masculine subject and 
advantageous for the feminine. It is certainly desir- 
able that the ultimate effects of fasting upon both 
health and ability should be made the subject of 
definite study, and this article is interesting as an 
example stimulating to further inquiry. The sex differ- 
ences found, though, may possibly prove to be indi- 
vidual rather than sexual. 
Tue Royal Anthropological Institute has been pre- 
sented with a collection of fifty-nine photographs of 
Welsh Baptist ministers, dated about 1860-65. This 
collection was studied by the late Dr. John Beddoe, 
and notes have been made on each photograph with the. 
view of determining the various types—Mediterranean, 
Kymric, Bronze, or Saxon—to which they belong. 
The question is discussed by Mr. H. J. Fleure in the 
December issue of Man, who pleads for contributions 
to a series which is likely to interest anthropologists. 
In spite of delay caused by the war and the loss of 
powerful supporters like Lord Ninian Crichton Stuart 
and Sir John Rhys, the National Museum of Wales is 
making steady progress, a considerable portion of the 
new buildings now approaching completion. The 
appeal of the court of governors for exhibits has been 
well responded to, but specimens are still much wanted 
to illustrate the geology and mineralogy of the 
Principality. The exhibition of Mr. E. Lovett’s collec- 
tion of dolls was very popular; the governors are 
now making arrangements for an exhibition to illus- 
trate the methods of education adopted in bygone 
times, and an effort is being made to establish a collec- 
tion of mining appliances, especially such as were 
used in the past, to illustrate the development of the 
Welsh mining industry. A special appeal is being 
' made for assistance in carrying out these useful pro- 
jects. 
In the Museum Journal of the University of Phil- 
adelphia for June, recently received, Mr. C. W. 
Bishop gives an account of his expedition to the Far 
East in search of specimens for the museum. In 
Japan he was permitted to inspect the Imperial 
treasury of the Shoshoin, a collection practically un- 
known to foreigners. It consists chiefly of the palace 
furniture of the Emperor Shomu, who reigned during 
the eighth century, when the capital of Japan was at 
Nara. The collection comprises a wide range of 
objects, many of Korean, Chinese, and even Persian 
or Roman-Syrian origin, and, includes bows and 
arrows, swords, spears, javelins, a curious form of 
halberd with a blade shaped like a lambent flame—a 
type peculiar to this period—decorated boxes, collec- 
tions of Buddhist sutras, masks used in sacred cere- 
monies, musical instruments, games, robes, shoes, 
banners, tapestries, jewelry, glassware, and many 
c Nowhere else 
in the world does such a collection exist, in particu- 
lar, containing objects of the T‘ang and preceding 
Chinese dynasties. Early Korean art is nowhere re- 
presented with such completeness as in this plain log 
building in the quiet groves of Nara. 
| 
