158 
its membership to 826 with a corresponding improve- 
ment in its financial position. The formation of 
three special sections with activities connected with 
Government service, with industrial service, and with 
universities is probably a step in the right direction. 
In the first service there is stated to be profound 
dissatisfaction, partly due to the inadequate position, 
responsibility and freedom of initiative of scientific 
workers and partly to the operation of the ‘‘ Geddes 
Axe.” It is suggested that at the bottom of the 
discontent of scientific officers in Government depart- 
ments is the totally inadequate understanding of 
science by officials, holding executive positions, 
originally appointed to the Civil Service on examina- 
tional efficiency in every side of education but science. 
The University Section would seem to have a definite 
function in respect to the teaching, pay, position, 
and free research hours of university teachers ; »it 
seems doubtful policy to merge it into a general 
education section to consider the whole “ tree”’ 
from the infants’ school to the universities. The 
Industrial Section has to deal with such matters 
as the pay, position, and unemployment of scientific 
workers in industry; the problems are so intricate 
that any standardising and grading of salaries as 
well as of the qualifications of those employed would 
seem impossible. Success is probably bound up 
with propaganda as to the important economic 
- results likely to ensue from the due employment 
of properly qualified scientific workers in various 
sides of economic life. We note in this connexion 
the amalgamation, so far as their aims are concerned, 
of the Union with the British Association of Chemists 
and its friendly co-operation with many other 
professional bodies. 
Tue announcement has been made of a gift of 
50001. by a donor, who at present wishes to remain 
anonymous, to the Rowett Research Institute for 
Animal Nutrition at Aberdeen. This sum is intended 
to found a library and to provide for making statistical 
records. 
A LECTURE on “‘ Intersexuality and the Determina- 
tion of Sex’”’ will be delivered by Prof. Goldschmidt, 
of Berlin, in the Zoology Department, University of 
Liverpool, on February 15, at 7.30 P.M. An open 
invitation is extended to all who are interested. 
Further information can be obtained from Prof. 
W. J. Dakin, University, Liverpool. 
Notice is given by the Iron and Steel Institute that 
the council of the Institute is prepared to consider in 
March applications for grants from the Carnegie Fund, 
in aid of research work on some subject of practical 
importance relating to the metallurgy of iron and 
steel, or allied subjects, and that special application 
forms may be obtained from the Secretary of the 
Institute. The results of research work must be 
communicated in the form of a report. 
A jornt dinner, to be called the ‘‘ Ramsay Chemical 
Dinner,’”’ arranged by the Society of Chemical In- 
dustry, the Institute of Chemistry, the Society of 
Dyers and Colourists, the Glasgow University Al- 
chemists’ Club, the Andersonian Chemical Society, 
NO. 2779, VOL. 111] 
NATURE 





































[FEBRUARY 3, 1923 
and the Ardeer Chemical Club, will be held in Glasgow 
on Friday, February 23. The dinner will take the 
place of the social functions previously held separately 
by the various societies in Glasgow and, itis hoped, will 
promote recognition of the importance of chemistry. 
Application to attend must reach Dr. J. A. Cranston, 
Royal Technical College, Glasgow, not later than 
February 16. 
WE have received a copy of a list of the products 
manufactured by the British Dyestuffs Corporation 
Ltd., which is made up in the form of a diary. — 
Classified lists of dyes, colours for special purposes, 
such as soap, film, and foodstuff colouring, are given, 
and lists of chemicals for research work (under the 
heading Association of British Chemical Manu- 
facturers), microscopic stains, and indicators, are 
included. The volume is very convenient, and is 
a welcome indication of the progress made in the 
synthetic chemical industry. 
“4 
THE second course of training for seed analysts — 
will commence in July at the Official Seed Testing 
Station, Cambridge, and will last four to five weeks. — 
The course is limited to those who are nominated — 
by seed firms, recommended by universities or 
agricultural colleges, or otherwise show their fitness 
for such training. At the conclusion of the course, : 
an examination is held which is also open to nominated 
candidates who have not taken the course of instruc- — 
tion. Applications must reach the Secretary, National 
Institute of Agricultural Botany, by May 1 next. 
Tuer following lecture arrangements of the Royal 
College of Physicians of London have been made: Dr. 
W. G. Savage will deliver the Milroy Lectures on 
February 22, 27, and March 1. The subject will be 
“ Canned Foods in Relation to Health.” The Goul- 
stonian Lectures will be given by Dr. G. Evans on 
March 6, 8, and 13. The subject will be “* The Nature 
of Arterio-Sclerosis.’’ Dr. A. J. Hall will deliver the 
Lumleian Lectures on March 15, 20, and 22, taking 
as his subject ‘“‘ Encephalitis Lethargica (Epidemic 
Encephalitis). The lecture hour in each case will be 
5 o'clock. 
Mr. G. A. Duntop, keeper of the Warrington 
Museum, sends his report for the two years ending — 
June 30, 1922. During the latter year the number 
of visitors amounted to 82,815, being an increase of — 
more than 50 per cent. as compared with the previous — 
year. We infer that the increase consists largely of — 
children, since a serious attempt has been made to 
bring about a closer connexion between the schools — 
of the town and the museum. A special advisory 
committee has suggested a scheme for the utilisation” 
of the museum in the teaching of general and local 
history to the school children. Unfortunately the — 
scheme is not given in the report. : 
Messrs. H. F. anp G. WITHERBY announce for 
publication this month “A Biology of the British 
Hemiptera-Heteroptera,”’ by E. A. Butler. The work — 
will include a complete list of British families, sub-_ 
families, genera, and species, arranged according to 
Oshanin’s ‘‘ Katalog ’’ (1912), and many illustrations. x 
Z 
