204 
NATURE 
[FEBRUARY I0, 1923 

Stration of some effects of alternating magnetism on 
iron, nickel, cobalt, and ores of these metals, and on 
Heusler alloy. Prof. E. G. Coker showed the action 
of cutting tools working on a transparent medium by 
means of polarised light, using for this purpose Dr. 
Thompson’s large Nicol prism, and Prof. C. H. 
Desch exhibited a number of lantern slides illustrat- 
ing the structure of steel and non-ferrous alloys. 
Dr. Eccles, principal of the College, and a number of 
past students had interesting exhibits. 

Pasteur. 
N Friday last, February 2, an address on the 
work and ideals of Pasteur was given in the 
rooms of the Royal Society by Dr. Pasteur Vallery- 
Radot, the grandson of Louis Pasteur. This was the 
first of a series of lectures, organised by the Alliance 
Frangaise to be given by Dr. Pasteur Vallery-Radot 
in this country, in commemoration of the centenary 
of Pasteur, which is being celebrated this year. Sir 
Charles Sherrington, president of the Royal Society, 
was in the chair, and among those present at the 
meeting were Sir Anthony Bowlby, Sir Humphry 
Rolleston, Sir William Hale-White, Sir Charles 
Ballance, Prof. C. J. Martin, and Mr. Chaston 
Chapman. 
Dr. Pasteur Vallery-Radot prefaced his remarks by 
saying how much he appreciated the homage which 
this country was paying to his illustrious grandfather, 
since it was in England, the home of Jenner and 
Lister, that Pasteur found some of his most ardent 
supporters. He contrasted the state of medicine 
before the advent of Pasteur with what it was at 
the end of the nineteenth century, showing what 
immense benefits had accrued to humanity at large 
from the brilliant researches of this great man. 
In the short period of forty years, Pasteur lifted 
the study of infectious disease out of the morass of 
empiricism and placed it on a scientific basis. By 
his discoveries he opened up a new world, the realm 
of micro-organisms, and laid the foundations of 
bacteriology, which to-day occupies so important a 
position in medicine and many industries. The 
numerous investigations of Pasteur, commencing 
with his work on the tartrates and paratartrates at 
the age of twenty-six, were next rapidly passed in 
review. His fundamental discoveries in fermenta- 
tion, his investigations on the disease of silkworms, 
chicken cholera, swine erysipelas, anthrax, these were 
all dealt with in logical sequence leading up to the 
masterpiece of this scientific genius, amnti-rabies 
inoculation. 
Perhaps to many this story was not new. It bears 
repetition, however, not only because of its enthralling 
interest, but because of the lesson which can be 
learnt from it. There are many, even to-day, who are 
only too ready to point the finger of scorn at scientific 
investigation or to oppose animal experiments. If 
only these misguided individuals were to make a 
study of the life and work of Pasteur, perhaps many 
of the grotesque criticisms of research would remain 
unuttered. To what did Pasteur owe his great 
success? We are told that as a youth at the Lycée 
he showed no promise of great achievement in life, 
that he was no more than an average pupil. He was, 
however, endowed with an imagination which served 
him well in planning his investigations. Coupled 
with this gift was a critical faculty which he applied 
rigorously to all he did—an unusual combination. 
It was, however, his faith in the experimental method, 
his fundamental honesty, his single-mindedness and 
his immense desire to advance knowledge and work 
for the good of humanity, which enabled Pasteur 
NO. 2780, VOL. 111] 
to achieve what he did. 
went from one success to another, carrying all before 
him. Despite this, Pasteur remained simple and 
unostentatious to the end; he was indeed a great 
man. 
Pasteur and Lister are perhaps the two most 
beautiful characters among the scientific men of the 
last century. Their lives should be read and studied 
by all those entering upon acareer of scientific 
investigation. 
fired by some of the idealism and enthusiasm of this 
great man, even those of mediocre attainments 
would achieve success. S. (Psi 

University and Educational Intelligence. 
CAMBRIDGE.—Another important development of 
the Agricultural School of the University is fore- 
shadowed in an offer from the Ministry of Agriculture 
and Fisheries announced by the Council of the Senate. 
In the first instance the offer is of a sum of 30,000/. 
from the Development Commissioners to provide for 
a Chair of Animal Pathology. On the professor being 
appointed, he would be required to prepare a scheme 
for the development within the University of the study 
of the diseases of farm animals. For an approved 
scheme the Commissioners would be prepared to find 
a capital sum of about 25,000/. for buildings, the sites 
to be provided by the University. While the Corn Pro- 
duction Acts (Repeal) Act Fund lasts, i.e. till about 
1927, annually recurring grants for maintenance and 
research would be met out of that Fund. After the 
Corn Repeal monies come to an end the Ministry con- 
fidently expect to find from other sources money to 
continue the work. In the event then of the neces- 
sary financial provision not being forthcoming, the 
University would be under no obligation to continue 
the Institute. Both the Schools of Agriculture and 
of Medicine stand to gain greatly from this new 
scheme, and work of the utmost importance for that 
side of agriculture which depends on live-stock will 
be initiated. 
It is proposed to confer the degree of M.A., honoris 
causa, on Mr. Humphry Gilbert-Carter, director of 
the Botanic Garden. 
Lonpon.—A course of four public lectures on 
“ Electric Fields in Atomic Physics ”’ will be given at 
University College, at 5.15 on March 13, 15, 20, and 
22, by Prof. E. T. Whittaker. Admission will be free, 
without ticket. 
Applications are invited by the Senate for the 
University readership in cultural anthropology tenable 
at University College. The latest time for the 
receipt of applications (12 copies) is the first post of 
Thursday, February 22. They should be sent to 
the Academic Registrar, University of London, 
South Kensington, S.W.7. 
Oxrorp.—An examination will be held at Keble 
College on March 13 for two science scholarships, 
each of the annual value of 80/., plus 20/. laboratory 
fees. The subjects of the examination will be 
chemistry or biology, with elementary physics, and, 
for biologists, elementary chemistry in addition. 
Information can be obtained from Dr. Hatchett 
Jackson, Keble College, Oxford. ‘ 
Dr. R. A. Peters, lecturer in biochemistry in the 
University of Cambridge, has been elected to the 
Whiteley professorship of biochemistry. 

Dr. G. H. CARPENTER, professor of zoology at the 
Royal College of Science, Dublin, has been appointed 
keeper of the Manchester Museum, 
Inspired by this ideal, he 
With such a model as Pasteur. and 
