300 
NATURE 
[ Marcu 3, 1923 

An address on ‘“ Biological Contributions to 
Sociology,’ delivered by Prof. J. Arthur Thomson 
before the Sociological Society on February 20, 
Prof. G. Elliot Smith in the chair, raised a number 
of questions of wide interest. Knowledge of what 
may be termed the natural history of man is closely 
related to the study of social activities and changes, 
and it should be used to promote the healthy growth 
of civilised society. Among biological subjects which 
have a direct bearing upon this development are 
heredity and environmental influence, variation as 
the raw material of possible evolution, the relation 
of individuation and _ reproduction, population 
problems, the results of inbreeding and outbreeding 
in man, the selective influence of disease, and the 
preservation of the physically unfit in civilised life. 
As regards the physical characteristics of man, 
natural selection has ceased to operate in modern 
society, and the weak and morally or mentally 
deficient are encouraged to live at the expense of 
the strong. Society itself will eventually have to 
decide whether it will continue to promote the 
reproduction of the unfit or adopt measures of 
artificial selection with the object of eliminating 
them. Man can be the master of his own destiny, 
and is not altogether the creature of circumstances, 
as are other natural species. The race ought, there- 
fore, to look to scientific guidance for human growth 
not only towards individual fitness but also towards 
a higher human perfection. ' 
At the Royal Asiatic Society on February 13, 
Mr. E. J. Holmyard delivered a lecture on Arabian 
alchemy and chemistry, in the course of which 
attention was directed to the large amount of material 
available in manuscript form in the libraries of 
Europe, especially Constantinople, and in Cairo. Mr, 
Holmyard also expressed the view that it was probable 
that the laboratory note-books of the chemists of 
Islam might prove; if they could be found, of at least 
equal importance with their more famous books. The 
question of Geber was considered, and some lantern 
slides, showing typical forms of apparatus, were 
exhibited. In the discussion which followed, Prof. 
E. G. Browne laid stress on the need for a thorough 
and adequate study of the development of chemistry 
in Islam. Dr. C. Singer disagreed with the lecturer’s 
statement that the Arab chemists kept their chemistry 
free from astrology, and said that a belief in astrology 
was a normal part of the mental equipment of all 
educated men in the Middle Ages. Mr. Robert 
Steele showed the connexion between Arab chemistry 
and medieval European chemistry, and Prof. J. R. 
Partington brought forward further evidence in 
favour of Mr. Holmyard’s views that Berthelot’s 
arguments against the identity of Geber and Jabir 
ibn Haiyan were unsound. Dr. Gaster pointed out 
the importance of Berthelot’s work on the Greek 
alchemists, and Mr. H. S. Redgrove suggested that 
it was rash to assume that the mystical alchemical 
verse of Ktalid ibn Yazid had no practical meaning. 
THE annual general meeting of the Institution of 
Heating and Ventilating Engineers was held on 
February 6, and Mr. John Watson was elected 
NO. 2783, VOL. 111 | 

president for the year. In his presidential address 
he stated that they might be proud of the progress 
of the Institution, in membership and influence, 
during the twenty-five years of its existence. Several 
Government departments have representatives on 
the Institution’s committees, showing that its 
influence is extending. Refeftring to the education 
of the engineer, Mr. Watson considered that the 
facilities now offered are much in advance of any- 
thing previously available. At the age of 21 or 
22 years, any intelligent youth who has followed 
the prescribed 6-years course suggested in “* Advice 
to Intending Students ’ would be well informed in 
general knowledge of elementary engineering science, 
and in the basic facts of heating and ventilation. 
Mr. Watson also referred to some technical matters. 
The question of super-power stations for the supply 
of cheap motive power had been discussed by the 
district heating committee in conjunction with a 
committee of the Institution of Electrical Engineers. 
The use of condensing engines in existing stations 
led to an enormous amount of heat being carried 
away in the condensing water, whereas by using 
some of these stations as combined heating and 
power stations, and utilising the exhaust steam for 
heating and hot water supply to buildings in the 
vicinity, something like 50 per cent. of the heat 
content of the fuel would be realised in useful work, 
instead of perhaps 12 per cent. 
Dr. W. H. Maw, president of the Institution of 
Civil Engineers and past-president of the Institution 
of Mechanical Engineers and of the Royal Astro- 
nomical Society, has been awarded the Bessemer 
gold medal of the Iron and Steel Institute. The 
medal was founded by Sir Henry Bessemer in 1873, 
and is awarded annually to any member or non- 
member of the Institute who may be (1) the inventor 
or introducer of any important or remarkable inven- 
tion, either in the mechanical or chemical processes 
employed in the manufacture of iron or steel; (2) for 
a paper read before the Institute, and having special 
merit and importance in connexion with the iron 
and steel manufacture ; (3) for a contribution to the 
Journal of the Institute, being an original investiga- 
tion bearing on the iron and steel manufacture, and 
capable of being productive of valuable practical 
results. The medal may also be awarded for work 
not coming strictly under the foregoing definitions, 
should it be considered that the iron or steel trades 
have been or may be substantially benefited thereby. 
A diploma accompanies the award of the medal, 
in which it is formally stated that the award is 
“for eminent services in the advancement of metal- 
lurgical knowledge,’’ or, alternatively, ‘‘ for eminent 
service in the advancement of the application of 
iron and steel.” 
A DINNER to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary 
of the foundation of the Réntgen Society will be held 
on Thursday, March 15, at the Hotel Cecil, Strand, 
London, W.C. 
THE annual meeting of the Royal Society for the 
Protection of Birds will be held at the Middlesex 
Guildhall, Westminster, S.W., on Wednesday, March 7, 
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