December 26, 1907^ 



A'A TURE 



PRIZES PROPOSED BY THE PARIS ACADEMY 



OF SCIEXCES FOR 1909. 



f^EUM ETRY. — The Francoeur prize, looo francs, is 



awarded annually for discoveries or work useful to 



progress of pure and applied mathematics. For the 



n prize, 3000 francs, the question proposed is as 



AS : — The absolute invariant which represents the 



— r of distinct double integrals of the second species 



algebraic surface depends on a relative invariant p, 



n plays an important part in the theory of the integrals 



Kt total differentials of the third species and in that of 



algebraic ciir\es traced on the surface. It is proposed to 



make a profound study of this invariant, and especially 



to find out how to determine its exact value, at least, for 



numerous kinds of surfaces. 



Mechanics. — .A Montyon prize, 700 francs, for inventing 

 or improving instruments useful to the progress of agri- 

 culture, the mechanical arts, or sciences. The Poncelet 

 prize will be awarded for a work on applied mathematics. 

 The question for the \aillant prize, 4000 francs, is to 

 improve in an important point the application of the prin- 

 ciples of the dynamics of fluids to the theory of the screw. 

 The Boileau prize, 1300 francs, is for researches on the 

 motion of fluids, sufficient to contribute to the progress of 

 hydraulics. 



^ ivigiition. — The Plumey prize is for improvement of 

 engines or any other invention which has most con- 

 ed to the progress of steam navigation. 

 ..-•.ronomy. — The Lalande prize, 540 francs, is for the 

 most interesting observation, memoir, or work useful to 

 the progress of astronomy, and the Valz prize, 460 francs, 

 is awarded on similar terms. The G. de Pont^oulant 

 prize, 700 francs, is for the encouragement of researches 

 in celestial mechanics. 



Geography. — The Tchihatchef prize, 3000 francs, for the 

 recompense or encouragement of young naturalists dis- 

 tinguished in the exploration of the lesser known parts of 

 .Asia. 



The Gay prize, 1500 francs, for the study of the geo- 

 graphical distribution of one class of cryptogams. 



Physics. — The Hebert prize for the author of a treatise 



discovery for the application or practical employment 



>ctricity ; the Hughes prize, 2500 francs, for a dis- 



y or work contributing to the progress of physics : 



' iaston Plante prize, 5000 francs, for the discovery of 



vention or important work in the field of electriritv ; 



I-. La Caze prize, 10.000 francs, which cannot be 



id. for works or memoirs contributing to the progress 



ysics. 



rmistry. — The Jecker prize. 10,000 francs, for works 

 routing to the progress of organic chemistry: the 

 jrs prize, 3000 francs, for the encouragement of young 

 :sts : the Montyon prize funhealthy trades), a prize 

 - ; 00 francs and a mention of 1500 francs, for the dis- 

 ■ -.■ of a means of rendering an art or trade less un- 

 .'.y : the L. La Caze prize. 10,000 francs, which may 

 . : ije divided, for the best work in chemistrv. 



Mineralogy and Geology. — The grand prize of the 



physical sciences, 3000 francs. The question proposed for 



'^■o is the stages of evolution of the most ancient quadru- 



found in France. The Delesse prize. 1400 francs, for 



rk concerning geology, or, in default, mineralogy. 



any. — The Desmazieres prize, 1600 francs, for a work 



rvptogams : the Montagne prize. 1500 francs, for 



-rant work bearing on the anatomy, physiology, 



opment. or description of the lower cryptogams : the 



~oincy prize. 900 francs, for a work on phanerogams: 



Thore prize. 200 francs, for a memoir on the cellular 



M)^ams of Europe. 



•fomy and Zoology. — The Savigny prize. 1500 francs. 



• assistance of young travelling zoologists, not re- 



_- Government assistance, who occupy themselves 



>pecially with the invertebrates of Egypt and Svria : 



'1 Gama Machado prize, for the best memoir on the | 



- d parts of the tegumentary system of animals. 



'.■.cine and Surgery. — The Slontyon prize, a prize of 



rrancs, and mentions of 1500 francs, for works or 



ries useful in the art of healing: the Barbier prize. 



francs, for a discovery in surgical, medical, or 



aceutical science, or in botany with relation to 



NO. 1 99 1. VOL. 77] 



medicine; the Breant prize, 100,000 francs. The capital 

 sum will be awarded under the terms of the legacy to 

 anyone discovering a radical cure for .Asiatic cholera, 

 either by a specific medicine or by discovering the causes 

 and indicating an undoubted method of destroying these 

 causes. In default of this, the annual interest will be 

 aw^arded for a memoir demonstrating in a rigorous manner 

 the presence of materials in the atmosphere playing a part 

 in the production or propagation of epidemic diseases. 

 The Godard prize, 1000 francs, for the best memoir on 

 the anatomy, physiology, or pathology of the genito- 

 urinary organs; the Baron Larrey prize, 750 francs, for 

 an army or navy doctor or surgeon for a work treating 

 of military medicine, surgery, or hygiene ; the Bellion 

 prize, 1400 francs, for work forwarding the progress of 

 medicine ; the Mege prize, interest on 10,000 francs. 



Physiology. — ^The Montyon prize, 750 francs, for work 

 in experimental physiology ; the Philipeaux prize, 900 

 francs, for similar work ; the Lallemand prize, 1800 francs, 

 for researches on the nervous system. The question pro- 

 posed for the Pourat prize, 1000 francs, for 1909, is the 

 origin of the anti-ferments. 



Statistics. — A Montyon prize, prize 1000 francs and a 

 mention of 500 francs, for work having a bearing on 

 French statistics. 



History of Science. — The Binoux prize, 2000 francs, for 

 works on the history of science. 



General Prises. — The .Arago, Lavoisier, and Berthelot 

 medals. The Gegner prize, 3800 francs, for researches in 

 the positive sciences : the Lannelongue prize, 2000 francs, 

 for the assistance of the relatives of scientific men ; the 

 Tr^mont prize, iioo francs. The Wilde prize, one of 4000 

 francs and two of 2000 francs, for work in astronomv, 

 physics, chemistry, mineralogy, or experimental mechanics ; 

 the Longchamp prize, 4000 francs, for a work on the 

 diseases of man, animals, and plants, from the special 

 point of view of the introduction of excess of mineral sub- 

 stances as the cause of disease ; the Saintour prize, 5000 

 francs : the Victor Raulin prize, 1500 francs, to facilitate 

 the publication of works relating to geology and 

 paleontology, mineralogy and petrog^raphy, meteorology 

 and physics of the globe, the prize for 1909 being limited 

 to mineralogy and petrography ; the prize founded by Mme. 

 la Marquise de Laplace; the Felix Rivot prize, 2500 francs ; 

 the Jean Jacques Berger prize, 15,000 francs, for work 

 concerning the City of Paris; the Petit d'Ormoy prize, 

 two prizes of 10.000 francs, one for pure and applied 

 mathematics, and the other for natural science; the 

 Pierson-Perrin prize, 5000 francs, for a physical discoverv : 

 the Parkin prize, 3400 francs, for researches on the curative 

 effects of carbon in cholera, different forms of fever, and 

 other diseases, or on the effects of volcanic action on the 

 production of epidemic diseases : the Cuvier prize, 1500 

 francs, for a work on zoological palaeontology, comparative 

 anatomv. or zoology. 



Of the above, the Lalande, Tchihatchef, La Caze. 

 Delesse, Desmazieres, and Wilde prizes, and the Lavoisier 

 medal, are expressly offered without distinction of 

 nationality : the Gaston-Plante, Montagne, and Pierson- 

 Perrin prizes are limited to persons of French nationalirv. 



RECEXT WORK OF GEOLOGICAL SlRrEYS. 

 'P'HE Geological Survey of Great Britain has issued its 

 ■■ Summary of Progress for 1906 " (1907, price is.), 

 from which it is clear that a large part of the work of the 

 staff must always be devoted to the revision of geological 

 details in areas already mapped. This is not work that 

 can be carried out hurriedly, or in response to every 

 change in popular geological' opinion : but the real need 

 for re-consideration in accordance with modern discoverv 

 is at once apparent from the results recorded on pp. 2 to 5 

 of the present summary. Geological surveys have an 

 important educational duty in addition to their economic 

 functions, and one can never predict where an accurate 

 knowledge of the earth may not lead to the foimdation 

 of an industry, or where an industrial inquiry may not 

 suddenly illumine our relation to this globe on which we 

 have to spend our lives. 



It is pleasant to observe (p. 6) that the Geological Survev 

 of Great Britain has been in conference witii the Agri- 



