April 9, 1908] 



NA TURE 



547 



Dr. Bulstrode gives us many tables of statistics which 

 prove the gradual but steady diminution of tuberculosis, 

 and emphasise the curious phenomenon that this declension 

 is much more marked among females. 



In this satisfactory state of affairs sanitary reform, 

 improved conditions of living, and higher wages have all 

 played their part, but the report does not help us much 

 to estimate th" relative value of the various methods of 

 attacking the disease which have been tried. 



The difficulty of estimating the value of sanatorium 

 treatment is brought out, and we are told that until this 

 method has had a longer trial figures of results will only 

 lead to confusion and misconception. 



Stress is, however, laid on the fact that to obtain the 

 best results from sanatorium treatment cases of tubercu- 

 losis must be treated in their earliest stages, and further, 

 that after treatment an easy path of suitable work must 

 be provided until a life of full activity can be tolerated 

 by the patient. 



The problems which arise in the selection of a sana- 

 torium site, and the conditions necessary in sanatorium 

 buildings, are thoroughly discussed. Dr. Bulstrode con- 

 cludes that, with foresight and care, the erection of 

 sanatoria with all actual essentials might be provided at 

 a smaller cost than has hitherto been the case. This is 

 an important conclusion, for if we are to provide 

 adequately for the tuberculous population, many more 

 sanatoria must be erected, and the question of money has 

 ever been the chief difficulty in the way. 



One of the most interesting chapters, which is amplified 

 in part iv. , relates to the German system of compulsory 

 insurance as a factor in the control of phthisis. The 

 figures given are striking, and we see here admirably 

 exemplified the value of coordinated effort as opposed to 

 the haphazard methods of control employed in the British 

 Isles. 



The conclusion is thrust upon us that in the control of 

 phthisis Germany is far ahead of us. We are set an 

 excellent example, which we would do well to follow. 

 Our comparative failure is largely due to this want of 

 coordination, and the waste of money and energy thereby 

 entailed. 



This part of the report concludes with a chapter on 

 the teaching of hygiene in the public elementary schools. 

 Tuberculosis is associated with ignorance no less than 

 with poverty, so that there can be no question as to the 

 importance of teaching elementary hygiene, especially so 

 far as food values are concerned, as a means to the reduc- 

 tion of tuberculosis both in childhood and adult life. 



In part ii. we are given a well-illustrated directory of 

 all the public sanatoria in England and Wales, which 

 should prove of much value for reference. This part of 

 the report has been provided with an index, which might 

 mercifullv have been extended to the whole volume. 



Part iii. is devoted to a discussion of notification of 

 tuberculosis (voluntary and compulsory). There are as yet 

 no data available by which the substantial utility of 

 notification can be tested, ancl we must await a more 

 extended experience before a decided opinion can be 

 formed. 



The whole volume is an admirable and comprehensive 

 piece of work, which should be read by all those interested 

 directly or indirectly in the problems of tuberculosis. 



R. FlELDlNG-OuLD. 



THJE SOCIETY OF DYERS AND COLOURISTS. 

 T^HE twenty-fourth annual general, meeting of the Society 

 of Dyers and Colourists was held at Bradford on Friday, 

 April 3, in the large hall of the Technical College. The 

 president. Prof. Meldola, having taken the chair, the Lord 

 Mayor of Bradford, on behalf of the town, welcomed the 

 meeting, and especially the distinguished foreign visitors. 

 Prof. Liebermann and Dr. .Schreiner, who were present. 

 The president then, on behalf of the society, awarded the 

 Perkin medal, which for this occasion had been duplicated, 

 to Profs. Graebe and Liebermann for their synthesis of 

 alizarin in 1868. The modal was founded by the society 

 in 1906 in honour of the late Sir William Perkin, and in 

 celebration of the jubilee of the discovery of mauve, the 



NO. 2006, VOL. 77] 



first of the coal-tar colouring matters, the terms of its 

 award being " for investigations, discoveries or inventions 

 of high scientific or industrial importance applicable to or 

 connected with the tinctorial industries." 



In presenting the medals, which Prof. Liebermann re- 

 ceived on behalf of himself and colleague, the president 

 pointed out that this first presentation was in recognition 

 of a'discovery which, although made forty years ago, was 

 still practically effective in enabling the tinctorial industry 

 to be supplied with some of the most important of the 

 artificial colouring matters. The synthesis of alizarin was 

 of extreme scientific interest as having been the first case 

 of the artificial production of a natural colouring matter, 

 and it was also of particular importance as having exerted 

 a marked influence on Perkin 's career as a manufacturer 

 and scientific investigator. Prof. Liebermann, on behalf of 

 Prof. Graebe and himself, acknowledged the honour which 

 had been conferred upon them, and in eloquent terms paid 

 tribute to the memory of the late Sir William Perkin. 



The president then delivered an address on the founding of 

 the coal-tar colour industry, in which he reviewed Perkin 's 

 life-work from the technical side, and gave a history of 

 the foundation and development of the Greenford Green 

 factory, where all Perkin 's industrial operations were con- 

 ducted. On the motion of Mr. Hindley, seconded by Dr. 

 Hertz and supported by Sir Robert Pullar, the president 

 was thanked for his address, which was ordered to be 

 published in the journal of the society. 



In the evening the members and their guests dined at the 

 Great Northern Victoria Hotel, the president occupying the 

 chair, and being supported by Prof. Liebermann, the Lord 

 Mayor, the ex-Lord Mayor, Sir Robert Pullar, Dr. C. 

 Dreyfus, and representatives of most of the great dyeing and 

 printing firms of the district, as well as by well-known 

 authorities connected with the educational and scientific side 

 of the tinctorial industry, such as Profs. A. G. Green 

 (Leeds), W. M. Gardner (Bradford), Dr. J. C. Cain (London), 

 Dr. Knecht (Manchester), and Mr. C. Rawson (Leicester), 

 &c. All the officers of the society, which has its head- 

 quarters in Bradford, with sections in Manchester, the West 

 Riding, and London, were also present. The toast of the 

 society was proposed by the Lord Mayor, and responded to 

 by Sir Robert Pullar. The president gave the toast of the 

 medallists, which was enthusiastically received in both 

 German and English forms, and to which Prof. Liebermann 

 responded. The toast of the president was proposed by 

 Mr. Aid. Godwin, the ex-Lord Mayor, in a humorous 

 speech, and replied to from the chair. Dr. Schreiner. the 

 inventor of the well-known process for " Schreinerising " 

 fabrics, also addressed the meeting in acknowledgment of 

 the honour done to his distinguished countrymen and to 

 himself as a guest. As Prof. Graebe was unable through 

 indisposition to be present at the gathering, a telegram was 

 dispatched in the name of the society expressing regret at 

 his absence and wishes for his speedy recovery. 



ENCKE'S COMET. 



"T^HE observations of Encke's comet made at the Heidel- 

 berg Observatory deviate so strongly from the pre- 

 dicted places that Dr. Backlund, the director of the 

 Pulkowa Observatory, has thought it necessary to investi- 

 gate the cause. He finds that the perturbations by Jupiter, 

 which were calculated in duplicate by H. Kamensky and 

 Fraulein Karolikowa, have been correctly applied, so far 

 as they depend on the first power of the disturbing force, 

 but that in the period 1901-4 the comet approached Jupiter 

 almost as closely as is possible, and that in consequence 

 perturbations of the second order are very sensible. The 

 corrections to the several elements, depending on the action 

 of Jupiter, were as follows : — 



1st Order 2nd Oidei 



The corrections to the ephemeris, after applying the 

 improved value of the perturbations, and taking into 



