December 24, 1908] 



NATURE 



233 



To determine, in each particular case, the ephemeral role 

 of the tissue considered. 



Anatotny and Zoology. — The Savigny prize (1500 francs), 

 for the assistance of young travelling zoologists, not in 

 receipt of Government assistance, and who specially occupy 

 themselves with the invertebrate animals of Egypt and 

 Syria ; the Thore prize (200 francs), for the best work on 

 the habits and anatomy of one species of European insect. 



Medicine and Surgery. — A Montyon prize (2500 francs 

 and mentions of 1500 francs), for a discovery useful in 

 medicine ; the Barbier prize (2000 francs), for a discovery 

 of value to medical, surgical or pharmaceutical science, 

 or botany in relation to medicine ; the Breant prize 

 (100,000 francs), for the discovery of a cure for Asiatic 

 cholera or the definite cause of this disease. If the prize 

 is not awarded, the interest will be given for researches 

 bearing on cholera or other epidemic disease. The Godard 

 prize (1000 francs), for the best memoir on the anatomy, 

 physiology, and pathology of the urinogenitary organs ; 

 the Baron Larrey prize C750 francs), for a work treating 

 of military medicine, surgery, or hygiene ; the Bellion 

 prize (1400 francs) ; the Mfege prize (10,000 francs) ; the 

 Dusgate prize (2500 francs), for the best memoir on the 

 diagnostic signs of death and on the best means of pre- 

 venting premature burial. 



Physiology. — A Montyon prize (750 francs), for a work 

 on experimental physiology ; the Philipeaux prize (900 

 francs), for the same ; the Lallemand prize (1800 francs), 

 for works relating to the nervous system ; the Martin- 

 Damourette prize (1400 francs), for a worlv on thera- 

 peutical physiology; the Pourat prize (1000 francs), for a 

 memoir on the action exercised by the X-rays and the 

 radium rays on the development and nutrition of living 

 cells. 



Statistics. — A Montyon prize (1000 francs, and a men- 

 lion of 500 francs), for the most useful work dealing 

 with statistics. 



History of Science. — The Binoux prize (2000 francs). 

 General Prizes. — These include the Arago, Lavoisier, and 

 Hcrthelot medals ; the Gegner prize (3800 francs) ; the 

 Lannelongue prize (2000 francs); the Tremont prize (iioo 

 francs) ; the Wilde prizes (one of 4000 francs and two of 

 2000 francs), for discoveries in astronomy, physics, chem- 

 istry, mineralogy, geology, or experimental mechanics ; 

 the Lonchampt prize (4000 francs) ; the Saintour prize 

 (3000 francs) ; the Victor Raulin prize (1500 francs), for a 

 work on the meteorology and physics of the globe : the 

 prize founded by Mme. la Marquise do Laplace ; the F(5Iix 

 Rivot prize (2500 francs) ; the Leconte prize (50.000 francs), 

 for important discoveries in mathematics, physics, chem- 

 istry, natural history, or medicine ; the Houllevigue prize 

 fiooo francs) ; the Camc^r^ prize (4000 francs) : the Jerome 

 Ponti prize (3500 francs). 



Of these, the Pierre Guzman. Lalande, Tchihatchef, 

 Delesse, Desmazi^res, and Leconte prizes are expressly 

 stated to be olTercd with preference of nationality. 



CIIKMJCAL RE.SE.iRCH .AT THE UNIVER.<^ITY 

 OF M.iNCHESTER. 



'T'HE chemical schools at the University of Manchester, 

 probably already the largest in the kingdom, are 

 being enlarged by the addition of a new block of build- 

 ings at a cost of about 20,000!. .'\lready considerable pro- 

 gress has been made with the building operations, and it 

 is hoped that the new block will be ready for opening in 

 the early, autumn of igoq. The chief addition will be a 

 new large laboratory having accommodation for forty 

 students, and fifteen smaller research laboratories. 



The following description of the objects of the new build- 

 ings is taken from a recent interview with Prof. W. H. 

 Perkin, published in the Manchester Guardian. He con- 

 siders that the loss of the coal-tar industry to this country 

 was due, not only to the manufacturers not realising the 

 importance of employing chemists and carrying out re- 

 , search work, but also to the universities, which were very 



I srreatly to blame. Organic chemistrv was hardiv taught 



at our universities, and such laboratories as they possessed 

 were poor and ill-equipped. As a consequence, if manu- 

 facturers did require chemists they could not obtain them. 

 NO. 204,^, VOL. 79] 



It was in 1874 that the original coal-tar colour works at 

 Greenford Green, near Harrow, were sold. The reason 

 for giving up the works was partly owing to the natural 

 dislike for an industrial career of the late Sir William 

 Perkin and his desire to devote himself entirely to re- 

 search chemistry ; but it was also because he recognised 

 that the works could not be satisfactorily carried on and 

 be able to compete successfully with the rising industry 

 in Germany unless he took into the works a large number 

 of research chemists, as the Germans had done. But 

 although inquiries were made at many of the British 

 universities in the hope of finding young men trained in 

 methods of organic chemistry, such men were not forth- 

 coming. 



The older universities at that time scarcely recognised 

 organic chemistry ; it is doubtful whether they thoroughly 

 appreciated chemistry at all. The newer universities, 

 which at present are doing such good work and of which 

 we are justly proud, had not come into existence. Prof. 

 Perkin said he was strongly of the opinion that the manu- 

 facturer of organic products during 1870-1880 was, owing 

 to this neglect of organic chemistry by our universities, 

 placed in a very difficult and practically impossible 

 position. 



But, in the meantime, organic chemistry had taken root 

 in Germany, and great schools devoted to this branch of 

 chemical science had been founded. History tells us how 

 the German manufacturers made use of the young chemists 

 who had been trained in these laboratories. Consequently, 

 the works in Germany increased in size and in number, and 

 obtained the world's trade in organic chemicals. Had our 

 universities at this time pursued the same principle, in 

 all probability the coal-tar colour and allied industries 

 would not have been lost ; but now this state of things 

 has changed, and " I am convinced that failure on the 

 part ot the manufacturers to develop any industry con- 

 nected with organic chemistry is no longer due to the 

 impossibility of obtaining the services of young chemists 

 of ability." 



The scheme which it is hoped to develop in connection 

 with the Manchester Chemical School is laid on the lines 

 which have been found so valuable abroad. Two lines of 

 procedure are open to the manufacturer. 



He may send his sons to the university, and as soon as 

 they have passed through the honours B.Sc. course, and 

 have thus received a thoroughly sound general training, 

 they will be fit to engage in research work dealing with 

 problems of a technical nature, either suggested by the 

 university professors or by the manufacturers. Such a 

 course, extending over two or more years, will be the 

 best preparation for an industrial career. 



Another way in which the manufacturers can be helped 

 if they wish to solve a difficult problem or invent some 

 new process is to place at their disposal one of the smaller 

 research rooms. In this room his own research chemist 

 from the works can, under the best conditions, investigate 

 the problem, either alone or with assistance from the uni- 

 versity staff.' If he happens to have no research chemist 

 available for the purpose, one of the university graduates 

 can be engaged to work under the professor's super- 

 intendence. 



The University will, however, not open its doors to 

 do purelv routine analysis, ordinary commercial work, or 

 patent litigation. It lays itself out to train research 

 chemists or help by research work, and in this direction 

 alone. 



W.iTERS .iND GLACIERS. 

 TJNDERGROUND waters play a considerable part in 

 ^ recent researches on French caves (Spelunca, tome 

 vii., 1907-8, Nos. 47—52). M. Fournier's observations in 

 the Jura (Nos. 47 and 50) are largely concerned with 

 following out the courses of streams that are used for 

 household purposes. He agrees with M. Martel that 

 springs may be regarded with suspicion when their 

 temperature varies by even 1° C. from that of water in 

 the same region which is known to come from consider- 

 able depths. A number of caves in various levels of 

 Jurassic limestone are drawn in plan and section, and the 

 continuity of certain streams has been proved by the use 



