46 



NA TURE 



[NOXEMKER 14, 1901 



the work of the University is really a stupendous monument to 

 activity in all departments of knowledge. We are only con- 

 cerned with the volumes containing papers from the scientific 

 laboratories, but even these are of far too elaborate a character 

 to be described adequately in this short article. Five volumes 

 have been received, which can only be briefly noticed. Two of 

 these, edited by Prof. E. .\. Goocli, contain records of re- 

 searches carried on in the Kent Chemical Laboratory of Vale 

 University from the opening of the laboratory in 18SS to the 

 present time. In one volume there are fifty-nine papers, and in 

 the other forty-nine, together with a systematic index, index of 

 authors and index of subjects. A con.si deration of the more 

 familiar phenomena of optics is given by Prof. C. S. Hastings 

 in a volume on " Light," which ought to receive the attention 

 of .students of the subject. The laboratory of invertebrate 

 palteontology contributes a volume, edited by Prof. C. E. 

 Beecher, on " Studies in Evolution," containing papers bearing 

 on the investigation and study of the development of a number 

 of invertebrate animals. The papers deal with the origin and 

 significance of spines, structure and development of trilobites, 

 development of the brachiopoda and miscellaneous studies in 

 development. The fifth volume which has reached us is edited 

 by Profs. S. L. Penfield and L. V. Pirsson, and it contains 

 papers on the results of researches in mineralogy and petrography 

 made in the Sheftield Scientific School of the University. The 

 man of science needs no better evidence of the life and progress 

 of a university than is afforded by volumes like these, which 

 are published in New N'ork by Messrs. Charles Scribner's Sons, 

 and in London by Mr. Edward Arnold. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 

 O-VFORD. — The president of Magdalen (Mr. T. H. Warren), 

 who has always taken an active part in furthering the interests 

 of science, has been, elected a member of the Hebdomadal 

 Council. Prof. Elliott has been elected a delegate of the 

 University Museum. 



Cambridge. — Dr. L. E. Shore, St. John's, has been re- 

 appointed University lecturer in advanced physiology, and Mr. 

 F. F. Blackman, St. John's, University lecturer in botany. 

 Mr. H. O. Jones, Clare, has been appointed demonstrator in 

 organic chemistry to the Jacksonian professor, in place of the 

 late Mr. Spivey. Mr. C. Shearer, advanced student. Trinity, 

 has been appointed to occupy the University table in the Naples 

 zoological station. 



Mr. W. M.mtland (Aberdeen) has been appointed junior 

 demonstrator of chemistry at University College, Sheffield, in 

 succession to Dr. T. S. Piice. 



The Report of the work of the Examinations Department of 

 the City and Guilds of London Institute again directs attention 

 to the fact that the general education of a large number of 

 students who enter the technological classes is still defective, and 

 they are consequently unable to profit, as they should do, by 

 the special instruction they receive. Insufficient knowledge of 

 the elementary principles of science, and particularly of such 

 subjects as mensuration, geometry and drawing, is a frequent 

 cause of failure of students to pass the examinations in tech- 

 nology. The preliminary course of instruction, and cone 

 sponding examinations, arranged by the Institute, provides a 

 partial remedy for this defect ; and the recent announcement 

 that the Board of Education is prepared to consider suggestions 

 from schools for grouped courses of instruction in branches of 

 science cognate to certain trade subjects should do something 

 to decrease the number of candidates without a knowledge of 

 scientific principles. The Institute's Examination Committee 

 strongly recommend students to attend courses in geometry, 

 mathematics and elementary science, prior to, or concurrently 

 with, the study of technology and workshop practice. "Tech 

 nical instruction," it is wisely remarked, " fails altogether ol ils 

 purpose if the student does not understand the ' why ' and the 

 ' wherefore ' of the operations he performs. The aim of such 

 teaching as is given in technological classes is not to make 

 expert workmen, but to show how difficulties may be overcome, 

 and how skill in drawing and a knowledge of the principles of 



NO. 1672, VOL. 65] 



science may, with sufiicient practice, help to produce expert 

 workmen. It is not the object of the Insiitute's examinations 

 to test mere skill in workmanship. The craftsman's own work 

 is the best certificate he can produce. But as evidence of 

 training in the principles underlying the practice of his trade, 

 the class certificate in technology has a distinct and recognised 

 value." 



The current number of the Record^ the organ of the National 

 Association for the Promotion of Technical and Secondary 

 Education, contains several interesting articles. Specimen 

 lessons are given to show how interest in nature-'Knowledge may 

 be encouraged, and how it may be assisted by Museums. It 

 may be doubted, however, whether any useful purpose is served 

 by creating an animistic attitude in the minds ol children study- 

 ing nature. The following statement, for instance, is, to say the 

 least, misleading : " When the horse-chestnut feels winter 

 coming on, it says to itself — you can hear the branches whisper- 

 ing during any autumn evening — ' Dear me, my leaves will 

 begin falling off in a minute, and there are those new leaves 

 and things to see about in the spring ; I must begin making 

 buds thi; very instant." " The child who is taught on these lines 

 will believe that a hawthorn tree is really able to look ahead 

 to a severe winter, and takes pains to provide plenty of haws 

 for the birds during the forthcoming hard times. 



The funds available for purposes of technical education are 

 the residue received under the Local Taxation (Customs and 

 Excise) Act, direct aid from the rates, and grants from the I'ublic 

 Libraries rate. A Return has been issued showing the extent 

 to which, and the manner in which, local authorities are apply- 

 ing these funds in (A) England, (B) Wales, and (C) Ireland. 

 The results are summarised below, the amount shown for Wales 

 and Monmouth, in line B, being exclusive ot the amount — 

 estimated at 43,203/. — to be devoted annually to intermediate 

 and technical education under the Welsh Intermediate Educa- 

 tion Act, iS8q :— 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 

 London. 

 Physical Society, November 8.— Mr. T. H. Blakesley, 

 vice-president, in the chair. — A paper on a voltameter for 

 small currents was read by Dr. R. A. Lehfeldt. The instru- 

 ment consists of a capillary tube about 25 cms. long completely 

 filled with mercury with the exception of a bubble of mercurous 

 nitrate solution about I cm. long placed near the middle of the 

 lube. Connection with the two mercury columns is made by 

 means of platinum wires passing through the side of the tube. 

 To use the instrument it is placed in a vertical position, the 

 anode being at the top, and the quantity of electricity which 

 passes through is measured by the change in volume of either 

 electrode. In a test experiment the change in volume was 

 measured by means of a micrometer, and agreed within 0'6 per 

 cent, with the amount deduced from the known value of the 

 current. It is necessary that the currents should be small, so as 

 to avoid complications due to polarisation. The chairman 

 pointed out that the presence of ait in the tube would render 

 the readings inaccurate, and asked if it was necessary to apply 

 any temperature correction. Dr. Lehfeldt .said that it was quite 

 easy to seal the tube without admitting air, and the tempera- 

 ture correction was negligible. — A note on a paper by Prof. 

 Fleming and Mr. Ashton entitled "On a Model which Imitates 



