September 15, 19 10] 



NATURE 



555 



and reducing power of the products of hydrolysis by 

 emulsin, and suggested as an index of enzymolytic reduc- 

 tion the weight of reducing substances, calculated as 

 glucose, formed in loo c.c. by the action of emulsin corre- 

 sponding to a rotation of i° observed in a 2 dcm. tube. 

 After showing the different uses of this method, he gave 

 a list of medicinal plants in which the presence of glucoside 

 had been shown by this means, but which had fallen into 

 disuse, as no active principle had been separated formerly. 



Prof. Herissey explained a chemical method of obtaining 

 the true glucoside arbutin, which gives glucose and hydro- 

 quinone on hydrolysis with emulsin. Commercial arbutin, 

 extracted from u-va iirsi, is a mixture of true arbutin and 

 methyl arbutin, and this, on being treated with alcoholic 

 potash, gives a precipitate of the potassium salt of true 

 arbutin, from which the glucoside can easily be obtained in 

 a pure state. This glucoside is apparently identical with 

 that isolated recently from the leaves of the pear tree by 

 Prof. Bourquelot and Mile. Fiehlenhots. 



Mr. Leger described his experiments which had led to 

 the establishment of the constitution of the aloins. These 

 experiments show that barbaloin and isobarbaloin are 

 glucosides which can with difficulty be split into alcemodin 

 and o arabinose. These two aloins are stereo-isomers. 

 Nataloin, treated with sodium peroxide, furnishes methyi- 

 nanata?modine, decomposable bv hydrochloric acid into 

 natalctmodin and methyl chloride. Nataloin appears to 

 contain in its molecule a pentose sugar. 



Prof. Perrot described the method which he, in collabora- 

 tion with Mr. Goris, has devised for obtaining dried plants 

 in which the properties of the fresh plants are preserved ; 

 the principle upon which the method is based is the 

 destruction of the diastase. 



Mr. Hercod read a paper by himself and Mr. Maben on 

 the assay of pepsin, and the congress decided to refer the 

 question to an international committee with a view to 

 establishing an international standard and method of 

 assay. 



Mr. Moller read a paper dealing with the determin.ation 

 of colours, and the congress agreed to recommend the 

 adoption, as an international code of colours, of the code of 

 Klinksieck and Valette. 



The above is a brief summary of the work accomplished 

 at one of the most interesting international meetings of 

 pharmacists which has ever been held. It should also be 

 mentioned that a decision was arrived at to form a per- 

 manent international pharmaceutical association, the head- 

 quarters of which will probably be at the Hague. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



Mr. Philip Ward, who has just been appointed a Com- 

 missioner of National Education in Ireland, is the first 

 national teacher to fill the position. He is a former presi- 

 dent of the National Teachers' Organisation. 



The following courses of Gresham science lectures are 

 announced for delivery at the City of London School, 

 Victoria Embankment : — Geometry, by Mr. W. H. Wag- 

 stafT, on October 4, 5, 6, and 7 ; physic, by Dr. F. M. 

 Sandwith, on October 25, 26, 27, and 28 ; astronomy, by 

 Mr. S. A. Saunder, on November 7, 8, 10, and 11. 



Prof. Goldwin Smith, according to the Toronto corre- 

 spondent of the Times, has bequeathed the sum of 

 140,000^. to Cornell University " to show my attachment 

 as an Englishman to the union of the two branches of 

 our race on this continent with each other and with our 

 common mother " ; the greater part of Prof. Goldwin 

 Smith's library, and iSooZ., are left to the University of 

 Toronto. 



The new calendar of the Battersea Polytechnic shows 

 an increase of work in all departments. In connection 

 with the engineering and building department, new even- 

 ing classes are being commenced in pattern-making and 

 architectural measurements, and in connection with the 

 gun-making section a course of study extending over 

 three years has been arranged in gun and ammunition 

 manufacture. A course has also been arranged by request 

 of the Institute of Certificated Grocers on subjects which 



NO. 2133, VOL. 84] 



appeal to the grocery and provision trade. The chemistry 

 department is extending its work by providing more 

 advanced instruction in paper-making and bacteriology, and 

 new classes in soap manufacture. In the women's depart- 

 ment, a third-year day course of science as applied to 

 housecraft has been arranged. The new library presented 

 by Mr. Edwin Tate, at a cost of 8oooi., is to be opened 

 by the Archbishop of Canterbury on Friday, October 21. 



The Belfast University Commissioners have decided to 

 establish a faculty of commerce within the University, to 

 consist of the professors and lecturers in the subjects of 

 the faculty, and in addition there will be an advisory com- 

 mittee. In framing the curriculum the needs of three 

 classes of students have been borne in mind ; — those who 

 are, or expect to be, engaged in business ; those who are 

 preparing for the administrative work of the State or the 

 municipality ; and those who contemplate social or philan- 

 thropic work. It is proposed to grant a degree in the 

 faculty to matriculated students who have pursued pre- 

 scribed courses of study for at least three years and who 

 have satisfied the examiners in certain subjects. To meet 

 the case of students unable to devote to these subjects the 

 time necessary for the acquisition of a degree, a diploma 

 in commerce or a diploma in social science will be granted 

 after a two years' course and the passing of the prescribed 

 examinations. 



The issue of the Bulletin of Armour Institute of Techno- 

 logy, Chicago, for May last, which has reached us, is a 

 general information number, which differs little in 

 character from the calendars and prospectuses published 

 at this time of the year by colleges and technical^ institu- 

 tions in this country. The work of the institute in 

 Chicago was begun' in 1893. Four-year courses in 

 mechanical and electrical engineering were first organised. 

 A union was effected with the Art Institute of Chicago for 

 the purpose of developing the course in architecture which 

 that institution had maintained since iSSg. The result 

 was the estabfishment of the Chicago School of Architec- 

 ture. In 1899 the course in civil engineering was_ added, 

 in 1901 the course in chemical engineering, and in 1903 

 the course in fire-protection engineering. The courses in 

 these subjects all lead now to the degree of Bachelor of 

 Science. Each of these four-year courses represents a 

 balanced group system of studies, combining a thorough 

 and broad scientific training with the elements of liberal 

 culture. 



The Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruc- 

 tion for Ireland has issued its programme for technical 

 schools and science and art schools and classes for next 

 session. The regulations which were in operation during 

 the session 1909-10 will continue in force, with one altera- 

 tion only. Small schools are to be permitted to adopt 

 specialised courses of instruction covering a period of two 

 years only. A prefatory note points out that the schools 

 and classes working under this programme are mainly, 

 though not exclusively, evening schools, and adds that 

 instruction in evening classes cannot form a substitute for 

 the more general and systematic education given in day 

 schools, whether primary, secondary, or technical. The 

 work of such evening schools and classes constitutes a 

 specialised form of education intended to fit those receivmg 

 it for industrial or commercial pursuits, or to render those 

 already engaged in such pursuits more efficient in their 

 work.' Attendance is purely voluntary. Those attendirig 

 are for the most part engaged, or about to be engaged, in 

 some form of industrv, and are meeting problems and 

 dimculties which the evening technical school can help 

 them to solve. Thev perceive that the higher branches of 

 their calling may be reached only by increased technica 

 skill and knowledge; but progress is hindered by several 

 circumstances : hitherto the previous prepar.ation of 

 students joining evening technical schools has in many 

 cases not 'been such as to fit them for the specialised form 

 of instruction which it is the special function of such 

 schools to" impart. An attempt is made in these regula- 

 tions to remedy this defect. 



The recently issued syllabus of classes at the Sir John 

 Cass Technical Institute, Aldgate, for the coming session 

 shows that graded curricula of study extending over 



