April io, 1913] 



NATURE 



'5; 



possessing non-rotational freedoms, all of which are 

 unstable, can be completely stabilised if the number of 

 freedoms is even, but not if the number is odd. 



A general explanation of the experiment just per- 

 formed may be given, as follows. Starting with the 

 bar, gyrostat rim, and chains (crossed) in one vertical 

 plane, we may suppose the gyrostat to fall over 

 slightly. In consequence of the tilting couple intro- 

 duced the gyrostat precesses so that its axis turns 

 in a plane which is nearly horizontal. The chains now 

 get slightly out of the vertical, and at once a couple 

 hurrying the precessional motion is brought to bear 

 on the gyrostat, which, in consequence, erects itself 

 into the vertical position. The couple does not retard 

 but hurries the precession because the chains are 

 crossed. This holds for both directions in which it is 

 possible for the gyrostat to fall over. Again, suppose, 

 starting with the rim, bar, and chain in the same 

 vertical Diane, the chains get out of the vertical. 

 There is now a couple brought to bear on the gyrostat 

 tending to turn its axis in a horizontal plane. In 

 consequence the gyrostat tilts over on the bar — in 

 other words, it has a precessional motion about a 

 horizontal axis in the plane of the flywheel. This 

 bring-; into action a couple due to gravity, which is 

 such as to hurry the last-mentioned precessional 

 motion ; the horizontal motion is opposed and reversed, 

 and with the reversal the gyrostat regains the upright 

 position. This holds for both directions in which the 

 bar tends to turn in consequence of the crossed chains. 

 The result is complete stability. 



Similar explanations are applicable to the other cases 

 of motion you have seen. 



(To be continued.) 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



The foundation-stone of the new building of the 

 agricultural department at Armstrong College, New- 

 castle-upon-Tyne, was laid on April 5, by Dr. C. 

 Stephenson, of Newcastle, whose gift of 5000L enabled 

 the college council to cooperate with the Board of 

 Agriculture in a scheme proposed by the Development 

 Commissioners. The new block of buildings has three 

 floors, and includes administrative offices, class-rooms, 

 laboratories for botany and zoology, a museum, re- 

 search laboratories, &c. 



It is proposed to hold a short spring holiday course 

 in science at the University of Leeds on Thursday, 

 Friday, and Saturday, April 24, 25, and 26. The 

 course is designed primarily for teachers who wish to 

 keep in touch with modern scientific work, but it will 

 also afford an opportunity for all who are interested 

 to meet and discuss among themselves, and with mem- 

 bers of the Lmiversity staff, the problems which arise 

 in their teaching and research. In the department of 

 physics Prof. Bragg will give three lectures on radio- 

 activity and its lessons, Dr. N. R. Campbell two 

 lectures on the electron theory, Mr. A. O. Allen 

 one lecture on modern technical optics, and Mr. S. A. 

 Shorter one lecture on capillarity. In the department 

 of chemistry Dr. H. M. Dawson will give three lec- 

 tures on recent work in physical chemistry. The fee 

 for the course is iox., but graduates of the University 

 of Leeds will be admitted free. 



A deputation urging the views expressed at the 

 recent Eugenic Education Conference- was received by 

 Mr. Trevelvan, Parliamentary Secretary of the Board 



NO. 2267, VOL. 91] 



of Education, on April 2. Among the speakers were 

 Major L. Darwin, president of the Eugenics Educa- 

 tion Society, and the Headmaster of Eton. The depu- 

 tation presented the following resolution, which was 

 passed at the conference : — "That the Minister of Edu- 

 cation be asked to receive a deputation requesting an 

 inquiry as to the advisability of encouraging the pre- 

 sentation of the idea of racial responsibility to 

 students in training, and children at school." It was 

 indicated that there is no idea of advocating the addi- 

 tion of "eugenics" as an extra subject in the curri- 

 culum, or of requiring it to be taught by unwilling 

 teachers. It was urged that if the idea of individual 

 rai ial responsibility were inculcated by means of pre- 

 senting the eugenic ideal, and the subject approached 

 from the evolutionary point of view, it would both 

 assist the teachers and tend to strengthen the moral 

 tone of the country ; and also that the training-college 

 curriculum should be adapted to include the necessary 

 biological and physiological knowledge on which the 

 eugenic ideal can be based. Mr. Trevelyan expressed 

 his sympathy with the general objects which the depu- 

 tation put before him. He said the Board of Educa- 

 tion has no wish to discourage any experiments in 

 teaching on these lines, and recognises the importance 

 of the matter, and will consider carefully the repre- 

 sentations made by the deputation. 



At a meeting of the Society of Engineers (Incor- 

 porated), held on Monday, April 7, Mr. W. Ransom 

 read a paper on how to improve the status of engineers 

 and engineering, with special reference to consulting 

 engineers. He pointed out that the civilisation of 

 to-day has become possible only because of the efforts 

 of the engineer, but that the public does not sufficiently 

 appreciate the advantages it has gained or the men 

 whose work has secured thes'e advantages. Engineers 

 have manv lessons to learn from the leeal and medical 

 professions, both of which exclude unqualified men 

 and exercise a benevolent professional control over 

 their members ; and the State should recognise the 

 engineering profession by giving it an official stand- 

 ing equal to that of other professions. Admission to 

 the profession requires to be carefully guarded, and 

 the number of pupils allowed to an engineer should 

 be regulated bv the extent of his practice, while the 

 climax of the period of pupilage should be a State 

 examination. Much more may be done to make 

 examinations of practical value to those who prepare 

 for them, but no other form of test is possible. When 

 State recognition is obtained for engineers, the mem- 

 bers of the profession will constitute one great society, 

 amalgamating the existing societies into one body, 

 which should have the control of professional matters 

 and be the mouthpiece of the profession. Such a 

 society would necessarily have subsections dealing with 

 special branches of the profession. While the growth 

 of specialisation must be recognised, it is essential 

 for those who are training for the profession to acquire 

 a sound general scientific knowledge before beginning 

 to specialise. 



The following are among the courses of advanced 

 lectures upon scientific subjects announced in the 

 London University Gazette of April 2 : — Six lectures 

 on the activities of plants in relation to light, at Bed- 

 ford College, by Harold W. T. Wager, F.R.S., on 

 April 28, May 5", iq, 26, June 2 and q; three lectures 

 on geological problems of the desert, at University 

 College, bv Dr. J. Walther, professor of geology in 

 the L^niversitv of Halle, on April 23, 24, and 25; 

 eight lectures on surface tension and physiological pro- 

 cesses, by Prof. A. B. Macallum, P.R.S., at the 



