February 20, 19 13] 



NATURE 



089 



prepared on the occurrence of the first vacancy in the 

 chair of astrophysics to contribute a sum of ten 

 thousand pounds towards the permanent endowment 

 of the chair, provided that the University is willing 

 to undertake to supplement this sum by such further 

 endowment either of principal or of income as will 

 raise the emoluments of the chair thenceforward to 

 800Z. a year." 



Mr. C. Hankins, forester to Earl Cadogan, has 

 been appointed adviser in forestry. He will be under 

 the supervision of the reader in forestry, under whose 

 responsibilitv all working plans and proposals of a 

 general nature will be issued. 



Oxford. — The proposal to allocate a site in the 

 I'niversity Park lor the erection of an engineering 

 laboratorv has been dropped, it being understood that 

 a suitable piece of ground will be available for this 

 purpose without encroaching on the open space which 

 adds so greatly to the amenities of Oxford. 



Mr. W. James Thomas, of Ynyshir, has increased 

 his gift of 10,000 guineas to the University College 

 of South Wales and Monmouthshire to 12,750^ in 

 order to cover the full cost of erecting a medical 

 ?ichoo!. 



A LEADING article in The Chemical World on tlie 

 Oxford University Laboratory directs attention to 

 the remarkable developments that are in progress in 

 the teaching of chemistry in the Universities of 

 Oxford and Cambridge. Since the institution of the 

 new regime at Cambridge, four years ago, 150 

 original communications have been published from the 

 chemical laboratory of that University, a record that 

 is probablv unequalled by any laboratory in this 

 country or elsewhere. In the same period the number 

 of graduate and post-graduate students in the labora- 

 tories has more than doubled. There can be little 

 doubt that similar developments are to be anticipated 

 at Oxford, following the recent election of Prof. 

 W. H. Perkin to the chair of chemistry. 



The governing body of the University of Wisconsin 

 has decided, says Science, to ask the State legislature, 

 now in session, for 2oo,oooL, to be granted in sums 

 of 50,oooL a year for four years, in order to provide 

 and equip further accommodation for men students. 

 The continuance of the present appropriation of 

 6o,oooi. a year for the construction and equipping of 

 academic buildings will also be requested. For the 

 further development of university extension work, an 

 increase of 5000Z. a year is desired. Owing to the 

 reduction in the assessed \-aluation of personal pro- 

 perty, resulting from the adoption of the income tax 

 in Wisconsin, the University's fund for current ex- 

 penses has this year fallen below the amount antici- 

 pated. The governors, therefore, have requested that 

 the sum of 18,500!. be appropriated to make up this 

 year's decrease, that 35,000?. be provided for next 

 year's decrease, and 45,000?. for the following year's 

 decrease. 



Very important developments are now taking place 

 in the Royal (Dick) Veterinary College in Edinburgh. 

 Not the least important is the removal from the pre- 

 sent limited quarters to what will in a year or two 

 be a fine addition to the many colleges which adorn 

 the city. To make room for the new buildings, some 

 quaint cottages of a bygone epoch will have to be 

 removed. These arc in what is known as Summerhall 

 Square, which lies to the east of the East Meadows 

 in the southern part of Edinburgh. The main frontage 

 of the buildings will face west, and in the rear the 

 clinical department will be housed in buildings quite 

 distinct from those devoted to teaching and admini.s- 

 tration. The various laboratories and class-rooms will 



NO. 2260, VOL. 90] 



be equipped with the best modern appliances for the 

 study of the diseases and treatment of domestic 

 animals. Another important development is the estab- 

 lishment of a degree in veterinary science in the Uni- 

 versity of Edinburgh. The regulations require the 

 student to attend certain of the more purely scientific 

 courses in the University, but the more technical part 

 of the training is given in the Royal Veterinary Col- 

 lege. Though no nearer to the University than the 

 present college building, the new buildings will be 

 much more conveniently situated, and the practical 

 afifiliation of the two institutions will be more 

 thoroughly effected. It is expected that the new- 

 college will be ready for use in October, 1914. 



On February 13 a brilliant University function was 

 held in the Library Hall of Edinburgh University, 

 when Sir William Turner's portrait was presented by 

 the subscribers to the University. Mr. A. J. Balfour, 

 M.P., the Chancellor of the University, presided, and 

 received the portrait from Sir Robert Findlay, M.P., 

 who presented it in the name of the many subscribers. 

 .Sir Robert Findlay, himself an old pupil of Sir Wil- 

 liam's, spoke of the sixt}' years' service which Sir 

 William had rendered to the University, first as 

 assistant to Prof. Goodsir, then as professor of 

 anatomy, and finally as principal of the University. 

 As Sir Robert made the presentation, the curtain was 

 drawn aside and revealed a striking and happy por- 

 traiture of the veteran principal, by the hand of Sir 

 James Guthrie, president of the Royal Scottish 

 .\cademv. Mr. Balfour, in his remarks, dwelt on the 

 remarkable developments which had taken place 

 during the last fifty years in university life in Edin- 

 burgii. In making their University keep up with 

 modern needs. Sir William Turner was the man who 

 above all others had taken the greatest share in this 

 development. He combined in an unusual way the 

 qualities of a great teacher and a great administrator. 

 Lord Provost Inches having- e.xpressed the high appre- 

 ciation which the Corporation had for Sir William, 

 whom a few years since they had enrolled as a burgess 

 of their citv. Sir William Turner, after thanking his 

 many friends and old students for their great kind- 

 ness, gave some interesting reminiscences of the early 

 days in which he began his life in Edinburgh. 

 .'Mthough he could not claim Edinburgh as his birth- 

 place, he was sure no one could love the old city 

 Ijetter than he did, or could have a higher regard for 

 its historic associations and its peculiar and indefinable 

 charm. The ceremonv they had been engaged in 

 would remain in his mind, during the brief period that 

 he might look to for a continuance of life, as a mark 

 of confidence and esteem from his colleagues, students, 

 and friends. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 



London, 

 Royal Society, February 13. — Sir Archibald Geikie, 

 K.C.B., president, in the chair. — Prof. R. A. Samp- 

 son : A Cassegrain reflector with corrected field. The 

 purpose of this memoir is to discover an appliance 

 which shall correct in a practical manner the faults 

 of the field of a Cassegrain telescope while leaving 

 unimpaired its characteristic features of great focal 

 length, convenient position of the observer and 

 achromatism. It is shown in agreement with the 

 investigation of Schwarzschild that two mirrors alone 

 cannot correct the field without introducing imprac- 

 ticable curves or sacrificing the general design. A 

 system of lenses is investigated which shall effect the 

 purpose. Three lenses is the least number which 

 can satisfv the two conditions of achromatism. 



