September 20, 1906] 



NA TURE 



A striking illuslratioii sliowiiig this siliceous crusti- 

 fication at tlie geyser crater at Wlialvarewarewa, New 

 Zealand, is given by tlic author. Hand specimens of 

 the harder sinters cannot be distinguished from much 

 of the ore at the outcrop of the Martha lode at 

 VV'aihi. In places the sinters contain finely dissem- 

 inated marcasite and traces of gold and silver. 



A SHORT time ago a petition was presented to the Dean 

 of Westminster asking permission to place in Westminster 

 .\bbey a memorial tablet commemorating the life and in- 

 fluenee of Mr. Herbert Spencer, but though the appeal was 

 supported by many men of science and letters it was re- 

 jected. The reason why the Dean withheld his consent to 

 this unobtrusive memorial of a great philosopher is not 

 clear ; and the Daily Chronicle has recently revived interest 

 in the movement with the object of inducing him to re- 

 consider his decision, or, failing this, to secure some other 

 national memorial of Spencer's work. From the opinions 

 of a number of distinguished men published in our con- 

 temporary, it is evident that much disappointment is felt 

 at the failure to find a place in the Abbey for a simple 

 memorial tablet to Spencer, but there is a difference of 

 opinion as to whether steps should be taken to establish 

 a national memorial to him in some other form. Among 

 the men of science who consider it would be a reproach to 

 leave Spencer's memory unhonoured are Lord Avebury, 

 Prof. Clifford .Allbutt, Dr. Bastian, Sir Michael Foster, 

 .Mr. Francis Galton, Sir Joseph Hooker, Prof. M'Kendrick, 

 and Prof. Poulton. There is, however, a strong feeling, 

 expressed by Sir Norman Lockyer, that while no national 

 memorial to Darwin exists outside Westminster Abbey, it 

 would be undesirable to attempt to raise one to Spencer by 

 public subscription. Lord Kelvin goes so far as to re- 

 mark : — " I have never been of opinion that the philo- 

 sophical writings of the late Mr. Herbert Spencer had the 

 value or importance which has been attributed to them 

 by many readers of high distinction. In my opinion, a 

 national memorial would be unsuitable." Sir William 

 Huggins also hesitates to support a general movement to 

 provide a national memorial, though he agrees that a 

 memorial tablet in the Abbey would appropriately com- 

 memoraie Spencer's work. In the absence of this form of 

 recognition, it would seem that the best way for admirers 

 of the philosopher to show their appreciation of his work 

 would be to establish a lectureship or scholarship in 

 sociology, natural science, or principles of education, to 

 issue, as suggested by Dr. A. R. Wallace, a cheap edition 

 of his works, or in some other manner to further the 

 objects to which he devoted his life. A movement with 

 an end of this kind in view might be made of international 

 interest, and would doubtless receive liberal support. 



The King has appointed a Royal Commission " To 

 inquire into and report upon the practice of subjecting live 

 animals to experiments, whether by vivisection or other- 

 wise ; and also to inquire into the law relating to that 

 practice, and its administration ; and to report whether 

 any, and if so what, changes are desirable." The 

 niembers of the commission are ; — Viscount Selby (chair- 

 man). Colonel A. M. Lockwood, M.P., Sir W. S. Church, 

 Bart., K.C.B., Sir W. J. Collins, M.P., Sir J. McFadyean, 

 Mr. M. D. Chalmers, C.B., Mr. A. J. Ram, K.C., Dr. 

 W. H. Gaskell, F.R.S., Mr. J. Tomkinson, M.P., and Dr. 

 G. Wilson, with Captain C. Bigham, C.M.G. (secretary). 

 The offices of the commission, which will not sit until 

 NO. 1925, VOL. 74] 



toward the end of October, will be at Chapel Place, 

 Delahay Street, S.W. 



The Engineering and Machinery ICxhibilion, which was 

 opened at Olympia on .Saturday by Sir .Alexander Binnie, 

 president of the Institution of Civil Engineers, is of wide 

 scope, and contains a fine display of British machinery. 

 Some interesting exhibits have also been sent by American 

 and Continental firms. The most striking feature is an 

 electric fountain and air circulator, which occupies the 

 centre of the hall. It is the invention of Mr. James Keith. 

 The fountain is 33 feet in height, and it is surrounded by 

 a shell 15 feet in diameter. In the pedestal beneath are 

 six large electric fans, and air is drawn in from the ground- 

 level, washed, cooled, and re-circulated at the rate of 

 22,000 cubic feet of air per minute. The illuminations 

 connected with the fountain are brilliantly effective. 

 Numerous other interesting novelties are shown, and the 

 display of machine tools is particularly good. .At the 

 luncheon following the opening ceremony. Sir William 

 White, president of the exhibition, pointed out that the 

 basis of the exhibition was mechanical engineering, which 

 was maid-of-all-work to all other branches of engineering. 

 The exhibition was no common enterprise, and the public 

 could not fail to be impressed by the extraordinary variety 

 of machinery applied to the needs of modern life, but also 

 by the keen competition going on in the mechanical in- 

 dustries all over the world. Mr. Bennett Brough, who pro- 

 posed the toast of the visitors, and Prof. Silvanus 

 Thompson, who replied, also testified to the great value 

 of the exhibition. Special facilities are being afforded to 

 students- to visit the exhibition, and an excellent course of 

 popular lectures has been arranged. The exhibition will 

 remain open for a month. . 



The death is announced of Dr. H. Cohn, extraordinary 

 professor of diseases of the eyes in the University of 

 Breslau, distinguished by his studies in school hygiene. 



The new Japanese pharmacopoeia is to be published 

 shortly. The names of all drugs and chemicals will be 

 given in Japanese characters only. Foreign preparations 

 which have been patented under fancy names will be 

 excluded. 



It is reported from Hong Kong that at 10 a.m. on 

 Tuesday, September 18, a typhoon which sprang up there 

 caused enormous damage to shipping and great loss of 

 life. The storm lasted for two hours. 



The death is announced of Dr. Morache, professor of 

 medical jurisprudence in the Bordeaux Medical Faculty ; 

 and of Prof. Leon Prunier, director of the Pharmacie 

 centrale des HSpitaux civils in Paris, at the age of sixty- 

 five. Prunier's scientific work touched upon many branches 

 of chemistry ; his book " Les Medicaments chimiques " (in 

 two volumes) was a recognised treatise in France. 



The Association des Industriels de France centre les 

 Accidents du Travail intends offering a prize of 8000 francs 

 for an international competition for a new galvanic battery 

 or accumulator which, while having a large output for its 

 size and weight, must not be dangerous in use. Inquiries 

 should be addressed to the director of the society, rue dc 

 Lutice, Paris, who will supply further particulars, and to 

 whom competitors must send their descriptions and draw- 

 ings. 



A COMPLETE change of weather set in during the past 

 week, and the drought which continued with such per- 

 sistence during the closing week of .August and the first 



