50 



NATURE 



[Nov. 1 8, i8So 



much talk of the traditions of the EngHsh navy and the 

 duty of England to be the first to reach the Pole. We 

 fear the so-called traditions of the English navy must be 

 made to conform to the requirements of modern science if 

 she is to do any useful work in Polar discovery, just as 

 they have been compelled to do in order that our navy 

 may be able to keep abreast of the fighting power of 

 other nations. To squander 30,000/. in one huge attempt 

 to reach the Pole would be as mad as for a merchant to 

 embark all his capital in one hazardous undertaking. 

 Polar research and Polar expeditions are not incom- 

 patible, but as Dr. Neumayer showed in an admir- 

 able address at the Danzig meeting of the German 

 Association, the former must be subordinated to and 

 guided by the results of the latter. Preparations are 

 being made by nearly all the countries of Europe and 

 by America for a regular Arctic siege, to begin in 1882 ; 

 the days of Arctic campaigns are past. We have 

 reached the precincts of the citadel itself, and now the 

 sappers and miners must begin their slow but sure work, 

 to be capped at the proper time by a grand assault. 

 Germany, Austria, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Denmark, 

 the United States, and we believe Canada are all to take 

 part in this great work by establishing obierving stations 

 at suitable points all round the Polar area ; while Italy is 

 to send out next year a scientifically equipped expedition 

 to the Antarctic region, our knowledge of which is meagre 

 and uncertain. This list will really be an observing as 

 well as an exploring expedition, preparatory to the esta- 

 blishment of an Antarctic station. Should our Geogra- 

 phical Society take any steps in the direction of Arctic 

 work, wc trust it will not be to encourige the foolish 

 venture for which the country has been canvassed for 

 subscriptions for years. We hope that Society will 

 see that as a scientific body, its duty is to encourage 

 a scientific method of work ; and if it appeals to 

 Government at all, let it be to urge it, for the honour 

 of our country, to join in the concert of both hemi- 

 spheres for the siege of the Polar citadel. We have 

 already pointed out on several occasions the vast gains 

 to science that might be expected from the work of 

 a series of Polar obser^ratories established on the plans so 

 ably sketched by Lieut. Weyprecht. As Dr. Neumayer 

 said in the address alluded to, men of science do not 

 demand practical or so-called utilitarian reasons before 

 giving their adhesion to any new work ; it is enough if it 

 can be shown that such work will conduce to the advance- 

 ment of knowledge. And that Weyprecht's scheme of 

 Polar observatories, of which so many Governments 

 approve, will lead to vast additions being made to scien- 

 tific knowledge, no man of science needs to be told. In 

 meteorology, terrestrial magnetism, biology, geology, and 

 glacial physics, the gains would be immense ; and the 

 history of science has taught us over and over again that 

 the surest path to practical and beneficent results is 

 through the gate of pure scientific research. Every day is 

 the science of meteorology becoming more and more im- 

 portant ; but until we are thoroughly acquainted with the 

 meteorology of the Arctic regions, that most practical of 

 sciences is deprived of what is perhaps its most important 

 factor. But one element of the international scheme is 

 that of Polar exploratiim, conducted, however, on scien- 

 tific method, and along lines indicated by a scientific 



knowledge of Arctic conditions such as can only be 

 obtained by permanent observing stations. What success is 

 likely to result from Arctic work carried outon such a method 

 was triumphantly shown by Baron Nordenskjold when he 

 sailed along the North-East Passage in the Fty^. Why then 

 should not England set up a station on Franz-Josef Land, 

 and another say on some part of the American coast ? 

 Let the station be provided with the means of carrying 

 out exploration in whatever direction and by whatever 

 means the results of continued observation may indicate 

 — as far as the Pole itself, if neei be. Unless we are 

 blind to the teachings of science and the lessons of our 

 last expensive expedition, it is clear that this is the only 

 sure method of reaching the Pole, if it be thought abso- 

 lutely necessary for the credit of England that she should 

 be the first to get at a point which it will take con- 

 siderable trouble to spot. If our Government be well 

 advised, we are sure they will never give the public funds 

 either for any great national expedition modelled on the 

 lines of the past, nor to any private chimera got up for 

 the glory of one man and the gratification of balloonists. 

 We do not see how, without national discredit, England 

 can keep aloof from an international scheme, the scientific 

 and practical results of which will be of world-wide impor- 

 tance ; and it is the duty of the Geographical Society to 

 lend all the weight of its influence to induce the English 

 Government to take up its share in the new and only 

 effectual method of Polar exploration. 



TBE SANITARY ASSURANCE ASSOCIATION 



IT is admitted on all hands that a vast amount of 

 unnecessary disease, suflering, and death is caused 

 by defective sanitary arrangements, especially as regards 

 drainage. A few years ago, so long as there was no foul 

 smell, and all the pipes were "properly trapped," cver)'- 

 body was satisfied ; but properly trapped usually meant 

 improperly ventilated, or not ventilated at all, and we 

 know now that foul gases will pass steadily, continuously, 

 and certainly through water in traps. 



Clinical observation having demonstrated the fact that 

 sewer air produced diseases, the prevention of the entering 

 of such foul air into houses became of paramount import- 

 ance ; and the matter being thus brought to so narrow an 

 issue, the application of well-known physical laws was all 

 that was required ; it was necessary to study the circum- 

 stances under which foul air was produced, to prevent its 

 production as far as possible, and to take such precautions 

 that foul air, even if formed, could not accumulate and 

 could not find its way into houses. 



Science has done much, both directly and indirectly, 

 towards the prolongation of life ; and certainly not the 

 least important of the results of the application of scien- 

 tific methods to this end in recent years has been the 

 discovery of the ways in which a house can be made 

 practically sewer-air proof. The laws of health are being 

 studied more and more every day, and will soon be taught 

 as a matter of course in all our schools ; they are 

 already recognised as a special subject of study at the 

 Universities. People are beginning to perceive that their 

 health is a matter which is very largely indeed in their 

 own hands, and are beginning to turn this knowledge to 

 account in the matter of house sanitation. At the first 



