2 NATURE 
[Marcu 7, 1912 
as large as it used to be, and the publication of 
rubbishy papers is all too common. Yet, on the 
other hand, we fear the conscientious tyro will be 
overwhelmed with all the pitfalls recorded, and 
perhaps it is not enough emphasised that known 
parasites when present are easily recognised, and 
even each new parasite as it is discovered has such 
definite characters that, as a rule, the question of 
its parasitic nature is not a very difficult matter. 
The existence of kala-azar in the eastern Sudan 
is a serious condition, for the disease may assume 
epidemic proportions. Unfortunately, at present 
little can be effectively done, as the mode of 
transmission is unknown, nor is treatment of 
much avail. 
We have noted some of the longer and more 
important articles, but there is a medley of other 
matter. Worthy of note is the successful treat- 
ment by vaccines of two cases of ‘ Veldt Sore.” 
“Tropical Ulcer” seems to be rare, but the con- 
dition known as Oriental sore is not uncommon. 
There are in addition several articles on different 
aspects of tropical sanitation. 
The amount of matter reviewed in the supple- 
ment is amazing, and the labour involved must 
have been very great. We gather from the intro- 
duction, however, that this will be its last appear- 
ance. While we shall regret its disappearance, 
yet we feel that the authors are quite right and 
absolutely justified in their decision. 
Volume B, General Science, like Volume A, 
deals with a medley of subjects: water and soil 
analysis, research into gum and its relation to 
bacteria, entomology—it may be noted that a 
successful larvicidal fish has not yet been found— 
economic ornithology, poisonous snakes and 
scorpions, plant pests, municipal engineering, 
gold-mining in ancient times, and anthropology. 
The two papers on this last subject are perhaps 
of the most interest to the general reader, viz. 
that on tribal customs of the Nyam Nyam and 
Gour peoples, and that of the Divine Kings of the 
Shilluk. They are both extremely interesting, 
but may occasionally shock the hypersensitive. 
Our illustrations are taken from these two papers. 
The volumes are, as usual, profusely illustrated 
with coloured plates, maps, and text figures, and 
there are complete indices. 
We must express our astonishment at the 
amount of work done. We feel that the authors 
give too much of themselves, and that they are 
overtaxed. Undoubtedly the staff should be in- 
creased, and each member be allowed to devote 
himself to special subjects. It is quite impossible, 
if the best results are to be got, for a person to be 
a “factotum.” 
NOTES. 
WE are glad to learn that the preparation of a Life 
of Lord Lister is contemplated. We are asked to say 
that any letters of scientific interest forwarded to Mr. 
R. J. Godlee, 19 Wimpole Street, London, W., will 
be gratefully received for this purpose. If desired, the 
letters will be returned, after being copied. 
NO. 2210, VOL. 89] 
Ir is announced in The Times that the Amsterdam 
General Radium Company has purchased the entire 
present stock of radium of the Austrian Government. 
Lizut.-CoLtoneL D. Prain, F.R.S., director of the 
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, has been elected a 
foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of 
Sciences, in succession to the late Sir Joseph Hooker. 
AN interesting collection of photographs by Mr. 
G. R. Ballance, of St. Moritz, Switzerland, illustra- 
ting the scenery on the frontier of Switzerland, 
France, and Italy, is on view at the Royal Photo- 
graphic Society’s house, 35 Russell Square, W.C. 
The exhibition is open free e public, on presenta- 
tion of visiting card, until 20. 
A sERIES of seven lectures on ‘‘ Modern Aspects of 
Helminthology ”’ will be given at the Lister Institute 
by Dr. W. Nicoll on Tuesdays and Fridays, com- 
mencing March 19, at 5 p.m. These lectures will deal 
with the general outlines of helminthology and with 
the chief special problems relating to the parasitic 
worms of man. The course is open, without fee, to 
all medical men and to others interested in the 
subject. 
On Tuesday next, March 12, Dr. T. Rice Holmes 
will begin a course of three lectures at the Royal 
Institution on ‘“ Ancient Britain,’? and on Thursday 
afternoon, March 21, Dr. F. A. Dixey will deliver the 
first of two lectures on ‘‘ Dimorphism in Butterflies.” 
The Friday evening discourse on March 15 will be 
delivered by Mr. Frederick Soddy, on ‘‘ The Origin of 
Radium ’’; on March 22 by Prof. d’Arcy W. Thomp- 
son, on ‘‘ The North Sea and its Fisheries ’’; and on 
March 29 by Sir J. J. Thomson, on ‘* Results of the 
Application of Positive Rays to the Study of Chemical 
Problems.”’ 
An extra meeting of the Chemical Society was held 
on Thursday last, February 29, when Sir William 
Ramsay, K.C.B., F.R.S., delivered a memorial lecture 
in honour of Henri Moissan, who was born in 1852 
and died in February, 1907. In introducing the 
lecturer, the president, Prof. Perey F. Frankland, 
F.R.S., stated it was fitting that the lecture held in 
honour of the discoverer of the most active element 
should be given by the discoverer of the most inert 
element. Sir William Ramsav referred to Moissan’s 
early researches on the products of reduction of the 
oxides of the iron group and to his work on the 
oxides of manganese, nickel, and cobalt, and on the 
chromous salts. Moissan’s numerous experiments on 
the compounds of fluorine, a series of researches which 
culminated in the discovery of elementary fluorine 
and, finally, of its isolation, and the apparatus used in 
this work, were described, and reference was made to 
| the researches which led to the discovery of the method 
of preparing artificial diamonds. 
Tue biology class of the University of Colorado 
sent Dr. Alfred Russel Wallace, O.M., F.R.S., greet- 
ings on his birthday on January 8. The February 2 
issue of Silver and Gold, a newspaper published three 
times a weck by the ‘associated students of the, Uni- 
