324 
NATURE 
[May 30, i912 
Dunn dismisses Russegger’s views as based on | account of some experiments. on the physiological 
“extravagant optimism.” 
The bulletin includes the reports of fourteen 
syndicates; but of these companies thirteen have 
allowed their concessions to lapse, and the only 
mine at work is that of Om Nabardi. 
The prospecting has no doubt been superficial 
and hurried, and it is possible that mining may 
yet prove profitable in some of the goldfields; but 
the evidence is not sufficiently promising to tempt 
private enterprise to spend more money in pro- 
specting. A geological survey of the country is 
now the best chance of ultimate success, for it 
should indicate the best sites for more detailed 
research, and the prospects are sufficient to justify 
the expenditure by the Government. The col- 
lected reports will be very useful, but might have 
been accompanied by some editorial notes, for 
though the preface contains the warning that the 
director is not responsible for the statements 
quoted, the bulletin gives currency to many which 
are certainly erroneous. Thus one report states 
that the district described contains “nearly every 
class of volcanic rocks,” yet it mentions none in 
the detailed account, and apparently no volcanic 
rock is present in that area. The repetition of 
such statements without warning in the official 
bulletins of a geological survey is apt to lead to 
subsequent mistakes. Ye WW Ge 
JEFFERSON PHYSICAL LABORATORY} 
ee previous volumes of the series of publica- 
tions from the Jefferson Physical Laboratory, 
which have been published annually, have con- 
tained a reprint of the original publications con- 
tributed during the year by the staff and students 
of the Jefferson Physical Laboratory, Harvard 
University. The volume before us differs some- 
what in scope and intention from its predecessors, 
for it is dedicated to Prof. John Trowbridge on 
the occasion of his retirement from the director- 
ship of the laboratory. An excellent photograph 
of Prof. Trowbridge is given in the frontispiece, 
and the following dedication is included :—‘‘To 
John Trowbridge, who projected a great physical 
laboratory for Harvard University and found the 
means to build and equip it, who by his foresight, 
invention, and care has kept this laboratory 
among the foremost in opportunities for scientific 
achievement, and by his magnanimity has made it 
a place proverbial for good feeling, this volume 
is gratefully and affectionately dedicated by those 
who have profited by his labours and enjoyed his 
friendship.” 
The volume, which is twice or thrice as bulky as 
the previous numbers, contains the reprint of 
twenty-six papers.contributed by past and present 
students of the Jefferson Physical Laboratory. 
Most of the papers have been published in other 
journals before the appearance of the present 
volume. Among the contributors are Prof. 
Kennelly and Mr. Alexanderson, who give an 
1 ‘Contributions from the Jefferson Physical Laboratory and from 
Colleagues and former Students, dedicated to Prof. John Trowbridge, S.D., 
for the Year 1910."’ Vol. viii. (Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A., n.d.) 
O. 2222, VOL. 89] 
A 
tolerance of alternating-current strengths for fre- 
quencies up to 100,000 cycles per second; Prof. 
B. O. Peirce, with several papers on magnetism ; 
Prof. Lyman, on the spectra of some gases in the 
Schumann region; Prof. Duane, on the heat 
generated by radio-active substances; and Prof. 
Richards and J. H. Mathews, on a method for 
determining heat of evaporation as applied to 
water. The last paper in the volume is a short 
one by Prof. Sabine, and gives an account of some 
interesting experiments on the relative sense of 
loudness of sounds of different pitch shown by 
different observers. 
It will be seen that the contents of the volume 
are very varied in character, covering the greater 
part of the domain of physics. The list of the 
distinguished contributors to this volume and the 
character of the papers contained in it afford a 
striking illustration of the great influence of the 
physical laboratory of Harvard University on the 
development of physical science in America. Not 
only has the laboratory been responsible for the 
training of a number of men of science who have 
gained great distinction, but it has always taken a 
leading place in the promotion of scientific research 
and in its original contributions to physics. 
NOTES. 
of Inquiry into the loss of the Titanic 
22 occupied with a consideration of the 
warnings as to ice received by wireless telegraphy 
by the vessel before the disaster. From the evidence 
as reported in the Press, it would appear that during 
the course of the Titanic’s voyage six vessels com- 
municated definite information as to the position of 
ice. Five of the warnings, it is reported, were re- 
ceived on the day of the wreck—the last some two 
hours before the collision with the iceberg. As to 
whether all the messages were communicated to the 
captain and officers there would seem to be doubt, 
and, in view of the death of the chief telegraphic 
operator, this may never be known. The court will, 
however, report on such matters. The only bright 
point in this sorrowful subject relates to the services 
rendered by science through wireless telegraphy. By 
Tue Court 
was on May 
| it were the warnings given, and when these were 
disregarded, with terrible consequences, the call for 
help which went vibrating through the zther brought 
rescue to the survivors in the boats. No patrol 
system could have given more particulars of the 
positions of the ice than is contained in the advices 
communicated by various vessels, and no method 
which may be devised of detecting ice at a distance 
can prevent disaster if its predictions have to be 
neglected on account of the exigencies of rapid 
transit. After everything has been done by science 
to avoid calamity, there is still need for care and 
foresight in making full use of the warnings offered. 
Amonc the recommendations of the American Com- 
mittee of Inquiry into the circumstances of the 
Titanic disaster are that there should always be some- 
