52 



NA TURE 



[July 8, 1922 



Metallurgical Chemist," and is illustrated by a number 

 of plates. The address covers a very wide field, the 

 history of metallurgical research being surveyed, with 

 special reference to the part played by Sheffield 

 workers. This is brought into relation with the 

 general history of science, and with the early work of 

 the Royal Society in establishing the experimental 

 method of investigation. The international character 

 of metallurgical research is e'xemplified by a descrip- 

 tion of the new Japanese Institute for Steel Research, 

 just opened at Sendai under the direction of Prof. 

 Honda. The speaker's own work is dealt with, 

 particularly in the application of manganese steel 

 to the purposes of the war. This aspect of metallurgy 

 was illustrated by the exhibition of a very fine series 

 of specimens of this alloy as employed in the arts 

 of peace and war. The exhibition also included 

 specimens of the author's other technical work, 

 and books and other objects of historic interest. 

 The plates are finely produced, and are of great 

 interest. 



According to the June issue of the Decimal 

 Educator, the official organ of the Decimal Associa- 

 tion, the Association proposes to concentrate its 

 efforts for the time being on securing an alteration 

 of the value of the pound weight from 454 to 500 

 grams, that is, half a kilogram. The ounce of 16 to 

 the pound would in the first instance be retained, 

 so that 4 ounces would be 125 grams. The new ton 

 would be 2000 new pounds, equal to the metric ton 

 and a little more than 1-5 per cent, greater than the 

 present ton. All denominations between the pound 

 and ton, such as hundredweights, quarters, and 

 stones of all kinds, would be eliminated and inter- 

 mediate weights expressed in pounds. This decision 

 will not interfere in any way with the movement, 

 which has the support of bankers and chambers of 

 commerce, for the change of the value of the penny 

 to one-tenth of a shilling. 



The Review of the work of the Rockefeller Founda- 

 tion for 1921, compiled by the president, George E. 

 Vincent, has just been issued. Grants have been 

 made to numerous educational institutions for cam- 

 paigns against hook-worm disease, malaria, yellow- 

 fever, and tuberculosis; for the promotion of the train- 

 ing of nurses ; for libraries, fellowships, and other 

 purposes. A sum of more than seven and a half 

 million dollars has been expended on the world-wide 

 activities of the Foundation. 



The Ministry of Agriculture, Industry, and Com- 

 merce of Brazil has just published the first number 

 of a new journal, Revista Mensal de Meteorologia, 

 which will be devoted to meteorological interests 111 

 that country. The review will be divided into (a) 

 memoirs, etc. : (!>) notes, reviews, and critiques ; (c) 

 bibliography ; (d) notices ; (e) papers by the Director 

 of Meteorology. The first number contains an 

 article on the applications of meteorology to every- 

 day life, the report of the Director of Meteorology 

 from June to December 1921, the reorganisation of 

 NO. 2749, VOL. I 10] 



the meteorological service in the Minas Geraes 

 province of Brazil, notes from foreign sources, and 

 a number of reviews, among other interesting 

 features. 



The firm of Messrs. Pastorelli and Rapkin, Ltd., of 

 46 Hatton Garden, London, has forwarded to us a 

 list of thermographs and hygrographs. The instru- 

 ments are of two types, for meteorological observers 

 and a stronger make for factory work, such as fruit 

 preserving and drying, cold storage chambers, dye 

 works, wall paper printing, and other branches of 

 industry. Two patterns are recommended — the 

 Peandar and the Edney. The former is suggested for 

 meteorological observers and has a small, stem-divided 

 thermometer fixed near the thermometric coil, so 

 that the readings shown by the self-recording instru- 

 ment can be compared and if necessary readjustment 

 can be made. A pattern of the Edney is adapted as 

 a hair hygrometer which records directly the per- 

 centage of humidity by the alterations in the length 

 of a string of human hair. The dry and wet bulb 

 thermometers, known as Mason's hygrometer, have 

 long maintained their utility. The instrument maker 

 would improve the hygrometric results if he contrived 

 that a good flow of air should be driven over the wet 

 bulb, a consideration of growing interest on both sides 

 of the Atlantic. 



We have received from the City Sale and Exchange, 

 81 Aldersgate Street, E.C.i, the catalogue of the 

 Koristka microscopes and accessories, for which 

 they are sole British agents. Several different types 

 of microscope stands are listed, from simple students' 

 models to instruments suitable for research work 

 and photomicrography. A travelling portable fold- 

 ing microscope is also supplied, which, with objectives, 

 etc., weighs less than 7 lb. and folds into a leather 

 case measuring 7J x 5 x 7 in. Photomicrographic 

 cameras, warm and detachable mechanical stages, 

 dark-ground illuminators, microtomes, hand lenses, 

 and other accessories are also included in the catalogue. 

 A complete series of apochromatic, semi-apochromatic, 

 and achromatic objectives are manufactured by the 

 firm. The "Koristka Co. has a deservedly high 

 reputation both for their mechanical and for their 

 optical work, and the prices charged compare favour- 

 ably with those of other firms. 



Messrs. W. Heffer & Sons, Ltd., Cambridge, 

 have in the press " Cements and Artificial Stones : 

 A Descriptive Catalogue of the Specimens in the 

 Sedgwick Museum, Cambridge," by the late J. 

 Watson, edited by Dr. R. H. Rastall, in which will be 

 found a brief history of the origin and development 

 of the cement industry, and notes on the manufacture 

 and uses of the various kinds of cement, concrete, 

 and artificial stone which are exhibited in the economic 

 department of the Sedgwick Museum of Geology, 

 at Cambridge. The same publishers also promise 

 " An Introduction to Forecasting Weather," by P. R. 

 Zealley, which aims at presenting in a clear and 

 simple manner the principles on which weather fore- 

 casting is based. 



