EDITORIAL 819 
ience of the public. The cheapest device for making the largest show 
of quasi-results in technical garb with the least investment of scientific 
capital known to our profession is found in giving new names to known 
formations, because of some real or imagined objection to the names 
in use, or because some new division may be thought to be better, or 
because some arbitrary “‘rule” is violated, or because of a premature 
assumption of the right of authoritative correlation. Certain exces- 
sive practices of this kind have reached a point where protest, if not 
censure, is merited. There are of course real occasions for new names 
and even for new systems of names, but every author is likely to over- 
estimate the need of nomenclature in the case he has in hand, and 
every organization is likely to overestimate the weight of its authority. 
The practice of imposing new names should be held in reasonable 
restraint out of regard for the common convenience of the readers of 
the literature of the science, professional as well as non-professional. 
More important than even this, however, is the desirability of keep- 
ing the path clear for a final and really satisfactory nomenclature 
when the appropriate historic, dynamic, classificatory, and other 
work that must precede a good and lasting nomenclature shall have 
been adequately done. This can be attained only by wide and 
careful study, guided by restraint, equipoise, and sagacity; and the 
results so reached should be approved by adequate trial before they 
are harnessed to final names. Pending this, the individual worker 
may well be allowed much liberty in the use of such terms as may 
suit his purpose, 7/—and this is a vital point—these are regarded as 
mere temporary and personal conveniences, and are held to be quite 
without claim to a place in an “adopted” nomenclature except as 
that claim shall rest upon inherent merit. The “adoption” and 
formal imposition of names, as by authority, is only tolerable when 
itis preceded by the only sanction of authority which the higher canons 
of science respect, zherent merit based upon adequate investigation. 
The association is eminently wise in the adoption of its resolutions 
and it is to be hoped that the organizations to which it has addressed 
them will respond by a hearty co-operation, and that the end will be — 
such wise control of the growth of our nomenclature as shall give it, 
at length, the highest practicable serviceability. 
ee eu C: 
