TDI TFORIAL 
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ALLIED SCIENCES TO GEOLOGIC 
FUNDAMENTALS 
Probably there never was a time in the history of our science 
when contributions from related lines of inquiry were more fre- 
quent or more vital than now. Certain it is that the related lines 
of inquiry were never before so numerous or so searching. Some 
of the results recently reached in geophysics, geodynamics, radio- 
activity, micro-seismology, geodesy, and other lines are singularly 
instructive. While it is scarcely possible for the working geologist, 
pressed to the limit by his own urgent inquiries, to keep a close 
watch on the procession of papers that pour forth from all the 
sciences that bear on his own, there is none the less need to follow 
as fast as may be in the wake of progress in related sciences. 
Formal reviews and synoptical notices are indeed a great aid 
to this but as a rule these are prepared by those interested in the 
science to which the papers primarily relate, and for those so inter- 
ested, and the bearings of these papers on geologic problems are 
rarely noted even if the author has dropped suggestions in this 
line. This need and this infelicity in the usual means of meeting 
it have given birth to the thought that it might be helpful if those 
geologists who have occasion to read in related sciences were to 
call the attention of their fellow-workers to points of special 
interest or value as they may find them, particularly if these 
points are such as seem likely to escape due appreciation. Of 
course if the new light comes with a dazzling flash, as did the 
R6éntgen rays and the radioactive emanations it may be assumed 
that its own penetrating power will suffice, or if it comes in the 
disturbing fashion of seismic tremors these may be trusted to shake 
us up duly; but there are sources of light of a much gentler type 
that throw scarcely less luminosity on some of our dark problems. 
A note or a hint as these are met may serve busy fellow-workers 
a good turn. We venture at least to give the thought a trial. 
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