244 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. L. No. 1289 



the population? What is our total food produc- 

 tion, and can it be modified so as to secure more 

 efficient utilization? Information on these and re- 

 lated questions should be kept up to date and 

 available, using present statistical data so far as 

 they suffice and collecting additional data if 

 needed. 



II. Physiological. — A scientific study of prob- 

 lems of human nutrition, such as those instanced 

 by Lusk and others which might be added. The 

 results of these investigations would afford the 

 indispensable groundwork of the statistical stud- 

 ies just mentioned. 



III. Agricultural. — A broad study of the econ- 

 omy of food production in the light of the food 

 requirements of the nation and from the stand- 

 point of the mutual interests of producer and conr 

 sumer. All the innumerable problems of plant 

 and animal nutrition would find their plac-e here, 

 as well as broader questions regarding the rela- 

 tive economy of production of animal and vege- 

 table foods and of different classes of ea<;h and of 

 the most economical level of production under 

 varying conditions. 



IV. Extension and Publicity. — A very impor- 

 tant function of the institute would be to bring 

 the results of its work effectively to the attention 

 of the community and of legislatures and execu- 

 tives, and to impress on them its vast economic and 

 social importance. 



It goes without saying tliat sucli an insti- 

 tute should cultivate most cordial relations 

 with existing agencies. It should supplement, 

 not supplant. If wisely and conservatively 

 directed it might do much to bring about 

 cooperation and coordination in the activities 

 of extension departments, of nutrition labora- 

 tories, of experiment stations, and of the re- 

 search and statistical divisions of the depart- 

 ment of agriculture, so far as they relate to 

 nutrition. Whether its objects could be suffi- 

 ciently attained in this way or whether its 

 policy should include in addition the estab- 

 lishment of laboratories of its own would be 

 a question for the decision of the board of 

 control. 



Finally, as regards financial support, I be- 

 lieve that if as the result of free discussion and 

 comparison of views a scheme can be worked 

 out which has the approval of the scientific 

 men of the counti-y and which commends 

 itself to the National Research Council as 



practicable and as promising material benefit 

 to the public, past experience warrants the 

 belief that the necessary funds will be forth- 

 coming. 



H. P. Armsby 



THE OSLER PRESENTATION 

 On July 11, 1919, Sir William Osier, Eegius 

 professor of medicine in the University of 

 Oxford, was honored by the presentation of 

 two anniversary volumes, made up of medical 

 contributions by English and American col- 

 leagues, commemorating his seventieth birth- 

 day (July 12). The presentation was made by 

 Sir Clifford Allbutt at the house of the Eoyal 

 Society of Medicine on behalf of some 150 

 subscribers and contributors, in the presence 

 of a large and distinguished audience. The 

 plan of a birthday memorial originated at 

 Oxford, and was successfully carried through 

 by a committee with Dr. William H. Welch as 

 chairman, Dr. Casey A. Wood, as secretary 

 and Dr. Henry Barton Jacobs as treasurer. 

 In the early stages, the work was financed 

 through the energy and initiative of Colonel 

 Casey A. Wood, and the manuscripts were 

 edited and carried through the press by Drs. 

 Charles L. Dana (New York) and Charles 

 Singer (Oxford). 



Sir William Osier, the recipient of this \m- 

 usual tribute, is looked up to and honored 

 everywhere as a leader of British and Amer- 

 ican medicine. In succession, he has held the 

 chairs of medicine at McGill (1874), the Uni- 

 versity of Pennsylvania (1884), the Johns 

 Hopkins University (1889) and Oxford (1904). 

 His eminence in clinical medicine is based 

 upon an extraordinary knowledge of pathology, 

 acquired in his early days at Montreal, and 

 upon the fact that he has taught medicine to 

 students inductively, away from the text- 

 books, and by direct contact with the sick in 

 the wards. At an early age (1874) he de- 

 scribed the blood-platelets, which he was the 

 first to define as the third corpuscle of the 

 blood and in relation to the formation of 

 thrombi. He also discovered the parasite of 

 verminous aneui'ism (Filai^ Osleri), first 

 pointed out the relation between mycotic 



