766 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. IX. No. 231. 



a registration letter) as a registration sj'm- 

 bol, namely, as follows : 



A. Mathematics. 



B. Astronomy. 



C. Meteorology. 



D. Physics. 



E. Crystallography. 



F. Chemistry. 



G. Mineralogy. 



H. Geology (including Petrology). 

 J. Geography. 

 K. Paleontology. 



L. Zoology (including Anatomy). 

 JI. Botany. 



N. Physiology (including Pharmacology and Experi- 

 mental Pathology). 

 O. Bacteriology. 

 P. Psychology. 

 Q. Anthropology." 



Dr. Bernoulli (Switzerland) pointed out 

 that the plan of dividing the Natural 

 History sciences into several groups was a 

 departure from systems already in exist- 

 ence. 



Dr. Heller (Hungary) did not entirely 

 agree as to the wisdom of the division ; he 

 pointed out that in the course of years cer- 

 tain institutions and publications had grown 

 Up which treated several of the subjects 

 named. Under this plan the publications 

 would be entirely separated. If, however, 

 this was necessary he would advocate a still 

 further division and suggested the separa- 

 tion of Anatomy from Zoology. 



Professor Weiss (Austria) suggested that 

 the question be divided, first, as to whether 

 registration letters be used, and second, 

 how the several sciences should be arranged 

 among them. This being agreed to, the 

 original proposition was withdrawn. 



Professor Darboux pointed out that in 

 the list of sciences Geography was given, 

 vphereas it was his understanding that the 

 first Conference intended to include only 

 mathematical and phj^sical geographj'. 



Professor Weiss indicated the difficulty 

 in agreeing upon an absolutely definite list, 

 due partly to the difl^ereut development 



some of the sciences had taken in England 

 and on the Continent. The specialists of 

 the Vienna Academy had suggested that 

 human anatomy should be separated from 

 zoology. No doubt similar suggestions 

 would come from other countries on special 

 points. He, therefore, advised that a small 

 commission be formed by the Euyal Society 

 which might consult various specialists and 

 secure a coordinated scheme. 



Dr. Deniker thought too much stress was 

 being laid on the matter. It was his opin- 

 ion that if Pharmacology were to be in- 

 troduced it should be as a separate science, 

 with a special letter, pointing out at the 

 same time that it was an applied science 

 and not in accordance with the original 

 program, which was to include only pure 

 science. 



M. Otlet propounded several questions in 

 the hope of eliciting information as to how 

 the work of the Committee had been done, 

 and M. Darboux pointed out that the 

 science of Mechanics was put down as a sec- 

 tion of Physics. He considered Mechanics 

 a fundamental science and thought it 

 should have an independent section. 



Professor Armstrong stated in reply that 

 practical considerations had come into play. 

 For each separate science a separate series 

 of boxes would have to be kept, and they 

 provided as many letters as they thought 

 separate boxes would be required. The 

 separate letters were prepared purely for 

 office purposes. The scheme of Geography 

 was, he admitted, purely from the English 

 point of view. The Committee had no 

 communication with foreign academies, but 

 consulted individuals. It desired, how- 

 ever, that foreign individuals and academies 

 should have the opportunity of examining 

 the schedules. Professor Michael Foster 

 stated that the sub-committee which drew 

 up the schedule for Physiology put itself 

 in communication with distinguished and 

 practiced physiologists in other lands, and 



