April 1, 1921] 



SCIENCE 



317 



stract here. However, Dr. Cajori pointed out that 

 there was danger in having both too few symbols 

 for notations, and also too many. While mathe- 

 matics is essentiailly a soienee of logic by sym- 

 bols, yet there is a justification for conservative use 

 of such notations. 



The most notable fact observed at these joint 

 meetings was the keen interest shown for historical 

 papers, which may be an innovation to the mathe- 

 maticians and a matter to be considered for fu- 

 ture meetings. It only proves too conclusively the 

 value and importance historical papers have 

 within the technical group. Not alone has the cul- 

 tural phase been emphasized, but there is also the 

 psychological phase. The arduous task of listen- 

 ing to a long series of extremely technical papers 

 is enlivened by a reaction given by some histor- 

 ian 's account of a period, a biography or event in 

 mathematical progress. 



Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock the first single 

 session of the History of Science section took 

 place. After a few brief introductory remarks, 

 concerning the purpose of the History of Science 

 section and a report of the organizing committee, 

 Dr. William A. Locy, temporary chairman, intro- 

 duced the first speaker, Dr. James H. Breasted, 

 of the Haskels Oriental Museum, University of 

 Chicago, who spoke at length upon "The state of 

 research in early Egyptian science." Dr. 

 Breasted 's research has enabled him to point out 

 the large possibilities for greater investigation in 

 the practical unknown Egyptian sciences. His re- 

 marks gave one to understand that the future his- 

 torian of science wiU have to labor long and hard 

 in the fields from astronomy to medicine and engi- 

 neering. The question is, where to find the student 

 prepared for tihis practically unexplored field. 



Dr. Walter Libby, professor of the history of 

 medicine. University of Pittsburgh, spoke upon 

 ' ' John Hunter as a forerunner of Darwin. ' ' Too 

 little seems to be known of John Hunter (1728- 

 1793) from the point of view of a biologist. A 

 man self -educated laAe in life, he rapidly rose to a 

 position in the medical sciences, and became an 

 authority in research into anatomical and physio- 

 logical problems. 



The next paper was "Sir William Osier's last 

 historical discovery," by Mr. J. Christian Bay, 

 medical librarian, John Crerar Library. Osier's 

 last literary investigation was probably one of the 

 most interesting and fascinating pieces of histor- 

 ical discovery of recent date in the History of Sci- 

 ence. The place and labors of the mystic philos- 



opher, Nicholas of Cusa (1401-1464) is not very 

 well understood in the history of scientific thought. 

 Mr. Bay presented phases of Osier 's discovery that 

 were practically unknown; that Cusa possessed 

 some understanding of static electricity, that he 

 performed experiments, and in general was far in 

 advance in ideas bearing upon magnetism. It 

 would thus appear that Cusa preceded WUliam Gil- 

 bert (1540-1603) by about 150 years. At the close 

 Mr. Bay paid a beautiful tribute to Sir William 

 Osier, as a man, scholar and scientist. 



Owing to the interesting aud long discussions 

 provoked by the preceding speakers, the time was 

 growing short, therefore, Dr. Locy's paper was 

 given by title only — ' ' The earliest printed book 

 on natural history — 1475-1500." 



Dr. Frank B. Dains, of the University of Kan- 

 sas, presented a paper entitled "Applied chemis- 

 try in prehistoric and classical times. ' ' The work 

 of the early people in the use of bronze, iron and 

 other metal, showed to some extent the possibility 

 of metallurgy being understood. Applied chemis- 

 try of the prehistoric people and in classical times 

 is so little known that the problems of research in 

 the history of science offer immense results. We 

 have very little in the form of written records, but 

 buried treasures as they are brought up by the ex- 

 cavations of archeologists are probably better than 

 the records themselves. Dr. Dains pointed out, as 

 did Dr. Breasted, that the whole history of science 

 before Greek civilization is yet too far in the 

 realm of the unknown. 



The last paper of this group was "Early sur- 

 veying and astronomical instruments in America, ' ' 

 given by Dr. Elorian Cajori, who, with the aid of 

 illustrated views, showed a remarkably interesting 

 collection of instruments imported, and also con- 

 structed in this country. The most complete and 

 well constructed coast and geodetic survey instru- 

 ments made for the early survey in the United 

 States were those of Ferdinand E. Hassler. A 

 Swiss surveyor of excellent training gave to this 

 country his best talent and consequently laid a 

 foundation for future work that has not been re- 

 vised or repeated. Dr. Cajori brought out many 

 interesting facts and views in relation to Hassler 

 that were entirely new to the history of science in 

 America. 



Thursday morning was devoted to the remain- 

 ing part of the single session of the History of 

 Science section. The papers presented at this time 

 were of much longer duration. Dr. W. Carl Ruf us, 

 of the Detroit Observatory, University of Michigan, 



