512 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. LIII. No. 1379 



Although Professor Cusliing was primarily 

 interested in Precambrian lithology and stra- 

 tigraphy, lie was led into stratigraphie inves- 

 tigation of the Paleozoic formations by his 

 work along the margin of the Adirondack mas- 

 sive and his desire to read the history of this 

 region from the overlapping and surrounding 

 Paleozoic rocks. He was a pioneer in this 

 work, and by his method of carefully noting 

 and comparing the lithologic characters, rela- 

 tive thicknesses and amounts of overlap on 

 the Precambrian, as well as the fossil con- 

 tents of the various Paleozoic formations, he 

 was able to trace the unequal emergences and 

 submergences of the different sides of the 

 Adirondack massive. 



He began at the northeast corner of the 

 Adirondacks, in Clinton county, where he 

 early recognized the great thicknesses of the 

 Potsdam and Beekmantown formations and 

 their thinning westward and southward, im- 

 plying the more rapid and steady subsidence 

 of the northeastern part of the Adirondacks 

 in Late Cambrian and Early Ordovician time. 

 Then at the southwest corner he found the 

 successive overlap of the Ordovician forma- 

 tions, notably of the Beekmantown and Tren- 

 ton, upon the comparatively even Precambrian 

 floor and thus inferred a relatively even sink- 

 ing of this side of the Adirondacks in Early 

 and Middle Ordovician time, interrupted by 

 an elevation in Chazy time. 



In the " Geology of the Northern Adiron- 

 dack Eegion " the Paleozoic history of the 

 Adirondacks is for the first time treated logic- 

 ally by a comparison of the Paleozoic deposits 

 on all four sides. This work also showed 

 Cushing where correct data were still lacking 

 for a more comprehensive treatment of his 

 subject. These data were supplied by his 

 later work (jointly with Ulrich and Euede- 

 mann) on the Paleozoics of the Thousand 

 Islands (northwest corner), Saratoga Springs 

 (northeast corner) and Ogdensburg (north 

 side) regions. It was his intention to con- 

 tinue the work in the Watertown region to- 

 gether with Ruedemann. Jointly with these 

 co-workers he reached the conclusion that the 

 Paleozoic rocks which rim the Adirondacks 



consist largely of the thinner, near-shore edges 

 of a great number of formations, and that 

 tJiere is a great lack of correspondence be- 

 tween the formations on the different sides. 

 This conclusion found its expression in a 

 more refined distinction and correlation of 

 formational units in the Paleozoic rocks sur- 

 rounding the Adirondacks. 



Cushing's stratigraphie work has left its 

 indelible impress upon the elaboration of the 

 geologic history of New York. He was equally 

 keen and enthusiastic in studying the litho- 

 logic and structural, as well as the strati- 

 graphic and faunistic characters of the forma- 

 tions; and those who had the good fortune to 

 be associated with him in the field will never 

 forget his vigorous sterling character, cautious 

 and fair weighing of all evidence, and his fine 

 sense of humor. 



R. Ruedemann 



SCIENTIFIC EVENTS 



AN ENGLISH HOSPITAL FOR NERVOUS 

 DISORDERS 



We learn from the London Times that Sir 

 Ernest Cassel has given £225,000 to found and 

 endow a hospital or sanatorium for the treat- 

 ment of functional nervous disorders, and the 

 King and Queen have consented to become pa- 

 trons of the new institution. Sir Ernest Cas- 

 sel has purchased a fine mansion and park in 

 ideal surroundings at Penshurst, Kent, for the 

 purpose. The house, which has been recon- 

 structed, will accommodate about 60 patients, 

 and was opened on May 23. 



By the term " functional nervous disorders " 

 will be understood those common but complex 

 and distressing conditions which are not the 

 direct outcome of organic disease. Among 

 such may be named neurasthenia, nervous 

 break-down, loss of power not associated with 

 evident structural changes, together with 

 those manifold kindred troubles which are 

 loosely termed " nervous." Largely the result 

 of the stress and turmoil of modern life, they 

 are unfortunately of great frequency and are 

 accompanied by much suffering, and followed, 

 not uncommonly, by disastrous mental and 

 physical consequences. Subjects of these dis- 



