382 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXIX. No. 740 



especially cholera, plague and yellow fever, 

 was first presented for consideration at the 

 international sanitary convention of Paris, in 

 1903, although it had been advocated for some 

 time previously by many sanitarians, notably 

 the late Professor Proust, of Paris. At the 

 request of the convention of 1903, the French 

 government undertook the task of presenting 

 to the nations interested propositions regard- 

 ing the organization of such a bureau. These 

 propositions were submitted in a final form in 

 August, 1907, and a conference was invited by 

 the government of the French republic, at the 

 instance of the Italian government. This con- 

 ference was held at Rome, December 3, 1907, 

 the delegates signing for the governments of 

 Belgium, Brazil, Spain, the United States, the 

 French republic. Great Britain and Ireland, 

 Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Eoumania, 

 Russia, Switzerland and Egypt. It is believed 

 that the exchange of ideas that wiU take place 

 at the semi-annual gathering of the governing 

 committee will have a beneficial effect on in- 

 ternational sanitation. In organization the 

 bureau resembles the permanent International 

 Postal Bureau and the Bureau of Weights and 

 Measures. 



In a letter to the editor of the Yale Alumni 

 Weekly, in reply to a notification of his acces- 

 sion to the title of oldest living graduate of 

 the university, Chester Button, '38, wrote re- 

 cently as follows: 



The position of Oldest Living Graduate is very 

 temporary About seven years ago it fell to my 

 early neighbor & friend Mr. L. W. Cutler of 

 Watertown Conn, (Yale 1829), who was a perfect 

 specimen of physical manhood, as well as a man 

 without faults and without enemies, and he held 

 it, I think, for a few weeks. 



I recall that more than seventy years ago both 

 Prof. Silliman & Prof. Olmsted predicted many 

 of the wonderful utilities of present day life — 

 Both discussed photography and telegraphy and 

 the use of electro magnetism for power as assured 

 results, only waiting on human ingenuity for 

 methods of production and application. The Ocean 

 Steamer however, the Ocean Cable, & the telephone 

 and the skyscraper — and electrical lighting were 

 not talked of; perhaps not thought of. One prob- 

 lem then regarded with much concern was the 

 future supply of light, as the whales were be- 



coming scarce. Petroleum was peddled for medi- 

 cine in pint bottles under the name of " rock 

 oil from Kentucky " — Friction ( or explosive ) 

 matches had come into use about 1834 or 5, 

 100 matches in a little box, for 25 cents. Prof. 

 Silliman suggested the probable necessity of gov- 

 ernments prohibiting their manufacture & sale, 

 on account their possible use by incendiaries. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL NEWS 

 At the esercises on February 22 in com- 

 memoration of the founding of Johns Hop- 

 kins University, which opened thirty-three 

 years ago, it was announced that the gift of 

 Mr. Henry Phipps, of 'New York, for the 

 psychiatric clinic was considerably in excess 

 of $1,000,000. 



A GIFT of $200,000 to the University of 

 Pennsylvania from an anonymous donor was 

 announced at the exercises on Washington's 

 birthday by provost Harrison. It will be 

 used to establish a department of medical re- 

 search. The gift was received through Dr. 

 John H. Musser, of the faculty of medicine. 



The sons and daughters of the late Mr. and 

 Mrs. F. C. A. Denkmann, of Rock Island, HI., 

 have promised to give a library building to 

 Augustana College and Theological Seminary, 

 Rock Island, the building to cost not less than 

 $100,000, and to be known as "The Denk- 

 mann Memorial Library." 



By the will of Dr. Gordon W. Russell, of 

 Hartford, class of '34, Trinity College, re- 

 ceives $5,000 for the natural history depart- 

 ment and a collection of books on that subject. 



An addition has been made to the observa- 

 tory building at the University of Michigan, 

 including a new dome 40 feet in diameter. 

 The university is also installing a large re- 

 flecting telescope which is now approaching 

 completion, and has been designed especially 

 for photographic and spectroscopic work. 



Comer Hall, the new engineering building 

 of the University of Alabama, will be ready 

 for occupancy about May 1. It is a large 

 structure of two stories with a ground-floor 

 space something over three quarters of an 

 acre, and will accommodate the departments 

 of civil, mechanical, mining and electrical 



