NoveMBER 15, 1918] 
species involved, and how may the disease be 
eradicated? H. P. K. AcErssore 
HoaGLanpD LABORATORY, : 
Lone IstAND CoLLEGE HosPiTAL, 
Brookiyn, N. Y. 
PAPERS “TO BE PUBLISHED” 
Ir seems to the writer that one of the most 
annoying things in looking up the literature 
on a subject is to come across the statement 
that the particular point one is interested in 
has been worked out by some previous writer 
but publication was postponed for some reason. 
For example, in 1903 this statement appeared: 
“The embryology of the corn grain was stud- 
ied and figures were made of the ovule at 
different stages beginning with the arche- 
sporial cell and ending with the fully developed 
embryo. These drawings and observations not 
being complete will be reserved for another 
paper.” Two or three workers have recorded 
the fact that their search for a more recent 
paper has been in vain, and have remarked on 
the needlessness of sending them on a wild 
goose chase. 
Another example, published in 1912, is even 
more serious than the one quoted above. It 
also concerns maize, and is as follows: “ The 
writer has evidence (not yet published) upon 
various strains of pod varieties and their hy- 
brids with other podless varieties to show that 
the pod character, in that form, never was a 
normal or original pod or glume in Zea; and 
it is also evident that the new branched ear, 
as it is, is not a reversion to a former one.” 
Here the writer records important conclusions 
without giving any evidence on which to found 
them. Of course they carry little weight as 
they stand, but simply cloud the question at 
issue. They seem to have been put forth 
simply to gain priority without the effort be- 
ing made to substantiate or record the facts 
back of the conclusions. This seems to be the 
ease, especially when years elapse before the 
“evidence” is published, as in the case in 
point. 
Undoubtedly many other similar instances 
could be cited, but these two are sufficient to 
illustrate what is meant. It is probable that 
SCIENCE 
495 
at the time the above were written the authors 
really expected to follow shortly with second 
papers, but through some unforeseen cireum- 
stances they had to postpone their publication 
indefinitely. From the viewpoint of the person 
following up, would it not be better to omit 
statements as to future efforts and future 
conclusions and save them for the papers “ to 
be published”? It is probably true that some 
results worthy of note have come from follow- 
ing up “leads” of this nature, but scientific 
courtesy forbids the pursuit of such a hint 
until a more than reasonable time has elapsed 
after publication, and even then the average 
person does not care to work on problems where 
priority claims have been made upon conclu- 
sions one may reach. Horace GuNnTHORP 
WASHBURN COLLEGE, 
Topeka, Kans. 
QUOTATIONS 
MASKS IN GAS WARFARE 
THE masks now used are nearly all of the 
canister type: that is, the inhaled air is drawn 
in through a canister containing certain ma- 
terials which will react with, or absorb, the 
gases before they enter the mask itself. This 
mask consists of a close-fitting fabric, con- 
taining usually more or less rubber in its 
structure, and held in place by elastic straps 
over the head. The exhaled breath escapes 
from the mask through a rubber valve which 
opens only from pressure from the inside. 
The time allowed to put on the mask, when 
slung by, a strap from the neck, is under ten 
seconds. It is carried in a canvas case, and 
when the forces are within two miles of the 
front, they are required to wear the outfit in 
the “alert” position, ready for instant use, 
night and day. 
An important feature which has been the 
oceasion of much scientific study is the eye 
piece of the masks, to avoid dimming from 
the moisture accumulating within. Anti- 
dimming preparations have been found, and 
lately, as the result of many experiments, ma- 
terials devised which reduce this difficulty to 
a minimum, under ordinary conditions of use. 
