Februaky 24, 1922] 



SCIENCE 



197 



too have built up a vast edifice of knowledge 

 which thej' are -willing to share with us, and 

 which we greatly need. They too have never lost 

 that longing for the truth about evolution which 

 to men of my date is the salt of biology, the 

 impulse which made us biologists. . . . 



The separation between the laboratory men and 

 the systematists already imperils the work, I 

 might almost say the sanity, of both. . . . 



I have put before you very frankly the con- 

 siderations which have made us agnostic as to 

 the actual mode and processes of evolution. When 

 such confessions are made the enemies of science 

 see their chance. . . . Our doubts are not as to 

 the reality or truth of evolution, but as to the 

 origin of species, a technical, almost domestic, 

 problem. Any day that mystery may be 

 solved. . . . That synthesis ■ndll follow on an 

 analysis, we do not and cannot doubt. 



These passages seem to me to do great credit 

 to Professor Bateson in so far as they contain 

 a frank expression of his opinion that up to 

 the present time neither the causes nor the 

 mode of origin of species have been revealed 

 by the older study of Variation, the newer 

 study of Mutation, or the still more modern 

 study of Genetics. If this opinion is generally 

 accepted as a fact or demonstrated truth, the 

 way is open to search the causes of evolution 

 along other lines of inquiry. 



Henry Fairfield Osbobn 

 Columbia University, 

 Department of Zoology, 

 January 21, 1922 



SCIENCE IN THE PHILIPPINES 



Ever since returning from the Philippines 

 in 1919, after a four-year stay, I have had in 

 mind the wi'iting of a brief aceoimt of con- 

 ditions as I found them, especially those con- 

 ditions which are of interest to the research 

 man, who has wondered how the general 

 status of his profession, and working condi- 

 tions in the tropics compare with conditions 

 in a large city in the northern part of the 

 United States. My own experience in the 

 trepics is limited to Manila and vicinity, but 

 from my reading and from conversation with 

 others I am of the opinion that conditions in 

 Ihe Philippines, Cuba, Panama, India, Java 



and other places in the tropics are somewhat 

 similar, independent of the longitude. I have 

 purposely delayed setting down my ideas, be- 

 cause I wished to wait until I could have a fair 

 perspective in comparing experiences in the 

 Pliilippines with experiences in the United 

 States both before and after my stay there. 



There are so many advantages and so many 

 disadvantages to be taken into account that it is 

 difficult to say which location is the more satis- 

 factory for scientific work, and of course, the 

 delights and new interests, and the broadening 

 of one's horizon that come about from travel in 

 the Orient are not to be overlooked. I shall 

 mention only a few points to be considered 

 without making any attempt to give them in 

 the order of their importance. 



Climatic conditions are unfavorable in so far 

 as their effect on physical and mental efficiency 

 is concerned. The high temperature and high 

 relative humidity have a tendency to cut down 

 productiveness. To accomplish a given result 

 requires much more energy and determination 

 than in a temperate climate. With the ther- 

 mometer around 9-5 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit 

 and the relative humidity between 90 and 100 

 per cent., the average individual is not so keen 

 about performing his daily activities, especially 

 those which require mental effort. 



The general slowing up suffered by the aver- 

 age individual coming to the tropics from a 

 temperate climate is so well understood by old 

 Spanish residents of the Philippines that they 

 divide all foreigners into three classes. There 

 are the Ricien Nacidos, those who have been in 

 the islands not to exceed two or three years, or 

 literally, the "recently born." The middle class 

 consists of those who have been there for five 

 to ten years, and are beginning to become modi- 

 fied by the environment. The last class is called 

 the Platinos, or "bananos." This class is sup- 

 posed to have eaten so many bananas that they 

 have become sleepy and torpid, have lost much 

 of the industry of a temperate climate and have 

 settled down and become a part of the general 

 scheme of life in the tropics. 



The separation from scientific societies and 

 the opportunity to discuss problems and com- 

 pare notes with others of the same profession 



