408 



SCIENCE 



[Vol. LV, No. 1424 



Dr. Louis C. Karpinski, University of Mich- 

 igan, reminded the Historical Section of the 

 centennial of Hermann von Helmholtz. He 

 presented in brief, but most interestingly, the 

 great German's place in the history of science. 

 "The history of science concerns itself with 

 the historical and logical sequence of scientific 

 concepts. The process of development by 

 which man arrives at fundamental laws of the 

 universe in which we live is a vital study, hav- 

 ing great possibilities for furthering the ad- 

 vance of science. Studies in this field have 

 shown that the part of particular individuals, 

 even men of great genius, is much less than is 

 commonly supposed. The genius is that for- 

 tunate individual who arrives upon the scene 

 when the accumulation of observations enables 

 the formulation of some general law for whose 

 reception and acceptance the way has been 

 prepared. 



"Obviously only few men can be successful 

 in attaching their names to fundamental laws. 

 Prominent in the group is Hermann von Helm- 

 holtz, who in 1847 at the age of 26 gave a com- 

 plete statement of the laws of the conservation 

 of energy. Were one to attempt to characterize 

 in a few words his extraordinary range of 

 researches, one would say that Helmholtz 

 brought biological and physical problems under 

 the dominion of mathematical formulas and 

 methods." 



Dr. Karpinski further states, "In a centen- 

 nial recognition of a life of such great signifi- 

 cance for mankind, the purpose is both his- 

 torical and inspirational," and shows further 

 the historical contribution of Helmholtz to civ- 

 ilization by a detailed characterization of his 

 life. 



"Towards the end of his life in 1894, the 

 great German was working upon the similar 

 but more inclusive 'principle of least action' 

 which he hoped to extend mathematically so as 

 to apply to all forces of nature. Helmholtz, it 

 should be noted, resolutely set himself against 

 any commercialism or financial exploitation of 

 his researches. His words on this subject are 

 worthy of serious consideration to-day in every 

 great American university, where in some de- 

 partments a tendenc}' exists to mix devotion to 

 science and learning with devotion to private 



interest. Helmholtz says: 'Whoever, in the 

 pursuit of science, seeks aft«r immediate prac- 

 tical utility, may generally rest assured that he 

 will seek in vain. We must rest satisfied 

 with the consciousness that he too has con- 

 tributed something to the increasing fund of 

 knowledge in which the dominion of man over 

 all forces hostile to intelligence reposes.' " 

 (For the complete paper see Scientific Monthly, 

 July, 1921). 



Following Dr. Karpinski's paper, the elec- 

 tion of officers was held, resulting in the selec- 

 tion as given : 



For Vice-president : Dr. Wm. A. Locy, North- 

 western "University. 



For Secretary: Frederick E. Brascli, James 

 Jerome Hill Library, St. Paul. 



For Sectional Committee: Dr. Walter Libby, 

 University of Pittsburgh; Dr. Florian Cajori, 

 Universit}' of California; Dr. George Sarton, Car- 

 uegie Institution; Dr. Louis C. Karpinski, Uni- 

 versity of Michigan. 



In addition to the officers elected, the chair- 

 man (Dr. Locy) appointed a committee con- 

 sisting of Dr. Lawrence J. Henderson, Harvard 

 University, Dr. Walter Libby, University of 

 Pittsburgh, and Dr. G. S. Brett, Universitj^ of 

 Toronto, to approach the representative of the 

 Encyclopedia Brittanica Avith an offer of co- 

 operation in revising the parts of that i-efer- 

 ence book that relate to the history of science. 

 Dr. Libby is chairman of this committee. 



The next meeting of the History of Science 

 Section will be held in Boston, December, 1922. 

 Plans are therefore being devised for a larger 

 and more effective meeting. In fact, in view 

 of the American Historical Association meeting 

 in New Haven, December, 1922, there is every 

 reason to suppose a joint session would prove 

 most profitable. This occasion ought to prove 

 unique, as it is extraordinary for a given sub- 

 ject to be considered by a scientific and a his- 

 torical association at the same time. 



For the splendid notes and the courtesy in 

 acting as secretary pro tempore, the secretary 

 wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to Dr. 



Frederick E. Brasch, 



Secretary 

 Jaiies Jerome Hill Library, 

 St. Paul 



