January 24, 1919] 



SCIENCE 



87 



Sir Walter Fletcher, M.D., F.R.S. (secretary. 

 Medical Research Committee), Mr. W. L. 

 Hichens (chairman of Messrs. Cammell. Laird 

 and Co.. Ltd.). Mr. Edward Hopkinson, D.Sc. 

 (director of Messrs, Mather and Piatt. Man- 

 chester), Mr. Kenneth Lee (director of Messrs. 

 Tootal, Broadhurst Lee Co.. Ltd.). Dr. T. M. 

 Legrge. C.B.E. (H.M. Medical Inspector of 

 Factories), Colonel C. S. Myers, M.D., F.R.S. 

 (director of the Psychological Laboratory. 

 Cambridge). Mr. R. R. Bannatjnie (assessor 

 representing the home office). The secretary 

 is Mr. D. R. Wilson, H.JkL Inspector of Fac- 

 tories to whom at 15, Great George Street, 

 Westminster, S.W.I, suggestions as to any 

 problems needing investigation should be ad- 

 dressed. 



STATE PARKS FOR IOWA 



At the last General Assembly of the State of 

 Iowa, a law was passed creating a State Board 

 of Conservation for the purpose of setting 

 aside certain areas in the state for recreation, 

 scientific, historic and forestry purposes. The 

 sum of $50,000 out of the fund coming from 

 hunters' licenses to be set aside for the pur- 

 chase of such places. The Conservation Board 

 is to report its findings to the Executive Coun- 

 cil of the state. Governor W. L. Harding ap- 

 ix)inted as such a board, L. H. Panimel. of 

 Ames; Joseph Kelso, of Bellevue, and John 

 Ford, of Fort Dodge. Mr. E. R. Harlan, cura- 

 tor of the State Historical Department, is des- 

 ignated in the law as a member of the board. 

 The board recommended the purchase of a re- 

 gion known as the Devil's Back Bone in Dela- 

 ware County along the Maquoketa River. The 

 area embraces something over 1,200 acres. 

 Some of the original white pines are still 

 standing, as well as a number of the larger 

 oaks and cedars. The wild animal life also is 

 of interest. It is of interest to geologists be- 

 cause of the rough topography, the limestone 

 and the glacial action in the region. This re- 

 gion is also of particular interest from an eco- 

 logical standpoint. 



The board designated that this park and 

 similar parks be known as memorial state 

 parks. The Executive Council adopted the 

 recommendation of the board with reference to 



the purchase of the Devil's Back Bone and 

 made arrangements to purchase the area. The 

 commission also made recommendation for 

 southeastern and southwestern Iowa, particu- 

 larly with reference to wooded tracts and some 

 Indian mounds, as well as the Missouri loess 

 area in southwesitern Iowa. The board be- 

 lieves history and science wiill best be ser\'ed 

 by making few improvements in these parks. 



THE PLANS OF THE ROCKEFELLER 

 FOUNDATION 



Extensive work in public health and med- 

 ical education and the completion of its war 

 work will be the program of the Rockefeller 

 Foimdation for 1919, according to a statement 

 issued by the president. Dr. George E. Vincent. 



The estimated income for 1919 is $6,750,000. 

 Against this the budget provides $2,264,130 

 for public health anil $3,662,504 for medical 

 education. The other items of the budget are 

 $103,000 for miscellaneous payments on long- 

 term appropriations and $146,662 for admin- 

 istration. The amount still available for ap- 

 propriations is $465,110. Of the income of 

 1918 $2,787,406 has been brought forward to 

 meet appropriations for war work made in 

 1918, but yet to be paid. 



The public health activities for the year 

 will be directed chiefly against yellow fever, 

 tuberculosis in France, malaria and the hook- 

 worm disease. The Yellow Fever Commis- 

 sion, headed by General William C. Gorgas, 

 in starting a war on the disease which it is 

 hoped will result in its complete elimination. 

 The Commission on Tuberculosis in France 

 will continue its work on an enlarged budget 

 at the request of the French authorities. The 

 campaign against the hookworm will be waged 

 in twelve states here and twenty-one foreign 

 states and countries. 



Appropriations have been made for S))ecial 

 studies and demonstrations in mental hygiene. 

 for a school of liygiene and public health at 

 Johns Hopkins, and for the development of 

 public health nursing. The chief work in 

 medical education will be the development of 

 training in modern medicine in China through 

 the China Medical Board. 



