116 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLIX. No. 1257 



part, it was unanimously resolved to constitute 

 the proposed organization witli tlie object of 

 drawing together tlie members of the medical 

 profession in the inter-allied countries with a 

 view to promoting intercourse and cooperation 

 for the promotion of medical science and pub- 

 lic health. 



A general committee was nominated, and Sir 

 Arbuthnot Lane was appointed honorary treas- 

 urer, and Sir St. Clair Thomson, Mr. Douglas 

 Harmer and Mr. J. T. W. MacAlister honorary 

 secretaries (pro tern.). 



THE PRODUCTION OF QUICKSILVER IN 1918 



The domestic output of quicksilver in 1918, 

 according to statistics compiled by E. L. Ean- 

 sonie, of the United States Geological Survey, 

 Department of the Interior, was 33,432 flasks of 

 75 pounds each, valued at the average quoted 

 market price at San Francisco ($117.93 a 

 flask) at about $3,942,301. Compared with 

 the output of 1917 of 36,159 flasks, valued at 

 $3,808,266, this shows a decrease in quantity 

 of 2,727 flasks but an increase in value of 

 $134,035. 



The productive states were California, 

 Texas, ISTevada, Oregon and Idaho, named in 

 the order of decreasing importance. 



The production of California was 23,231 

 flasks, against 23,938 flasks in 1917, a decrease 

 of 707 flasks. As usual of late years, the 

 ISTew Idria mine, with which is included the 

 San Carlos mine, yielded nearly half of the 

 total output of ithe state. Only one other 

 mine in the state, the 'New Ahnaden (includ- 

 ing the El Senador mine), produced over 

 2,000 flasks in 1918. New Almaden has pro- 

 duced to date about 1,124,100 flasks and in 

 1865 alone produced 48,138 flasks from ore 

 that yielded 11.3 per cent, of quicksilver. In 

 total production ISTew Idria, with 315,434 flasks 

 to the end of 1918, ranks second, and Oat 

 Hill (ISTapa Consolidated), with about 140,000 

 flasks, comes third. Sulphur Bank nearly 

 trebled its output of the previous year and 

 probably would have made still larger gains 

 were it not for the fact that the high sulphur 

 content of the ore renders furnace treatment 

 and condensation difficult. 



In general, quicksilver mining in California 

 maintained fairly well during the year the 

 revival of activity due to the war, as indi- 

 cated by comparison of the output (33,432 

 flasks) with the production of 11,303 flasks in 

 1914. A large number of mines that were 

 formerly productive have remained idle, how- 

 ever, and with the gradual, return to normal 

 conditions other mines are likely to revert to 

 this class. 



The output of quicksilver in Texas was 

 8,475 flasks, against 10,791 flasks in 1917. 

 The Ellis mine, near McKinney Springs, con- 

 siderably increased its output, and the Mari- 

 posa mine also made a small gain. The out- 

 put of the Chisos mine, however, declined, and 

 that of the Big Bend showed a stiU larger 

 falling off. The Big Bend has been nearly 

 exhausted down to the level of the under- 

 ground water, so that pumping and additional 

 development will be necessary if any consider- 

 able output is to be maintained. Prospecting 

 has been continued by the Eainbow Mining 

 Co., on the westward continuation of the 

 Chisos ore zone, and some ore is reported to 

 have been found. 



SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS 



Dr. William N". Logan, professor of economic 

 geology in Indiana University, was appointed 

 state geologist by Governor Goodrich on Jan- 

 uary 1. 



Professor Nellis B. Foster, now lieutenant- 

 colonel in the Medical Corps of the United 

 States Army, has presented his resigTiation as 

 professor of medicine and dean of the school 

 of medicine of the University of Michigan, as 

 he expects to be detailed to the military service 

 for an indefinite period. 



Dr. a. Hoyt Taylor, professor of physics at 

 the University of Iforth Dakota, now a lieu- 

 tenant commander in the Navy, has resigned 

 after a year's leave of absence and will continue 

 his work at the Bureau of Standards on naval 

 radio communication. 



Major Lawrence Martin, general staff, U. S. 

 Army, on leave of absence as associate pro- 

 fessor of physiography and geography in the 



