448 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLIX. No. 1271 



century, a considerable part of the develop- 

 ments during the eighteenth century, and a 

 very minor part of later developments. The 

 unequal emphasis which such a section would 

 thus place on the different chapters in the 

 history of mathematics would be partly com- 

 pensated by the fact that it would prepare the 

 way for a more sympathetic attitude towards 

 mathematical history in general. 



If such a section is formed it should be 

 understood that the more technical and per- 

 haps the more important part of the history 

 of science is of such a nature that it can be 

 appreciated only by the specialists in the fields 

 to which it relates. There is, however, a great 

 need for work on intercommunicating roads 

 in science and such a section might tend to 

 improve these roads. 



G. A. Miller 



XlNivHtsiTY OF Illinois 



VITAMIN TESTS WITH CHICKS 



Our experience recently with the use of 

 chicks for the purpose of demonstrating to 

 classes in elementary physiology the role of 

 vitamins in a diet has been so satisfactory 

 that we thought it might be of interest to 

 other teachers. 



The day-old chick is so universally avail- 

 able, so easily reared, and its growth is so 

 rapid that it makes an admirable laboratory 

 animal for such a demonstration. Because of 

 their hardiness L^hom chicks were selected 

 and divided into two groups of equal number 

 and weight. Both the control group and the 

 one to be tested (such chicks being easily 

 marked with dye) were placed in the same 

 large cage with free access to water, grit, shell, 

 etc. Both groups were allowed to partake 

 freely from food kept in a feeder. The food 

 thus accessible consisted of either highly 

 milled corn-meal, crumbs of unleavened white 

 flour bread, or cakes baked from rice flour, or 

 combinations of any or all of these. Changes 

 were frequently made so that the chicks ate 

 readily of the food furnished. In addition 

 to this the normal or control group was fed 

 once a day with small amounts of food con- 

 taining vitamins. 



After the second day the curve of the daily 

 average weights sho%ved a marked difference 

 between the two groups. After approximately 

 two weeks the one group began to exhibit the 

 typical symptoms of lack of vitamins. Death 

 occurs so promptly in the young chicks after 

 the onset of symptoms that care must be taken 

 to at once feed the ailing chicks with vitamin 

 containing food. Small amounts of milk, 

 scraped apple, lettuce, etc., sufficed to cause 

 prompt recovery with marked acceleration in 

 the rate of growth. 



We of course recognize that no new resiilts 

 have been achieved but felt that the method 

 of demonstration was worthy of note. 



E. J. Seymour, 

 e. p. durrant 



Ohio State TJniveesitt 



QUOTATIONS 



THE BRITISH AIR-FORCE ESTIMATES AND 

 AERONAUTICAL RESEARCH 



The development of military aviation has 

 been one of the wonders of the war, but we 

 have naturally been kept somewhat in the 

 dark as to the exact extent of such develop- 

 ment while the war was still in progress. The 

 veil has now been lifted, and General Seely, 

 in speaking on the Air Estimates in the House 

 of Commons on March 13, has given us a 

 striking summary of the progress made dur- 

 ing the past four years. The fact that the ex- 

 penditure on the Air Force has increased two- 

 hundred-fold since the outbreak of hostilities 

 is a sufficient comment on the enormous ad- 

 vances that have taken place in the aeronaut- 

 ical world. General Sedy states that if the 

 armistice had not been signed, this year's esti- 

 mates would have reached the sum of £200,- 

 000,000 — an amount which is practically four 

 times our pre-war expenditure on the entire 

 navy! Even with the signing of peace in 

 sight the sum of £66,500,000 is asked for, in 

 order to ensure the maintenance of the aerial 

 supremacy which we have gained during the 

 war. 



. It is exceedingly gratifying to note that the 

 true value of research is at last being appreci- 

 ated, and the specific provision of £3,000,000 



