Mat 23, 1919] 



SCIENCE 



497 



ing from north of west clear across the sky, al- 

 most to the zenith, down to south of east, made 

 a very beautiful and impressive sight. It was 

 very much admired by those I called out to 

 see it. 



I should like to know if this display was no- 

 ticed in other parts of the country and if 

 others have observed similar phenomena at 

 other times. 



G. iRnXG G.^^-ETT 



UNrVEKSITY OF WaSHINGTOK, 



Seattle, Wash., 



May 2, 1919, at 11:30 p.m. 



THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE 



To THE Editor of Sciexce : I have read 

 with much interest Dr. Felix Neumann's 

 article published in your number of April 4 

 and I heartily agree with him that the cre- 

 ation of a new section of the American Asso- 

 ciation for the Advancement of Science, to be 

 devoted to the history of science, would be 

 most desirable. 



I think it is hardly necessary to demonstrate 

 the necessity of such historical studies, but T 

 beg to submit the following arguments in sup- 

 port of Dr. Neumann's proposition. 



1. The history of science has a real and full 

 signification only for scientifically trained peo- 

 ple, and it appeals equally to scientists of all 

 kinds, hence it is natural that its study be 

 promoted by such an association as the Amer- 

 ican Association for the Advancement of 

 Science. 



2. Such historical studies, however, are very 

 different from scientific studies proper; they 

 require a special turn of mind, a special 

 equipment and special methods without the 

 use of which no high standard of accuracy 

 can be obtained, hence it is necessary that 

 they be promoted by an independent section. 



3. Such independent sections have been or- 

 ganized many years ago by the Versammlung 

 deutscher Naturforscher und Aerzte and by 

 the Societi italiana per il Progresso delle 

 Scienze, notwithstanding the fact that so- 

 cieties exclusively devoted to the history of 

 science exist both in Germany and in Italy. 



George Sarton 

 Carnegie Institution or Washington 



QUOTATIONS 



THE OBSTRUCTION OF MEDICAL RESEARCH 

 IN GREAT BRITAIN 



The passage tlirough a standing committee 

 of the House of Commons, without amend- 

 ment, of the so-called " Dogs' Protection Bill " 

 has rudely awakened to a danger too lightly 

 regarded, every one who in any way realizes 

 the importance of the issues involved. In the 

 Times of April 8, Sir Philip Magnus tells how 

 the past master of parliamentary tactics who 

 introduced the bill was able to bring it up 

 for second reading unexpectedly, at the close 

 of a sitting and to secure, almost without dis- 

 cussion, its reference to a standing committee. 

 The committee was aparently composed in the 

 Tisual way, mainly of members selected with 

 reference to their political affiliations, with- 

 out any regard to their competence to deal 

 with an essentially scientific question; three 

 or four medical members were added and a 

 contingent of nominees of the members in 

 charge of the bill, who could be trusted to 

 know his own supporters. In two short ses- 

 sions, and with the help of the closure, the 

 bill passed throiigh this committee without 

 amendment. The next stage will be that it 

 will come before the House for third reading 

 at the next opportunity, which may occur 

 any week. 



The effect of the bill, if it should pass into 

 law, is plain enough. It would render any 

 one who made an experiment of any kind 

 upon a dog liable to prosecution. Its enact- 

 ment would cripple progress, so far as this 

 country is concerned, in some of the most im- 

 portant fields of medical investigation. The 

 whole weight of informal opinion must be 

 brought to bear to prevent such a calamity. 

 Letters of protest and warning have appeared 

 in the Times of April 5, 7, 8 and 9, from Sir 

 Edward Shaniey Schafer, Dr. Thomas Lewis, 

 Dr. Leonard Hill, Professor Langley and Pro- 

 fessor Starling. The Morning Post of April 

 7 published imder the heading, " A Blow to 

 Medical Science," an admirable statement of 

 the case against the bill. The lay press is 

 fulfilling a valuable function in thus enlight- 

 ening general opinion. 



So far as our own readers are concerned, we 

 are preaching to those who need no conver- 



