576 
happy or non-athletic. Any one of these 
+wo thousand forms can be at once tested as 
regards its validity by the above ‘ Rule for 
the Inconsistency. ’ 
CHRISTINE LADD FRANKLIN. 
AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. 
Tur American Chemical Society will 
celebrate the 25th anniversary of its found- 
ation in the city of New York, on Friday 
and Saturday, April 12th and 13th. Prom- 
inent chemists from every portion of the 
United States are expected to participate in 
the festivities which include a presentation 
of the history and achievements of the So- 
ciety, its present scope of work and influ- 
ence and a general review of the progress 
of chemical science in this country during 
the past twenty-five years. The present 
condition of the science of chemistry will 
also be shown, and the extent of its appli- 
cations to the various industries. 
The American Chemical Society is an out- 
growth of a meeting of American chemists 
held in Northumberland, Penn., August 1, 
1874, to celebrate the centennial of the dis- 
covery of oxygen by Sir Joseph Priestley. 
The large body of eminent chemists there 
assembled believed that the time had come 
for the formation of a permanent society, 
which should be representative of American 
chemists and their work, as the foreign 
chemical societies are of the chemists of 
their respective countries. 
It was not until the year 1876, however, 
that this idea took definite form in the estab- 
lishment of the American Chemical Society. 
In the early part of that year the Society 
was organized, and in 1877 it was incorpor- 
ated under the lawsof the Stateof New York. 
The first president was that distinguished 
chemist and physiologist, Dr. John W. 
Draper, of the City of New York, whose re- 
searches in spectrum analysis and pioneer 
work in the production of the daguerreotype 
and photograph will never be forgotten. 
SCIENCE. 
[N. 8. Vou. XIII. No. 328. 
From the beginning the Society has pub- 
lished regularly a journal of its proceedings, 
including papers and discussions. Many 
of the leading chemists of this country have 
been enrolled in its membership ; prominent 
chemical manufacturers have been among 
its associates; and not a few of the names 
of foreign chemists of distinction have been 
upon its roll, either as active or as honorary 
members. : 
About ten years ago very radical changes 
were effected in the methods and operations 
of the Society, and the results that have 
followed have proved the wisdom of the 
steps thus taken. The important features 
of the present plan of organization and 
operation are as follows: 
1. Local sections are established in dif- 
ferent parts of the country, and the presid= 
ing officers of these sections constitute the 
vice-presidents of the Society. 
The following is a list of these local sec- 
tions up to date: Rhode Island, Cincinnati, 
New York, Washington, Lehigh Valley, 
Chicago, Nebraska, North Carolina, Colum- 
bus, North Eastern (headquarters in Bos- 
ton), Philadelphia, Michigan and Kansas 
City. 
2. The general management of the So- 
ciety is entrusted to a broadly representa- 
tive council which includes all the past 
presidents of the Society, one or more rep- 
resentatives from each local section and 
‘twelve councilors elected by the member- 
ship at large. 
3. Two general meetings of the Society 
are held each year in different localities 
with a view of increasing interest in the 
Society and stimulating activity among the 
chemists in various sections of the country 
by bringing them into closer acquaintance 
with one another and into a knowledge of 
the various interests with which they are 
connected. The summer meeting is held 
with that of the American Association for 
the Advancement of Science, and the win- 
