858 
‘Thermo-electric Interpolation Formule’ 
is particularly valuable for its critique of 
the various methods of interpolation which 
have been employed in dealing with the 
results of high temperature observations, 
and that upon the ‘ Melting Points of Alu- 
minium, Silver, Gold, Copper and Plati- 
num,’ published in collaboration with his 
pupils, Messrs. Lawrence and Barr, con- 
tains what are undoubtedly the best meas- 
urements of the points of fusion of these 
metals that had been obtained at the time 
of their publication. A third paper con- 
tains a description of a novel method of 
calibrating the LeChatelier thermo-electric 
pyrometer, and the fourth a new method of 
applying the cooling correction in measure- 
ments of the heat of combustion. 
The papers of Professor Holman, thus far 
referred to, have all been published in the 
Proceedings of the American Academy. 
Several others of minor importance have 
appeared in different scientific journals. 
An extended critique upon thermometry of 
precision, presented at the Boston meeting 
of the American Association for the Ad- 
vancement of Science in 1880 unfortunately 
was never printed. 
Besides his published researches, Profess- 
or Holman was the author of several valu- 
able scientific works. The two volumes of 
‘ Physical Laboratory Notes,’ prepared for 
the use of his pupils in the Massachusetts 
Institute of Technology, embody the re- 
sults of many years of successful experi- 
ence in teaching and form an important 
contribution to the literature of the subject. 
They contain much original matter and ex- 
hibit a rare discrimination in the selection 
and comparison of the methods of measure- 
ment which are discussed. This is particu- 
larly the case with the volume relating to 
electrical measurement and testing. 
In 1892 he published a treatise upon 
‘The Discussion of the Precision of 
Measurements,’ the basis of which consisted 
SCIENCE. 
(N.S. Vou. XIII. No. 335. 
of the notes of lectures given to his classes. 
This volume, which is quite unique in its 
contents, contains in convenient form a 
very compendious and lucid consideration 
of the application of the principles of least 
squares to the theory of observations, the 
calculation of their precision and the choice 
of proportions in designing physical appa- 
ratus to be used for measurement. Its value 
as a text-book has been very great. 
The collection of four- and five-place log- 
arithmetic tables, prepared in 1896,embodies 
several features of marked originality, and 
is prefaced by a brief but exceedingly use- 
ful discussion of the fundamental princi- 
ples of computation which contains many 
useful suggestions for the economizing of 
labor. 
The last work written by Professor Hol- 
man, entitled, ‘ Matter, Energy, Force and 
Work,’ appeared in 1898 and is of a char- 
acter widely different from any of those 
which preceded it. It is a philosophical 
study of the fundamental concepts of mod- 
ern physics, in which the subject is ap- 
proached from the point of view that mat- 
ter and energy, rather than matter and 
force, are the primary entities with which 
physies, has to deal, and that matter itself 
may be dependent upon energy for its own 
existence. While not technical in its char- 
acter, and intended especially for the help 
of teachers not wholly familiar with modern 
views, it is distinguished throughout by 
great clearness and is a remarkable pres- 
entation of the newer modes of viewing 
the subjects which it considers. 
Valuable as are his scientific publica- 
tions, however, Professor Holman’s great 
work was that of a teacher of young men in 
the laboratory. From the beginning of his 
service as an assistant in the Rogers Labora- 
tory of Physics his influence was marked, 
and by his patient labors extending through 
many years, he brought the work which was 
under his charge to a high state of develop- 
