472 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XV. Ko. 377. 



meiits and the topographic features, it seemed 

 probable that dnring the recession of the gia- 

 cial ice-sheet a lake had been formed, which, as 

 the ice melted out, had discharged first through 

 the upper pass, and later through the lower 

 one. A number of lantern slides were shown 

 in illustration of the topographic features of 

 the area under discussion. 



Glover M. Allen, 



Secretary. 



DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE. 

 THE ENDOWMENT OF RESEARCH. 



To THE Editor of Science : I have been 

 much impressed by the communication of Mr. 

 H. H. Clayton in your recent issue, in relation 

 to the subject of gTants for scientific research, 

 for the reason that his views coincide so 

 closely with mine, based on both theoretical 

 considerations and practical experience. 



On two occasions I have been the recipient 

 of siich grants, and I confess that on each 

 occasion I labored under a feeling of constant 

 uneasiness for fear that I might not be able 

 to accomplish what others might consider ade- 

 quate returns for the amount of the grant. 

 This feeling may have no reason for existence 

 and perhaps it. does injustice to those who have 

 such funds in charge, but that it exists and 

 that it has a distinct influence upon many 

 applicants can not be questioned. It may 

 perhaps be objected that such persons should 

 not, or at least that they need not, seek to 

 avail themselves of such opportunities, but 

 this, it seems to me, would merely result in 

 debarring many conscientous workers, while 

 at the same time encouraging others not so 

 sensitive. 



In regard to the effectof prohibiting thepay- 

 ment of personal expenses out of research 

 funds I may not be considered a competent 

 witness, for the reason that in the two in- 

 stances mentioned I was not restricted as to 

 the manner in which the grants should be 

 expended and it was never necessary for me to 

 try to draw a hard and fast line between what 

 might be considered purely personal expenses 

 and those which were incurred solely in con- 

 nection with the actual research work. Had 

 such restrictions been imposed, however, I 



believe that I should ha.ve hesitated to accept 

 the first grant and know that I should have 

 declined the second, on account of my inabil- 

 ity to satisfy myself that I could draw a line 

 so that items on either side could not be ques- 

 tioned or criticized. 



In common, as I have reason to believe, with 

 nearly every active scientific worker, I have 

 always had suificient work under way, or defi- 

 nitely planned, to occiipy all my time for 

 months and sometimes for years ahead, and 

 tardiness in completing investigations has 

 more often been due to the element of personal 

 expenses than to any other cause. Such a con- 

 dition is particularly in evidence where in- 

 vestigations involve the necessity of traveling. 

 Good results can hardly be expected if the 

 investigator is constantly harassed by having 

 to consider whether each item of expense may 

 be conscientiously charged to his research fund 

 or not. The success or failure of an investi- 

 gation in the field may often depend entirely 

 upon the length of time which can be given to 

 it, or, what is the same thing, to the suni avail- 

 able merely for living expenses. 



In regard to laboratory work I can not 

 speak from experience, but I do not see why 

 any different principle should .prevail in that 

 connection than in any other. The proper 

 basis for a grant, it seems to me, should be 

 absoliite confidence in the recipient, giving 

 him to understand that the amount of the 

 grant was his, to apply in any way which he 

 might think woiild best accomplish, or assist 

 in accomplishing, the object of his investiga- 

 tions. 



Arthur PIollick. 



scientific nomenclature. 

 A PRIME characteristic of the scientific mind 

 is the ability to enter into details and to make 

 distinctions, as well as to see the relation 

 between the elements of knowledge. In ordei 

 that some conception of these distinctions may 

 be comnumicated to another mind, names nnist 

 be given to a perpetually increasing list of 

 objects and qualities, with divisions and sub- 

 divisions. In natural science, to try to stretch 

 an existing A'ocabulary and make it cover new 

 conceptions by using , old names with new 



