December 20, 1907] 



SCIENCE 



881 



ings, each 0.8 cm. diameter. The solid lead 

 plug serves to keep the room sound-proof if it 

 is not necessary to conduct the sound from 

 without ; the second and third give opportunity 

 of introducing one or two sound stimuli, re- 

 spectively. 



The room is fitted with electric light and 

 wires for telephone and other electrical pur- 

 poses. 



The location of the window, on the south- 

 ern side of the room, makes it possible to 

 have the room lighted by the sun and a thor- 

 ough ventilation may be secured in the in- 

 tervals of a series of experiments. One 

 thing has not been solved in the construction, 

 viz., the ventilation of the room during a 

 series of tests. The room is large enough to 

 hold one person for, say, a half hour without 

 discomfort from lack of oxygen, and the use 

 of porous material in the construction may 

 make it possible to remain a longer time with- 

 out ill effect.^ For a series of tests on tones 

 a half hour is sufficient time if we do not have 

 to deal with a condition of the ear analogous 

 to the adaptation of the eye. If time is needed 

 for the " adaptation " of the ear perhaps some 

 further scheme of ventilation may be required. 

 On this point, the adaptation of the ear, we 

 have no information and one of the possibili- 

 ties of the room is the discovery of such 

 adaptation. 



When in the room, some, not all, persons 

 experience peculiar sensations from the ear 

 (drum?), corresponding to the sensations in 

 slightly compressed air. There is a distinct 

 feeling of pressure which is subjective and 

 which disappears so soon as a sound is made, 

 or sound stimuli are given. 



The noiselessness of the room is shown by 

 the fact that one hears a subjective buzzing, 

 similar to but of less intensity than the buzz- 

 ing produced by large doses of quinine. 

 Many normal people can also hear their own 

 heart sounds. It is true that their own heart 

 sounds can be heard by some in rooms not 

 noiseless, but this is not the case with many 

 normal individuals except after very violent 

 exercise. In the room a few swings of the 



' On this point I failed to make inquiries. 



leg or arm is often sufficient to make the heart 

 sounds quite distinct. Other body noises may 

 also be heard. If a movement of a few inches 

 in extent is made, such as lightly brushing the 

 foot over the carpet or a free movement of the 

 arm, the sound is distinctly audible. So au- 

 dible are these noises that one must be 

 careful not to move when experiments are 

 in progress. A further proof of the noise- 

 lessness of the room is to be found in the fact 

 that a shell held to the ear does not appear 

 to give forth any sound. The tones for which 

 the shell is resonant are absent. It should 

 be mentioned again here that the felt-like lin- 

 ing of the room effectually stops all sound 

 reflection. Whatever sounds are produced or 

 brought into the room are in this respect 

 simple; they cease when the vibration reaches 

 the wall. 



To keep the room fresh and clean, in addi- 

 tion to the entrance of sunlight and fresh air, 

 dust and other dirt are removed by a me- 

 chanical cleaner — ^the so-called compressed air 

 cleaner — and it is disinfected by formalin 

 vapor. 



In experiments during the past three or 

 four years the room has been used in its vari- 

 ous conditions of evolution and in its final 

 form has proved to be most satisfactory. For 

 many years it will doubtless be a standard for 

 the construction of similar rooms in other in- 

 stitutions. Shepherd Ivort Franz 



George Washington University 



Government Hospitax for the Insane 



SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL 

 CONGRESS— SECTION OF PALEOZOOLOQY 

 For the iirst time in the history of the In- 

 ternational Zoological Congress, a section of 

 paleozoology was organized and met during the 

 Boston convention of the congress, August 19- 

 24. Early in the year a circular announcing 

 the formation of this section was sent to 

 paleontologists of this and other countries 

 from the office of the organization chairman. 

 Professor H. F. Osborn.' This circular called 

 attention to the unusual opportunity afforded 



' Owing to Professor Osborn's absence in Egypt, 

 many omissions in the sending of this circular 

 occurred. 



