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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXV. No. 628 



proper functions and to adjust itself to the 

 conditions of its environment. 



It is worthy of note, also, from the same 

 point of view, that this struggle is inevit- 

 able to a great degree, and that it is only 

 out of the resulting chaos of opinions as to 

 ways, means and methods, and out of the 

 experience of the institution itself, that 

 definite and approved lines of action and 

 policy may be attained. 



In view of these circumstances, it seems 

 essential to warn our allies of the academic 

 world and the public at large against the 

 danger of expecting more from the insti- 

 tution than is possible of accomplishment 

 in a limited time and with a limited income. 

 Although the work of the institution is in 

 a peculiar degree novel and untrammeled, 

 it is yet subject, properly enough, to the 

 restrictions set by human experience and 

 by contemporary society. Hence, if the 

 reviewer of the year books finds reason to 

 complain of a bewildering array of tech- 

 nical details, he should reflect that this 

 array is far less than a host of investiga- 

 tors would like to have it. If the humanist 

 or the scientist finds reason to complain 

 that little or no aid has been given to him 

 or to his special field of research by the 

 institution, he may derive comfort from the 

 fact that he is one of an overwhelming 

 majority necessitated by the limitations of 

 available resources. And if the bibliophile 

 has found reason for dissatisfaction in the 

 distribution of the publications of the in- 

 stitution, he may be disposed to be lenient 

 with the latter on learning that he is one 

 of many thousands soliciting favors. 



Out of this plexus of internal and ex- 

 ternal relations and interrelations it is the 

 duty of the administrative branch of the 

 institution to evolve, so far as practicable, 

 such a degree of order and system as will 

 best promote productive and thorough work 

 of research, and at the same time to restrict, 

 so far as practicable, an unproductive or 



wasteful expenditure of energy and re- 

 sources. Although progress towards an 

 adequate fulfilment of this duty must be 

 of necessity slow in order to be sure, it is 

 believed that distinct advances are accumu- 

 lating, and that the obvious difSculties and 

 dangers which beset the development of so 

 novel an institution are only such as may 

 be overcome by a reasonable application of 

 time and patience. 



R. S. WOODV^ARD 

 Carnegie Institution, 

 Washington, D. C. 



80IENTIFIG BOOKS 

 The Principles of Heredity. By G. Aech- 



DALL REro. London: Chapman and Hall. 



The problems presented in the study of 

 heredity are so diverse and so intricate that 

 they should be illuminated by data drawn 

 from all fields of biological science. Possibly, 

 the phase of the subject which has been the 

 least systematically studied is that of the 

 evidence bearing on heredity afforded by dis- 

 ease, and the publication of a volume by a 

 medical man of high scientific attainments, 

 which embraces this neglected data is to be 

 welcomed. The existence of statistical records 

 makes it possible to utilize the observations 

 made on the inheritance of diseases, and, in 

 this particular field, ' The Principles of 

 Heredity ' is a contribution deserving of much 

 consideration. Dr. Eeid, the author, has made 

 notable contributions to the study of evolu- 

 tion and heredity in earlier works, as ' The 

 Present Evolution of Man ' and ' Alcoholism. 

 A Study of Heredity.' 



The analysis of the subject of heredity is 

 now changing from the stage of general treat- 

 ment to a very critical one, based on measure- 

 ments and experiments, as well as on the 

 closest microscopic examination of the heredi- 

 tary substance and its behavior during initial 

 stages of development. This makes it dif- 

 ficult for any writer to satisfy present 

 standards. It will be appropriate to examine 

 Dr. Eeid's work with this situation in mind. 



The title of the book, 'The Principles of 

 Heredity,' leads the reader to expect something 



