May 24, 1907] 



SCIENCE 



837 



important result of this commission would be 

 the organization of special institutes for the 

 study of the central nervous system and the 

 establishment of international relations for 

 the advancement of this study. 



From Professor Donaldson's statement of 

 the research work it appears that the investi- 

 gations now imder way at the institute are as 

 follows : 



The development of the fiber tracts in the 

 brain of the human embryo, together with 

 some experimental work for the control 

 of these observations (Streeter) ; biometric 

 studies on the skull and nervous system of 

 the albino rat as modified by age and nutri- 

 tion, and the chemistry of nerve tissue 

 (Hatai) ; the growth of the white rat before 

 birth (Stotsenburg) ; the development of the 

 heart and vessels of teleosts (Senior) ; regen- 

 eration of the peripheral nerves (Greenman) ; 

 and a comparison of the growth of the nervous 

 system and its parts in the albino rat and man 

 (Donaldson) . 



The committee on further organization of 

 the neurological workers of the country con- 

 sisting of Donaldson, Piersol and LeConte 

 reported progress. 



Professor Gage, chairman of the committee 

 on relations of the Wistar Institute to Amer- 

 ican anatomists, reported that they had issued 

 a circular letter to the anatomists of the coun- 

 try, and that this had served the desired 

 purpose of bringing the anatomists and the 

 Wistar Institute into closer relations. The 

 committee is to remain as a permanent one 

 for further work of this kind. 



As a central institute for brain research, 

 the institute is desirous of securing for dis- 

 tribution exact information concerning the 

 facilities for neurological work in this coun- 

 try. It was proposed to obtain this by means 

 of both a circular letter and special inspection 

 of laboratories, but tTie matter was left with 

 the institute staff for final action. 



Dr. Huntington, chairman of the committee 

 on comparative anatomy and embryology, 

 spoke encouragingly of the outlook for the 

 future, and suggested that material for com- 

 parative anatomy be collected, with especial 

 reference to the general subject of vascular 



morphology. Dr. Piersol urged in this con- 

 nection the collection of human embryos. 



The following general suggestions were 

 made: 



By Professor Barker, that the question of 

 library be considered at an early date, and 

 that the institute prepare a statement concern- 

 ing the collections of anatomical literature in 

 the city; secure the more important period- 

 icals, and be prepared to purchase essential 

 books of reference and new monographs, 

 taking care not to duplicate books or journals, 

 except where these were constantly needed in 

 the building. 



Professor Gage made the suggestion that 

 the institute organize a bureau for informa- 

 tion, bearing on the acquisition of materials, 

 apparatus, models, photographs, etc., useful to 

 anatomists. In this the institute would have 

 the assistance of the board and others inter- 

 ested, and the work would be thus facilitated. 

 The suggestion was recorded and will be car- 

 ried out. Any assistance which anatomists 

 or zoologists can render the institute in ex- 

 ecuting this plan will be gratefully received. 



The publication of monographs was sug- 

 gested by Professors Huber and Mall. It was 

 the general opinion of the board that desirable 

 monographs might be accepted by the board, 

 published in the American Journal of Anat- 

 omy at the institute's expense, and as the 

 edition was sold, the institute could then be 

 reimbursed. This suggestion was so recorded, 

 and will be carefully considered with reference 

 to future action. 



Professor Minot proposed that the institute 

 take charge of the reproduction of original 

 models and lantern slides. He stated that 

 there were many original drawings which au- 

 thors would entrust to the institute for the 

 purpose of having lantern slides made from 

 them, when they would not loan them to 

 dealers. The reproduction of original models, 

 as well as lantern slides, was favored by the 

 board, and it was unanimously agreed that 

 this was a most desirable undertaking. The 

 suggestion did not imply that the institute 

 should in any way act in a commercial ca- 

 pacity, but merely publish or reproduce models 

 and lantern slides which can not be otherwise 



