868 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXIV. No. 



charming simplicity as to ever remain as al- 

 most unapproachable models. 



For Dr. Gibbs was ever true to his best 

 capacity (his proper sphere of usefulness to 

 his fellows), namely, research, and he con- 

 tinued this long after his retirement from the 

 field of teaching. As one reviews his achieve- 

 ments in research one is amazed at the catho- 

 licity of his accomplishments. All recognize 

 his numerous contributions to analytical 

 chemistry, his application of the electric cur- 

 rent to quantitative determinations being es- 

 pecially well known; but he covered the field 

 from gravimetric, through volumetric, to gas 

 analysis. It is also pretty generally known 

 that his early investigations of the complex 

 ammonium bases, and their compounds, were 

 in his later life supplemented by researches 

 into the constitutions of the complex inor- 

 ganic acids. Organic chemistry claimed his 

 attention. In 1853 he prepared an arsenical 

 derivative of valeric acid. In 1868 he dis- 

 cussed the constitution of uric acid and its 

 derivatives. In 1869 he described some prod- 

 ucts formed by the action of alkali nitrites 

 upon them. In 1891 and 1892, with H. A. 

 Hare and E. T. Eeichert, he treated of the 

 physiological action of definitely related chem- 

 ical compounds. He produced memoirs on a 

 normal map of the solar spectrum and on the 

 wave-lengths of the elementary spectral lines, 

 and, in the study of interference phenomena, 

 he discovered a constant, which he styled the 

 interferential constant. The time allotted me 

 is too brief to enable me to set forth the work 

 of an investigator who at the age of eighteen 

 published a paper entitled a " Description of a 

 New Form of Magneto-electric Machine, and 

 an Account of a Carbon Battery of Consid- 

 erable Energy " and at seventy-one years of 

 age published a method for the separation of 

 the rare earths, further than to say that while 

 Gibbs was an experimentalist rather than a 

 theorist he published views on theoretical 

 chemistry that have force to-day. 



By virtue of his sympathy and breadth be 

 became a pioneer in comprehending, assim- 

 ilating and expounding the results of others, 



giving them always full credit. He was the 

 first American to adopt and promulgate the 

 conclusions of Carmizzario; so early as 1880 

 he appreciated the value of the researches of 

 J. Willard Gibbs and was the prime factor in 

 having the Eumford medal conferred on this 

 immortal Yale physicist. I well remember 

 his enthusiasm in those early days when 

 speaking of the recently published, and now 

 classic, memoir of Kekule. 



I fear the privilege you have afforded me 

 to speak of my beloved master has tempted me 

 to overstay the time allotted me and yet I 

 feel I have but inadequately set forth the 

 man and his achievements. In closing permit 

 me to quote from the admirable tribute paid 

 him by Theodore W. Richards: 



The circmnstanees of his early academic life 

 brought him in contact with but few students. 

 This is the more to be regretted because of his 

 enthusiastic spirit, his tireless energy, his recogni- 

 tion of everything good, and best of all his warm 

 human friendship which endeared him to all who 

 knew him. Those who were thus fortunate, 

 whether students or colleagues, will always de- 

 votedly treasure his memory; and his place as a 

 pioneer in science in America will always be 

 secure. Charles E. Munroe 



SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS 



Alexander C. Humphreys, president of 

 Stevens Institute of Technology, has been 

 elected president of the American Society of 

 Mechanical Engineers. 



Mr. Emerson McMillin has been elected 

 president of the New York Academy of Sci- 

 ences. The vice-presidents for the sections 

 are: Professor J. Edmund Woodman, Pro- 

 fessor Charles Lane Poor, Dr. Frederic A. 

 Lucas and Professor R. S. Woodworth. 



The colleagues, friends and pupils of Pro- 

 fessor Armand Gautier, professor of chemis- 

 try at the Medical Faculty of the University 

 of Paris and president of the Academy of 

 Sciences, on November 26, celebrated the 

 fiftieth anniversary of his connection with the 

 university. 



Mr. W. Bateson, M.D., F.R.S., has been ap- 

 pointed Fullerian professor of physiology at 



