SCIENCE 
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE: S. NEwcomsB, Mathematics; R. S. WoopwARD, Mechanics; E. C. PICKERING, 
Astronomy; T. C. MENDENHALL, Physics; R. H. THURSTON, Engineering; IRA REMSEN, Chemistry; 
J. LE ContE, Geology; W. M. Davis, Physiography; O. C. MARsH, Paleontology; W. K. Brooks, 
C. Hart Merriam, Zoology; S. H. ScuppER, Entomology; C. E. BrssEy, N. L. BRIrron, 
Botany; Henry F. OsBorN, General Biology; C. S. Minor, Embryology, Histology; 
H. P. BownitcH, Physiology; J. 8. Brntrnes, Hygiene; J. MCKEEN CATTELL, 
4 Psychology; DANIEL G. BRINTON, J. W. POWELL, Anthropology. 
N 
Fripay, DecEMBER 10, 1897. 
CONTENTS: 
The Revival of Alchemy: H. CARRINGTON BOL- 
....803 
Science in Education : 
Current Notes on Physiography :— 
The Regions about Lakes Tanganyika and Nyassa ; 
Briickner’s Erdrinde und Ihre Formen ; The Age 
Oj MAVCILCY Sma fem lew DANS tnecesocsoseniocinacsrisncstanciie 872 
Current Notes on Anthropology :— 
The Question of Variation ; The City of Omitlan ; 
The Cave of Loltum: D.G. BRINTON.............- 873 
Notes on Inorganic Chemistry: J. Li. H............00+ 874 
Scientific Notes and News ........ FE REECE COA PROMO SUCECOOGOH 875 
University and Educational News. ..........++.+0ssesee0 878 
Discussion and Correspondence :— 
In Regard to the Marine Biological Laboratory, 
Woods Holl, Mass.: SAMUEL L. CLARKE, 
Epw. G. GARDINER, PLAYFAIR McCMURRICH..879 
Scientific Literature :-— 
Ehrenreich’s Anthropologische Studien weber die 
Ureinwohner Brasiliens: D: G. BRINTON, FRANZ 
Boas. Maycock on the: Alternating Current Cir- 
cuit: FREDERICK BEDELL. Behrens’ Anleitung 
zur Mikrochemische Analyse der wichtigsten organ- 
ischen Verbindungen ; Lassar-Cohn’s Chemie im 
GOED ILAIDE Vy We deasonacaencashoscassonoasopa5000 879 
Societies and Academies :— 
The Nebraska Academy of Science: G. D. SWEZEY. 
Biological Socicty of Washington: F. A. LUCAS. 
Zoological Club of the University of Chicago: W. M. 
WHEELER, S. J. HOLMES.............0....0.00c0s0eeee 884 
SEHGOI [FO TIOLEADOND.ceocmeccnsoccocencre covédecpanoDabSnoos000G: 888 
IND. IBID) BSecoseosonosdcccnoncdocseceDd oad oadvocéBoGOabanREAODBOd 888 
MSS. intended for publication and books, etc., intended 
for review should be sent to the responsible editor, Prof. J. 
McKeen Cattell, Garrison-on-Hudson, N Y. 
THE REVIVAL OF ALCHEMY.* 
‘¢Superfluous rehearsalls I lay asyde, 
Intendyng only to give trew informatyon 
Both of the theoryke and practicall 
operatyon ; 
That by my wrytyng who so will 
guyded be, 
Of hys intente perfyctly speed thall he.’’ 
GEORGE RIPLEY (1471). 
FRAvD, folly and failure have been deeply 
written into the annals of alchemy in all 
ages ; it was early characterized as an ‘art 
without art, beginning with deceit, con- 
tinued by labor and ending in poverty,’ and 
in modern times its extravagant pretensions 
have been condemned by an exact and 
critical science, yet notwithstanding there 
are to-day indications of a resuscitation of 
the captivating theories and of renewed at- 
tempts at their practical application, of 
great interest to students of the intellectual 
vagaries of mankind. 
Belief in the possibilility of prolonging 
life by an artificial elixir and of trans- 
muting base metals into silver and gold 
was generally entertained in the Middle 
Ages, not only by the ignorant masses, but 
even by serious-minded philosophers im- 
bued with all the learning of the time ; and 
the popular faith was sustained by the 
tricks of unprincipled impostors who found 
it profitable to prey upon the credulity and 
avarice of their fellow men. Those who in 
* Read before the New York Section of the American 
Chemical Society, October 1, 1897. 
