April 19, 1889.] 



SCIENCE 



303 



■cation of an institution for the deaf, style of buildings, and best 

 methods of lighting, heating, and draining. An;iong miscellaneous 

 matter treated in the Annals we notice two reported cases of so- 

 called cures of deafness by the " faith-cure " and " Christian sci- 

 ence." One of these was a boy living in Japan, who was said to 

 have had his hearing restored by the prayer of missionaries. This 

 case was investigated by a trustworthy gentleman living in Tokio, 

 where the case occurred. He writes : " The only foundation for 

 the story of his cure by prayer was that at the time of the effort 

 made in his behalf he seemed, or was imagined by those who so 

 ■eagerly watched him, to hear the sound of the school-bell. I 

 judge, from all I can gather, that there is nothing in the case which 

 the intent watching of those interested will not readily account 

 for." 



The Oregon Sign remarks as follows on a reported restoration 

 to hearing of a former pupil of the Oregon School by " mind-cure " 

 ■or " Christian science : " "A Portland daily paper of a recent date 

 names among others Miss Mary Lance, a deaf-mute young lady 

 long a pupil in this school, as having her hearing partly ' restored ' 

 by nine ' treatments ' by a ' mind-cure,' or so-called ' Christian sci- 

 ence,' doctor. Miss Lance writes to friends here that she is as 

 deaf as ever, and expects to return to school. There is, no doubt, 

 science that is Christian, and Christianity that is science ; but there 

 is a great deal in the world that is neither science nor Christian- 

 ity, for quackery has nothing to do with either. Newspapers do a 

 great injury when they publish such nonsense, as deaf children are 

 often kept out of school by a false hope that they may be cured." 



THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY. 



From Liebig's " Welt im Glase " arose the idea of public marine 

 aquaria, first developed in London, then in many other cities on 

 the Continent. The institution became popular, not only as a means 

 of amusing and instructing the general public, but as an invaluable 

 source of instruction for schools and universities. The hope was 

 entertained for a time that such inland aquaria could be made use- 

 ful to scientific men for the study of marine life. It soon became 

 evident, however, that such study could be successfully prosecuted 

 only at the seashore. The marine laboratory, with its aquarium, 

 followed. The idea of maintaining marine stations for scientific 

 work was first acted upon by Carl Vogt in Europe, and by Louis 

 Agassiz in America ; while one of the earliest, and by far the most 

 successful, undertakings of this kind that the world has yet seen, is 

 represented in the Naples Station, founded and directed by Anton 

 Dohrn. The history of that institution has been often repeated, 

 and is doubtless familiar, in all its essential features, to most of our 

 readers. It is enough to say that it is an example of just what we 

 have long needed in America. 



" But what are the special attractions of marine life, that natu- 

 ralists should so eagerly seek the seashore ? " is a question some- 

 times asked. To this we may reply, that the ocean is the home 

 ■of the lowest as well as the oldest forms of life, and it is in such 

 forms that the mysteries of life can presumably be most nearly 

 approached. Then there are abundance and variety, and certain 

 important groups that do not occur in fresh water. To the luxuri- 

 ance of the fauna and flora of the shore, is added that vagrant, 

 pelagic life which is collected by ocean-currents, tides, and winds, 

 and laid at one's feet as freely as if all nature pleaded for investi- 

 gation. Moreover, the study of marine life has long been inade- 

 quately provided for, its advantages not having been generally 

 recognized until within the last fifteen or twenty years. The com- 

 parative newness of the field, its infinite richness, and its impor- 

 tance in determining the origin, history, and relationships of living 

 forms, account for the intense interest recently awakened in marine 

 laboratories. 



The new laboratory at Wood's HoU is nothing more than a first 

 step towards the establishment of an ideal biological station, or- 

 ganized on a basis broad enough to represent all important features 

 of the several types of laboratories hitherto known in Europe and 

 America. It should be provided eventually with means for sending 

 men to different points of the coast to undertake the investigation 

 of subjects of special interest, thus adding to the advantages of a 

 fixed station those of an itinerant laboratory. 



The Marine Biological Laboratory is an outgrowth of a seaside 

 laboratory maintained at Annisquam, Mass., from 1880 to 1886, by 

 the Woman's Education Association of Boston, in co-operation 

 with the Boston Society of Natural History. In 1886, efforts were 

 made by the association to place the laboratory on an independent 

 and broader foundation. A circular letter was addressed to many 

 of the leading biologists of the country, reciting what had been 

 already done at Annisquam, and asking for co-operation and coun- 

 sel. The replies received were most encouraging, testifying to a 

 general and hearty approval of the enterprise, and promising co- 

 operation and support. 



Accordingly, invitations were issued, and a preliminary meeting 

 was held on March 5, 1887, in the library of the Boston Society of 

 Natural History. Numerous addresses were made, and a com- 

 mittee was appointed to perfect plans for the organization of a per- 

 manent seaside laboratory, to elect trustees, and to devise ways 

 and means for collecting the necessary funds. 



The funds having at length reached such an amount as was 

 deemed adequate to a modest beginning, the necessary steps were 

 taken ; and in March, 1888, the laboratory was incorporated under 

 the name of the Marine Biological Laboratory, and the following 

 were chosen officers of the corporation : trustees, William G. Far- 

 low, Edward G. Gardiner, Alpheus Hyatt, Susan Minns, Charles 

 S. Minot, William T. Sedgwick, Samuel Wells ; treasurer, William 

 Stanford Stevens ; clerk, Anna D. Phillips. The trustees immedi- 

 ately organized, and elected Professor Alpheus Hyatt president, 

 and Miss A. D. Phillips, secretary. Professor Farlow soon after 

 resigned, and Professor E. L. Mark was chosen as his successor. 

 Dr. Gardiner, who had kindly consented to enter the board to fill 

 a temporary vacancy, also soon withdrew, and Miss Florence M. 

 Cushing was chosen in his stead. 



The trustees, who had already, through a committee, instituted 

 thorough inquiries as to the best place for the laboratory, now set 

 themselves actively to work to locate it, to build and equip it, and 

 to make the necessary plans for the summer's work. Although 

 the time was unduly short, and differences of opinion as to location, 

 policy, etc., difficult to reconcile, had to be harmonized, it was still 

 deemed wise to make a beginning at once, and, if possible, to open 

 the laboratory in 1888. Accordingly, after prolonged and careful 

 consideration, a piece of land (78x120 feet) was purchased at 

 Wood's HoU, Mass., close to the shore, and near the buildings of 

 the United States Fish Commission. A plain but very substantial 

 building, 63 x 28 feet, and two stories high, was erected, and was 

 completed within the specified time and at the estimated cost. It 

 was equipped with unusual thoroughness, and was finally opened 

 for work on the day appointed ; viz., July 17, 1888. 



Dr. C. O. Whitman had already been appointed director of the 

 laboratory, and Mr. B. H. Van Vleck, instructor. Two circulars 

 were issued in June, much later than could have been desired, an- 

 nouncing the opening of the laboratory, and stating the facilities to 

 be provided for investigators and students. One was addressed 

 chiefly to teachers and other workers ; the other, to colleges likely 

 to be specially interested. It was so late, however, before it 

 was deemed safe to issue them, that no great response was looked 

 for, or, in fact, occurred. 



On the opening day, a small company of students, investigators, 

 and invited guests were present, and the laboratory was formally 

 opened with an address by the director (see Science, xii. p. 37). 

 Somewhat earlier than this, Mr. Joseph S. Fay had signified to the 

 trustees his willingness to place at their disposal for the season, a 

 small house on the main street of Wood's HoU, known as " Gardiner 

 Cottage." This gift was most timely, as it enabled the trustees to 

 establish headquarters for the board and lodging of those con- 

 nected with the laboratory, and contributed directly to its attrac- 

 tiveness and success, as well as to the comfort and welfare of the 

 students. 



Owing to the uncertainty connected with the finishing and equip- 

 ping of the laboratory, it was not possible to issue public circulars 

 until many colleges had disbanded for the summer, and students 

 generally had formed other plans. Nevertheless, during the season 

 there were connected with the laboratory eight students and seven 

 investigators. 



The laboratory has now made a beginning. It has secured a 



