SCIENCE 



Editoeial Committee : S. Newcomb, Mathematics ; E. S. Woodwaed, Mechanics ; E. C. Pickkeing, 



Astronomy; T. C. Mkndenhall, Physics; E. H. Thueston, Engineering; lEA Eemsen, Chemistry; 



J. Le Conte, Geology; W. M. Davis, Physiography; O. C. Maesh, Paleontology; W. K. Beooks, 



C. Haet Meeeiam, Zoology; S. H. Scuddee, Entomology; C. E. Bessey, N. L. Beitton, 



Botany; Heney F. Osboen, General Biology; C. S. Minot, Embryology, Histology; 



H. P. BowDiTCH, Physiology; J. S. Billings, Hygiene ; J. McKeen Cattell, 



Psychology; Daniel G. Beinton, J. W. Powell, Anthropology. 



Feidat, September 30, 1898. 



CONTENTS: 



The Electric Curremt in Organic Chemistry : Peo- 

 FEssoE Edgae F. Smith 413 



The Conception of Species as Affected hy Beeent In- 

 vestigations on Fungi : Peofessoe W. G. Fae- 

 LOW 423 



2%e British Association for the Advancement of Sci- 

 ence 436 



Notes on Inorganic Chemistry : J. L. H 439 



Current Notes on Anthropology : — 



The Trenton Ice Man; Ancient Mexican Migra- 

 tions ; The Color of the American Indian : Peo- 

 fessoe D. G. Beinton 440 



Scientific Notes and News 441 



University and Educational News 446 



Scientific Literature: — 



Nature Study in Elementary Schools: Wilbue 

 S. Jackman 446 



New Books 448 



MSS. Intended for publication and books, etc., intended 

 for review sliould be sent to the responsible editor. Profes- 

 sor J. McKeen Cattell, Garrison-oti-Hudson, N. Y. 



THE ELECTBIC CUBBENT IN OBGANIC 

 CHEMISTBY* 



It is now almost a century since Volta, 

 the Italian physicist, wrote the following 

 words : 



"I have made experiments, showing the 

 transmission of the electric fluid. * * * I 



*Address of the Vice-President before Section C 

 — Chemistry — of the American Association for the Ad- 

 vancement of Science, Angnst, 1898. 



have applied diflferent metals to all sorts of 

 animal bodies * * * even to such sub- 

 stances as paper, leather, linen (well satu- 

 rated with water) , as well as to water itself, 

 * * * The metals are not only conductors 

 of electricity, but they also excite it, and 

 this is a grand discovery!" 



Yes, it was, indeed, a ' grand discovery,' 

 for it led to further investigation with the 

 final demonstration that animal and metal 

 electricity were identical. What is more, 

 it unquestionably opened the way to the 

 construction of the battery bearing the 

 name of this honored investigator, who, 

 however, little dreamed of the splendid 

 achievements which were to follow the in- 

 troduction into chemistry of the form of 

 energy made so readily accessible by his 

 battery and its numerous subsequent modi- 

 fications. For history tells us that he 

 failed to observe the decomposition which 

 arose upon immersing the terminals of one 

 of his cells into water. That was to remain 

 for the keener vision of Nicholson and Car- 

 lisle. The chemical phenomena, exhibiting 

 themselves constantly to Volta while experi- 

 menting with his battery, were to him abso- 

 lutely devoid of interest, yet they continued 

 to crowd to the front and eventually at- 

 tracted the attention of a brilliant coterie 

 of investigators, whose discoveries could 

 never have come in their most shadowy 

 forms to Volta in his wildest dreams! In 

 evidence of this I need merely mention the 



