SCIENCE 



A WEEKLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, PUBLISHING THE 



OFFICIAL NOTICES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION 



FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. 



Editorial Committee : S. Newcomb, Mathematics ; R. S. Woodward, MeobaDios ; E. C. Pickkriko 

 Astronomy ; T. C Mendenhall, Physios ; K. H. Thurston, Engineering ; Ira Remsen, Chemistry ; 

 Charles D. Walcott, Geology ; W. M. Davis, Physiography ; Henry F. Osborn, Paleon- 

 tology ; W. K. Brooks, C. Hart Merriam, Zoology ; S. H. Scuddee, Entomology ; C. E. 

 Bbssey, N. L. Britton, Botany ; C. S. Minot, Embryology, Histology ; H. P. 

 BowDiTCH, Physiology ; William H. Welch, Pathology ; 

 J. McKekn Cattell, Psychology. 



Friday, September 11, 1903. 



CO^'TEXTS: 



The Soutliport Meeting of the British Asso- 

 ciation for the Advancement of Science.. 321 



High School Chemistry in its Relation to the 

 Work of a College Course: RvFus P. Wil- 

 liams 330 



Scientific Books: — 



M'hinery on Municipal Public Works: Dr. 



(i. C. Whii'Ple 336 



Discussion and Correspondence: — 



Electricity at High Pressures: Dr. Eliiu' 

 Thomso.n. .-1 Po.s.><ihle r.te for h'adium: X. 337 



Shorter Articles: — 



The Fishes of the African Family Kneridw: 

 Dr. Tiiko. (Jill. The Flora of the Ser- 

 pcnti-ne Barrens of Southeast Pennsi/l- 

 runia: PKOFE.S.SOR Joiix W. Harsiiberger. 

 The Amounts of ReadHy ^Yater Soluble 

 Salts found in Soils under Field Condi- 

 lions: F. 11. King 338 



Current Xotes on Meteorology: — 



Preliminary Meteorological Oh.wrvations 

 from the 'Discovery ' E.rptdition ; Srintillu- 

 tion of Stars and M'ralher Conditions: 

 Thunderstorms over Mountains and Lou- 

 lands: Professor R. DeC. Ward 345 



The Brain of Professor Lahorde: E. A. 

 Spitzka 346 



Radium 347 



Magnetic Work Executed by the U. S. Coast 

 and (leodetic Survey 347 



Scientific yotcs and Xeirs 348 



Cnirersity and Educational Xcus 352 



MSS. Intended for pabllcatlon and books, etc.. Intended 

 lor review »hoiild be sent to the responsible editor. Pro- 

 feHor.l. MpKe;n Caitell, (Jarrison-on-HudBon, N. Y. 



THE SOUTBPORT MEETIXG OF THE BRIT- 

 ISH ASSOCIATIOy FOR THE AD- 

 VANCEMEXT OF SCIEXCE.' 



It is just twenty years since the British 

 Association first met at Southport, a com- 

 paratively short interval between two suc- 

 cessive visits of this peripatetic body to one 

 place. Although Southport in 1883 was 

 a much smaller place than it is now, it 

 was yet able to accommodate in addition 

 to its crowd of summer visitors 2,710 mem- 

 bers and associates of the British Associa- 

 tion. Since then Soiithport has consider- 

 ably extended its bounds and greatly 

 increased its accommodation for holiday- 

 makers, so that if the attendance at the 

 meeting which begins on September 9 be 

 increased in proportion, the second South- 

 port meeting ought to reach the maximum. 

 The previous one was above the average, 

 and after all, it is doubtful whether it will 

 Ih' much exceeded on the present occasion. 

 And yet Southport itself has many more 

 summer attractions than the great cities 

 which form the usual places of meeting 

 of the association. Its fine sands, its espla- 

 nade and its numerous other open-air 

 attractions may tend, should the weather 

 be favorable, to diminish the attendance 

 at the sectional meetings, especially among 

 that considerable body who, without dis- 

 respect, may be called the camp followers 



' From the London Times. 



