REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 9 



prolonged exposure to vitiated air has upon the power of individuals to 

 resist infectious diseases. Dr. D. H. Bergey, who conducted the experi- 

 ments, reports that he subjected certain animals to an impure atmos- 

 phere and found that while it apparently lowered their vitality, he was 

 unable to attenuate the fluids used for inoculating the diseases so that 

 they would kill such a weakened animal while not affecting a vigorous 

 one. Still, animals inoculated for tuberculosis died much earlier when 

 exposed to impure air. As these results may doubtless be applied to all 

 warm-blooded animals, including man, it would appear that we have 

 here an important confirmation of the clinical observation that tuber- 

 culosis thrives most in vitiated air. 



January 15, 1897, a grant of $500 was made to Mr. A. Lawrence 

 Eotch, director of the Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory at Eead- 

 ville, Mass., to be used in securing automatic kite records of meteoro- 

 logical conditions at an altitude of 10,000 feet or more. An additional 

 grant of $400 was later made to Mr. Eotch for continuing his experi- 

 ments in connection with the explorations of the upper air. 



With a view to being prepared to apply most advantageously the 

 accruing interest from that portion of the fund devoted to investiga- 

 tions connected with the atmosphere the Secretary has conferred, dur- 

 ing the year, with specialists in this country and Europe, upon the 

 subject of researches suitable to be aided from the Hodgkius fund. 



The six Hodgkius memoirs which have been published by the Insti- 

 tution were issued in February and March, 1897, and a copy of each 

 was sent to all persons who had submitted papers in connection with 

 the competition. 



NAPLES TABLE. 



As stated in my last report, the Institution has renewed the lease of 

 the Smithsonian table at the Zoological Station of If aples for a second 

 term of three years, this action being in accordance with the urgent 

 solicitation of the faculties of several colleges and universities and of 

 many of the leading biologists of the country. 



At my earnest request Br. Billings has continued as chairman of the 

 advisory committee, which has rendered most efficient aid in examining 

 testimonials and in recommending action with regard to ai)plications 

 for the occupancy of the table. The following applications have been 

 favorably acted upon : 



Dr. F. H. Herrick, professor of biology at Adelbert College, Cleveland, 

 occupied the table in November, 1896, and Dr. S. E. Meek, formerly of 

 the Arkansas Industrial University but more recently connected with 

 the United States Fish Commission, received the appointment for two 

 months in the spring of 1897. The application of Dr. H. S. Jennings, 

 of the University of Michigan and later of Harvard, was approved for 

 three months during the spring and summer of 1897. Through the 

 continued courtesy of Dr. Dohrn, in i)ermitting two persons nominated 

 by the Institution to occupy tables at the same time, the residence of 



