December 28, 1888.] 



SCIENCE. 



331 



ment of lines in the solar spectrum due to the rotation of the 

 sun. 



Important work has also been going forward with respect to 

 electricity and magnetism. A determination has Ijeen made of the 

 unit of electrical resistance by the method of Lorenz, and a study 

 has been made of the electrical resistance of pure mercury with 

 reference to the value of the mercury unit. The curves of electro- 

 motive force and current in an alternating dynamo, under varying 

 conditions, have been studied, and also the chemical changes in 

 storage-battery cells, and the behavior of different insulating sub- 

 stances under various conditions. 



Arrangements have been matured for the testing of electrical in- 

 struments and standards for other laboratories, scientific and in- 

 dustrial. This work, under the supervision of the chief instructors, 

 is intrusted to Dr. Liebig. Correspondence between Dr. Duncan, 

 associate in electricity, on one part, and the leading electric manu- 

 facturers and the professors of physics in different parts of the 

 country, on the other, has indicated the need of such a bureau as 

 is now established. Its actual utility will soon be demonstrated. 



In this connection President Gilman writes : " I am unwilling to 

 pass on from this subject without endeavoring to arrest the atten- 

 tion of the trustees, and through them the attention of other per- 

 sons who are observing the development of this university, to the 

 fundamental character of the researches which are here carried on, 

 and to their ultimate relation to the welfare of human society- 

 Costly laboratories, expensive apparatus, numerous assistants, the 

 means of publication, unquestionably call for a great deal of money ; 

 and those who are concerned with economical problems have a 

 right to ask what results are to be seen after all this outlay. The 

 answer can readily be given with respect to all departments of 

 science; but just now it is particularly easy to justify the expenses 

 of a physical laboratory, because of the remarkable progress which 

 is making throughout the world in the study of phj'sical phenomena, 

 and the discovery of principles hitherto vaguely perceived or en- 

 tirely hidden. 



" Those who are watching the progress of science are well aware 

 that the year i8S8 is memorable for the new evidence which has 

 been brought to the support of Maxwell's electro-magnetic theory 

 of light in the experimental discovery of long waves of electro-mag- 

 netic induction moving through the ether with the velocity of light. 

 The papers of Hertz, presented by Helmholtz to the Academy of 

 Sciences in Berlin, and the discussions to which they have given 

 rise in the recent meeting of the British Association and iu the 

 scientific journals, are proofs of this remark. 



" This is riot the place for more than an allusion to such investi- 

 gations ; but some reference to them seemed called for, in order to 

 show that there is constantly even now an advance. The concep- 

 tion of a Faraday, developed by the powerful analysis of a Max- 

 well, is submitted to the laborious tests of the laboratory ; one after 

 another agreements and coincidences are found ; facts insignificant 

 in themselves become weighty with importance when seen in their 

 relation to others ; and finally some far-reaching result, like that of 

 Hertz, compels belief, and gives to the world a new truth as a part 

 of its inestimable treasure of knowledge, enriching the intellectual 

 life of all who come after. 



"Another illustration may be found in the address of Professor 

 Langley at the Cleveland meeting of the American Association. 

 Under the title of ' The History' of a Doctrine ' (radiant energ:)'), he 

 has unfolded, in terms which are easily followed by ' the non- 

 mathematical reader ' (and even by the ■ non-scientific '), the steps 

 by which science has reached its present stage, and is still advan- 

 cing in the discovery and interpretation of a fundamental truth. 



" In this progress the work of a laboratory- is most important. 

 The photographic maps of the sun spectrum and of the spectra of 

 metals, and the measurement of the wave-lengths of light, ainong 

 the labors that have engaged our own investigators, relate directly 

 to fundamental questions in physics and chemistry. 



" The diffraction gratings devised by Professor Rowland are of 

 prime importance in the prosecution of these studies of light. In 

 all the principal laboratories of the world they are in demand, and 

 consequently their manufacture is continued, although it requires a 

 large amount of personal supervision from the director. The meas- 

 urement of the mechanical equivalent of heat Is a fundamental factor 



in esl.iblishing the doctrine of the conservation of energy, and lies at 

 the basis of the modern theory of the steam-engine. So, also, the 

 solution of problems in electricity and magnetism, besides giving 

 glimpses into a realm of nature still enshrouded with mystery, has 

 a direct bearing on the welfare of the race, by advancing that knowl- 

 edge which enables mankind to make the forces of nature obedi- 

 ent slaves, 



" My object in thus dwelling upon the returns which have come, 

 and are likely to come, from large expenditures of intellectual force 

 and of financial resources, is to invite attention to an opportunity 



for the endowment of 'the Institute of Physical Science' in 



the Johns Hopkins University. The admirable laboratory that has 

 been built and well equipped, from the mechanic's shops in the 

 basement to the telescope in the tower, is in itself an enormous and 

 complex piece of apparatus for the prosecution of researches. Its 

 staff of teachers and investigators are constantly looking to the ad- 

 vancement of knowledge, and maintaininga helpful attitude toward 

 the practical applications of science. A serviceable way to keep up 

 and extend the efficiency of this laboratory would be to provide it 

 with a fund of its own, to be perpetually and exclusively devoted to 

 the advancement and diffusion of knowledge in this special domain. 

 More than a hundred years ago an American citizen, well known 

 as Count Rumford, established in this country and in England large 

 funds for the promotion of investigations in light and heat. The 

 good accomplished by his gifts is incalculable, and the lustre of his 

 name increases as the years roll on. Who will follow his exam- 

 ple? 



" If there are any friends of the university who are anxious to 

 know what are the practical results of abstract science or of recon- 

 dite and to them incomprehensible researches respecting energy, 

 let them read these words of Professor Langley, ' The doctrine 

 of radiant energy is reaching out over nature in every direction, 

 and proving itself by the fact that through its aid nature obeys us 

 more and more, — proving itself by such material evidence as is 

 found in the practical applications of the doctrine, in the triumphs 

 of modern photography, in the electric lights in our streets, and in 

 a thousand ways which I will not pause to enumerate;' or these 

 words of Professor Fitzgerald,' ' Let us for a moment contemplate 

 what is betokened by this theory that in electro-magnetic engines 

 we are using as our mechanism the ether, the medium that fills all 

 known space. It was a great step in human progress when man 

 learnt to make material machines, when he used the elasticity of 

 his bow and the rigidity of his arrow to provide food and defeat his 

 enemies. It was a great advance when he learnt to use the chem- 

 ical action of fire ; when he learnt to use water to float his boats, 

 and air to drive them ; when he used artificial selection to provide 

 himself with food and domestic animals. For two hundred years 

 he has made heat his slave to drive his machinery. Fire, water, 

 earth, and air have long been his slaves ; but it is only within the 

 last few years that man has won the battle lost by the giants of old, 

 has snatched the thunderbolt from Jove himself, and enslaved the 

 all-pervading ether. ' " 



The work of the chemical laborator)-, having been well organized 

 for a longer period than that in physics, calls for less comment. 

 Professor Remsen continues to be the director, and Dr. Morse the 

 sub-director, and Dr. Renouf and several younger men are engaged 

 as assistants and teachers. If increasing numbers are an indication 

 of success, there is every reason to be gratified, for during the past 

 year every available place in the laboratory has been occupied. But 

 numerical success is not the best test of any branch of university- 

 work. The readiness with which the young men who have here 

 been taught are called to good positions, sometimes as teachers and 

 sometimes as chemists in technical occupations, is an indorsement 

 more significant than any numerical statement. All the arrange- 

 ments of the laboratOA' are adapted to those who desire to devote 

 a long period of time to this study, and those who wish for short 

 and special courses are not encouraged to come here. Three or 

 four years of study is usually required of those who have had al- 

 ready such an undergraduate course as is here given, before they 

 can proceed to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The director 

 of the laborator)' continues to edit the American Chemical 'Journal, 

 which has now nearly reached the conclusion of its tenth volume, 



■ .Address M Bath, Eng., Seplember, iSSS. 



