268 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XIV. No. 346. 



may be formed, the duties of public health officers 

 made easier of performance and such local and State 

 legislation as may be requisite called into existence. 



That this Congress is of opinion that a permanent 

 national committee should be appointed (a) to collect 

 evidence and report on the measures that have been 

 adopted for the prevention of tuberculosis in differ- 

 ent countries ; (6) to publish a popular statement of 

 these measures ; (c) to keep and publish periodically 

 a record of scientific research in relation to tubercu- 

 losis ; and {d) to consider and recommend measures 

 of prevention. This Congress is further of opinion 

 that such a committee should consist of representa- 

 tives to be elected by the great national societies 

 formed for the suppression of tuberculosis and also 

 representatives nominated by the various govern- 

 ments. It is further of opinion that all international 

 committees and great national societies whose object 

 is the prevention of tuberculosis should be invited to 

 cooperate. 



That, in the opinion of this Congress, overcrovrding, 

 defective ventilation, damp, and general unsanitary 

 conditions in the houses of the working classes di- 

 minish the chance of curing consumption and aid in 

 predisposing to and spreading the disease. 



That while recognizing the great importance of 

 sanatoria in combating tuberculosis in every country 

 the attention of governments should be directed to- 

 wards informing charitable and philanthropic indi- 

 viduals and societies of the necessity for anti-tuber- 

 culous dispensaries as the best means of checking 

 tuberculous disease amongst the industrial and indi- 

 gent classes. 



That the following question be submitted to the 

 consideration of the next Congress: The constitu- 

 tional conditions of the individual which predispose 

 to tuberculosis and the means whereby they can be 

 modified. 



GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS AT PIKEBML* 

 The geological excavations whicli the Trus- 

 tees of the British Museum have (by the kind 

 permission of Mr. Skouses, the owner of the 

 ground) been carrying on at the Pliocene de- 

 posits of Pikermi, near Athens, since the early 

 spring, have now been brought to a conclusion 

 for the season. Judging from the preliminary 

 reports which have been received from Dr. A. 

 Smith Woodward, who was sent out by the 

 Museum to superintend the excavations, the 

 results from a scientific and pecuniary point of 

 view have well justified the trustees in their 

 decision to undertake this important piece of 

 * From the London Times. 



geological research. We believe that the initia- 

 tive in the matter is due to Sir Edwin Egerton, 

 H. M. Minister at Athens, who was also mainly 

 instrumental in obtaining the necessary permit 

 to excavate from Mr. Skouses, formerly Greek 

 Minister for Foreign Affairs. The willing co- 

 operation of the University of Athens in 

 the person of Professor Skuphos, the ac- 

 complished paleontologist of the University 

 Museum, was easily secured, and his help and 

 advice have been invaluable throughout the 

 whole period of the work. The most cordial re- 

 lations have existed between Professor Skuphos 

 and Dr. A. S. Woodward, and the division of 

 the specimens which have been discovered has, 

 it is understood, been amicably arranged by the 

 British Museum and the University of Athens. 

 It is said to be extremely doubtful whether there 

 is any Greek law assimilating fossils to works 

 of art ; but, however that may be, we are happy 

 in knowing that both the institutions concerned 

 are satisfied with the agreement which has been 

 arrived at as regards the portion of the collec- 

 tions which each is to retain. 



Pikermi, where the fossils are found, is near 

 the Marathon road, about 12 miles from Athens ; 

 and the specimens are usually found at a con- 

 siderable depth below the bed of a mountain 

 torrent. This is, of course, not the first time 

 that excavations have been made in these de- 

 posits. In the early fifties Professor Albert 

 Gaudry, the eminent French geologist, con- 

 ducted some explorations which resulted in a 

 great find of Tertiary mammalia, identical with 

 those of Leberon, Samos and Maragah. Most 

 of the specimens obtained by Gaudry are in the 

 Paris Museum. Later, the Vienna Academy 

 made a collection on a smaller scale from the 

 same place ; and about 1885 the Duke of Orleans 

 was allowed to dig there, but he remained only 

 a short time and found nothing of importance. 

 Before the present occasion no Englishman had 

 made any geological research at Pikermi, and 

 the British Museum contained no collection 

 from these beds. This deficiency in our great 

 national storehouse has now been made good in 

 a splendid manner, as may be judged from the 

 fact that 47 large cases containing the Museum's 

 share of the fossils found are at the present 

 moment on their way to England. 



