SCIENCE 



Editoeiai, Committee : S. Newcomb, Mathematics ; R. S. Woodward, Mechanics ; E. C. Pickeeikg, 



Astronomy; T. C. Mexdenhall, Physios; R. H. Thuestox, Engineering; IBA Reilsex, Chemistry; 



J. Le CoNTE, Geology; W. M. Davis, Physiography; HEyEY F. Osboex, Paleontology; W. K. 



Bbooks, C. Haet Meebiam, Zoology; S. H. Scuddee, Entomology; C. E. Bessey, N. L. 



Eeittox, Botany; C. S. MixoT, Emhryology, Histology; H. P. BomjlTCH, Physiology; 



J. S. Billings, Hygiene ; J. McKeex Cattell, Psychology; 



J. W. Powell, Anthropology. 



Feiday, Apeil 20, 1900. 



CONTENTS: 



The Atomic Theory fro'm the Chemical Standjioint : 



De. H. N. Stokes 601 



.Some Objections to the Atomic Tlieory : De. 



Feaxk K. Cameeox 608 



On Artificial Parthenogenesis in Sea Urchins: 



Peofessoe Jacques Loeb 612 



A Curious Phase of Inter-stream Erosion in 



Soutfiern Oregon: OsCAE H. Heeshey 614 



The Sixty seventh Annual Report of the Coast and 



Geodetic Survey: E. D. P 616 



Scientific Books : — 



The Decennial Celebration of Clarke University : 

 C. S. Peiece. Ellis's Analysis of the White 

 Paints : Pbofessoe Jas. Lewis Howe. Davis 

 on the Pefraclion of the Eye : C. A. 620 



■Scientific Journals and Articles 623 



Societies and Academies : — 



New York Academy of Sciences, Section of Astron- 

 omy and Physics: De. WILLIAM S. Day'. 

 Section of Geology and Jlineralogy : De. Theo- 

 DOEE G. White 624 



Discussion and Correspondence: — > 



The Plumages and Jloults of the Indigo Bunting 

 [Passerina cyanea) : De. JojtatHAX Dwight, 

 Jb. Indian Pictographs on the Dakota Sand- 

 stone : Chaeles N ewtox Gould. Systematic 

 Arrangement of Ore Deposits on a Geological 



Basis: De. Chaeles R. Keyes 627 



Notes on Inorganic Chemistry : J. L. H 632 



lolacco, Tobacco-pipes and Smoking: A. S. G 633 



Scientific Notes and News 634 



University and Educationul News 639 



MSS. intended for publication and book?, etc., intended 

 for review should be sent to the responsible editor, Profes- 

 •or, J. McKeen Cattell, Garrison-on-Hudson, N. Y. 



THE ATOMIC THEORY FROM THE CHEMICAL 

 STANDPOINT* 



The Atomic Theory is the most funda- 

 mental hypothesis of the chemistry of to-day 

 and plays a greater part in this than in any 

 other science, and to give an account of all 

 the classes of chemical phenomena which it 

 is sought to explain by its aid would require 

 far more time than I have at my disposal. 

 I shall limit myself to giving as brieflj- as 

 possible the main facts which have led 

 chemists to adopt it and to stating which of 

 the various properties which have been as- 

 cribed to the atoms are, and which are not, 

 essential to its use in chemistry, and what 

 properties may be attributed to them, solely 

 on the basis of chemical experiments. 



The question whether any given portion 

 of matter is continuous, absolutely the same 

 throughout, even if infinitely divided, or 

 whether it consists of particles separated 

 by comparatively empty space, is, of course 

 almost as old as philosophic thought. The 

 beginnings of chemistry lie still further 

 back ; the first man who questioned why 

 wood burns, or why grape juice turns to 

 wine, was an incipient chemist. 



About the middle of the seventeenth cen- 

 tury, Robert Boyle, who originated our pres- 

 ent conception of element and compound, 

 applied the atomic theory to chemistry, in- 



* Read hefore a joint meeting of the Chemical and 

 Philosophical Societies of Washington, Xovember 25, 

 1899. 



