19 

 ASTRONOMICAL SECTION. 



Jan. yth, 1902. 



The section was called to order at the usual hour bj' Chairman Baum- 

 gardt, and the minutes of the last meeting read and approved. 



The chairman announced that Director Campbell of the Lick Ob- 

 servatory, expected to deliver a lecture before the Academy of Sciences at 

 the regular meeting in March next. 



He also called attention to the fact that the planet Venus is now at 

 its maximum brilliancy, and would henceforth rapidly approach the Sun, 

 disappearing in his rays on the 22nd of next month, shortly after which she 

 would appear as a Morning Star. The paper of the evening was then read 

 by Mr. Melville Dozier, being a brief summary of the defects of the present 

 s\stem of weights and measures in use in this country and Great Britain, 

 followed by a concise history of the construction and adoption of the Metric 

 System, together with an exposition of its remarkable advantages over the 

 common system; the simplicity and comprehensiveness of the system being 

 illustrated by use of the blackboard. The paper was followed by a discus- 

 sion of the comparative merits of the systems and the question of the com- 

 pulsory use of the Metric System in the United States. It was resolved 

 that the Academy be recommended to adopt a resolution asking Congress 

 to pass a law making the use of the Metric System compulsory in all gov- 

 ernmental business. The meeting then adjourned. 



MELVILLE Dozier, Secretary. 



BIOLOGICAL SECTION. 



At the January meeting a paper was read by Dr. C. A. Whiting on 

 "Some Problems of Nutrition." 



The paper discussed the nature of the food principles and their 

 changes by means of the digestive ferments. Particular attention was 

 given to the role of proteids in nutrition, and how, under certain conditions, 

 they may supply deficiencies in carbohydrates. Proteids are the tissue for- 

 mers, while fats and carbohydrates are the energy producers of the human 

 body. 



The paper was illustrated by blackboard diagrams of processes and 

 chemical reactions. 



The discussion which followed brought out a review of Dr. Loeb's 

 recent experiments on the vitality of the cell. 



Dr. Frank Gordon, Secretary. 



GEOLOGICAL SECTION. 

 The Geological Section met in the rooms of the Southwest Miners 

 Association on Tuesday evening, January 28th. The attendance was large, 

 including a delegation from Dr. F. Lee Fuller's Y. M. C. A. Class in Min- 

 ing and Mineralogy. 



