554 Scientific Intelligence. 



and 83 widows receiving pensions. The list of accepted institu- 

 tions was not increased during the year ; it now includes 72 

 universities, colleges, and schools of technology. After the intro- 

 ductory statement of the business of the year, Dr. Pritchett pro- 

 ceeds to discuss the general subject of pension systems, particu- 

 larly as applied to teachers in schools and colleges. This is a 

 subject which, in its widest application, is very much before the 

 public at the present time, and the information concisely given 

 here as to the various systems, political, industrial, and educa- 

 tional, will be of great value to all studying the problem. The 

 suggestions as to a feasible pension system for teachers in the 

 public schools particularly deserve consideration, since they are 

 based on careful study and the six years of practical experience 

 of the Foundation. 



Part II, as usual in these reports, is devoted to the discussion 

 of certain problems concerning education ; these include entrance 

 acquirements, admission to advanced standing, advertising, and 

 other important matters. It is remarked with satisfaction that 

 in respect to medical education, as to which the Foundation has 

 taken a vigorous stand, much progress toward a higher standard 

 has been made during the last five years. This is particularly 

 shown in the high rate of mortality among medical schools of 

 low grade, the total number of medical schools in the United 

 States having been reduced by about one-third and the students 

 by one-fourth. The problem of State appropriations to institu- 

 tions under private control is a comparatively new one, and is 

 shown to need careful consideration. It will doubtless surprise 

 many to learn that there are still in this country a considerable 

 number of sham institutions giving collegiate degrees. The 

 frank ventilation of the subject should do much to encourage 

 legislation to prevent this evil. 



2. The Crocker Land Expedition. — The expedition to explore 

 Crocker Land in the Arctic, planned for 1912 but postponed 

 because of the death of George Borup (see vol. xxxiv, p. 97), has 

 been financially reorganized and a scientific staff secured which 

 promises the most satisfactory results. The leader and ethnolo- 

 gist is Donald B. MacMillan ; Ensign Fitzhugh Green, U. S. N., 

 will have charge of map work, terrestrial magnetism, etc. ; W. 

 E. Ekblaw, of the University of Illinois, is the geologist and 

 botanist ; M. C. Tanquary of the State Agricultural College, 

 Manhattan, Kansas, the zoologist ; a well-equipped surgeon has 

 also been selected. The U. S. Navy Department in addition to 

 detailing Fitzhugh Green has added an expert electrician to 

 manage the wireless outfit, provided by the General Electric Co., 

 which will be sufficient for the transmission of messages 2,000 

 miles, enabling the Expedition to keep in touch with the outside 

 world during its long stay in the North. The addition of the 

 zoologist is made possible by a subscription from the University 

 of Illinois. 



3. Transcontinental Excursion of 1912. — The March number 

 of the Annales de G6ographie, the leading French journal of 



