the War Emergency Board on the part of the pathologists and administrative officials directing the agricultural work of their respective districts. Hence the board is assured of active and enthusiastic support on all sides. The board will find its most important work in capitalizing and translating into action the spirit of cooperation which has been stimulated and developed by the national emergency caused by the war.

The board noted with approval the definite program of cooperation both in extension and research work adopted by the pathologists of the Southern Section in the conference held at Atlanta, Ga., January 30 and 31, which must greatly increase the efficiency of the pathological work undertaken in that section this season. It was decided that similar conferences should be called during February and March by the commissioners of the other five sections of the country, thus giving the pathological workers of each district an opportunity to discuss their common problems and decide upon definite plans for cooperative action.

Commissioner Kern reported on the progress of the census of pathologists being carried on under his direction. Enrollment questionnaires were sent out to pathologists and botanists some time ago, and all were urged to send in the names of others to whom the enrollment cards should be sent, in order that we might have as complete a census as possible of all persons able to carry on pathological work during the coming season. The response has been hearty and replies are still coming in. While it is not yet possible to make a definite statement as to the total number of available pathologists, it is already apparent that there will be a serious shortage of workers to carry out the important emergency work already planned by state and federal agencies. Every effort will be made to utilize all available men in the positions where they will be of greatest service, and lists of workers are being prepared for distribution, classifying those who have registered according to geographical location, special qualifications, length of time available for work, and in other ways.

Extension work for this season, in charge of Commissioner Whetzel, was considered at some

length. The activities of the War Emergency Board in this direction must consist largely in efforts to stimulate a more concentrated and correlated attack upon certain important diseases through the established state and federal channels. It was agreed that the decision as to what extension campaigns should be pushed must be decided by the conferences of pathologists of the various sections. These are in most cases regional problems and can not be wisely decided by the board for the country as a whole.

The teaching of pathology during war times was discussed by Commissioner Whetzel. In view of the great and increasing shortage of pathological workers, all teachers of pathology should endeavor to give their promising students special training. Particular emphasis should be laid on pathological courses in many educational institutions, and such courses should be introduced where they do not now exist. An increased supply of young pathological workers should thus be assured one year from now. Moreover, during the present semester special war emergency short courses open to all students without prerequisite should be instituted to give elementary training in plant pathology with a view to preparing the students for more effective work on the farms this coming season.

Commissioner Stakman outlined his work to date on the correlation of emergency research. Responses to his questionnaire on research problems were quite general and reasonably prompt. While it was the general opinion that much pathological research can not be called strictly war emergency work on account of the uncertainty as to time of obtaining results, yet there are many research problems of a distinctly emergency nature which can and should be pushed. The great work of the board in this field will be to coordinate research work and to secure voluntary cooperation in the solution of pressing problems by working through the established state and federal agencies. Such cooperative research on a broad scale has already been begun on the subject of seed treatment for cereal smuts and will be pushed to an early conclusion in order that present uncertainties as to

the best methods of treatment for different varieties and regions may be cleared up. There are other problems calling for nationwide cooperative attack, but in general research problems are regional and can best be organized in the sectional conferences of pathologists where the different problems are acute. Commissioner Stakman will, from time to time, issue notices of cooperative research projects which are being taken up, giving the names of the leaders and an outline of the work. The War Board felt that this work of promoting cooperative research is one of the most important it can undertake, and that it has very far-reaching possibilities affecting American plant pathology.

Commissioner Lyman, in charge of crop loss estimates, reported on the collecting of data. Very gratifying response to his request for information on this difficult subject was received from pathologists throughout the country. A questionnaire sent to the county agents also yielded valuable data on certain important diseases. As a result a large body of data, probably more extensive than has ever before been collected, is now being classified and arranged. These figures will be resubmitted to the state and federal pathologists for thorough revision with a view to making them as authoritative as possible. They will then be issued in a special number of the Plant Disease Bulletin for general distribution. The board agreed that these crop loss estimates should be utilized as fully as possible in educational and publicity campaigns. The board also requested the Plant Disease Survey to collect such data as may be available from all sources on losses due to transportation and storage rots.

Commissioner Kern reported on plans for the conduct of a publicity campaign. It was agreed that it is very important that the general public be more thoroughly informed as to the significance of phytopathological work, including the losses due to diseases and storage rots, the significance to the public of these losses and their connection with high prices and food shortage. All possible agencies should be employed by pathologists generally to get this information to the public which is now interested in the subject on account of war

conditions. Pathologists should publish articles in newspapers and popular magazines and should embrace every opportunity to deliver popular lectures on pathological subjects before miscellaneous organizations. Exhibits, displays and motion pictures should also be utilized.

The War Emergency Board adopted the following resolutions and it is hoped that all pathologists will assist in carrying them out and in translating them into action.

WHEREAS, the situation this year as regards extension work on the control of plant diseases presents many unusual and critical features, inasmuch as never before has there been such urgent need for control work in order that the food supply may be increased, while at the same time the general application of control measures will be rendered very difficult on account of the serious shortage of farm labor, making it almost impossible for the farmer to undertake any work not absolutely essential; whereas, on this account great care should be taken that the control work advocated is such as to bring tangible results, in order that the whole subject of plant disease control may not fall into disrepute among the growers.

Therefore, be it Resolved that principal emphasis this year should be placed on the serious diseases of the more important food crops for which control measures are thoroughly proven, and relatively easy and cheap of application; and

Resolved that all extension workers should be carefully instructed before going into the field as to the nature and scope of the work to be undertaken and the ways and means to be employed.

WHEREAS, approximately 130,000,000 bushels of wheat and other cereals are lost annually on account of the attacks of preventable smuts, and, since this loss can be prevented easily at a cost not exceeding 3 cents per acre for materials and labor,

Therefore, be it Resolved that the War Emergency Board urge the enactment of legislation or the adoption of other methods for securing compulsory treatment of seed wheat, oats, barley and rye to eradicate preventable smuts and other diseases.

WHEREAS, extensive observations have shown that the common barberry (Berberis vulgaris) including its horticultural varieties, is an important link in the life history of stem rust of cereals in the upper Mississippi Valley, enabling it to develop and spread early in the season, thus conducing to serious epiphitotics; and whereas, the value of the common barberry in that region is

insignificant compared with the value of the cereal crops, especially since the immune Japanese variety (Berberis thunbergii) is displacing the common variety in popular favor,

Therefore, be it Resolved, that the War Emergency Board of American Plant Pathologists do hereby endorse and support the efforts to eradicate the common barberry in that region.

G. R. LYMAN, Secretary

SCIENTIFIC EVENTS

THE YALE MEDICAL SCHOOL

PRESIDENT ARTHUR HADLEY, of Yale University, announced on February 22 to Yale men who had returned for alumni university day that the Yale Medical School, for the first time in the 104 years of its existence, possessed an endowment sufficient to insure its perpetuation and establish it in the fore rank of American medical schools.

Since June, 1914, as reported in the New York Tribune, the resources of the school of medicine have been increased by $2,568,812.55. This sum is exclusive of $266,075 donated for the exclusive use of the Yale Mobile Military Hospital in France.

The gifts to the school of medicine include $125,000 for the Anthony N. Brady Memorial Laboratory and an additional pledge of $500,000 for endowment from the Brady family, provided a total of $2,000,000 more was obtained.

Toward this $2,000,000 the General Education Board had promised the last $500,000. The Lauder family have given $400,000, the late Charles W. Harkness $100,000, and numerous other contributions had brought the total sum above the amount needed.

Five years ago it seemed probable that the Yale medical school would cease to exist. Despite the fact that it was then just ready to celebrate its centennial, its total endowment was less than $400,000, a sum insufficient to provide income to pay the salaries of professors.

The question of the continuance or discontinuance of the medical school was placed in the hands of men interested in Yale University. A committee consisting of the late

Dr. Lewis A. Stimson, Dr. D. Bryson Delavan, Dr. William B. Coley, Dr. Joseph A. Blake and Dr. Walter James was asked to confer on ways and means with President Hadley, Dean Blumer, of the medical school, and three members of the Yale corporation.

The status of the school itself was first taken into consideration. In the face of many difficulties it had maintained so high a standard that it was ranked "Plus A," the highest class, by the American Medical Association. If the school was to continue, the conferees decided, first, it must maintain the same standards it had set. Most important, if this was to be done, was an affiliation with a hospital for teaching purposes. A second consideration insisted upon by the Yale corporation was that the mere question of pride on behalf of the university should not impel the continuance of the school. There must be a real need for it, recognized by the medical profession at large, or else it would be discontinued. This need was found to exist. The generosity of the family of Anthony N. Brady made the affiliation with the New Haven Hospital possible.

FARM PRODUCTS OF THE UNITED STATES

THE following statement pertaining to the crop achievements of 1917 and indicating what is possible in 1918 is authorized by Secretary of Agriculture Houston:

The production of food crops and of animal products is always a matter of great interest to all the people of the nation. At this particular time it is of especial interest and concern. Statistics regarding the acreages and yields of important food crops planted during the year 1917 have been available in the Department of Agriculture for some time and have been made public. The recent report of the Bureau of Crop Estimates on the number of live stock on farms and ranges, however, makes it possible now to exhibit a summary of the principal results of the farmers' operations for the year.

Naturally, when the nation entered the war on April 6, 1917, there was much confusion and apprehension as to the possibility of in

creasing or even of maintaining agricultural production. There was special concern as to the sufficiency of the supply of labor that would be available for farming operations and much apprehension was manifested over the disturbance of the supply as the result of industrial demands and the drafting or volunteering of men for service in the army and navy. As a matter of fact, there was no little disturbance and in some sections the situation was especially acute. There were other difficulties confronting the farmers, including those of securing fertilizer and machinery in sufficient quantities at a reasonable cost.

Notwithstanding all the difficulties, however, the farmers, patriotically responding to the appeals to them and influenced by the prevailing prices, labored energetically to meet the needs of this nation for food and also those of the friendly nations in Europe. They planted the largest acreage in the history of the country, produced and harvested record crops of most products except wheat, and succeeded in increasing the number of live-stock, including not only work animals, but meat and milk animals.

The farmers of the nation planted during 1917, an acreage of 246,275,000 of the leading food crops (winter wheat, spring wheat, corn, oats, barley, rye, buckwheat, rice, Irish potatoes, and sweet potatoes), which was 23,038,000 acres (10 per cent.) greater than the acreage in 1916, and 32,339,000 (15 per cent.) greater than the average for the 5 years preceding the outbreak of the European War.

The farmers not only planted these acreages, but they harvested record crops of corn, oats, barley, buckwheat, and Irish and sweet potatoes. The total production of these products and of spring wheat and rice was 5,771,928,000 bushels, or 1,204,659,000 bushels (26 per cent.) more than in 1916, and 1,002,442,000 (21 per cent.) more than the average for the 5-year period (1910-1914). Winter wheat and rye are omitted from this comparison because the 1917 harvests of these crops were from sowings made in the fall of 1916, before the United States entered the war. It

should be borne in mind in this connection that the percentage of soft corn this year was very much higher than usual, and also that the aggregate crop of spring and winter wheat harvested in 1917 was short.

During the first half of 1917 there was particular apprehension lest the number of live stock should be decreased. As a matter of fact, owing to the greater abundance of feedstuffs that the large crops of the year made available and the prevailing prices, there was revealed a most gratifying increase in the principal classes of live stock-an increase in the number of horses during the year of 353,000, or 1.7 per cent.; of mules, 101,000, or 2.1 per cent.; of milch cows, 390,000, or 1.7 per cent.; of other cattle, 1,857,000, or 4.5 per cent.; of sheep, 1,284,000, or 2.7 per cent., and of swine, 3,871,000, or 5.7 per cent.

The total estimated value of all farm products, including animals and animal products, for 1917 is given as $19,443,849,381, as against $13,406,364,011 for 1916, and $9,388,765,779 for the five-year average (1910-1914). These valuations are based upon prices received by producers, which are applied to the total output regardless of whether the products are consumed on the farms or sold.

PLAN OF WAR ORGANIZATION OF DIVISION OF MEDICINE AND RELATED SCIENCES OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

I. OFFICERS

Chairman, Richard M. Pearce (National Research Council) 1023 16th St., N. W., Washington, D. C.

Vice-chairman, Major Robert M. Yerkes, Surgeon General's Office, Washington, D. C.

Executive Committee: H. D. Dakin, 819 Madison Avenue, New York City; C. B. Davenport, Cold Spring Harbor, L. I., N. Y.; Major Simon Flexner, Rockefeller Institute, New York City; W. H. Howell, School of Hygiene, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.; Major Chas. H. Mayo, Rochester, Minn.; Major Wm. J. Mayo, Surgeon General's Office, Washington, D. C.; Colonel F. F. Russell, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.; E. R. Stitt, U. S. Navy, Washington, D. C.; Major V. C. Vaughan, Surgeon General's Office, Washington, D. C.; Wm. H. Welch, School of Hygiene, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.; the Chairman and Vice-chairman ex-officio.

II. COMMITTEES INCLUDED IN MEDICAL DIVISION 1. Anatomy Committee: Chairman, H. H. Donaldson.

2. Physiology Committee: Chairman, W. B. Cannon. Vice-chairman and Acting Chairman, W. H. Howell,

(a) Subcommittee for Investigations on the Physiology of Shock: Chairman, W. B. Cannon. (b) Subcommittee on the Control of Hemorrhage: Chairman, W. H. Howell.

on

(c) Subcommittee Solutions adopted for Transfusion after Hemorrhage: Chairman, L. J. Henderson.

(d) Subcommittee on Fatigue in Industrial Pursuits: Chairman, Frederic S. Lee.

3. Committee on Medicine and Hygiene: Chairman, Victor C. Vaughan.

(a) Subcommittee on Psychiatry: Chairman, Stewart Paton.

4. Psychology Committee: Chairman, Robert M. Yerkes.

(a) Subcommittee on Methods for the Psychological Examination of Recruits: Chairman, Robert M. Yerkes.

(b) Subcommittee on Tests of Special Skill: Chairman, Edward L. Thorndike.

(c) Subcommittee on Problems of Aviation, Including the Examination of Aviation Recruits: Chairman, Edward L. Thorndike.

(d) Subcommittee on Incapacity, Reeducation and Vocational Training: Chairman, Shepherd I. Franz.

(e) Subcommittee on Visual Problems: Chairman, Raymond Dodge.

5. Committee on Anthropology: Chairman, Wm. H. Holmes; Vice-chairman, C. B. Davenport.

6. Zoology Committee: Chairman, E. G. Conklin. (a) Subcommittee on Medical Zoology, with groups representing (1) entomology, (2) helminthology, (3) protozoology.

III. COOPERATING COMMITTEES (NOW EXISTING IN THE COUNCIL)

1. Chemistry: Chairman, M. T. Bogert. (a) Subcommittee on Biochemistry: Chairman, Frank P. Underhill.

(b) Subcommittee on Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Chairman, Frederick B. Power.

2. Food Committee: Chairman, A. E. Taylor. 3. Advisory Committee on Toxicity of Preserved Foods: Chairman, J. J. Abel.

IV. PURPOSE

To concentrate in Washington a compara

tively small body of men representing the existing committees, and thus provide for effective cooperation in the rapid organization of medical research as an aid to the solution of urgent military problems.

V. FIELD

Medicine, surgery, hygiene, physiology, anatomy, psychology, psychiatry, physical anthropology and closely related subjects.

VI. METHODS

1. To cooperate closely with the Surgeon General of the Army (through Colonel Russell) and of the Navy (through Dr. Stitt) in determining urgent problems and to enlist the aid of civilian laboratories in the solution of these problems.

2. To assist the Surgeons General of the Army and Navy in procuring trained investigators to enter the respective services as contract surgeons to undertake special field investigations during short periods of time.

3. To send, if it is considered advisable, individuals to England, France and Italy to determine the urgent problems which should be taken up without loss of time in civilian laboratories in this country.

4. To invite, if it is considered necessary, commissions or individuals from England, France and Italy to this country to advise with the Medical Division of the National Research Council.

5. To maintain correspondence with prominent medical investigators in the American Expeditionary Forces and in civilian laboratories in France, England and Italy and thus obtain reports of the important fields of research, the character of the work in progress and the needs of the workers.

6. To establish relations with and if agreeable to them, to cooperate with research organizations abroad as (a) British Medical Research Committee, (b) the Research Society recently organized in France by medical officers of American, French and British forces, and (c) the Committee on Medical Research of the American Red Cross in France, etc.

7. To obtain reports of all medical research organizations in this country dealing with war