ciation reports that some statistics have recently been published showing that of the 345 medical and other scientific journals published in France before the war, about 270 have suspended publication. Others have changed from weekly to a monthly issue and others issue only four numbers a year. The total quantity of the paper used by them now does not amount to more than 35 tons a month. The important discoveries and experiences of the war and the lessons from them have been spread broadcast by the medical journals, so that surgeons and physicians have been able to keep abreast of progress and thousands of lives have been saved. The organization medical press in France is pleading with the authorities for special concessions during the period of the prevailing scarcity of paper, but no heed has been paid to the appeal as yet. UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL YALE UNIVERSITY has received from the Kingsley Trust Association (Scroll and Key Society of Yale College) $30,000 to commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary last year of the founding of the society. This is to be added to the endowment of the Kingsley Trust Association Publication Fund, established by the members of the Society in 1914, and will increase the total of this to $50,000; making it the largest publication fund held by the university. The income of the original $20,000 is used for publications through the Yale University Press in the field of history. THE Massachusetts State College is requesting a state appropriation of $100,000 for the development of women's work at the institution, $70,000 being for a women's building and $30,000 for maintenance until November 30, 1920. In response to a request from the gun production of the Ordnance Department, United States army, the school of applied science of New York University has put its testing laboratory at the service of the government. THOMAS P. COOPER, director of station and extension work in North Dakota, has been ap pointed dean of the Kentucky College of Agriculture and director of the Experiment Station. DR. H. G. KNIGHT, dean of the college of agriculture and director of the experiment station of the University of Wyoming, has accepted the corresponding position at the Oklahoma College and Station, effective February 1, and has been succeeded at Wyoming by A. D. Faville. PROFESSOR HARVEY EVERT HUBER, professor of biology and geology at Ohio Northern University since 1913, has resigned to accept the professorship of biology at Bluffton College. He will assume his new position in September. L. T. ANDEREGG, in charge of the department of chemistry in the high school at Decatur, Ill., has accepted the position at the Kansas State Agricultural College in chemical analysis which was left vacant by the resignation of R. C. Wiley. DR. GERALD L. WENDT has been appointed assistant professor of chemistry and curator of the Kent chemical laboratory at the University of Chicago. He has charge of the instruction in quantitative analysis and in radioactivity. LINA STERN, privatdozent in the University of Geneva, has been appointed professor extraordinary of physiological chemistry. DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE SPECTROSCOPIC INVESTIGATION TO THE EDITOR OF SCIENCE: An exceptional opportunity for spectroscopic investigation now exists in this country and it seems desirable that it should have the wide publicity of the columns of SCIENCE. The Mining Experiment Station at Golden, Colorado, under the Federal Bureau of Mines, specializes in the radium products and the rare gases which are associated with their production. It is likely that larger quantities of the radium emanation, for instance, are available there for research than anywhere else in the world at the present time. A visit to this interesting laboratory last autumn disclosed the presence there of a large Hilger spectrograph of the autocolimating type, with very large prisms, and apparently capable of yielding excellent spectra on a large scale. The members of the regular staff of chemists at the Station, under the direction of Dr. R. B. Moore, are too much occupied with their regular duties to undertake special spectroscopic researches. Therefore this fine instrument has not been utilized as it might be. An unusual chance is thus presented for the establishment of a fellowship for spectroscopic research, under the joint auspices of the station and of some university, physical laboratory or scientific fund. A second consideration of immediate importance lies in the fact that Golden is situated near the central line of the total eclipse of June 8. American science could be accused of grievous neglect, if this spectrograph, already in the eclipse track, should not be used on that occasion by an expert spectroscopist. To many such I have written personally during recent months, urging that the opportunity be improved; but as a result of war duties or the shortage of assistants in the laboratories, thus far no one has been found who could undertake the work. It would be necessary for the person to go to Golden early enough in May, so that the spectrograph could be put into excellent adjustment and then to mount it where a clear view of the northwestern sky could be had. The necessary heliostat could doubtless be borrowed from some laboratory. The altitude of Golden is 5,700 feet, and if the foliage around the station building was too heavy in June, it would not be at all difficult to transport the spectrograph up to an elevation of about 7,500 feet on Lookout Mountain, where Colonel Cody was buried. The ideal arrangement will of course be for this same person who gets familiar with this spectrograph to continue in research with it after the eclipse. If a suitable person is found, an effort can be made to raise the necessary funds for a fellowship or other basis which may be arranged for the work. Time might perhaps be saved for those who may wish to consider the observation of the I do not think it has been pointed out before that the earth's surface must be continuously losing hydrogen through the decomposition of water vapor by every flash of lightning. Pickering and others have recognized the hydrogen lines in the spectrum of lightning, and the larger works on meteorology mention the fact that lightning flashes decompose some water. See Hann's "Lehrbuch der Meteorologie," 2d edition, page 480: But the electric flash also decomposes some water and causes the incandescence of the hydrogen. The hydrogen formed by every lightning flash rises rapidly to the upper atmosphere and is lost to the earth. Considering the frequency of thunderstorms during the summer season in both hemispheres and at all times in the equatorial regions the loss of hydrogen in this way can not be considered as insignificant. As long as conditions upon the earth remain such as to render thunderstorms possible, the slow desiccation of the earth must continue. C. F. VON HERRMANN AREAS OF AUDIBILITY TO THE EDITOR OF SCIENCE: Students of the constitution of the atmosphere have published very interesting results as a consequence of the investigation of areas of audibility and inaudibility surrounding great sources of sound, such as the blasting for the Jungfraubahn, the bombardment of Antwerp, a munition explosion in England, etc. It seems natural that the Halifax explosion, violent enough to break glass many miles distant and to be heard scores of miles away at sea, should be investigated the same way; but I have read and heard nothing of any such study. It is, of course, a matter for the scientists of the neighboring region, and perhaps they have taken it up. WILLARD J. FISHER PRIMITIVE KNOWLEDGE OF INOCULATION IN an article on "The Origin of the Custom of Tea Drinking in China," SCIENCE, March 15, R. A. Gortner remarks that "it is extremely improbable that it was recognized centuries ago that typhoid fevers, etc., were disseminated by pollution of the water supply, especially inasmuch as there was no knowledge of microorganisms or of the rôle which they play in disease until the work of Pasteur (1857-1863)." In adopting this conclusion as a priori valid it seems to me that Gortner is in danger of making the same error that was made by Sir Richard Burton in 1854. Burton states ("First Footsteps in East Africa ") that "The mosquito bites bring on, according to the same authority (the Somal), deadly fevers; the superstition probably arises from the fact that mosquitoes and fevers become formidable about the same time." This is not the only case, we may be sure, in which causal relations have been recognized long before the causal mechanism was known. KNIGHT DUNLAP SCIENTIFIC BOOKS The Anthocyanin Pigments of Plants. By MURIEL WHELDALE. Cambridge University Press. 1916. Royal 8vo. Pp. xii +318. Price 15s net. The science of chemistry has grown so rapidly during recent years that it is im possible for an individual to acquire a thorough knowledge of all of its branches, and even to master a single phase of the science often means laborious searchings through the chemical literature. Fortunately there have appeared during the last decade a number of monographs, each written by an authority in that particular field, which deal thoroughly with a special topic and sum up all of the available literature. Such a compilation is the present volume. What causes the production of the colors in a flower? Every one has asked himself the question and numerous chemists have attacked the problem, yet it is only within recent years that any definite knowledge has been attained and we still have a long way to progress before we know the whole truth. It is fortunate, however, that Miss Wheldale has accumulated such evidence as is at present available. Her studies of anthocyanin began with a study of the genetical behavior of these pigments, but she soon ascertained that biological phenomena have for their basis chemical reactions, with the result that she undertook to analyze the chemical changes which were involved in the hereditary behavior of flower coloration. The present volume is divided into two parts. Under Part I., “General Account of Anthocyanins," we have "Introductory," consisting mainly of the older literature of the subject; "The Morphological Distribution of Anthocyanins"; "The Histological Distribution of Anthocyanins"; "The Properties and Reactions of Anthocyanins"; "The Isolation and Constitution of Anthocyanins"; "Physiological Conditions and Factors Influencing the Formation of Anthocyanins"; "Reactions Involved in the Formation of Anthocyanins "; and "The Significance of Anthocyanins," practically all of which are taken up from the chemical viewpoint. Under Part II., "Anthocyanin and Genetics," we find "Classes of Variation"; "Details of Cases of Mendelian Inheritance in Color Varieties "; "Connection of Flower Color with the Presence of Anthocyanin Vegetative Organs, Fruits and Seeds"; "Heterozygous Forms "; " Color Factors in Reduplication Series"; "Pattern in Color Variation"; "Striped Varieties and Bud Variation "; The Effect of Outside Factors on Color Variation"; "Connection Between Color and Other Plant Characters"; and "The Chemical Interpretation of Factors for Flower Color;" all discussed from the standpoint of the geneticist. In addition there is appended a bibliography of 645 titles, to the majority of which Miss Wheldale has added a short descriptive notice indicating the nature of the contents of the paper. To any one who has followed Miss Wheldale's researches it is needless to add that the work is thoroughly done. Apparently as much space has been given to the papers of her critics as to her own work, so that the reader can draw his own conclusions as to the facts involved. If there is any one fault to find with the work it would seem to the writer to be that the author has not drawn upon her imagination sufficiently to formulate theories which would appear to be warranted by the facts which she presents. This is not a common fault in works of this nature where chemical and biological phenomena are involved and perhaps the author is correct in being extremely conservative. At any rate she can not be accused of attempting, by publishing this monograph, to further any pet hypothesis. Ross AIKEN GORTNER UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DR. KEEN ON MEDICAL RESEARCH DR. W. W. KEEN, the Nestor of the American medical profession, has given us a delightful little book on Medical Research and Human Welfare," being the Colver Lectures of Brown University for 1917. Dr. Keen is peculiarly fitted for his task, as he was trained in the old septic era of surgery before the civil war, and was a part and parcel of the war with all its attendant horrors, its infections and gangrenous wounds with maggots, and its enormous percentage mortality, and yet has lived not only to witness but to promote the new era of antiseptics and to enjoy the phenomenal changes thus wrought in his own work and that of his colleagues. This interesting little book has a twofold value, it will attract the lay public asking for a conspectus of the progress of the last forty years in charming readable non-technical terms; it will also interest doctors, who will enjoy a brief historic retrospect of professional achievements told in just such simple terms as they themselves are apt to use over a fireside conversation when the older men are prone to indulge in reminiscences and comparisons. A further use is to furnish material for those who wish to forestall interference on the part of the anti-research people (who call themselves "antivivisectionists"), with medical progress. The medical profession in our day has stepped forward into an era of medical statesmanship, and now needs constantly to appeal to the public for moral support and cooperation in many matters of vital interest to the whole body politic. It would be well for this reason if this book were widely read and the facts kept. well in mind and often used in arousing the sympathy of the public in one of the greatest of all causes-medical progress, the saving of life and health. HOWARD A. KELLY THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES THE program of the scientific sessions of the meeting held in Washington beginning on April 22 was as follows: MONDAY, APRIL 22 Morning Session The effects of a prolonged reduced diet on twenty-five college men: I. On basal metabolism and nitrogen excretion, by Francis G. Benedict. II. On neuromuscular processes and mental condition (illustrated), by Walter R. Miles (introduced by F. G. Benedict). III. On efficiency during muscular work and general muscular condition (motion pictures), by H. Monmouth Smith (introduced by F. G. Benedict). The partial occlusion of great arteries in man and animals (illustrated), by W. S. Halsted. Three papers (illustrated): (a) The favorable effect of subcutaneous injec tion of magnesium sulphate in tetanus; (b) the possible danger of intravenous injection of magnesium sulphate; (c) The antagonistic and curative action of calcium salts in these cases, by S. J. Meltzer. The Liberty field hospital ward. Designed on the unit construction plan. Portable. Adapted to American overseas summer and winter service (motion pictures), by Henry Fairfield Osborn. The war and medical research (illustrated), by Simon Flexner. Afternoon Session Conformal geometry, by Edward Kasner. Magnestism by rotation (illustrated), by S. J. Barnett (by invitation. Comstock prize recipient). On the correction of optical surfaces, by A. A. Michelson. Some recent observations of the brighter nebulæ (illustrated), by W. W. Campbell. Physical researches for the war, by R. A. Millikan. Evening Session First William Ellery Hale Lecture, by John C. Merriam, professor of paleontology, University of California. Subject: The beginnings of human history from the geologic record. (Open to the public.) TUESDAY, APRIL 23 Morning Session Notes on isotopic lead, by F. W. Clarke. The physico-chemical properties of gluten, by Lawrence J. Henderson (introduced by Raymond Pearl). Correlation of the tertiary formations of the southeastern United States, Central America and the West Indies, by Thomas Wayland Vaughan (introduced by David White). Coast survey charts and fringing reefs of the Philippine Islands (illustrated), by W. M. Davis. Recent researches on the skeletal adaptations and modes of locomotion of the Sauropod Dinosaurs (illustrated), by Henry Fairfield Osborn and William K. Gregory. Some additional data on the Cambrian Trilobites (illustrated), by Charles D. Walcott. The development of governmental regulations during the world war, by C. R. Van Hise. Afternoon Session The big bears of North America, by C. Hart Merriam. The growth of the Pribilof fur-seal herd between 1912 and 1917 (illustrated), by G. H. Farker. A comparison of the growth changes in the nervous system of the rat with the corresponding changes in man (illustrated), by Henry H. Donald son. Measuring the mental strength of an army (illustrated), by Robert M. Yerkes (by invitation). Second William Ellery Hale Lecture, by John C. Merriam, professor of paleontology, University of California. Subject: The beginnings of human history from the geologic record. SPECIAL ARTICLES A SIMPLE METHOD OF MEASURING IN collaboration with Loeb2 one of us observed that certain marine algae when exposed to sunlight cause the sea water to become more alkaline. Similar observations had been previously made by others upon fresh-water plants in solutions containing bicarbonates. It seemed to the writers that this procedure might be utilized in the study of photosynthesis. After investigating a number of marine plants it was found that Ulva (sea lettuce) is very satisfactory for such experiments. A piece of Ulva was placed in a beaker and covered with sea water to which a little phenolphthalein had been added. It was then placed in direct sunlight. In the course of an hour the solution turned pink. The pink color grew steadily more pronounced and at the end of another hour was intense. It seemed evident that by measuring the alkalinity which produced the change of color we might arrive at a simple and satisfactory method of studying photosynthesis. In order to measure the degree of alkalinity produced by Ulva, a piece of the frond was placed in a tube of Pyrex glass (about 12 mm. in diameter) in such a manner that it com 1 Preliminary communication. 2 Loeb, J., "Dynamics of Living Matter," 1906, p. 98. 3 Cf. Czapek, F., "Biochemie der Pflanzen," 1913, 1: 519. 4 Ten drops of saturated alcoholic phenolphthalein was added to 1 liter of sea water. For class demonstration more may be added. This glass was chosen because it does not give off measurable quantities of alkali during the period of the experiment. |