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researches on radio-activity. At this time Prof. H. B. Owens, of the engineering building, had noted the peculiar inconstancy of the radiations from thorium, and traced it to air currents. Prof. Rutherford then made an exhaustive examination of the phenomena, and he found that thorium emitted a gaseous substance, to which he gave the name "emanation." He also proved that the emanation had the remarkable property of making other substances active by a material surface deposit due to the emanation. Assisted by Miss Brooks, he proceeded to measure the rate of diffusion of the emanation from radium, for he then saw, and saw correctly, that the emanation was a gas and a distinct form of matter.

At this point Mr. Soddy came from Oxford to McGill University and worked with Prof. Rutherford. Together they tried the effect of varying the physical conditions, such as temperature, upon the emanating power of radio-active substances, and in the course of this work it was found that the emanation came from thorium X, a substance which could be separated from thorium. When they realised and clearly proved that the emanation was produced from thorium X, that thorium X constantly appeared from thorium, and as constantly decayed, that the curves of decay and of recovery were strictly complementary, and followed with exactitude simple exponential laws, that the rate of change was proportional to the amount of material still unchanged, then for the first time a most clear conception of the sequence of production of matter in fresh forms, with distinct chemical properties, was attained. The substances thus discovered were in quantities too minute to be detected by the balance or spectroscope. The new theory of radio-activity was published in two papers by Rutherford and Soddy in the Philosophical Magazine of September and November, 1902. these papers the experimental evidence was first reviewed, and then the theory was stated that radioactivity is an atomic phenomenon accompanied by chemical changes in which new types of matter are produced, that the changes must occur within the atom, and that the radio-active substances must be undergoing transformation. This theory on its first appearance was regarded by many as a mere flight of the imagination, and efforts were made to detect a cause exterior to the atom. The theory was stoutly championed by Rutherford in the face of doubt and criticism, and it is now so thoroughly accepted by all who have investigated the subject that the initial opposition is almost forgotten. It is remarkable that a new subject should have reached the position of an exact science with such great rapidity.

In

Experimental research continued at McGill with speed which was almost feverish. Having established the fact that the highest temperatures obtainable had no effect on the rate of transformation of the emanation of radium, it was desired to try the effect of extreme cold. Again the good genius of the Physics Building was invoked, and a complete plant for making liquid air was presented. Within a quarter of an hour after the first 100 c.c. of liquid air were prepared the emanation had been condensed, and the material nature of this gas had been proved beyond question.

It is noteworthy that in the paper on the cause and nature of radio-activity in the Philosophical Magazine of November, 1902, the speculation was advanced that the presence of helium in minerals associated with uranium and thorium might be connected with their radio-activity. In 1904 this forecast was verified by the observation of the presence of helium in the spectrum of the radium emanation by

Ramsay and Soddy in the laboratory of the former. In the meantime Rutherford had proved by magnetic deflection that the a particles carried a positive charge. The remarkable heating effects of radium. three-quarters of the total amount being due to the emanation, were investigated and measured. At a later date the heat generated by the y rays was under observation and found to be very small, a result of importance in estimating the nature of the rays. In these heat determinations Prof. Rutherford was assisted by Dr. Barnes. In 1902 Mr. Soddy left McGill University, worked for a year with Sir William Ramsay, and was then appointed lecturer in physical chemistry at Glasgow University. Prof. Rutherford continued his research work with unabated energy and success. Radio-tellurium and polonium were relegated to their proper places among the products of radium, now grown to a family of six, the successive offspring of the emanation. The theory of rayless changes was advanced, and the complicated cases arising therefrom were thoroughly explored, and the results published in the Bakerian lecture delivered before the Royal Society in 1904. The brilliant work of Rutherford received recognition by the award to him of the Rumford medal. More recently he has again directed his attention to the a particles. deflecting in electric and magnetic fields the rays from radium C and other substances, thus determining the charge and mass of the particles, and endeavouring to account for their abrupt disappearance whilst their velocities are still very great.

So much work and such novel theories have naturally called forth criticism, but the discussions have always been chivalrous, buttons have been on the foils, and Rutherford's extreme care in verifying every step by thorough experimental evidence has saved him from error to a degree quite exceptional. A prominent physicist in the early days of radio-activity remarked that the subject was such a tangled skein that it was almost hopeless to unravel it. This sufficiently indicates the difficulty of the subject in the initial stages. It is fortunate that so much of the development centred in a man to whom the remarkable instinct is given of rarely following side-issues. As a result of this concentration a uniform system of nomenclature has been adopted, and experimenters are saved much time and trouble in following the work of others. Apart from such concentration, it is not difficult to imagine the state of chaos into which the whole subject would have lapsed. Rutherford's work, Radio-activity," has passed rapidly through two editions, has kept pace with discoveries, and is the encyclopædia of the subject.

At the physics building Prof. Rutherford inspires research students with some of his own enthusiasm and energy. He follows their results closely, is ready with advice and criticism, and is as delighted with any of their discoveries as with his own. He is generosity itself in giving a full measure of credit to those who do research work under his guidance.

Reference may be made to some of the work done by research students. Miss Brooks has published several papers on various radio-active phenomena, and this lady was one of the most successful and industrious workers in the early days of the investigation of the subject. H. L. Cooke discovered penetrating rays from the earth, and made contributions on the activity of ordinary matter. R. K. McClung determined the coefficient of re-combination of ions, and worked with Rutherford on the energy required to produce an ion, and on allied problems. S. J. Allan worked at the active deposit derived from the atmo

sphere and from falling snow. Miss Gates ascer

tained the true nature of the discharge due to quinine sulphate. A. G. Grier detected the magnetic deviation of the B rays of thorium,

Dr.

Others have come to Montreal from afar, attracted by the magnetic influence of Rutherford, such as Dr. Godlewski, of Lemberg, in Poland, who investigated in Montreal the products of actinium and some notable properties of actinium and uranium. From Frankfurt came Dr. Hahn, discoverer of radiothorium in the laboratory of Sir William Ramsay. Hahn, whilst working at McGill, also discovered radioactinium and a new product of thorium. Dr. Levin, from Göttingen, and Dr. Bronson, from Yale, have also done research work whilst at McGill, and the latter has increased our accurate knowledge of various radio-active constants by his modification of the electrometer giving direct and immediate readings. All these workers testify warmly to the inspiration kindled by Rutherford,

His own success as an investigator may be traced to a few well-marked characteristics. The first is the pertinacious and reiterated assault on the particular problem in hand. He does not grope in the dark for chance results, but bombards the particular point which he wishes to attack. He has also an instinctive insight which often makes his initial point of view more trustworthy than the deliberate conclusions of some befogged experimenter. He is not only an industrious, he is also a very rapid worker, but his experimental conditions are varied sufficiently to eliminate error, and his observations are repeated until he has perfect confidence in his results. Most noteworthy of all is the extreme simplicity and directness of his experimental methods. Some observers appear to grow happier as their apparatus becomes more complex. Rutherford selects some ingenious, straightforward attack, but the simplicity is supplemented by the genius which has enabled him to make such great contributions to our knowledge of the mutability of matter and of the atom in evolution.

In conclusion, the writer, who is an Englishman resident in Canada, ventures to emphasise the importance of research laboratories, so well equipped and so distributed that able men in Great Britain may not find themselves hampered through want of means and opportunity to pursue their work. The gift of the Cavendish Laboratory to the University of Cambridge by the late Duke of Devonshire has produced results which are recognised as holding the first place in recent advances in physical science. The Macdonald Physics Building has brilliantly started on its career. But there are other universities less fortunate, and there are other wealthy men. A. S. EVE.

THE YORK MEETING OF THE BRITISH
ASSOCIATION.

PROVISIONAL PROGRAMMES OF THE SECTIONS.
THE
HE local arrangements for this meeting, which
will be held at York from August 1 to 8, are pro-
gressing extremely satisfactorily, and a large assembly
is expected, as nearly 1200 persons from a distance
have already signified their intention to be present.
The evening meetings will be held in the large hall
of the Exhibition Building; 2200 numbered seats are
already arranged, while there is space behind, making
up a total accommodation of at least 5000 if neces-
sary. All these will have a full view of the speaker,
and the lantern screen, though, of course, those
behind will be a considerable distance away.
be well, therefore, for visitors to bring their opera
It will
glasses with them.

NO. 1916, VOL. 74]

275

interest, archæological, botanical, and geological, and
The neighbourhood of York affords many objects of
railway. Cyclists are
many of these are more readily accessible by road than
therefore recommended to
mostly good and level.
bring their machines with them, as the roads are
Hotel and lodging list can,
as usual, be obtained of the local secretaries, Davy
Hall Chambers, York. The following provisional pro-
grammes have been arranged by the committees of
the various sections :-

SECTION A (MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE).-
This section will, as usual in recent years, meet in three
departments. In the chief department a series of discus-
sions has been arranged. Prof. Soddy will open one on
the evolution of the elements, and a number of lead-
ing workers in radio-activity, including Sir Wm. Ramsay,
are expected to follow. Mr. J. Swinburne will discuss
the nature of the radiation from incandescent mantles;
and Dr. H. Rubens, of Charlottenburg, will expound his
views, and illustrate them experimentally. Representa-
tives of the Chemical Section will be deputed to attend
of great value as well as of great interest.
both these discussions. It is expected that they will prove
The Hon.
R. J. Strutt has consented to give an account of his recent
work on the internal structure of the earth as indicated
by the phenomena of radio-activity, and Prof. J. Milne
will also speak on it. It is probable that the Geological
Section will collaborate in this discussion; hence it will
be treated from various points of view. There will be a
paper by the Earl of Berkeley on osmotic pressure, which
will lead probably to renewed debate on the ever-interest-
ing subject of the nature of solutions. Sir Wm. Ramsay
and J. F. Spencer have presented a paper on chemical
and electrical changes induced by ultra-violet light,
which contains important new matter, as well as a sum-
mary of what is at present known on this subject.

graphs of thin liquid films (with experiments); Prof. There will also be papers by H. Stansfield on photoE. H. Barton and J. Penzer on photographic records of a string's vibrations and responsive motions in the air; Mr. C. E. S. Phillips on the production of an electrically vision. conductive glass; and Prof. W. F. Barrett on entoptic In the Department of Astronomy and Cosmical Physics, a joint discussion has been arranged with Section E (Geography) on the necessity for the re-measurement of the British geodetic arc. This will be opened by Major E. H. Hills, R.E. In the Department of Mathematics, Prof. A. R. Forsyth will read a paper on the different Papers will also be read on a test for the convergence of kinds of integrals of partial differential equations. multiple series, by Mr. T. J. Bromwich; on some notes on finite groups, by Harold Hilton; on Aleph numbers, by Dr. E. W. Hobson; and on the residues of hypereven numbers, by Lieut.-Colonel A. Cunningham. Prof. Henrici will open a discussion on the notation and use of vectors.

SECTION C (GEOLOGY).—The following are among the principal papers promised for this section: The problems of the Palæozoic glaciations of Australia and South Africa, Prof. J. W. Gregory; On a criterion of the glacial erosion of lake-basins, R. D. Oldham; Notes on recent earthquakes, Prof. J. Milne; On anthropods from the Coalmeasures, Dr. Hy. Woodward; On the Jurassic flora of Yorkshire, A. C. Seward; Discussion on the origin of the trias, opened by Prof. Bonney and Mr. J. Lomas; On an artesian boring at Lincoln, Prof. Hull; On the post-Cretaceous stratigraphy of Southern Nigeria, J. Parkinson; On a peculiar variety of sodalite showing colour-change, T. H. Holland. Prof. P. F. Kendall will give a lecture on the geology of the country round York. The president's address will deal with the interglacial problem as it applies to the British Is'es. A number of other papers have also been promised-relating mainly to the geology of the Yorkshire district. The following are number: On the limestone knolls of Craven, and on among the intrusive rock near Grindleton in the West Riding, A. Valleys, Rev. W Lower Carter; On faults as a predisWilmore: Notes on the glaciation of the Usk and Wye posing cause of the potholes on Ingleborough, H. Brod

an

rick; On a section in a post-glacial deposit at Hornsea, T. Sheppard.

SECTION D (ZOOLOGY).-President's address by Mr. J. J. Lister, F.R.S. Papers.-Conjugation of Paramaecium caudatus, Prof. Gary N. Calkins (Columbia Univ.); Breeding experiments in canaries-an exception to Mendel's law, Prof. Noorduijn; Preliminary note on a new conception of segregation, A. D. Darbyshire; On epigamic and aposematic scents in rhopalocera, Dr. F. A. Dixey; Outline sketch of what appears to be a periodic law in organic evolution, with a re-estimation of the cell, H. M. Bernard; Maturation of parthenogenetic eggs, L. Doncaster; The milk dentition of the primitive elephants, Dr. C. W. Andrews; Habits of galatheidæ in relation to their structure, Dr. Herbert J. Fleure and Miss E. F. Galloway; Some points of interest with reference to the mandible in mammals, and Some remarks on the manus of the dolphin, Prof. R. J. Anderson; Title not communicated, but dealing with the zoology of the Scottish Antarctic Expedition, W. F. Lanchester. Discussions.-Halolimnic faunas and the Tanganyika problems, J. E. S. Moore; it is hoped the following will speak: Prof. Pilseneer, Dr. Bordenger, Prof. Gregory, Mr. Cunnington, Mr. Hudleston, Dr. Calman, Mr. R. T. Gunther. Melanism in Lepidoptera, G. T. Porritt; the following will speak: Mr. J. Arkle, Dr. Dixey, Mr. W. Hewitt, and others. Prof. Gary N. Calkins will introduce a discussion on Protozoan lifehistories. Spicule formation, Prof. E. A. Minchin; it is hoped the following will speak: Prof. Yves Delage, Prof. Sollas, Prof. Dendy, Mr. W. Woodland. Suggestions for the more systematic study of oceanic plankton, Dr. G. Herbert Fowler ; probable speakers: Prof. Gibson (Louvain), Dr. Norris Wolffenden, Mr. Stanley Gardiner. On the relations of scientific marine investigations to practical fishery problems, Dr. E. J. Allen; it is hoped that in addition to men of science a number of persons practically interested in the fishing industry at Hull and Grimsby will take part in the discussion. On Monday morning (August 6) there will be a joint meeting with Section K (Botany) for the discussion of several cytological papers, among which will be Mr. Doncaster's (vide supra). There will also be two afternoon lectures illustrated with lantern slides (semi-popular), namely: The habits of tube-building worms, Arnold T. Watson; Birds and mammals of Yorkshire, Oxley Grabham (local secretary).

SECTION E (GEOGRAPHY).-Discussions.-Proposed measurement of geodetic arcs in Great Britain, opened by Major E. H. Hills, C.M.G., R.E.; Changes on the coast of England, especially at the mouth of the Humber, opened by Mr. Clement Reid. Papers.-The scientific results of the Scottish Loch survey, James Murray; The Chagos Islands, Indian Ocean, J. Stanley Gardiner; A journey across the Sahara, M. E. F. Gautier (not quite certain); The structure of Southern Nigeria, John Parkinson; The study of Social Geography, Prof. G. W. Hoke, of Ohio State Normal College; A journey in the Central Himalaya, T. G. Longstaff: The future of wheat-growing in Canada, Prof. L. W. Lyde; Geographical photography, John Thomson. Afternoon Lectures.-Past and present in Asia Minor, Prof. W. M. Ramsay; The visit of the Association to S. Africa, H. Yule Oldham; A tour in South-East Persia, Major P. M. Sykes.

SECTION G (ENGINEERING).-Address by Prof. J. A. Ewing, president of the Section; Modern armour and its attack, Major W. E. Edwards; The deformation and fracture of iron and steel, W. Rosenhain; Segregation in steel ingots, and its effect in modifying the mechanical properties of steel, J. E. Stead: Structural changes in nickel wire at high temperatures, H. C. H. Carpenter; Standardisation in British engineering practice, Sir John Wolfe Barry, K.C.B. ; Recent advances in our knowledge of radiation phenomena, and their bearing on the optical measurement of temperature, J. B. Henderson; The removal of dust and smoke from chimney gases, S. H. Davies and F. G. Fryer; Glow lamps up-to-date, and the grading of voltages, Sir W. H. Preece, K.C.B.; The advent of single phase electric traction on railways, C. F. Jenkin: Some recent developments of the steam turbine, G. Gerald Stoney: Some recent experimental results with internal combustion engines, Prof. W. E. Dalby; A general supply of gas for heat, light, and

power purposes, A. J. Martin; Experiments illustrating the balancing of engines, Prof. W. E. Dalby; An indicator for high speed engines, Prof. B. Hopkinson; A new form of transmission dynamometer, Prof. B. Hopkinson and L. G. P. Thring; The new engineering laboratories, Edinburgh University, and their equipment, Prof. T. Hudson Beare, Waterproof roads as a solution of the dust problem. Douglas Mackenzie; The central technical college lecture table testing machine, Prof. Ashcroft; The teaching of mechanics by experiment (with illustrations), C. E. Ashford. SECTION H (ANTHROPOLOGY).—In this section the proceedings promise to prove as interesting as usual, and quite a large number of the communications are likely to give rise to considerable discussion. One of the most important items in the programme will be a discussion on the head-form of the prehistoric and early historic races in Britain which has been arranged to take place in connection with an exhibit of British crania, now in the possession of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, and crania from Laver Hill. The discussion will be opened by Mr. J. Gray with a paper surveying the evidence, anthropological and collateral, bearing on the affinities and probable origin of the prehistoric and early historic races which have settled in Britain. Dr. F. C. Shrubsall has also promised to contribute, and Dr. W. Wright and others will take part in the discussion. In this connection considerable interest attaches to a paper on the relations between archæological and anthropographical data in the ethnology of Scotland by Dr. T. H. Bryce, and a paper by Mr. J. R. Mortimer on the relation between stature and head-form in the skeletal remains found in the round barrows of Yorkshire, based on data obtained from his own collections at Driffield. Mr. H. Brodrick will describe a skeleton recently discovered in Scoska Cave, Littondale. Two communications by Dr. W. L. H. Duckworth will deal respectively with a rare anomaly in human crania from Kawiawata Island, New Guinea, and observations on a eunuchoid subject in the Cambridge Anatomy School. Dr. C. S. Myers contributes, as an addendum to the report of the committee on anthropometric investigations among the native troops of the Egyptian Army, and notes on the distribution of cephalic and nasal indices in different provinces of Egypt.

In general ethnography communications are hardly as numerous as usual. Dr. Haddon will contribute a paper on the ethnology of South Africa, based principally on material collected during the visit of the association to South Africa last year, and Mr. S. Dornan, a South African member, sends a communication dealing with the Bushmen of Basutoland. Messrs. T. A. Joyce and E. Torday jointly will contribute a paper on the Ba-Yakka, a tribe in the Congo Free State. Among papers dealing with points of a more detailed character, Dr. Rivers offers, as a possible explanation, alternative, at least in India, of the importance of the maternal uncle among primitive races, a survival in the marriage customs of southern India, and an account of the astronomy of the Torres Straits islanders. Mr. H. A. Rose will contribute a paper on the custom of female infanticide in India, and Prof. Ridgeway will deal with the origin of the fiddle and guitar. Dr. T. H. Bryce and Mr. Newberry, of the Glasgow School of Art, will exhibit a number of examples of the door-step art designs used by peasants to decorate their door-steps and dairy and kitchen floors in Scotland, which present many interesting features.

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In archæology, Prof. W. M. Flinders Petrie will give an account of a Hyksos fortress and other discoveries in Egypt in 1906; Dr. R. C. Bosanquet will describe his excavations in Sparta, and a communication from Mr. J. L. Myres will deal with early traces of human types in the Egean. Mr. D. G. Hogarth hopes to communicate an account of the treasures of the primitive Artemisia of Ephesus, should the interval before the meeting be sufficient to allow an examination of the objects from the site, which have only just arrived in England. Major P. M. Sykes will exhibit a collection of bronze weapons and implements from Persia, which are discussed in a communication by the Rev. Canon Greenwell. Dr. T. Ashby will read papers on the recent excavations in the Forum, and the excavations at Caerwent in 1904-6. Prof. R. S. Conway

will contribute a paper on the Keltic weights found at Melandra, which throw considerable light on the subdivisions of the pre-Roman pound in Britain. Excavations on the interesting palæolithic site at Ipswich, of which accounts have on two occasions been presented to the section, have now brought to light a number of small implements which would appear to have been used as scrapers, and further evidence as to the relations of the implementiferous strata, which will be described by Miss Layard. Miss Layard also contributes an account of the excavation of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Ipswich, which has produced, among other objects, fibula of interesting types, rare in Great Britain. Mr. Rudler's paper on the " Red Hills of the east coast salt-marshes will describe the low mounds of burnt earth of frequent occurrence on the estuarial marshes of Essex, which it is now proposed to examine systematically.

Dr.

SECTION (PHYSIOLOGY).-August 2 Address by the president, Prof. Gotch; Report of committee on The metabolic balance sheet of the tissues; Papers on physiology. August 3: The nitrification of sewage, Dr. George Reid; Papers on hygiene; Report of the committee for the investigation of the effect of climate upon health. August 5: Discussion on the physiological value of rest, opened by Dr. T. D. Acland. Dr. Rivers, Dr. Myers, Prof. McDougall are expected to take part. Papers on the special senses, psychology and electrophysiology. Bevan Lewis and Dr. Smith will give a demonstration on improved methods of studying the central nervous system, and a paper on the pericellular plexus and neuro fibrils of the cerebral cortex. August 6: Joint discussion with Section B (Chemistry) on the factors which determine minimum diet values, opened by Dr. F. Gowland Hopkins. This, of course, has special interest, as much sociological work has been done in York by Mr. B. Seebohm Rowntree on the limits of diet. Prof. Armstrong and other members of the chemical section will take part. Papers on pathology. August 7: General papers.

SECTION K (BOTANY).-At least three of the sessions of this section will be devoted to special topics of current interest, the proceedings in each opening with a general paper or address dealing with the topic as a whole, followed by more special papers and a general discussion. The three topics chosen for the present meeting are as follows:(1) Some aspects of the present position of Palæozoic botany will be dealt with by Dr. D. H. Scott, F.R.S., and the conditions of growth of Carboniferous plants by Prof. F. E. Weiss, Miss M. C. Stopes, and others. (2) The nature of fertilisation and kindred problems, at a joint session with Section D (Zoology). Mr. V. H. Blackman will open the proceedings with a general address setting forth the present position of the subject. Prof. Farmer, F.R.S., is expected to contribute a paper on the cytological features of apospory, and Mr. Doncaster one on some cytological features of animal parthenogenesis. Several eminent foreign botanists, distinguished for their work on kindred topics, have promised to be present, among them being Prof. Tschermak, of Vienna, Prof. Johannsen and Dr. Ostenfeld, of Copenhagen, Dr. Rosenberg, of Stockholm, and Dr. Lotsy, of Leyden. (3) The phylogenetic value of the vascular system of seedlings. Mr. A. G. Tansley and Miss E. N. Thomas will open the proceedings, while Prof. Jeffrey, of Harvard, Messrs. A. W. Hill, T. G. Hill, and Miss Ethel Sargant are expected to contribute by papers or otherwise to the discussion.

Dr. T. W. Woodhead, who has been spending the last year at Zurich with Prof. Schröter, will communicate a paper on ecological work in Switzerland, Mr. C. E. Moss will give an account of survey work and mapping in Somersetshire, while Dr. Fritsch and Mr. Walker will contribute papers on algal ecology. Prof. Wyndham Dunstan, F.R.S., is expected to give a general account of his work on hydrocyanic acid in metabolism, but it is not yet certain whether this will be presented to the botanical or to the chemical section. Among other papers may be mentioned Prof. H. H. W. Pearson's on the habitats and habits of S. African cycads, communicated by Mr. A. C. Seward, F.R S., and Mr. Hugh Richardson's on the vegetation of Teneriffe. It is hoped that Dr. Blakeslee may be able to be present and give an account of his work on sexual

differentiation in the Mucorineæ, and also of his important recent discoveries of sexual differentiation in the spores of Marchantia.

SECTION L (EDUCATIONAL SCIENCE).-August 2: Presidential address, Prof. Michael E. Sadler; Report on health in schools, Prof. Sherrington; Medical inspection of schools and colleges, Sir Lauder Brunton, Sir Henry Craik ; Physical training, Dr. Ethel Williams, Major Norman; The education of workpeople, Hugh O. Meredith. August 3: Curriculum of primary schools and the training of teachers in such schools; Report of committee on the courses of practical, experimental, and observational studies most suitable to elementary schools; general principles, Sir Philip Magnus, M.P., subcommittee report on arithmetic and mensuration, Prof. R. A. Gregory, subcommittee report on nature-study, Hugh Richardson. Contributions to the discussion will be made by Principal Burrell, T. S. Dymond, Prof. Green, J. C. Hudson. Training for the home duties of women. Report of subcommittee on Domestic studies, Geo. Fletcher. The following will contribute to the discussion:-Miss Mary E. Marsden, Prof. A. Smithells, Miss Maud Taylor, Prof. H. E. Armstrong, Mrs. Margaret Pillow, B. S. Rowntree, Mrs Marvin, Miss Romley Wright. August 6: The balance of subjects in the curriculum of the secondary school and the training of teachers for such schools, T. E. Page, Hon. and Rev. E. Lyttelton, Rev. E. C. Owen, Arthur Rowntree (Leisure pursuits), Gidley Robinson (Preparatory schools), C. M. Stuart, J. H. Leonard, Miss E. E. C. Tomes (Training), Prof. Raymont (Training); The uncertainty of educational values in the absence of scientific experiment, Dr. E. P. Culverwell; The demonstration school as a field for scientific research in school teaching, Prof. J. J. Findlay. August 7: Inspection and examination of schools, C. M. Stuart, J. L. Holland, Geo. Fletcher, and others; The teaching of modern languages, Prof. Wyld, Prof. Robertson; Experiments and results in elementary modern language teaching conducted since 1892, Prof. J. J. Findlay; (joint meeting with Sections A and G) The teaching of mechanics by experiment, C. E. Ashford.

NOTES.

THE death of Prof. Drude by his own hand at the early age of forty-three is a serious loss to physical science. Born at Brunswick in 1863, he made his mark first as a pupil of Voigt at Göttingen, and his series of papers in which he applied the electromagnetic theory of Maxwell, as developed by Herz, to the problems of light, stamped him as a physicist of the first rank. These appeared in Wiedemann's Annalen in the years 1896-9, and as more fully developed in the author's " Physics of the Ether and his text-book of optics, have received recognition in these columns. Among them may be specially noted his theory of the magneto-optic phenomena of iron, nickel, and cobalt, 1897; the theory of anomalous dispersion, 1898; and of electric dispersion, 1899. Drude was also an experimenter, and was able to devise and carry out critical experiments to test, where necessary, fundamental points of his theory. In 1900 he succeeded Wiedemann as editor of the Annalen der Physik, and under his capable guidance that well-known journal has fully maintained its reputation, while only last year he was called to Berlin as professor of physics in succession to Warburg, now president of the Reichsanstalt. The physics school of the University of Berlin has suffered severely in recent years, and the loss of the brilliant physicist who had so recently joined them will be deeply felt by his friends and colleagues.

THE report on the civil hospitals and dispensaries in the United Provinces states, says the Pioneer Mail, that five cases of snake-bite have been successfully treated at Gorakhpur with Dr. Calmette's anti-venene and permanganate of potash. They seemed bad cases, and almost

immediately recovered after the injection of the serum. Twenty-two cases were also treated in the Banda district, and in twenty-one cases the treatment was successful.

THE death of M. Edouard Piette in his eightieth year removes from the ranks of French anthropologists a tireless investigator. He began to write on prehistoric questions as long ago as 1869, and contributed numerous articles to periodicals, among which may be mentioned a supplement to L'Anthropologie, entitled "Les Galets coloriés du Mas d'Azil," splendidly illustrated in colours. Another work was entitled "Les Tertres funéraires d'Avezac-Prat "; but a great part of his material remains unpublished, though some of the plates illustrative of it were exhibited at the Trocadéro some years ago. He formed a magnificent collection of stone, bone, and early iron objects from Brassempouy, Mas d'Azil, and other places, and presented it about four years ago to the Museum of Saint-Germain, where it is arranged in stratigraphic order. He was an honorary fellow of many learned societies, but, his generous benefaction notwithstanding, he was neither a member of the Institute nor the recipient of a decoration.

THE death of the Rev. J. F. Blake will be felt by many British geologists as a personal loss. Prof. Blake was born in 1839. He was educated at Christ's Hospital and Caius College, Cambridge, where he was senior scholar. In the natural science tripos of 1862 he took a second class, and he was fifteenth wrangler. Following the profession of his father, the Rev. Robert P. Blake, he entered the Church, and held curacies at Lenton, near Nottingham, and at St. Mary's, Bryanston Square. Afterwards he went as mathematical master to St. Peter's School, York, a post he occupied for nine years. From 1876 to 1880 he was lecturer at Charing Cross Hospital on comparative anatomy. From 1880 to 1888 he held the chair of natural science at University College, Nottingham. In 1895 he went out to India to arrange the Baroda Museum. Prof. Blake was an active Fellow of the Geological Society of London, and in 1891-2 he was president of the Geologists' Association. His contributions to geological literature cover a wide field, but the ground he made particularly his own was the Jurassic of England. Many of his papers will be found in the Journal of the Geological Society, in the Palæontological Society's monographs, and elsewhere. A characteristic publication was the "Annals of British Geology," an excellent work, which doubtless failed through containing too fully the marks of Prof. Blake's strong critical capacity. His natural enthusiasm and integrity of character endeared him to all with whom he came really in contact.

MR. F. VICTOR DICKINS informs us that on August 21 the session of the Congrès préhistorique de France will open at Vannes, the curious old capital of the Morbihan, under the presidency of M. A. de Mortillet. All necessary information will be readily afforded by the general secretary, Dr. Marcel Baudouin, Paris, rue Linné 21. subscription and cost of excursions are extremely moderate, and for ten francs a day, all comprised, the very best accommodation is procurable at Vannes. The session will close on August 26; and arrangements are made for a reduction of the fares on the French railways.

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THE Daily Chronicle of July 6 publishes a Reuter telegram of the previous day from Rome announcing that the Duke of the Abruzzi had telegraphed to the King of Italy that on June 16 he reached the highest point of Mount Ruwenzori. The probable position of this peak, as deduced from a combination of the best data available, may be gathered from a paper by Lieut. T. T. Behrens, R.E.,

in the current number of the Geographical Journal. Lieut. Behrens makes use of (1) trigonometrical determinations of two tops of a summit; (2) trigonometrical rays to four other summits; (3) eight perspective views from sketches and photographs, with some magnetic bearings; (4) a map compiled from all available sources up to 1901, chiefly based on Dr. Stuhlmann's traverse and astronomical observations; and (5) information just received from Mr. A. F. R. Wollaston, a member of the zoological expedition sent out under the auspices of the Natural History Museum, who with two other members of the expedition made a number of ascents in this range during April last.

THE Country in Town Exhibition, which was opened by Princess Christian on July 5 in the Whitechapel Art Gallery, has proved in every way as successful as its promoters could have wished. The chief objects of the exhibition are to show how many interesting remnants of the country and its denizens there still remain in London, to suggest how much of the country can be brought back to town, and to indicate those places near the metropolis (which can be reached at trifling cost) where the beauties of nature can easily be enjoyed. In connection with the exhibition, a series of lectures was arranged, the first being given by Mr. Richard Kearton, on Nature at work and play. Dr. Henry, in dealing with the question of tree planting in London, showed that it was the way the trees were treated rather than the injury caused by the atmosphere which prevented them from growing. Mr. T. S. Dymond gave many useful hints in connection with the soil of London, Sir John Cockburn outlined the way in which Australian cities have been beautified by tree planting, Mr. Herrod dealt with bees, and Mrs. Dukinfield Scott showed her animated photographs of plants. The chairman of the executive committee is Mr. J. C. Medd, and the honorary secretary is Mr. Wilfred Mark Webb.

FROM a resolution published in the Pioneer Mail (June 15) it appears that the Government of India has had under consideration the desirability of making better provision for scientific research in connection with Indian forests. In order to provide a staff of experts who will be in a position to devote a large proportion of their time to the prosecution of scientific research connected with forest produce, as well as to give the best available training to candidates for the forest services, both of British India and of native States, the Indian Government has, with the sanction of the Secretary of State, decided to raise the status of the existing Imperial Forest School at Dehra Dun, and to add to its staff. The school will now be known as the Imperial Forest Research Institute and College, and the staff will include six officers of the Imperial Service holding the following posts :-(1) An Imperial sylviculturist, who will make sylviculture his special study. (2) An Imperial superintendent of forest working plans, who will collect and collate statistics of the results of forest management throughout India. (3) An Imperial forest zoologist, whose chief duty will be to investigate the damage caused by insects and other pests, and to suggest remedial measures. (4) An Imperial forest botanist, who will study the botany of forest plants, diseases of trees, and distribution of species. (5) An Imperial forest chemist, who will investigate the chemical properties of soils and of the produce of the forests. (6) An Imperial forest economist, who will make a special study of the best methods of rendering forest produce of all kinds available at the smallest cost to consumers, and will keep in touch with the commerce of India with the view of fostering and meeting the demand for forest products.

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