222 SCIENCE The year 1837 is memorable in the annals of American mineralogy on account of the publication in that year of Dana's "System of Mineralogy." While this work, consisting of 580 pages, was based to a considerable extent on the writings of European mineralogists, notably Haüy, Mohs, and Naumann, it was not devoid of originality. This is especially true of the section on mathematical crystallography and of the elaborate classification of minerals based upon the systems in use in botany and zoology. As it is well known, this system of classification gave way in the fourth edition, in 1854, to a chemical classification which has continued in quite general use down to the present time. Dana's 66 System of Mineralogy" was received with great favor, and the first edition was succeeded by others as follows: second in 1844, third in 1850, fourth in 1854, and fifth in 1868. The last edition, which is the sixth by E. S. Dana in 1892, with its various appendixes, is the standard reference work the world over on descriptive mineralogy. As already indicated, in 1810 Bruce founded The American Mineralogical Journal which was discontinued after the publication of but one volume. Although but short-lived, it had demonstrated the great need of a strictly scientific journal. Consequently in 1817 Colonel George Gibbs, one of the most enthusiastic devotees of mineralogy and the possessor of perhaps the largest and most notable mineral collection in America at that time, which was purchased by Yale University in 1825, suggested to Professor Benjamin Silliman that a general scientific journal be established. This led to the founding of the American Journal of Science in 1818 under the editorship of Silliman. While its scope was intended "to embrace the circle of the physical sciences and their application to the arts, and to every useful purpose," the American Journal of Science has from the beginning published most of the important contributions on mineralogical subjects by American writers. The decade 1810 to 1820 is an extremely important one to us, for during that period there were founded the American Mineralog ical Journal and the Americas ence. This organization was follow the Association of American Ge held its first meeting in P April 2, 1840. Meetings were and in 1843 the Transactions tion of American Geologists a appeared. However, in 1847 th became the American Associati vancement of Science. It is th American Association with wh all the important scientific so affiliated, was according to A chell "in its incipiency a bod and its first constitution wa geologists assembled in Bostor In the development of Ameri cation in the period prior to must not be overlooked that no versity considered itself adeq unless it possessed a represen of minerals. Indeed in the ca tutions mineral collections, they were commonly called among the first purchases au governing bodies of the ins was, for example, the case a of Michigan, which was fou 18, 1837, but was not formall struction until 1841. In the ever, the well-selected miner Baron L. Lederer, of New sisting of 2,600 specimens foreign localities, was purc mirable collection was moreo mented, so that when the u its doors to students a collection of approximately 5,000 entries was available. It will also be recalled that in 1807 Yale University acquired the Perkins collection, and that in 1825 the Gibbs collection also became the property of that institution. In discussing the growth of mineralogy in this country from 1818 to 1918, Ford says, There is no doubt but that the presence at this early date of this large and unusual mineral collection had a great influence upon the development of mineralogical science at Yale and in the country at large. From the foregoing discussion it is quite obvious that mineralogy played a very important rôle in the development of higher education during the first half of the nineteenth century. It was one of the first sciences to find a place in the curricula of our colleges and universities. Its devotees founded the first general scientific journals, one of which has continued uninterruptedly up to the present time and is held in high esteem the world over. Mineralogists were also among the first to recognize the need and value of national organizations, and were important factors in the founding of our most general scientific society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science. THE PERIOD OF EXPANSION, 1850-1900 The second half of the nineteenth century was a period of rapid development in higher education. Colleges and universities sprang up all over the United States in quick succession, especially in the mid and far west. It was also a period in which mineralogy and geology were applied practically on a very large scale by the federal and state surveys. The demand for competent geologists became very great, so that more emphasis was now placed upon geology than upon mineralogy by the institutions of higher learning. However, during the last two decades of the century the need of specialization became imperative and the number of scientifically trained mineralogists increased materially. It was during this period also that petrography and economic geology began to be recogniz as independent disciplines. Not only did the expansion of our surve and the development of our vast mineral sources, but also the fostering of gradua work by our older and larger universities, d mand adequately trained specialists. It w be recalled that during the eighties and ear nineties comparatively large numbers Americans went to Europe and especially Germany, to acquire the latest methods petrography and mineralogy. After the Association of American Geol gists and Naturalists in 1847 voted to resol that organization into the American Assoc tion for the Advancement of Science, geolo participated along with other sciences in t activities of the association, and with geo raphy formed what is known as Secti E. Although at first the American Ass ciation served the interests of the geologis rather satisfactorily, nevertheless with t rapid growth of the Association the oppo tunities for meetings of a strictly scienti character became fewer and the need of separate organization began to be felt. A cording to Alexander Winchell an indeper ent organization was first openly agitated the geologists assembled at the meeting of t American Association at Cincinnati in 18 Although a committee was appointed, whi canvassed the situation and reported favoral upon the organization of a separate socie and the establishment of a geological mag zine, no definite action was taken at the ne meeting. However, this question continued to be co sidered quite regularly at successive ann meetings of the Association and the publicati of the American Geologist was begun in M neapolis in January, 1888. Again on Aug 14, 1888, in Cleveland, it was resolved that formation of an American Geological Soci was desirable, and organization plans w made. The first meeting was held in Itha on December 27, 1889, with a membership 137. This organization, officially known as Geological Society of America, was from beginning independent and in no way sub SCIENCE wucion. It at mails to American www profound influence we decades of the nineXovement to band those incais fogether in local organizaced itself in several of our large 1886 the New York Mineralog › was organized to "develop and maine crest in mineralogy, especially in nerals and rocks of Manhattan Island, Yew York City, through collecting and the ady and comparison of existing collections." The club has been successful in stimulating interest in mineralogy in New York City and Its environs. It has also acquired the Chamberlain collection of minerals which is now deposited in the American Museum of Natural History. Reference must also be made of the fact that in 1892, what is known as the Philadelphia Mineralogical Society, was organized, its purpose being similar to that of the New York Club. From time to time similar organizations had been founded in other localities, all of which have done much to stimulate interest in minerals and especially of those of the region immediately surrounding the location of the society. It was also during this period that a journal devoted to the interests of the lover of minerals was founded in 1885 by Mr. Arthur Chamberlain. It was first called the Exwas subsequently changers' Monthly but changed to the Mineralogists' Monthly. In 1892 Goldthwaite's Minerals was published. For two years both of these publications appeared but in 1894 they were merged into the Mineral Collector, which continued to appear regularly until March 1909 when it was discontinued. THE MODERN PERIOD, 1900-1920 The first two decades of the twentieth century have been a period of enormous development in higher education. Attendance upon our colleges and universities has increased by leaps and bounds. The physical plants of these institutions were greatly During this period, the de sult of the epoch-making discoveries in the field of crystal structure it is now an exact science of fundamental importance. THE MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA During the first fifteen years of the existence of the Geological Society of America, comparatively few of its members were primarily interested in mineralogy. However, beginning with the latter half of the first decade of the twentieth century the number of professional mineralogists who became members of the society increased rapidly. This group, however, soon felt that aside from the social aspect of the meetings, the society offered them but little in their own field. Accordingly in January, 1913, Professor Alexander N. Winchell, of the University of Wisconsin, in a letter addressed to those especially interested in mineralogy and petrography, raised the question as to the advisability of organizing a National Association of Mineralogists and Petrographers. The responses were, however, of such a character that a postponement of a separate organization was decided upon. This question, however, would not be downed and it came up annually at the meetings of the Geological Society of America, so that finally at the Albany meeting, December, 1916, a small group consisting of Phillips, Van Horn, Walker, Wherry, Whitlock, and the speaker, decided to launch an active campaign looking toward the formation of the Mineralogical Society of America. A circular letter, signed by the above-named committee, was sent out to those most vitally interested and the replies received clearly indicated the great desirability of such an organization. However, the United States entered the World War in the following April, and consequently plans for organization were held in abeyance. But in the meantime, there had been much correspondence among those taking a lively interest in the organization, and in the fall of 1919 the new society was again actively agitated. A call was issued for an organization meeting to be held at the time of the meeting of the Geological Society of America in Boston, and on December 30, 1919, a group of 28 mineralogists met in the Mineralogical Museum of Harvard University and organized the society under whose auspices we are meeting to-day, and adopted a provisional constitution. At this meeting arrangements were made whereby the lists of charter fellows and members would remain open for one year. The question of affiliation with the Geological Society of America was discussed and it is indeed gratifying to know that during the year this has been accomplished. On December 20, the Mineralogical Society had 55 fellows and 126 members. There were in addition 139 subscribers to the American Mineralogist. The most enthusiastic advocates of an independent mineralogical society never expected that such widespread interest could be stimulated during the organization year. AMERICAN MINERALOGIST As already indicated the American Mineralogist, which was founded in 1916, became the Journal of the Mineralogical Society under the editorship of one of the founders, Dr. E. T. Wherry. A board of associate editors was ap pointed by the council to assist Dr. Wherry. During the past year the Journal has appeared regularly, the earlier numbers being considerably larger in size than had previously been the case. However, on account of increased cost of paper and printing it was necessary to reduce the size of the later numbers. It is hoped that as a result of the general readjust ment of prices the issuing of monthly numbers of from 24 to 32 pages each may soon become possible. The exact character of the Journa needs to receive the serious consideration of the council, inasmuch as it must serve the widely divergent interests of several groups of the society. We owe much to the energy, skil and unselfish devotion of our editor, who i constantly striving to make the Journal on of which American mineralogists may b justly proud. This, however, will require som little time and I trust that we may all be some what patient in this matter. 226 GENERAL OUTLOOK SCIENCE As the result of a more general recognition of the basic importance of mineralogy in pure and applied science and in various branches of industry, and with a national society boasting of a membership including the progressive investigators and devotees of the subject, and with a well established and widely recognized official monthly publication, the future of mineralogy in America is assured. The problems of really fundamental significance requiring a comprehensive knowledge of crystallography and mineralogy are indeed many. The applications of the methods and truths of our science are constantly increasing and if America is to assume leadership in this great field it can be most speedily and advantageously accomplished through the friendly cooperation of the members of an organization such as this. EDWARD H. KRAUS MINERALOGICAL LABORATORY, SEX IN THE TREMATODE FAMILY THE trematode family Schistosomidæ in addition to containing three species which produce important human diseases, viz., Schistosoma hæmatobium, S. mansoni, and S. japonicum, is interesting because it is the only group of the trematodes in which the sexes are separate in the adult stage, which lives in the vertebrate. In this stage there is an extreme sexual dimorphism, the structure of the male being adapted for grasping the female in the gynæcophoric canal during copulation and the female having a very long slender body. The complete life cycles of the three human species of this family have been worked out in the last seven years, making it now possible to attack the problems related to the determination of sex and the development of sexual dimorphism. Just what is involved in these problems can 1 From the department of medical zoology of the school of hygiene and public health of the Johns Hopkins University. perhaps be made clear by a The first question which |