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History and Method of Science. The first volume of this work was issued by the Oxford University Press in 1917. I understand that the second volume is now ready for the press and Dr. Singer tells me that he hopes to share with me the editorial responsibilities of the third and succeeding volumes. Thus, Isis and the Studies would be supplementary one to the other, and between them would provide suitable outlet for new work on the history and philosophy of science.

GEORGE SARTON

CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON

A STEADY CALENDAR

If

TO THE EDITOR OF SCIENCE: The interruption of our recent scientific meetings by the coming of Sunday in the middle of the (Christmas) week-a reputed impossibility that happens every five or six years-is one of the many inconveniences that we half-consciously endure as the result of inheriting a varying calendar from the unscientific past. in adopting any one of the many improved calendars that have been proposed, we should annually sacrifice upon the altar of reason a single day in ordinary years and two days in leap years, as extra days without week-day names, then Christmas and New Years would always fall on the same day of the week; and by waiting to begin the sacrifice until those holidays come on a Saturday or a Monday, the scientific meetings of the last five days of the year, which have become so well established among us, would never thereafter be broken in half by an interrupting Sunday. Home celebrations and scientific meetings would both profit by the change. How can we best bring it about?

CAMBRIDGE, MASS., January 4, 1919

W. M. DAVIS

SCIENTIFIC BOOKS Forced Movements, Tropisms and Animal Conduct. By J. LOEB. Philadelphia. 1918. Pp. 209, 42 figs.

The scope and character of this volume are in large part explained by the fact that it is

offered as one of a series of monographs in which it is proposed to cover the field of recent developments in biology. The announced titles of the volumes scheduled to follow this first number deal, not so much with rational divisions of the science, as with those particular phases of physiology that have been the subjects of investigation at the hands of the respective writers. This general plan, already justified by its success in the treatment of modern advances in physical and biological chemistry, and in human physiology, necessarily results in a less closely coordinated system of monographs when applied to physiology proper the latest of the sciences to acquire a realization of the analytical significance of quantitative methods of thought.

The first volume of the proposed series, then, endeavors to present within the space of some 170 pages a concise statement of the theory of tropisms, their origin in forced movements under various forms of activation, and their importance for the analysis of animal conduct, including that of Homo. Much of the matter discussed is, of course, no longer new; about half the content of the book is already familiar from the author's similar article in Winterstein's "Handbuch," and other publications; but as a compact, clear, and characteristically vigorous statement of the essential quantitative data upon which the tropism doctrine now rests, the book is welcome and in the main satisfying. In the introductory section it is pointed out that tropistic phenomena, depending upon the orientations of the animal as a whole, rather than the segmental reflexes, must be made the starting point for the analysis of conduct; that these tropistic orientations must first be studied in the behavior of bilateral animals; and that the key to the understanding of tropisms lies in forced movements initiated through differential tensions in symmetrical contractile elements of the body, not in the distinction of "pleasure" from "pain." It is only on such a basis, so far as we know, that quantitative laws may be deduced adequate for the description of behavior. This procedure is illustrated partic

ularly in the discussion of phototropism, for which the experimental evidence is the most comprehensive.

Doubtless the portion of the book liable to excite the most general interest is that dealing with "Instincts" and "Memory images and tropisms." The author's views on these topics, now well known, are here incisively restated, and on some points extended. It is held that the preservative instincts are tropisms; and that the "problem of free will" is essentially solved through recognition of the orienting influence of memory images-which, being in man multitudinous, render impossible the prediction of individual behavior. The orienting powers of memory images afford an inviting topic for research, and one as yet very inadequately explored.

Two directions in which the results of tropistic analysis are of use to the naturalist are not so fully developed as one might wish: the value of determinate behavior in animals as a starting point for the experimental investigation of irritability, and the significance of the physical viewpoint for the analysis of organic phenomena as actually seen in nature. The limitations of space, however, have compelled great brevity of treatment. Nevertheless, the reader of this book should succeed in gaining fast hold of the conception that mere complexity is no bar to ultimate clarity of understanding in these matters; and should, in addition, acquire a healthy distrust toward the indiscriminate application of "laboratory results" to field conditions. The tropism doctrine, in other words, is in no sense an artificial simplification of "animal behavior." In this connection, specifically, the book will be particularly valuable as an introductory manual for students. To the investigator, already familiar with these ideas (it is to be presumed, but not in all instances correctly), the book has less new material to offer.

A bibliography of some 554 entries, not very well arranged and comprising some repetitions, together with a brief index of two and a quarter pages, complete the book. It is stated, rather bluntly, that the bibliography intentionally excludes "controversial and amateur

ish publications," and to that extent it should prove a useful guide. The citations are less complete for the years since 1911 than for the preceding period. No attempt has been made to critically discuss the contents of the publications listed, which is in many respects a blessing; for it is as a unitary presentation of the author's views that the monograph will be read with interest by all workers in this field. W. J. CROZIER

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO

THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF

AMERICA

THE thirty-first annual meeting of the Geological Society of America was held in the rooms of the Department of Geology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md., on Friday and Saturday, December 27-28, 1918, under the presidency of Dr. Whitman Cross of the United States Geological Survey.

The following program was presented:

Geology as a basis of citizenship: JOSEPH POGUE. (Read by title.)

Sources of and tendencies in American geology: JOSEPH BArrell.

Geology as a synthetic science: WARREN D. SMITH. (Read by title.)

The United States Geological Survey as a civic in-
stitution during the war: SIDNEY PAIGE.
The military contribution of civilian engineers:
GEORGE OTIS SMITH.

Presentation of geological information for engi
neering purposes: T. WAYLAND VAUGHAN.
Engineering geology in and after the war:
CHARLES P. BERKEY.

Geology in the Students Army Training Corps:

HERBERT E. GREGORY.

Cooperation in geological instruction: HERBERT E. GREGORY.

Map making, map reading and physiography in the training of men for the army and navy: WALLACE W. ATWOOD.

War work by the department of geology at the University of Oregon: WARREN D. SMITH. (Read by title.)

Recent earthquakes of Porto Rico: HARRY F. REID and STEPHEN W. TABER.

Structure of the Pacific ranges of California: BAILEY WILLIS.

Migration of geo-synclines: AMADEUS W. GRabau.

Geotectonic adaptation through retardation of the earth's rotation: CHARLES R. KEYES. (Read by title.)

Late Mississippian orogenic movements in North America: FRANCIS M. VAN TUYL and RAYMOND C. MOORE. (Read by title.)

Post-glacial uplift of the New England coastal region: HERMAN L. FAIRCHILD. (Read by title.) Topographic features of the Hudson Valley and the question of post-glacial marine waters in the Hudson-Champlain Valley: JAMES H. STOller. Subterranean "chalk-streams" of northern France: EDWARD MOORE BURWASH. (Read by title.)

The relative efficiency of normative and modal classifications of igneous rocks: EDWARD B. MATHEWS.

Pegmatite, silexite and aplite dikes of northern New York: WILLIAM J. MILLER.

Magnetic iron ore deposits of Clinton County, New York: WILLIAM J. MILLER.

High grade clays of the United States: H. RIES. Occurrence and origin of white clays at Saylorsburg, Monroe County, Pa.: F. B. PECK. (Read by title.)

Oil geology in relation to valuation: RALPH ARNOLD. (Read by title.)

Rock products and the war: G. F. LOUGHLIN. Manganese ore as a war mineral: D. F. HEWETT. World view of mineral wealth: JOSEPH B. UMPLEBY.

Internationalization of mineral resources: C. K.

LEITH.

Commercial control of the mineral resources of the world: JOSIAH E. SPURr.

The economic limits to domestic independence in minerals: GEORGE O. SMITH. Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau, London, England: WILLET G. MILLER. (Read by title.) Some problems of international readjustment of mineral supplies as indicated in recent foreign literature: ELEANORA F. BLISS. (Introduced by C. K. Leith.)

War time development of the optical industry: F. E. WRIGHT.

Geologic and present climates: MARSDEN MANSON.

(Introduced by E. O. Hovey.) (Read by title.) Conditions of deposition of some Tertiary petroliferous sediments: AMADEUS W. GRABAU. (Read by title.)

Phosphate rock an economic army: R. W. STONE. Prevailing stratigraphic relationships of the bedded

phosphate deposits of Europe, North Africa and North America: AMADEUS W. GRABAU. (Read by title.)

Principles in the determination of boundaries: A. P. BRIGHAM.

Geographic descriptions of army cantonments and of United States boundary regions: M. R. CAMPBELL. (Read by title.)

The Signal Corps school of meteorology: OLIVER L. FASSIG. (Introduced by N. M. Fenneman.) The American topographer in the rôle of artillery orientation officer: F. E. MATTHES.

A method of aerial topographic mapping: FRED H. MOFFIT.

Mexican petroleum and the war: E. W. SHAW. (Read by title.)

American mapping in France: GLENN S. SMITH. Military mapping-a plane table: ALAN BATEMAN. (Read by title.)

The sand chrome deposits of Maryland: JOSEPH T. SINGEWALD, Jr.

The Cartersville potash slates, their economic relation to chemical and industrial post-war development: T. POOLE MAYNARD. (Read by title.)

The anticlinal theory as applied to some quicksilver deposits: JOHAN A. Udden.

Crystalline graphite deposits of Alabama: WILLIAM F. PROUTY. (Read by title.)

Evidence as to the age of the semi-crystalline and crystalline rocks: WILLIAM F. PROUTY. (Read by title.)

Contributions to the origin of dolomite: W. A. TARR. (Read by title.)

The magnesite industry: R. W. STONE.

Although the number in attendance at the meeting of the society was not as great as at some of the eastern meetings there were about one hundred and twenty-five members and guests registered. The papers presented were interesting and valuable, and the days were crowded with events.

Luncheon was secured each day, together with the American Association for the Advancement of Science and other affiliated societies, in the Machinery Hall of the university.

Friday evening was occupied with the subscription smoker at which was held a round table discussion, presided over by Professor Bailey Willis, on Cooperation in Geological Instruction" led by Professor Herbert E. Gregory and participated in by Professors George F. Kay, Charles P. Berkey, J. C. Merriam and William M. Davis.

The annual dinner of the society held jointly with the Paleontological Society and the Association of American Geographers was held, under the chairmanship of President Whitman Cross, at the Southern Hotel on the evening of Saturday. Ad

dresses were made by Professor Merriam, Dr. Henry M. Ami and Professor William M. Davis. The evening was closed with the reading of the presidential address by Dr. Cross, entitled "Geology in the War and After," and followed by the address of the retiring vice-president of Section E of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, George H. Perkins, entitled "Physiography of Vermont."

The officers for the ensuing year, beginning at the close of the Baltimore meeting, are as follows: President J. C. MERRIAM.

Vice-presidents-R. A. PENROSE, JR., HERBERT E. GREGORY, ROBERT T. JACKSON.

Secretary-EDMUND OTIS HOVEY. Treasurer-EDWARD B. MATHEWS. Editor-JOSEPH STANLEY-BROWN. Councilors, 1919-1921-WILLIAM EUGENE W. SHAW.

THE

S. BAYLEY,

EDMUND OTIS HOVEY, Secretary

AMERICAN PHYTOPATHOLOG

ICAL SOCIETY

THE tenth annual meeting of the society was held in Gilman Hall, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md., December 23-28, 1918, in affiliation with the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Botanical Society of America.

The pro

About fifty members were present. gram was devoted chiefly to project conferences and reports of the War Emergency Board, accounts of which will be distributed separately. Sixteen papers were presented at the regular sessions, abstracts of these appeared in the January number of Phytopathology. Twenty-nine new members were elected.

Joint sessions were held with Section G of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and also with the Botanical Society of America.

The followng officers were elected:

President-C. L. SHEAR, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.

Vice-president-I. E. MELHUS, Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa.

Secretary-treasurer-G. R. LYMAN, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.

Councilor for two years-DONALD REDDICK, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.

Associate Editors for three years-GEO. L. PELTIER, Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn, Alabama; F. D. HEALD, Agricultural Experiment

Station, Pullman, Washington; J. E. HowITT, Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, and J. B. S. NORTON, Maryland State College, College Park, Maryland.

Business Manager of Phytopathology—G. R. LYMAN.

The society decided to hold its next annual meeting at St. Louis, Mo., in conjunction with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, December 29, 1919, to January 3, 1920.

Besides the papers presented at the War Emergency Board Conferences the following were read Saturday, December 28:

The Physoderma disease of corn: W. W. TISDALE. Macrosporium solani on tomato fruit: Jos. ROSEN

BAUM.

Notes on the rusts of the Piñon pines: ELLSWORTH BETHEL, N. REX HUNT.

Hot water seed treatment for blackleg of cabbage: J. B. S. NORTON.

Fungi which decay weaveshed roofs (with lan tern): R. J. BLAIR.

Resistance in the American chestnut to the Endothia canker (with lantern): A. H. GRAVES. Investigations of white pine blister rust, 1918: PERLEY SPAULDING.

Isolation of fungi from manufactured sugars: NICHOLAS KOPELOFF.

On Wednesday evening, December 25, there was a dinner and a special program in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the organization of the society. The following papers were presented: Our journal, "Phytopathology": L. R. JONES. The first decade of the society: C. L. SHEAR.

The reading of these papers was followed by a general discussion of society problems and relations which proved interesting and valuable.

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TUITION

The charge for tuition is $250 per annum, payable in three instalments. There are no extra fees except for rental of microscope, certain expensive supplies, and laboratory breakage.

The annua! announcement, application blanks, and circular describing graduate courses may be obtained by addressing the

Washington University

School of Medicine

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION

Candidates for entrance are required to have completed at least two full years of college work which must include English, German, and instruction with laboratory work in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

INSTRUCTION

Instruction begins on the last Thursday in September and ends on the second Thursday in June. Clinical instruction is given in the Barnes Hospital and the St. Louis Children's Hospital, affiliated with the medical school, the St. Louis City Howpital, and in the Washington University Dispensary

COURSES LEADING TO ACADEMIC
DEGREES

Students who have taken their premedical work in Washington University, are eligible for the degree of B.S. upon the completion of the first two years of medical work.

Students in Washington University may pursue study in the fundamental medical sciences leading to the degree of A.M. and Ph.D.

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Admission: Four years of high school work, with 15 units. Thorough, practical, as well as comprehensive technical training in dentistry.

Women admitted to all Schools on the same terms as men.

For catalogs and all other information, address BALTIMORE, MD. TULANE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

Dear of the Johns Hopkins Medical School Washington and Monument St.

P. O. Box 770, New Orleans, La.

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