SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS

In accordance with the suggestions of the health authorities, several meetings of the scientific societies, regularly scheduled to be held in October, were postponed, on account of the rapid spread of influenza in the city. Among the meetings for which programs had been arranged were those of the Philosophical Society on October 12 and of the Chemical Society on October 10.

Members of the British Educational Mission visited Washington on October 14-18, 1918. The visiting members were: Sir ARTHUR EVERETT SHIPLEY, of Christ's College, University of Cambridge; Sir HENRY MIERS, of the University of Manchester; Rev. EDW. MEWBURN WALKER; Sir HENRY JONES, of the University of Glasgow; Dr. JOHN JOLY, of Trinity College, Dublin; Miss CAROLINE SPURGEON, of the University of London; and Miss ROSE SIDGWICK, of the University of Birmingham.

During the past summer a number of professors of physics have been cooperating with the Bureau of Standards in writing a text book on radio communication. This book is to be used at the various training schools established by the Signal Corps for training radio electricians. Among those who were engaged in this work, and who have recently returned to their respective colleges to resume teaching, are: Prof. F. W. GROVER, of Colby College; Prof. H. M. ROYAL, of Clarkson College of Technology; Prof. G. M. SMITH, of Purdue; and Prof. L. B. WHEELER, of Yale.

Prof. E. C. BINGHAM, of Lafayette College, has returned to take up his work as Professor of Chemistry there. During the past summer he has been in Washington engaged in an investigation of the lubricating oils used in aviation engines.

Prof. A. D. COLE has returned to Ohio State University after spending the summer at the Bureau of Standards, where he has been engaged in research on vacuum tubes.

Prof. G. F. WITTIG, formerly of the University of Pennsylvania, and Mr. G. C. SOUTHWORTH, of the Bureau of Standards, have resigned to take up the teaching of intensive courses in radio now being given by the Signal Corps at Yale University.

Mr. Roy O. FITCH, of the Bureau of Standards, died on October 13, 1918, of complications resulting from an attack of influenza. Mr. Fitch was born in Oregon in 1891, graduated from the University of Oregon in 1912, and entered the government service in 1913 as junior chemist. His work was chiefly on bituminous materials of construction, and he had been engaged recently on war problems connected with the manufacture of prepared roofings for the cantonments and the treatment of the hulls of concrete ships. He was a member of the Chemical Society.

Mr. THOMAS BARTLETT FORD, associate physicist at the Bureau of Standards, died on October 1, 1918, of pneumonia resulting from influenza. Mr. FORD was born October 4, 1882, graduated from the University of Kansas in 1904, and entered the government service in 1907. He had been for several years in charge of the low-temperature laboratory of the Bureau, including the liquid air and liquid hydrogen apparatus, and had devoted considerable attention to the separation. of the rare gases. He was a member of the Chemical and Philosophical Societies of Washington.

Prof. DAVID ERNEST LANTZ, assistant biologist in the Biological Survey, U. S. Department of Agriculture, died on October 7, 1918, of pneumonia following influenza, at the age of 63. Prof. Lantz was born in Pennsylvania, March 1, 1855. He was associated with the secondary schools of Kansas and with the Kansas State Agricultural College until 1904, when he became a member of the Biological Survey. He was a member and former secretary of the Biological Society of Washington. His publications were concerned chiefly with ornithology and economic mammalogy.

Dr. HARRISON E. PATTEN, of the Bureau of Chemistry, Department of Agriculture, has been commissioned a captain in the Quartermaster Corps.

Mr. GEORGE A. RANKIN, of the American University Experiment Station, has been commissioned a captain in the Chemical Warfare Service.

Prof. J. E. ROWE has returned to Pennsylvania State College after having spent the summer at the Bureau of Standards working on problems connected with airplane radiator design.

Mr. E. W. SHAW, of the Geological Survey, has been appointed an internal revenue agent under the Treasury Department, and is chairman of the committee on natural gas taxation.

Mr. H. C. RAVEN, of the Smithsonian Institution, who for three years has been collecting mammals and birds in Celebes, arrived in Washington September 28.