The laboratory and the clinic have collaborated as never before and the future is full of promise.

Under these conditions it has been my privilege to give you encouragement and a bit of counsel, and I feel indebted for the opportunity. HENRY H. DONALDSON

WILLIAM ERSKINE KELLICOTT A CONSTANTLY lengthening list of scientific men who have surrendered their lives in varied war services, or in that harder, more exacting fight with microbial enemies, is one of those news columns which our eyes have come to scan with a strange mingling of suspense and unwilling, silent complacency. The world, and each of us in it, has become immeasurably poorer because of this great drain upon potential mental energy; and the lost men, as a rule, have had capacities for friendship directly commensurate with their intellectual powers. Not a few American zoologists were particularly moved by a recent item of this sort; and to the list we are now compelled to append the name of William Erskine Kellicott, who was taken away by pneumonia, after illness of a week, at his home, in Hastings-on-Hudson, N. Y., January 29, 1919. Though but forty years of age, he, among scientists, teachers, critics and friends, had become to many their great, to some their greatest, satisfaction.

His career may be briefly summarized as follows: he was born in Buffalo, N. Y., April 5, 1878, the son of David Simmons Kellicott and Valeria Erskine Stowell. His father, at that time, was head of the science department in the Buffalo State Normal School. His earlier educational training was received entirely at home, so that he began his high school studies, at the age of twelve years, directly from his mother's tuition. This occurred at Columbus, Ohio, the second year of his father's appointment to the chair of biology in Ohio State University. After completion of his high school course, he entered the university, from which he received the degree of Ph.B. in 1898, with election to Sigma Xi. Later, on organization of a chapter

chosen to that society also.

His undergraduate work was shaped and pursued with entire reference to a future career in surgery; but his father's death in his senior year changed this cherished plan, and he spent his first post-graduate year in teaching biological subjects in the high school at Marysville, Ohio. The following summer he was a student in the invertebrate zoology course at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass., and it was at this time that Kellicott decided to devote his energies to zoological science. In the autumn of 1899 be began graduate study at Columbia University, and received the doctorate in 1904, his major thesis being entitled "The Development of the Vascular and Respiratory Systems of Ceratodus." The following positions were occupied by him for the term of years indicated:

In Barnard College, assistant in zoology, '01-'02; tutor, '02-'05; instructor, '05-'06. In Goucher College, professor of biology, '06-'18.

In College of the City of New York, professor of biology, '18-.

In the Marine Biological Laboratory, instructor in embryology, '11, '12, '14; in charge of the embryology course, '15—.

For the year 1912-13 he was fellow of the Kahn Foundation for the Foreign Travel of American Teachers, and as such was enabled to visit many European countries and numerous centers of interest in Siberia, China, Japan and India. His report to the foundation offers interesting proof of his discriminating analysis of human nature.

In July, 1918, he resigned as assistant statistician of the U. S. Food Administration, having served one year; during this time he devised and put into operation a thorough and efficient system of gathering data from dealers in food all over the country, definitely stamping the square dealer and the profiteer.

He was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a member of the American Society of Zoologists, of the American Naturalists, and of the New York Academy of Sciences.

On September 11, 1901, he was married to Mary Chappel Hicks, of Columbus, Ohio. Their daughter, Janet, fourteen, is now busy with her high school studies.

Not taking into consideration the devotion and thoughtfulness which characterized his home life, the main enthusiasm of this man was in the field of science; and this for the simple reason that he could tolerate nothing except truth. Keenly appreciative of language and literature, still he felt them to be of special value as being a means of giving expression to some sort or phase of truth. As an investigator he very sharply discriminated between the significant and the pointless, a clear, long perspective stretching out before the former, while the latter was given little patience. Kellicott had not chosen a particular problem as his special zoological interest; his research contributed to our knowledge of cytology, normal embryology, correlation, growth measurements, animal breeding and factors influencing development. A second paper dealing with the last-named question was in process of writing at the time of his death. He often reprimanded himself for thus not concentrating his investigative effort, and he doubtless would have selected a special field ere long; but ever insistent with him was the conviction that he must school himself in the current zoological movements of the day, that he might be the better trained and speak and think out of his own experiences. Exacting, though always kindly, in his teaching, he prescribed an even greater degree of discipline for himself. Assumption was seldom a mental experience with him. The following quotation is one of his own selection-" Surely, if there is any knowledge which is of most worth, it is knowledge of the ways by which anything is entitled to be called knowledge, instead of being mere opinion, or guesswork, or dogma” (Dewey).

As a teacher Kellicott instinctively knew the art of making subject matter appeal because of its own intrinsic significance; he did not obscure it by obtruding mannerisms or his own personality. Seldom is a man given a greater degree of loyalty by his students, or for better reasons, than was he. As a participant in ad

ministrative matters, he was broad-minded, simultaneously unafraid and cooperating, independent of precedent and practise where these seemed wasteful or obstructive. His influence seemed uniformly disproportionate to the length of his service and his academic title.

Kellicott's nature was too large to permit expression in one field alone. It was magnetically drawn toward the beautiful in music, in art, in the sculpture and adornment of nature's earth, and in human nature. His capacity for friendship was exceptional; companions of his own age felt themselves rich in the resources which were his; his seniors, startled by his passing, have become aware of how large a place he occupied in their confidence. One of them has written: "I didn't really know how much I loved the lad. I had formed the habit, unconscious till now, of thinking to myself, 'How would that strike Kellicott?'"

Side by side with his straight directness in thought and action, there dwelt a subtle, copious humor, an unstinted unselfishness and generosity, a buoyant gladness, which, as he "dwelt by the side of the road" of human lives, made him, in uncommon degree, "a friend to man."

It is better, and more just, that we do not circumscribe and limit the loss which has come upon science, the teaching profession, and upon his widening circle of friends by attempting to define in words the significance of the death of William Erskine Kellicott. "He is so vivid a man that he defends himself in your own mind against misinterpretation."

ROBERT A. BUDINGTON

SCIENTIFIC EVENTS

THE DIRECTORSHIP OF THE BRITISH
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

SIR LAZARUS FLETCHER retired on March 3 from the directorship of the Natural History Museum after forty-one years in its service. Previous to his appointment as director in 1909, he had served two years as assistant and twenty-nine years as keeper in the Mineral Department. In connecton with the appointment of his successor Nature prints the follow

ing letter signed by twenty-three distinguished naturalists:

The director of the British Museum (Natural History) is about to retire, and we learn with deep apprehension that the principal trustees, with whom the appointment rests, have received, or are about to receive, from the general body of trustees a recommendation to pass over the claims of scientific men and to appoint a lay official, who is at present assistant secretary. The former directors, Sir Richard Owen, Sir William Flower, and Sir Ray Lankester, like the present director, Sir Lazarus Fletcher, were all distinguished scientific men. The Natural History Museum is a scientific institution. There is a large staff of scientific keepers and assistants. The director has to represent natural history to the public, to other scientific institutions at home, in the dominions and colonies, and in foreign countries, and to the many government departments with which the museum has relations. He must represent it with knowledge and authority. There are few posts with such possibilities of advancing the natural history sciences, of making them useful to the nation and of interpreting them to the public. The existence of the post is a great stimulus to the zeal and ambition of zoologists and geologists.

The arguments alleged in favor of the recommendation are trivial. It is stated that a former director was allowed by the trustees to leave the administrative details to the member of the clerical staff whom it is proposed to promote, that he performed these duties with ability, and during the tenure of the present director retained and extended his powers. It is urged that the tenure of the new director would be short, as he would have to retire in two years under the age limit. It is pleaded that promotion would entitle him to a larger pension, and that he need not be called director, but only acting-director.

In

Plainly, if the assistant secretary be the only man who knows the details of administration, it is important that the permanent director should be appointed at once, in order to have the opportunity of learning them before taking them over. actual fact there is nothing in the administrative work of the directorship that could not be learned in a few weeks or months by any person of ordinary intelligence. At least two of the present keepers are eligible for the vacancy, have attained

would be an affront to scientific men and of grave detriment to science.

THE INYO RANGE AND THE MOUNT WHITNEY REGION

THE Inyo Range, the Mount Whitney region and Owens Valley, which lies between these two ranges, in eastern California, are described in a report just issued by the United States Geological Survey, as Professional Paper 110 by Adolf Knopf. This region is off the main lines of travel and is not so well known as other parts of the state, but when the roads and railway facilities are improved, Owens Valley, which affords the easiest access to the region, will. certainly become famous for its magnificent scenery. The Sierra Nevada, which reaches its highest point in Mount Whitney, forms the west wall of Owens Valley, and as it rises abruptly above the valley without intervening foothills the range displays its majestic height far more imposingly here than anywhere else along its course. The top of the Sierra Nevada is readily accessible by trails that start from the pleasant towns of Lone Pine, Independence, Big Pine and Bishop. Good roads extend into the heart of the range from Bishop, the chief town in Owens Valley, so that an automobile trip of hardly more than an hour will take the traveler to the headwaters of Bishop Creek, whose profoundly glaciated canyons and spacious amphitheaters are among the most impressive in the entire range. The country west of the crest of this part of the Sierra Nevada is included in the proposed Roosevelt National Park.

The region is rich in mineral resourcessilver, lead, zinc, tungsten, gold and marbleand the waters of Owens Lake yield soda and other chemicals. The mines at Cerro Gordo, in the Inyo Range, have produced more silverlead ore than any other mine in California, their output of base bullion between 1869 and 1877 amounting to $7,000,000. After those

experience of the museum itself. To pass over these or several eminent and eligible men not on the staff in favor of one of the ordinary office staff

in recent years they have been reopened, and Cerro Gordo has again become California's foremost producer of lead ore.

In 1913 large bodies of tungsten ore were discovered in the Tungsten Hills, west of Bishop. They remained practically unknown until the spring of 1916, when outside interests bought them and began to develop them energetically. By midsummer two mills had been completed and were in active operation, and the district has since supplied a large quantity of tungsten. Geologic conditions similar to those in the Tungsten Hills prevail over a wide extent of country along the east slope of the Sierra Nevada. The places of contact of the intrusive granites with other rock, shown in the geologic maps accompanying the paper, are the most likely places to prospect for other similar bodies of tungsten ore.

THE JOURNAL OF “NATURAL HISTORY" THE Journal of the American Museum of Natural History will hereafter be known as Natural History, being edited as hitherto by Miss Mary Cynthia Dickerson, curator of woods and forestry. The change is announced as follows:

Attention is called to the change in title of this magazine from American Museum Journal to the old, honorable and historical name Natural History. A change has been contemplated for two years or more, partly to avoid confusion with other publications known as "Museum Journals" and partly because the magazine for these years has not restricted itself to a consideration of the American Museum's work and interests. As expressed many times by the editor in letters to contributors, the magazine would like to feel that it stands as a medium of expression between authoritative science in America and the people, a place for publication of readable articles on the results of the scientific research and thought of the nation for people who are not technically trained. These people have neither time nor desire to pore over technical, unreadable articles, but nevertheless are intelligently, practically and often profoundly interested. Natural History would like to stand for the highest type of authoritative natural history, expressed by the investigators themselves, by explorers, by the accurate observers in laboratory or field. In addition it desires to interpret the technical publications of our scientific thinkers, if not by popular articles by the same authors, then through reviews by other well-known scientific thinkers, these "re

views" being, as suggested, readable discussions of the given subject apropos of the technical work. It would also of course report phases of the educational work being accomplished by the scientific departments of the United States government and by the various scientific institutions of the country, especially those of the museum type.

There has been so much shallow, inaccurate, "popular" science, nature study and natural history, written by persons untrained in science and with distorted imaginations, that a prejudice still remains in the minds of some scientists against putting their observations and conclusions, even when of great value for the layman, into readable form. But the time of such suspicion and condemnation against the mere form of expression of an idea is well-nigh past, and the greatest scientific men of the country are daily proving their willingness and desire to write in a way to be understood not only by the trained technical man, but also by the man with no knowledge of the shorthand of the scientific vocabulary.

We need especially to have a knowledge of nature and science to-day. The day of necessity has come for conservation of the world's natural resources and preservation of animals fast becoming extinct; there is seen approaching the time of conscious control of evolution; and just ordinary culture demands in the present decade knowledge of science in addition to what it has always demanded in literature, music and art. And these reasons do not take account of the added joy in life that comes from a knowledge of nature. We people of to-day need to know the book of the earth, to study it as a Bible, feeling the divinity in it. Natural History hopes to meet this need in part.

DEGREES IN PUBLIC HEALTH

In view of the importance of arriving at some measure of standardization for the various degrees and certificates offered in the field of public health, Yale University invited a group of representatives from neighboring universities to confer in regard to the matter at New Haven on February 28, 1919. Johns Hopkins University was represented by Dr. W. H. Welch, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology by Professor W. T. Sedgwick, Harvard University by Dr. M. J. Rosenau, New York University by W. H. Park, and the University of Pennsylvania by Dr. H. F. Smyth; while Yale University was repre

sented by a special committee from the Graduate School, including Professor S. E. Barney. Professor L. B. Mendel, Professor L. F. Winternitz and Professor C.-E. A. Winslow.

After very full discussion of the various points involved the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:

1. That the degree of Doctor of Public Health (for which the abbreviation should be Dr.P.H.) for graduates in medicine should normally be awarded after two years of work done under academic direction, of which one year at least should be in residence; and that the requirements for the degree should include class work, practical field work, and an essay based on individual study of a particular problem.

2. That the degree of Doctor of Philosophy or Doctor of Science in Public Health or Hygiene should be conferred upon students who hold the bachelor's degree from a college or technical school of recognized standing, and have satisfactorily completed not less than three years of graduate study. It is understood that this degree is based upon the fundamental sciences associated with hygiene and public health, including a knowledge of physics, chemistry, general biology, anatomy, physiology, physiological chemistry, pathology and bacteriology, in addition to the thesis and other usual requirements for the Ph.D .or Sc.D degree.

3. That the Certificate in Public Health should be granted for not less than one academic year of work to those who have received a bachelor's degree from a recognized college or technical school, or have satisfactorily completed two years of work in a recognized medical school, provided they have

perimental physics at the University of Cambridge, but has offered to continue his services in the promotion and direction of research work in physics without stipend.

COLONEL WILLIAM H. WELCH, of the Johns Hopkins University, has sailed for France, where he will attend the health conference of the International Red Cross.

THE following fifteen candidates have been nominated by the council of the Royal Society for election into the society: Professor F. A. Bainbridge, Dr. G. Barger, Dr. S. Chapman, Sir C. F. Close, Dr. J. W. Evans, Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice, Dr. G. S. Graham-Smith, Mr. E. Heron-Allen, Dr. W. D. Matthew, Dr. C. G. Seligman, Professor B. D. Steele, Major G. I. Taylor, Professor G. N. Watson, Dr. J. C. Willis and Professor T. B. Wood.

FELLOWS of the Royal Society of Edinburgh have been elected as follows: Dr. A. R. Cushny, Dr. W. J. Dundus, Dr. R. O. Morris, Dr. T. S. Patterson, Mr. B. D. Porritt, Mr. A. H. Roberts, Mr. W. A. Robertson, Dr. A. Scott, Dr. A. R. Scott, Mr. W. W. Smith and Captain D. A. Stevenson.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIR CHARLES H. BURTCHAELL, K.C.B., director-general of the British Army Medical Service in France, has received the honorary degree of LL.D. of the University of Dublin, from which he graduated in 1889. He has also received the honorary fel

chemistry, general biology and general bacteriology.

4. That the degree of Bachelor of Science in Public Health or Hygiene should be given for the completion of a four years course, the last two years of which have been devoted to the fundamental sciences associated with hygiene and public health.

5. That the authorities having the appointment of health officials be urged to give preference so far as possible to persons holding degrees or certificates in public health or hygiene.

SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS

SIR J. J. THOMSON has expressed his desire to resign the Cavendish professorship of ex

Ireland.