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SCIENTIFIC BOOKS

Lectures on Nutrition-delivered under the Auspices of the Washington Academy of Sciences. Published at Washington, D. C.,

1916.

This is a reprint, in collected form, of a series of four published lectures given under the auspices of the Washington Academy of Sciences, during April, 1916, with which is included, as an introduction, the address of the retiring president of the Chemical Society of Washington, Dr. C. L. Alsberg, which was given before a joint meeting of the Chemical Society and the academy.

The address of Dr. Alsberg, entitled "The Biochemical Analysis of Nutrition," reviews recent contribution to the knowledge of the component parts of the food elements and their fate in metabolism, especial attention being given to the investigations of the rôle of amino acids in nutrition.

"The Basal Food Requirement of Man," by E. F. DuBois, considers the basal energy requirements of man, the manner in which metabolism is studied, and the factors by which it is influenced under conditions of health and disease.

"Nutrition and Food Economics," by Graham Lusk, gives statistical data regarding the amount of protein and the fuel value of food consumed by people living under extremely varied conditions. This lecture also refers to a dietary study, carried out by F. C. Gephart, in a private boarding school for boys. The author also emphasizes the need of including on the label of package foods the number of calories furnished by their contents.

"Investigations on the Mineral Metabolism of Animals," by E. B. Forbes, presents some of the conclusions, with reference to the rôle of mineral elements of foods, which were drawn from extensive studies of the chemistry of foods and metabolism experiments with swine and milch cows, data being included regarding the iodin content of foods.

In "The Relation of the Vitamins to Nutrition in Health and Disease," by C. Voegtlin, the author outlines recent advances in the science of nutrition, with special reference to

the importance in the diet of small amounts of the so-called accessory food substances essential for the maintenance of health. The topics. considered are the deficiency disease, beriberi; the chemical isolation and chemical properties of vitamins and their physiological action; and the distribution of vitamins in foods. The factors which tend to reduce the vitamin content of the diet are also discussed at length.

This compilation of lectures brings together a great deal of useful information and constitutes a handy reference book for investigators and students in nutrition.

C. F. LANGWORTHY

Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalane in the British Museum. Supplement. Vol. I. Catalogue of the Amatida and Arctiada (Nolina and Lithosiana) in the collection of the British Museum. By SIR GEORGE F. HAMPSON, Bart. London. 1914. Pp. xxviii +858.

In this large volume all the new species are treated that have been made known since the publication of Vol. I. (1898) and Vol. II. (1900) of this series of catalogues or, more properly, monographs. The family name Amatidæ is a change from Syntomidæ, formerly used, on the ground that the generic name Amata Fab. has priority over Syntomis Ochs. There are many synonymic references and corrections of generic locations all of which will be extremely useful as aids to identification of species. 330 genera and 2,002 species are referred to, of which 10 genera and 43 species represent new forms described from America. A separate volume of 41 colored plates accompanies the work.

HARRISON G. DYAR

SPECIAL ARTICLES

THE REARING OF DROSOPHILA AMPELOPHILA LOEW ON SOLID MEDIA

DURING the course of some experiments on Drosophila which one of us was performing, it became necessary to observe the beginning of oviposition. It is impossible to see the

eggs and difficult to see the larvæ in the mass of fermenting banana ordinarily used in rearing Drosophila. For this reason and for many others one can clearly see what the advantages of a transparent solid medium might be.

Banana agar was made as follows: Five or six bananas were mashed up in 500 c.c. of water. This was allowed to infuse on ice over night, after which the liquid was passed through cheesecloth. Powdered agar-agar was then added in the proportion of 1 grams to 100 c.c. of the banana infusion. This was then heated until the agar had dissolved. The liquid was next filtered through a thin layer

of absorbent cotton into test tubes. The tubes were then plugged, sterilized and slanted in the customary manner.

Media so prepared are quite transparent. Greater transparency may be obtained, of course, by repeated filtration, but this removes too much from the food value. The slanted tubes give about 6-7 c.c. of food with a feeding surface of about 15 sq. cm.

Adult Drosophila are inserted into the tubes. The tubes are then incubated at 35° C. or kept in some other warm place. In a day or two the small white eggs may be seen deposited everywhere on the surface of the agar. In a day or two more the eggs hatch and the small larvæ can be seen working in the medium. The average number of days required to complete the cycle on the agar from egg to adult is about thirteen. This is three days longer than the average number of days required on the ordinary fermenting banana mash. This means that the amount of available food is too low.

That this is the case is further shown by the fact that some of the larvæ die prior to pupation, and that the flies are somewhat undersized. It is highly probable that the amount of food may be increased by the use of some concentrated form of food like banana flour. An increase of the feeding surface may likewise help.

We have also succeeded in rearing Drosophila on potato agar. The average number of days required to complete the life cycle is 15 on this medium. The flies are very much

smaller than those reared on banana agar. Clearly, the amount of available food in the potato must be very small.

Of course, bacteria always develop on the medium and sometimes we are troubled by molds. The bacterial growth does not seem to harm the larvæ and the molds are usually destroyed by the larvæ just as soon as they hatch. Sometimes the fungus growth becomes too luxuriant between egg deposition and hatching. At such times the larvæ are killed by the growth, but this is exceptional. It is well to take all bacteriological precautions in handling the tubes.

The agar method for rearing Drosophila has the following advantages. The eggs "stand out" clearly and hence the time of deposition and hatching can be noted. The larvæ can also be clearly seen and their habits observed. By using various synthetic solid media, Drosophila may become the subject for interesting nutritional experiments. Our solid medium has the slight disadvantage that the concentration of the food is too low. This difficulty can probably be remedied by the addition of some concentrated form of food like banana flour.

BUSSEY INSTITUTION

J. P. BAUMBERGER, R. W. GLASER

THE NEW YORK MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE

THE sixty-ninth meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and affiliated national scientific societies was held in New York, December 26 to 30, under the presidency of Dr. Charles R. Van Hise.

Owing to the large number of organizations brought together at one time, and to the fact that many local institutions are intimately related to these organizations, the places of meeting were widely scattered. The general headquarters of the association were maintained in Earl Hall of Columbia University, and the various buildings of the university served very admirably for the meetings of many of the sections and affiliated societies. Others met at the American Museum of Natural History, at the College of the City of New

York, at the Cornell and other medical schools of the city, at the Engineers' Club and in a number of other places.

The formal opening of the meetings of the association took place on Tuesday evening, December 26, in the Auditorium of the American Museum of Natural History. The association was welcomed to the city by Fire Commissioner Robert Adamson, representing Mayor Mitchel. President Van Hise responded to this welcome on behalf of the association, and then introduced the retiring president, Dr. W. W. Campbell, who delivered an address upon the theme "The Nebulæ.” The address was profusely illustrated by a magnificent series of lantern slides. Following the address, a reception was tendered to the members of the association by the honorary reception committee of the City of New York in the newly opened Hall of the Age of Man.

During the meetings the two addresses were given to which the citizens of New York were especially invited, and which occasioned especial interest. These were as follows: "Infantile Paralysis and the Public Health," by Dr. Simon Flexner, director of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research. "Nitrogen and Preparedness," by Dr. Arthur A. Noyes, director of physical chemical research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

There were a large number of addresses by retiring officers delivered before the various sections and societies and many of these attracted especial attention, since they touched in various ways upon the great question of national economy and conservation of national resources. A list of the addresses of retiring vice-presidents follows: Section A. Armin O. Leuschner: "Derivation of Orbits-Theory and Practise."'

Section B. E. Percival Lewis: "Recent Progress in Spectrography."

Section C. William McPherson: "Asymmetric Syntheses and their Bearing upon the Doctrine of Vitalism."

Section D. Bion J. Arnold: "The Interrelationship of Engineering and Pure Science." Section G. W. A. Setchell: "Geographical Distribution of the Marine Algæ." Section H. Lillien J. Martin: "Personality as revealed by the Content of Images.'' Section I. George F. Kunz: "Scientific Efficiency and Industrial Museums our Safeguard in Peace and War."

Section L. Ellwood P. Cubberley: "Some Obstacles to Educational Progress."

Professor Vernon L. Kellogg, vice-president of

Section F, sent a cablegram from England that imperative engagements in connection with his Red Cross work would prevent his attendance and the delivery of his address.

There was held at Columbia University a scientific exhibit and conversazione arranged by committees in each of seventeen sciences. There was also held at the American Museum a chemical exhibit and a Pasteur exhibit.

At the meetings of the council action was taken upon a number of matters of general interest to the members of the association. The two amend. ments to the constitution and by-laws proposed at the Columbus meeting were passed. The one of these designates section C as "chemistry."' The other, amending Article 9, makes the secretaries of the sections eligible for reelection.

Two amendments were proposed which will be acted upon at the next meeting. First. Amend Article 9 as follows: Insert after the words "Permanent Secretary' in lines 5, 8 and 9, the words "General Secretary" (to make the term of office of the general secretary five years).

Second. In Article 35 for the words "three' substitute the word "four" so as to read "The annual dues for members and fellows shall be four dollars.''

On recommendation of the committee on policy action was taken in the following matters:

1. A committee of seven on grants for research was constituted to apply the research income of the association, the committee to be appointed by the president.

2. It was decided that in the case of members of affiliated societies, elected to membership in the American Association for the Advancement of Science within one year of the election to membership in an affiliated society, the entrance fee shall be remitted.

3. The council authorized the appointment of a committee of twelve fellows resident in Washington and representing each section of the association to scrutinize the list of members and to nominate fellows to the council.

4. The council endorses the following resolution: "Resolved that the American Association for the Advancement of Science advocates the greater use of the metric units of weight and measure in the United States so as to increase the usefulness of our publications and to aid our foreign relations with the many countries where these units are official and in use.

5. The council approved the selection of Dr. Henry M. Howe as vice-president of Section D to succeed the late Dr. E. L. Corthell, and of Dr. C.

Stuart Gager, as vice-president of Section G, to succeed the late Dr. Thomas J. Burrill.

6. On recommendations of the committee on policy, this same committee was instructed to prepare a revision of the constitution of the association, with by-laws, and to report to the council at its next stated meeting. As a part of its recommendation the committee on policy asked that the council should instruct the committee in this revision especially to redefine the duties of the permanent secretary and of the general secretary and the council acted favorably upon this request.

7. It was voted that $4,000 or whatever sum is available from interest on the permanent fund, be appropriated to the committee on grants for allotment, and that the treasurer be directed to pay the sums allotted on the order of the chairman of the committee. The committee on grants, appointed by the chair with the advice of the committee on policy, consists of E. C. Pickering, chairman; W. B. Cannon, Henry Crew, N. L. Britton, E. C. Franklin, J. McKeen Cattell, secretary, leaving one vacancy to be filled by a geologist.

8. An appropriation for the coming year to the Pacific Branch of the association, of the entrance fees collected by the branch and $1 for each actual member, was made.

9. The permanent secretary was authorized to pay the expenses of local branches during the coming year in an amount not to exceed 50 per cent. of the dues from such branches over and above the expenses of the journals and also the entrance fees secured through the efforts of such branches.

10. The following resolution was also adopted: "On behalf of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, its council extends to the secretaries and bureau chiefs of the United States government its appreciation of the fact that through their encouragement the important scientific work under their directions has been well represented at the meetings of the association.'' This representation has greatly promoted the influence and usefulness of the bureaus, both by making their work more widely known, and by the stimulus imparted to and gained from other workers in similar fields. The association is so keenly interested in the work of the government bureaus that it ventures to express the hope that members of their staffs who are engaged in research be given all practicable encouragement to attend the meetings of the association and other national and international organizations devoted to the advancement of science.

11. The council took especial pleasure in grate

fully acknowledging the receipt of the following gifts: From Mr. E. D. Adams, $1,000; from Mr. Cleveland D. Dodge, $500. Mr. Adams was elected a patron of the association and the two gifts were added to the permanent fund reserved for research.

12. At the meeting the following life members emeritus were elected: Cyrus Fay Paine, W. J. Beal, F. W. Clarke, W. H. Dall. Mr. Paine was elected a member of the association in 1858, and is the oldest member in continuous membership.

Franz Boas, H. L. Fairchild and Irving Fisher were elected members of the council for a term of three years: W. J. Humphreys, D. T. MacDougal and E. L. Nichols were elected to the committee on policy for a term of three years.

The seventieth meeting of the association and of the national affiliated societies will be held at Pittsburgh, beginning on Friday, December 28, 1917. Boston is recommended as the place of meeting in 1918.

Officers were elected as follows:

President: Theodore W. Richards, Harvard University.

Vice-presidents:

Section B: W. J. Humphreys, U. S. Weather Bureau.

Section C: W. A. Noyes, University of Illinois. Section E: George H. Perkins, University of Vermont.

Section F: Herbert Osborn, Ohio State University.

Section G: Burton E. Livingston, Johns Hopkins University.

Section H: Edward B. Titchener, Cornell University.

Section I: George W. Perkins, New York City. Section K: C.-E. A. Winslow, Yale University. Section L: E. F. Buchner, Johns Hopkins University.

Section M: H. J. Waters, University of Kansas. Secretary of Council: Walter V. Bingham, University of Pittsburgh.

General Secretary: J. McKeen Cattell, Columbia University.

Secretaries of Sections:

Section B: G. W. Stewart, State University of Iowa.

Section C: James Kendall, Columbia University. Section E: Rollin T. Chamberlin, University of Chicago.

Section K: A. J. Goldfarb, College of the City of New York. W. E. HENDERSON, General Secretary

The American Association for the Advance-
ment of Science :-

Specialization and Research in the Medical
Sciences: DR. FREDERICK P. GAY

Scientific Notes and News

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University and Educational News

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Scientific Books :—

Die Kultur der Gegenwart: PROFESSOR G.
F. HULL

Special Articles :—

Peanut Mosaic: DR. J. A. MCCLINTOCK....

The American Association for the Advance-
ment of Science :—

THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR

THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE

SPECIALIZATION AND RESEARCH IN

THE MEDICAL SCIENCES 1

MODERN scientists are not encouraged
and are become less inclined, except in the
afterglow of an active life, to indulge in
metaphysics. The visualization of material

phenomena, particularly when set in mo-

tion by deliberate experiment and observed

in their successive stages, tends to replace

speculation as to a more complete, though

less verifiable series of facts. This reliance

in the natural sciences on observation and

experiment rather than on ratiocination is

responsible for the great and rapidly in-

creasing body of useful knowledge we

possess.

Philosophical treatises by even conspicu-
ous representatives of the natural sciences

have seemed to me to differ from those of

the metaphysicians in that the former ap-
parently fail to appreciate that the meta-
physical game is played subject to certain
rules which have the same purpose of order
as the rules in other games. Philosophy is
apparently a subject like fine arts, about
which many people think they have intui-
tional knowledge. We judge pictures as
bad or good not on the basis of certain cri-
teria that have come through the ages to be
47 recognized as essential, but in accordance
with whether we like or dislike them.
the same way we may think, because we
have a certain facility in the exposition of
scientific data, that we can offhand write

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