ring of living fibrous tissue, the old dangers of such an operation being completely obviated.

I have referred thus to my personal experience because asked to do so, and these examples are perhaps sufficient to illustrate the impediments which the existing law places in the way of research by medical men engaged in practise, whose ideas, if developed, would often be the most fruitful in beneficent results.

But even those who are specialists in physiology or pathology, and have already access to research work seriously hampered by the necessity of applying for licenses for all investigations, and the difficulty and delay often encountered in obtaining

them.

Our law on this subject should never have been passed, and ought to be repealed. It serves no good purpose, and interferes seriously with inquiries which are of paramount importance to mankind. Believe me, sincerely yours. LISTER

QUOTATIONS

SCIENCE AND THE GERMAN CIVIL SERVICE1 THE Committee of the Institution of German Engineers urges that steps should be taken by modification of the law in the Confederated States, and particularly in Prussia, by removing the obstructions of the law of 1906 concerning eligibility for the higher posts in the civil service so as to make it possible that not only lawyers, but also graduates of the technical high schools should be able to take up careers in the higher civil service.

Already before the war, after exhaustive discussions extending over many years, the demand had been expressed that candidates for the higher posts in the civil service should be given a scientific academic training, so as to enable them to have a full understanding of the conditions of public life upon which industrial questions and the requirements of trade and commerce exert a preponderating influence at the present day. The war has confronted the state with an unexpected number of new problems that have caused it to call into

1 Translation in the London Times Educational Supplement of a letter in favor of the opening of the German civil service to men of scientific training which has been addressed to Herr von Bethmann Hollweg by the Institution of German Engi

neers.

its service the intellect of the most diverse professions. This extension of admission to the higher careers in the civil service that has been introduced under the pressure of the circumstances of the time must be extended, the barriers that still exist in this respect must be removed, if it is to be possible to ensure the full development of the economic forces of the country after the war. It has now become an imperative necessity that the demand that has been expressed for many years by the Institution of German Engineers should be fulfilled, and that university graduates, particularly of the technical high schools, should be admitted to the higher grades of the civil service, so as to place the selection for this career on a broader basis.

Already ten years ago, on the occasion of the discussions in the Prussian Diet on the government proposals concerning the change of the course of study for law (1903), and later, after their rejection, in the discussions on the law concerning eligibility for careers in the higher civil service (1906), the government admitted readily that the training of the higher civil service officials did not correspond with the requirements of the day. The removal of this defect was unsuccessfully attempted at that time by a proposed reform of the academic curriculum, and is supposed now to have been achieved by means of the law of 1906 by measures that only take effect subsequent to the academic study. Later experience has shown that the method that has been adopted is hardly likely to be able to impart to the coming generation of state officials a special understanding of the economic processes that govern life in our days. The training of the majority of higher-grade officials in the civil service and communal bodies that has become customary and has been determined by the law consists in a secondary school education that has a particular bias towards the humanities, and a short university course which is almost exclusively composed of legal subjects.

The course of study laid down for the lawyers is at the same time, and without change, also the course of study for the officials of the civil service. This rigid connection of profes

sions, that must be admitted to be very different in their practise, is unique in the whole educational system of Germany. It constitutes an inherent contradiction, and has gradually become an unsurmountable obstacle which will in all probability wreck the system that was to be built on the foundation of the law of 1906. The system of training that has been described above has created the peculiar situation that all young people who have a leaning towards any one of the numerous branches of the civil service, whether by family tradition, ideals, or special capacity, are forced, even against their inclination for science, to devote themselves completely to a legal training in order to pass the first law examination, as this provides practically the first documentary evidence obtainable for admission to a civil service career in the empire, the states, the communities, and many other posts. This route is closed to the graduates of other faculties-for instance, of all the experimental sciences-by the provisions of the above-mentioned Prussian law and of similar laws in the other German states, as well as by the custom that is developing in consequence of this law of appointing lawyers for administrative work.

In consequence of the preponderating influence that technical questions and the requirements of industry have to-day on all branches of public life and the increasing participation of the provinces, communities and towns in technical and scientific enterprises, civil servants are called upon to deal with problems the expert solution of which calls for just the type of mental equipment that is provided by the technical high schools. The greater part of the education at these institutes is not based on retrospection and definition, but is directed forwards and designed with a view to productive activity. An education among such surroundings must give at least as good a training for a civil service career as an education the principal aim of which is to classify the particular requirements of life according to legal conceptions. The knowledge of law and administration that is required by civil servants can be acquired to-day in every technical high school.

SCIENTIFIC BOOKS

The Measurement of Intelligence. By LEWIS M. TERMAN. Houghton, Mifflin Co., New York. 1916. Pp. 362.

In the past few years the practise of what is termed "clinical psychology" has tended to outrun itself, in the sense that measurements of intellect have been demanded in all quarters, while methods were still tentative. Binet conceived the idea of measuring mental development by age levels, but he died before he could perfect his work. Binet's tests were not valid above the twelve-year level of intelligence. The tests which he offered above this level were almost universally discarded by clinical workers, as failing in their purpose. Another difficulty with the original scale lay in the fact that directions for giving the tests were not standardized. Inasmuch as the directions in giving a test constitute a very important part of the test itself, this seriously impaired the scientific value of the results obtained in testing. Moreover, in the original system no means was provided for comparing the intellectual quality of a young child with that of an older child. Obviously, for example, a retardation of one year in a child three years of age has a different meaning for diagnosis and prognosis than has a retardation of one year in a child twelve years of age. Stern had suggested the use of a relative measure of mentality, i. e., the quotient obtained by dividing "mental age" by actual age, but this method never came into general use in America in connection with the original system. It is true, also, as Thorndike, Brigham and others have shown, that there were discrepancies between certain of the age levels as determined by Binet, and the "true" age levels. These discrepancies were due, no doubt, to the fact that Binet had not been able to standardize his tests on a sufficient number of subjects.

Goddard, Kuhlmann and other American elaborators of Binet did not advance much beyond the first work in these particulars. More recently Yerkes, Bridges and Hardwick in their point scale have eliminated many of the original crudities, and in their mental co

efficient have proposed a relative measure of intelligence.

The present volume embodies the results of long and patient labor in overcoming and correcting the imperfections in the original Binet-Simon scale. Standardized tests are provided through average adult and superior adult levels, making the scale valid for the detection of "borderline cases." Standardized directions (admirably simple and natural) are given for every test. The method of scoring has been refined, so that the individual's mental status is determined by months, and the Intelligence Quotient becomes the measure of ability. This is obtained by dividing the "mental age" by the actual age. One would predict that this Intelligence Quotient (I. Q.) will be made the subject of much discussion and investigation during the next few years.

Six tests are provided for each year up through ten years, instead of four or five, as in the Goddard Revision, which has been most widely used in this country. The Stanford Revision, as the author modestly chooses to designate his work, is by no means a mere rearrangement of the old, familiar tests. The new scale is rich in original contributions, such as the vocabulary test, and the ball-inthe-field test. For these many cleverly conceived tests Terman gives much credit to his collaborators.

The time devoted to an examination according to the Stanford Revision is considerably greater than in the case of the former revisions. This will be a good thing from the point of view of everybody except administrative officers. The number of psychological examinations now expected daily of psychologists working in various public capacities, is little short of a scientific scandal.

The wide usefulness into which this volume has already come testifies to its timeliness as a treatise on the subject. The book is so written and so organized that it serves almost equally well as a text, as a manual, or as a reference. The first half is taken up with a discussion of the technique and method of measuring intelligence, and with the history of graded tests. The subject is clearly and simply presented

in non-technical terms. The second half is given over to a presentation of the revised tests themselves, with the directions for giving and the method of scoring each. The necessary test material may be purchased from the publishers of the book.

It would seem inevitable that the Stanford Scale will, in general, replace all revisions of the Binet-Simon Measuring Scale for Intelligence hitherto in use in clinics and in institutions, because it is more scientific and more complete than any other which has been made available. The method of scoring by years and months of "mental age," however, may and probably will prevent its adoption by those psychologists who believe that the method of scoring by "points" is preferable.

TEACHERS COLLEGE,

LETA S. HOLLINGWORTH

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Telegraphy. By T. E. HERBERT. London and New York, Whittaker and Co. Third Edition. 985 pages, 630 illustrations. Cloth, nine shillings net.

This is the third and a thoroughly revised edition of an excellent handbook on British

telegraphy, designed to meet the needs of the technical student and the requirements of departmental technical examinations of the staff.

The mathematics employed are quite elementary, so that no difficulties need be apprehended by the technical student in this direction. The telegraphic apparatus and plant of the British post-office system are well described and explained. A strong feature of recommendation for the book is that it enters at some length into the technique of the apparatus described, and gives practical directions as to best adjustments.

The text is divided into twenty-three chapters, respectively dealing with the following topics: Introduction, Primary Cells, Circuit Calculations, Current Measurements, Battery Testing, Resistance Measurements, Singlecurrent Systems, Condensers, Differential Duplex, Quadruplex, Wheatstone Automatic, Bridge Duplex, A B C and Recording Instruments, The Hughes, The Bandot, The Murray,

Central-Battery Systems, Secondary Cells, Secondary-Cell Working, Repeaters, Test Boxes, Telegraph Testing, Aerial Lines, Underground Lines.

As will be seen from the above list, the plan of development opens with the elementary theory of the subject, and then proceeds with detailed descriptions of the various types of apparatus in most general use. Finally, the circuits and lines are dealt with.

A number of useful appendices on special topics are inserted near the end of the book. The index of subject-matter has been prepared with great care.

As a practical telegraphist's guide, and as an elementary text-book of the principles of wire telegraphy in Great Britain, the volume deserves high praise. A. E. KENNELLY

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL

ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

THE first number of Volume 3 of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences contains the following articles:

Inferences concerning Auroras: Elihu Thomson, General Electric Company, West Lynn, Massachusetts. Auroras consist of vertical streamers which, seen from different points of perspective, give the various optical effects observed.

Application of the Laws of Action, Reaction and Interaction in Life Evolution: Henry Fairfield Osborn, American Museum of Natural History, New York City. In each organism the phenomena of life represent the action, reaction and interaction of four complexes of physico-chemical energy.

The Resistance of Metals under Pressure: P. W. Bridgman, Jefferson Physical Laboratory, Harvard University. Twenty-two metals are examined up to 12,000 kg.

The Rate of Discharge of Central Neurones: Alexander Forbes and W. C. Rappleye, laboratory of physiology, Harvard Medical School. The normal frequency of nerve impulses discharged from the ganglion cells in voluntary contraction must lie between 300 and 5,000 per second.

A Physiological Study of Noctiluca, with

Special Reference to Light Production, Anesthesia and Specific Gravity: Ethel Browne Harvey, Cornell University Medical School, New York City, and department of marine biology, Carnegie Institution of Washington. These animals are able to regulate their specific gravity. Anesthetics seem to attack the mechanism of the utilization of oxygen in the absence of which light is not produced.

Physiographic Subdivision of the United States: Nevin M. Fenneman, department of geology, University of Cincinnati. The basis of division shown on the map is physiographic or morphologic. There are twenty-four major divisions, some with six to ten subdivisions.

On the Composition of the Medusa, Cassiopea Xamachana and the Changes in it after Starvation: S. Hatai, Tortugas Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Studies of the Magnitudes in Star Clusters, IV. On the Color of Stars in the Galactic Clouds surrounding Messier 11: Harlow Shapley, Mount Wilson Solar Observatory, Carnegie Institution of Washington. The frequency curve for colors shows great diversity of color index and general resemblance to the curve for the brighter stars in the neighborhood of the sun. A striking progression of color with decreasing brightness is shown.

The Color of the Standard Polar Stars Determined by the Method of ExposureRatios: Frederick H. Seares, Mount Wilson Solar Observatory, Carnegie Institution of Washington. The colors of the Polar Standards, brighter than the 13th magnitude, have been determined to about the same precision as was reached in the investigation of the magnitude scale, with an expenditure of time and labor perhaps a tenth of that in an earlier investigation.

Terracing of Bajada Belts: Charles Keyes. The feature of desert bajada-terracing, when explained upon a strictly aqueous basis, can not but lead to complete misinterpretation. It is far more largely the result of windaction.

Relation of the Apex of Solar Motion to proper Motion and on the Cause of the Differences of its Position from Radial Velocities

and Proper Motions: C. D. Perrine, Observatorio Nacional Argentino, Córdoba.

Hydrology of the Isthmus of Panama: Brig. Gen. Henry L. Abbot, United States Army, retired. Extensive tables for rainfall, outflow, evaporation, etc., are given and discussed.

The Meteor System of Pons-Winnecke's Comet: Charles P. Olivier, Leander McCormick Observatory, University of Virginia. The elements of the meteor's orbit are determined from more than 1,000 observations.

Improvements in Calorimetric Combustion, and the Heat of Combustion of Toluene: Theodore W. Richards and Harold S. Davis, Wolcott Gibbs Memorial Laboratory, Harvard University. The improvements are: Means of effectively closing the bomb with less risk to the lining and cover; means of burning volatile liquids without loss; a method of automatically controlling the temperature of the environment; means of evaluating the incompleteness of combustion. The heat of combustion of toulene is determined as 10,155 calories (18°) per gram.

The Mass of the Electric Carrier in Copper, Silver and Aluminium: Richard C. Tolman and T. Dale Stewart. A continuation of experiments on currents produced by acceleration in metals.

The Silver Voltameter as an International Standard for the Measurement of Electric Current: E. B. Rosa and G. W. Vinal, U. S. Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C. A summary of eight years' experimental work which has shown how the voltameter can be used as a reliable current standard and as a means of checking the constancy of the value of the Weston normal cell.

EDWIN BIDWELL WILSON MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, CAMBRIDGE, MASS.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTIFIC LIBRARIES; WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO AUTHORS' SEPARATES

THE Communication from Tracy I. Storer in SCIENCE for November 24, on the care of

pamphlet collections, brings up a matter which has interested me for several years. It has been my task to rearrange a few scientific libraries and my privilege. to consult several others, and I have found in nearly all of them considerable room for improvement, especially in the method of handling authors' separates and other pamphlets.

It seems to be a common, if not the prevailing, custom in private and semi-private scientific libraries to arrange pamphlets alphabetically by authors, as Mr. Storer recommends. This has the advantage of obviating the mental exertion of classifying them by subjects (which ought to be an important consideration with that apparently increasing class of persons who prefer to follow a mechanical routine rather than exercise judgment) and of keeping together the writings of one's friends, so that if a friend comes for a visit one can see at a glance just how many of his papers one has. But in most other respects the alphabetical arrangement is an undesirable expedient. For there is no important difference between a pamphlet and a book, and no good reason for putting a pamphlet on a different shelf from a book on the same subject (unless of course there happens to be a considerable difference in size of page or the pamphlet belongs to a series of bulletins).

Large libraries use some sort of subject classification, and this is equally desirable for small ones. When one is carrying on a particular line of research one likes to have all the literature bearing on it together as far as possible. It is out of the question to keep in mind every one who has written on a given subject, and unless a library is pretty fully catalogued (which is not usually the case with private working libraries), some pamphlets are pretty sure to be overlooked if they are not classified by subjects. Another objection to the alphabetical arrangement is that every scientist receives many pamphlets on subjects that he is not particularly interested in,1 and with any other system than a subject classification these will always be in the way, unless they are relegated to a special "limbo."

1 See Torreya, 16, 101-102, April, 1916.