ASSOCIATIONS FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. American.-The thirty-seventh annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science was held at Cleveland, Ohio. The Central High School building was devoted to the sessions. The meeting began on Aug. 15, and adjourned Aug. 22, 1888. The following were the officers of the meeting: President, John W. Powell, of Washington, D. C.; Vice-Presidents: Section A, Mathematics and Astronomy, Ormond Stone, of the University of Virginia, Va.; Section B, Physics, Albert A. Michelson, of Cleveland, Ohio; Section C, Chemistry, Charles E. Munroe, of Newport, R. I.; Section D, Mechanical Science and Engineering, Calvin M. Woodward, of St. Louis, Mo.; Section E, Geology and Geography, George H. Cook, of New Brunswick, N. J.; Section F, Biology, Charles V. Riley, of Washington, D. C.; Section H, Anthropology, Charles C. Abbott, of Trenton, N. J.; Section I, Economic Science and Statistics, Charles W. Smiley, of Washington, D. C. Secretaries: Section A, C. L. Doolittle, of Bethlehem, Pa.; Section B, Alex. Macfarlane, of Austin, Tex.; Section C, William L. Dudley, of Nashville, Tenn.; Section D, Arthur Beardsley, of Swarthmore, Pa.; Section E, John C. Branner, of Little Rock, Ark.; Section F, Bernhard E. Fernow, of Washington, D. C.: Section H, Frank Baker, of Washington, D. C.; Section I, Charles S. Hill, of Washington, D. C. Permanent Secretary, Frederick W. Putnam, of Cambridge, Mass.; General Secretary, Julius Pohlman, of Buffalo, N. Y.; Secretary of the Council, C. Leo Mees, of Columbus, Ohio; Treasurer, William Lilly, of Mauch Chunk, Pa.

that formed the preface. His last appearance American habits, manners, literature, morals, as a poet is in "New Poems" (1867); but this and general want of interest to the traveler. is a misnomer, for, like most of his volumes, it "The man that introduced the useful adapis full of reprinted pieces. 999 "is tation 'Philistine,' 'Empedocles says Augustine Birrell, restored in its entirety, but the most remarka- "could have little sympathy with Democracy." ble additions are "Thyrsis," " The Terrace at Berne," "Dover Beach," the stanzas on Obermann, and those from the "Grande Chartreuse." In two small volumes entitled "Lectures on translating Homer" and "Last Words," he argued the adaptability of the hexameter to the English language. His "Essays in Criticism," which first appeared in 1865, have had a broadening and elevating effect on the writing of reviews and throughout the range of modern English literature. "Study of Celtic Literature" appeared in 1867. His lectures gave to the Oxford professorship of Poetry an importance that it never had attained before. He was re-elected at the end of five years, but was compelled by the statute to retire on the conclusion of his second term, and when subsequently solicited to become a candidate again, he invariably declined, recoiling from the contest that would arise from clerical opposition caused by his writings. Assuming that historical and philological criticism had unsettled much that formed the accepted body of Christian belief, and perceiving that Christianity was losing its hold on some classes of society, he gave his mind to the consideration of what is permanent, spiritual, and ennobling in religion, with the view of presenting a purified and rational form of faith that would command the acceptance of the callous and the skeptical. Ten or twelve years after he had broached the subject in a magazine, he published a volume containing his conclusions under the title of "Literature and Dogma." This was supplemented by a review of criticisms upon it, entitled "God and the Bible," and in 1877 by "Last Essays on Church and Religion." His Complete Poems" were published in two volumes in 1876, and, with the addition of more recent verses, in three volumes in 1885. Among his books not already mentioned are "Culture and Anarchy" (1869); St. Paul and Protestantism," with an essay on "Puritanism and the Church of England" (1870); "Friendship's Garland," a witty and amusing satire (1871); "Higher Schools and Universities in Germany (1875); "Isaiah, XL, L, XVI, with the Shorter Prophesies allied to it, edited with Notes" (1875); a selected edition of Johnson's "Lives of the Poets" with Macaulay's "Life of Samuel Johnson" (1878); and "Mixed Essays" (1879). He was an industrious writer for current literature, and few first-rate English magazines failed to number him among their contributors. His visits to the United States were made in 1883 and in 1886, during both of which tours he lectured in most of the larger cities. His last collected essays were "American Lectures" (1887); and his last paper was "Civilization in the United States," a widely read and much quoted article, in which he severely criticises

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Proceedings.-The meeting was called to order by the retiring president, Samuel P. Langley, who resigned the chair to John W. Powell, the president-elect. After the usual courtesies from the city and a brief address by the president, the meeting organized, and the sections took possession of the rooms assigned them. In the afternoon the several vice-presidents delivered their addresses before their respective sections, and in the evening the retiring president, Samuel P. Langley, gave his address.

Sections. In the mathematical section about twenty-one papers were read touching on the problems of astronomy and theory of physical instruments as well as pure mathematics. Ormond Stone's address was "On the Motions of the Solar System." William Harkness gave an account of the instruments and processes employed by the United States Transit of Venus Commission to determine the solar parallax from photographs of the transit of Venus in Dec., 1882. Asaph Hall's paper "On the Supposed Canals on the Surface of the Planet Mars" was devoted to the so-called "Canals

of Mars," whose existence the paper tended to throw into discredit.

The physical section was well represented. The address by Albert A. Michelson was devoted to a consideration of the problems in relation to light-waves. A report on the teaching of physics was presented on behalf of a committee by Thomas C. Mendenhall. It took full cognizance of the increased knowledge of teachers and their consequent adaptability for more advanced work in the elementary schools. For the latter experimental work was recommended. For college courses three hours a week during the junior year was suggested as a minimum. The report elicited considerable discussion. W. Le Conte Stevens's paper on was of "The Qualities of Musical Sounds" much interest as asserting that difference of phase among the components of a sound affected its quality. Edward L. Nichols and W. S. Franklin described some experiments they had made to determine the velocity of the electric current. Although their method would have detected a current of one thousand million metres a second, it gave only negative results, tending to prove that the velocity sought was in excess of this amount. Edward P. Howland read a practical paper on instantaneous photography, treating of the necessary conditions He recommended as an illufor its success. minant a mixture of sulphur and magnesium. He gave an interesting lecture, with experiments, on the same subject.

The chemical section was largely occupied with a discussion of methods of water analysis. A committee handed in its report, stating the progress made, and was continued. "The Presence and Significance of Ammonia in Potable Waters" was admirably treated by E. S. H. Bailey. Albert W. Smith spoke on the subject of water and water-supply, with special reference to Cleveland; while the brines from the gas-wells near the same city were discussed by Charles F. Mabery and Herbert H. Dow. A paper of great interest was presented by William P. Mason, of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, on "Fatal Poisoning by Carbon Monoxide." It described the fatal accidents due to an escape of fuel-gas at Troy, N. Y., on Jan. 6, 1887. Three deaths and a number of cases of serious illness resulted. The autopsies disclosed nothing abnormal except the vivid redness of the tissues and blood. The latter showed absorption bands due to the carbon monoxide, and a specimen was exhibited that still showed the characteristic color and absorption spectrum. In the discussion that this paper elicited, William S. Dudley spoke of cigarette-smoking, and traced its evil effects to the inhalation of the products of combustion containing carbon monoxide. The products from one and one fourth cigarette killed a mouse, and its death was found to be due to this gas and not to nicotine or any other alkaloid. The vice-president's address in this section, by Charles E. Munroe, presented the ad

vanced views of chemistry, as developed by
the labors of Mendelejeff and those who have
followed in his steps in their endeavors to sys-
tematize chemistry. The title of the address
Some Phases in the Progress of Chemis-
try." The committee on indexing chemical
literature presented its sixth report.

was

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The section of mechanical science and engineering was somewhat delayed in its work by the absence of its vice-president, Calvin M. Woodward, but Charles H. J. Woodbury, of Boston, Mass., was elected to fill his place. The Nicaragua and the Panama canals both were subjects of papers, the former being "The Influence of Alumintreated of by Robert E. Peary, the latter by Wolfred Nelson. ium upon Cast-iron," as in the well-known "mitis castings," was the subject of a paper by William J. Keep, and a discussion by William J. Keep, Charles F. Mabery, and L. D. Vorce. The first-named read a paper detailing its beneficial effects upon stove-castings, and gave the foundation for the debate alluded to. The quality of the castings, it was shown, was in every way improved by the addition of small amounts of the metal in question. By repeated remeltings of a given sample, followed by a coresponding series of analyses, it was shown that the aluminium remained in the metal, and did not, practically speaking, disappear to any extent. Much of its influence on the final castings was due to the fact that it kept the carbon in the graphitic form, precluding the possibility of white iron.

In the geological and geographical section a number of interesting papers on geological A large number subjects were read, but geography was omitted from the programme. of speakers gave the results of their observations and studies. George H. Cook, the vicepresident, in his address, spoke on the "InterHe gave briefly the national geological congress, and our part in it as American geologists." history of the congress and its efforts to settle upon fixed systems of nomenclature, and colors for indicating different formations on geological maps. He made the plea that the American workers should be more actively represented, and that names less local, geographical, and strange. should be adopted for different formations. The labors of John S. Newberry, as usual, were represented by several papers, one on the oil fields of Colorado, and others on palæontological subjects. Sources of oil and gas recently discovered in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, were described by EdA new form of geological map It consists of ward Orton. was exhibited by J. T. B. Ives. a series of colored pasteboards, each of which represents a geological system, the most recent rocks forming the highest layer. Where rocks of a given system do not exist they are cut out of the pasteboard representing them. Then by placing these different layers one upon the other a geological map is produced, valuable for purposes of instruction.

Attendance. —The attendance of members at the meeting as registered was 342. One hundred and ninety-four papers were read in the several sections. The usual receptions were tendered by citizens. The members visited various localities of interest, and had an enjoyable excursion on the lake.

Appropriations.—The income of the research fund for the past year was granted to Frederick W. Putnam for the furtherance of his archæological explorations in relation to the Serpent Mound in Ohio.

Meeting of 1889.-The next meeting is to be held at Toronto, Can., under the following officers: President, Thomas C. Mendenhall, of Terre Haute, Ind.; Vice-Presidents: Mathematics and Astronomy, Robert S. Woodward, of Washington, D. C.; Physics, Henry S. Carhart, of Ann Arbor, Mich.; Chemistry, William L. Dudley, of Nashville, Tenn.; Mechanical Science and Engineering, Arthur Beardsley, of Swarthmore, Pa.; Geology and Geography, Charles A. White, of Washington, D. C.; Biology, George L. Goodale, of Cambridge, Mass.; Anthropology, Garrick Mallery, of Washington, D. C.; Economic Science and Statistics, Charles S. Hill, of Washington, D. C. Permanent Secretary, Frederick W. Putnam, of Cambridge, Mass.; General Secretary, C. Leo Mees, of Terre Haute, Ind.; Secretary of Council, Frank Baker, of Washington, D. C. Secretaries of sections: Mathematics and Astronomy, George C. Comstock, of Madison, Wis.; Physics, Edward L. Nichols, of Ithaca, N. Y.; Chemistry, Edward Hart, of Easton, Pa.; Mechanical Science and Engineering, James E. Denton, of Hoboken, N. J.; Geology and Geography, John C. Branner, of Little Rock, Ark. Biology, Amos W. Butler, of Brookville, Ind.; Anthropology, William M. Beauchamp, of Baldwinsville, N. Y.; Economic Science and Statistics, John R. Dodge, of Washington, D. C.; Treasurer, William Lilly, of Manch Chunk, Pa.

British.-The British Association for the Advancement of Science held its fifty-eighth annual meeting at Bath, beginning, Sept. 3, 1888. Twenty-four years have elapsed since this city was the scene of its labors. The list of presidents is as follows: President of the Association, Sir Frederick J. Bramwell; Section Presidents: Mathematics and Physics, Prof. George F. Fitzgerald; Chemistry, Prof. William A. Tilden; Geology, Prof. William Boyd Dawkins; Biology, Prof. William T. Thistleton Dyer; Geography, Sir Charles Wilson; Statistics, Lord Brannwell; Mechanics, William H. Preece; Anthropology, Gen. Pitt-Rivers. The city of Bath possessing no public hall, a temporary building was erected at a cost of £700 to provide a reception-room and offices.

General Meeting.-The first general meeting was held on Wednesday, September 6, at 8 P. M. Sir Henry E. Roscoe, the retiring president, resigned his chair to the president-elect, Sir Frederick J. Bramwell. Prof. Roscoe intro

duced his successor by a few happily chosen
words, alluding to Sir Charles Lyell, president
at the former Bath meeting of 1864, stating
that pure science was honored in Prof. Lyell,
while in the election of Sir Frederick J. Bram-
well a tribute is paid to applied science.

President's Address.-The president's address began with a review of the work of old time engineers, who developed prime movers, and brought the story down to the present day. He spoke of the increased perfection of the modern steam-engine, but reminded his hearers of his own prophecy made at the York meeting, that the steam-engine would in the next century be a thing of the past. He then cited gas, naphtha, and caloric engines to prove that the direction of engineering progress had been correctly indicated by him. The effect of the "next to nothing" in engineering practice was then developed. He cited the effect of minute impurities upon metals, of the importance of the introduction of precisely the right amount of air into steam-boiler and other furnaces to secure economy of fuel, and of the effect of alloys upon metals even when in minute proportions. The influence of the "little" was well illustrated in gun-practice where the difference of density of the air above and below a projectile is supposed to cause its lateral deviation. He also cited the fact that a projectile fired due north, a distance of twelve miles in one minute, would deviate from the meridian 200 feet. The tenor of the latter portion of the address was the importance of minute accuracy in engineering practice.

Sections.-Mathematical and Physical Science. -Prof. Fitzgerald, elected as substitute for Prof. Schuster, began his address by a tribute of regret for the loss of Prof. Schuster as president, who was too ill to attend the meeting. His address was devoted to the exposition of J. Clerk Maxwell's theory that electro-magnetic "will ever be phenomena are due to an intervening medium. "The year 1888," he affirins, memorable as the year in which this great question has been experimentally decided by Hertz, in Germany, and I hope, by others in England." The intervening medium, he stated, has been decided to exist. Prof. Hertz produced rapidly alternating currents of such frequency that their wave-length was about two metres, giving 100,000,000 vibrations per second.

With these he detected phases of interference corresponding with those of lightThus we seemed to be approaching a waves. theory of the structure of the ether.

Chemical Science.-Prof. Tilden devoted himself to the subject of the teaching of chemistry. He advocated a better system, a higher grade of teachers, and less hours of labor for them, in order that they might have time to keep abreast of the age by reading. He said that it took longer than it did formerly to make a chemist. as more was expected of him; he had to be almost polytechnical in his education.

Geology.-Prof. Dawkins spoke of the ad