botany, horticulture, and natural history, 751.; Mr. W. R. Hodgkinson, in recognition of his valuable scientific work in the public service, 1007.; and Mr. Herbert Tomlinson, in recognition of his services as a teacher, and of his valuable and distinguished contributions to physical science, 1007. THE title of emeritus professor of philosophy and comparative psychology in the University of London has been conferred on Mr. Carveth Read. A STATUE of Donders, the great Dutch ophthalmologist and physiologist, was recently unveiled at Utrecht where he had been professor of ophthalmology and of physiology until his death in 1889. ACCORDING to the Journal of the American Medical Association, a tablet has been placed in the provincial hospital at Madrid commemorating the work of Dr. Achúcarro, the promising young histologist whose untimely death occurred a few years ago. THE name of Virtudes street in Havana has been officially changed to "Mayor Gorgas," and metal plates with the new name have been affixed. A TABLET with a portrait medallion of Sir William Ramsay, by Charles L. Hartwell, will be placed in Westminster Abbey as part of the Ramsay memorial. GEORGE TRUMBULL LADD, professor and emeritus professor of philosophy at Yale University for forty years, died on August 8, at the age of seventy-nine years. Dr. Ladd was the author of important books on philosophy and a leader in the development of physiological and experimental psychology. DR. O. SCHMIEDEBERG, formerly professor of pharmacology at the University of Strasbourg, has died at the age of eighty-three years. AN examination for scientific assistant ($1,400 a year) in the United States Bureau of Fisheries, will be held on September 21. Applicants will be rated chiefly upon zoology in its relation to the fisheries, and general biology. A BILL to create a Department of Health has been introduced in the Japanese House of Representatives, in order to bring the various health organizations of the empire under the control of one department. AN Institute of Pathological Anatomy, named after Professor Hlava, has recently been inaugurated at the University of Prague. The institute is described as being the largest and best equipped of its kind in Europe. THE Committee of the Fifth Cuban Medical Congress, which will be held in December next, has decided to invite American, French and Spanish physicians and surgeons to attend. AN international exhibition for the promotion of hygiene will be held at Amsterdam, Holland, from October 8 to November 8. The exhibition includes the following: Feeding, clothing, housing, bodily cleanliness, labor hygiene, sport, dental care, infants' care, nursing, food adulterations, quack remedies, alcoholism, anti-tuberculosis movement, malaria, typhus, sex diseases, tropical hygiene, historical section. Apart from the above, there will be a commercial exhibition of clothing, foodstuffs and their packing, housing devices, wall and floor coverings, washstands, bathroom fixtures, kitchen utensils, suction sweepers, baby clothing, baby articles, sport clothing, sport articles, surgical instruments, dressing, equipment for operating rooms, dentists' and oculists' equipment, etc. Further particulars may be had from the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, Beaver Street, New York City. THE Journal of the American Medical Association states that in the 1921 budget of the German government department for science and art, one specification is for 800,000 marks to continue the study of the Friedmann remedy for tuberculosis. Already several hundred thousand marks of government appropriations have been spent on the committee conducting the research. The Deutcshe medizinische Wochenschrift is quoted as remarking that it would be better to devote the money to maintaining the sanatoriums which are closing their doors for lack of funds. The social insurance authorities have had to close the children's sanatorium at Lichtenberg and dismiss the personnel, and the full utilization of the great sanatorium at Beelitz is threatened. THE Henry Phipps Institute of the University of Pennsylvania has received a grant of $25,000 a year from the Carnegie Corporation, and $25,000 for two years from the university trustees. The conditions which must be met that advantage may be taken of the Carnegie grant are, first, the grant itself be expended for research, and second, there shall be previously expended for research not less than $50,000 a year, derived from other sources, in any year in which this grant is claimed. A CORRESPONDENT writes: "Dr. E. H. Sellards, geologist in the bureau of economic geology of the University of Texas, has been given leave from the University in order to undertake geologic investigations for the State of Texas in the Attorney General's Department relating to the Texas-Oklahoma boundary line on the Red River. The United States Supreme Court has held that the treaty of 1819 between the United States and Spain made the south bank of Red River the boundary between the two countries, and that by subsequent treaties and congressional acts this line as defined by the treaty with Spain has become the boundary line between Texas and Oklahoma on the Red River. However, there remain undetermined the questions: What constitutes the south bank of this river; where was the south bank approximately one hundred years ago when the treaty with Spain was made; and by what process has the river departed from its position of one hundred years ago, that is has the river moved gradually as by accretion to its banks, or suddenly as by ovulsion. The actual location of the boundary line between the two states for a distance of three hundred miles or more is contingent upon the Supreme Court's decision on these points to be made in accordance with the evidence that may be presented." UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL VASSAR COLLEGE receives $150,000, and Barnard College, Yale University, the University of Rochester and Colgate College, $10,000 each, by the will of the late Dr. Henry M. Sanders, formerly pastor of the Madison Avenue Baptist Church, of New York City. DR. P. P. CLAXTON, recently United States commissioner of education, has accepted the provostship of the University of Alabama. SECRETARY WEEKS, of the Department of War, has asked the University of Pennsylvania to release Major General Leonard Wood from his promise to become provost of the university in order that he may be free to accept the governor generalship of the Philippines. As an ad interim measure, Dean Stanley Coulter has been appointed chairman of the faculty of Purdue University by the board of trustees and will administer all academic interests, while financial matters will be handled by a member of the board. DR. CHARLES D. SNYDER has been appointed professor of experimental physiology in the Johns Hopkins University. DR. JOHN C. DONALDSON has accepted appointment as assistant professor of anatomy in the school of medicine of the University of Pittsburgh. DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE ANOTHER HIGH-TEMPERATURE RECORD FOR GROWTH AND ENDURANCE A TEMPERATURE record for growth and endurance of developing joints above that of any previously given was published by the senior author in SCIENCE for April 15, 1921. Young joints of Opuntia were found to continue elongation at 55° C. (131° F.) and to endure this temperature so that development was continued normally at lower and accustomed temperatures in March at the Desert Labora tory. Measurements on other individuals with the advance of the season confirmed the earlier 1. Joints of Opuntia were observed to maintain a fair rate of enlargement when at a temperature of 56.5° C., the air surrounding them being at 58° C. (137° F.). 2. Growth of young joints of Opuntia the temperature of which rose to 62° C. (144° F.) in an air temperature of 63° C. (146° F.) stopped and some shrinkage ensued, but growth or enlargement was resumed when their temperature fell to 50° C. 3. The young joints which were subjected to these temperatures were about 15 to 20 mm. in width and 25 mm. in length, and after being held at or near the record temperatures for an hour or more, which was repeated in one case, carried forward normal development, reaching maturity at a normal average of 100 mm. in width and 130 mm. in length. 4. It is to be noted that data from observations in which temperatures were taken from the air or from water in which the roots or aerial parts of plants were immersed, have but little value in any estimation of the working temperature of active protoplasm by reason of the abnormal hydration and transpiration conditions introduced. These conditions as well as the proportions and state of the main colloidal components must determine the temperature effects. DESERT LABORATORY, TUCSON, ARIZONA D. T. MACDOUGAL, EARL B. WORKING A CALCULATOR FOR CONVERTING GAS CHAIN IN the determination of hydrogen-ion concentrations by electrometric methods employing the hydrogen electrode, the step of finding the CH. or PH value from the measured voltage, with the aid of the working formula, though not difficult, is time-consuming. The extensive tables of Schmidt and Hoagland1 1 Univ. of Cal. Pub. in Physiol., 5, 23, 1919. simplify the process considerably. They give, in parallel columns, the voltages measured between a hydrogen electrode and a tenth-normal, and between the hydrogen electrode and normal calomel electrode, respectively. With these are given the corresponding PH, Cн+ and Cон- values, respectively. If the calomel electrode because of difference in concentration of its potassium chloride solution, for example has a different value, against the normal hydrogen electrode, from those assumed in these tables, a simple computation is necessary. By definition, PH=— - log СH., and the working equation, derived from Nernst's equation, shows these quantities to be linearly proportional to the measured voltage. If in all cases we had to deal with a single unvarying reference potential, the simplest procedure would be to draw the straight line, expressing the relationship, on a chart of rectangular coordinates, and to use this as the conversion chart. This plan, however, is not practicable in its application to all cases, because of the preferences of different workers for different types of reference electrodes.2 Some prefer the tenth-normal, others the normal, still others the saturated type. In any given type, there are likely to be minor differences between different electrodes. To be able to apply the graphic chart to all cases requires that the straight line be capable of being shifted, parallel to itself at any one temperature, to correspond to the fundamental potential of the reference electrode being used. Since it is a straight line relationship with which we are dealing, and since the variations mentioned do not change the slope of line, an instrument of the slide-rule pattern is not only feasible, but highly practicable. For convenience, the circular type was chosen. The CH, and PH scales are engraved on a disk 125 mm. in diameter. From the relation between these two quantities, their main divisions coincide; e.g., for PH 8, CH+ = 10-8. 2 A graphic conversion chart of the kind mentioned is reproduced in "Electrometric Methods and Apparatus for Determining Hydrogen-ion Concentrations," L. & N. Co., 1920, p. 25. Of these main divisions there are 14, covering the entire range from normal acid to normal alkaline reaction. The 125 mm. disk is mounted by means of a central pivot on a second disk, having its scale of voltage around the circumference of the first. The range of the latter extends from 0.24 to 1.17 volts. Concentric with the disks is a movable arm of transparent celluloid, with a radial hairline scribed upon it, to facilitate making readings. The points on the voltage scale corresponding to the potentials of tenth-normal, normal and saturated KCl calomel cells are marked, as a matter of convenience. The temperature for which the slide-rule gives correct readings is 25° C. To use the instrument, the zero mark of the circular scale is set on the voltage corresponding to the reference electrode being used. The hair-line is set to indicate the measured voltage, and the corresponding PH and CH. readings appear under the hair-line on the inner disk. Settings are possible to an accuracy of 0.5 millivolt. The slide-rule can be used equally well when the reference electrode, instead of being the usual calomel half-cell, is a hydrogen electrode of known potential relative to the standard solution in which it is immersed. Whatever the nature of the fixed electrode, the change in potential difference at the terminals of the gas chain is 59.1 millivolts for each decimal change in the concentration. The graduation of the inner disk is based upon this assumption, which makes it applicable to any case. Because of the fact that so few data are available on the variations of gas chain electromotive forces with temperature, it seems advisable, pending an accumulation of reliable information on this point, to make measurements at a temperature of 25° whenever this is possible. PAUL E. KLOPSTEG MATHEMATICS IN SPANISH-SPEAKING THE Spanish-speaking countries publish only one journal devoted to advanced mathe matics, which is now called Revista Matemática Hispano-Americana and is published at Madrid, Spain, under editorship of J. Rey Pastor. In view of the fact that the professors of mathematics in so many countries can obtain no other advanced mathematical journal in their own language one might suppose that this periodical would not suffer for want of suitable manuscripts or sufficient financial support. Such a supposition is, however, not in accord with the facts, judging from a call issued recently by its editor. In this call it is stated that there is now an almost complete lack of Spanish mathematical production and that it has been necessary therefore to publish an excessive number of articles by the same authors. It is also stated that nearly all Spanish professional mathematicians occupy the position of spectators and critics, and thus place the burden of doing the work connected with the periodical on the shoulders of one or two men. In view of the fact that in the English speaking countries of America the mathematical journals are now overcrowded by suitable manuscripts offered for publication it is interesting to note that just the opposite is true in the Spanish-speaking countries of this continent. As was noted in SCIENCE, N. S., volume 34, page 372, the Spanish-speaking people organized a mathematical society in 1911. This society has been fairly successful in awakening among them an interest in the newer fields of mathematics, but, judging from the call noted above, which was directed to the members of this society, it seems that this interest is still far from being general and effective. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS G. A. MILLER THE EARLIEST BEES, WASPS AND ANTS It seems desirable to correct some statements appearing in text-books of geology, which lead students to imagine that we are acquainted with bees, wasps and ants from Mesozoic strata. Thus, Professor J. W. Miller, in his "Introduction to Historical Geology " (1916), says (p. 232): Insects such as bees, ants and wasps made their first appearance in the Jurassic. Dr. C. Schuchert, in "Historical Geology" ("Text-book of Geology," part 2), 1915, p. 812, states that "with the Comanchian . . . ... insects (beetles, flies, ants, bees, wasps) took their rise." As a matter of fact, the oldest known bees are from Baltic amber (Oligocene Tertiary), and the oldest known true wasps and ants are from the Eocene. In the Jurassic, the peculiar family Pseudosiricidæ, apparently related to the modern Siricida, were well represented. One species of this extinct family (Megapterites mirabilis Ckll.) has lately been described from the English Eocene. There is a very dubious Jurassic Hymenopterous insect from Spain, supposed to be related to the Ichneumonidæ. These Hymenoptera were not in any way adapted to be pollinators of flowers. Considering the development of the Hymenoptera in the Eocene, it may be presumed that the wasps and ants, at least, originated as early as the Cretaceous, but there is no direct evidence on the point. UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO T. D. A. COCKERELL SPECIAL ARTICLES THE PNEUMATIC PARADOX IN ACOUSTICS 1. THE following pretty experiment is very instructive in its bearing on the MayerDvorak effect, as well as on the experiments of the present paper. In the figure, b is the light wooden beam (30 cm. long, counterpoised at a) of a horizontal torsion balance, the torsion wire (of brass, .02 cm. in diameter and 18 cm. long on either side normal to the diagram) being seen at w. A light disc of cardboard d is suspended in equilibrium from the end of the balance. Below this is the telephone T to which the brass pipe p (13 cm. in length and 2.6 cm. in diameter) has been cemented, to form of a closed c" organ pipe of which the telephone plate is the bottom. The open top of p is surrounded by a fixed annular disc cc of metal parallel and close to the movable disc d. This is of course nothing further than a modified example of the familiar pneumatic paradox. When the pipe howls, the distance from which d may be attracted and held is perhaps 2 cm. beyond which the couche of diminished static pressure is ineffective. The thickness vanishes with the intensity of sound. 2. If now cc is removed and the disc d is replaced by the closed paper cylinder e of a diameter (2.1 cm.) sufficiently small to enter the mouth of p easily, the results of the experiment are the same. Here however the cylinder e may be made to enter the pipe as much as 1 cm. or more by successively decreasing the pitch, conformably by the gradually stopped mouth of p. Supposing the total displacement to be 2 cm., the force indicated by the torsion balance would be .7 dyne and the mean pressure decrement for the area 3.5 cm.2, therefore .2 dynes/cm.2 But as both the disc and cylinder come down with a jerk, the maximum forces are probably larger. If there were a pin hole in the bottom of e, |