THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE CONCILIUM BIBLIOGRAPHICUM PROFESSOR HENRY WARD'S appreciative account of Dr. H. H. Field and his self-sacrificing work in connection with the founding and maintenance of the Concilium Bibliographicum suggests to me to make a brief statement concerning the present status of the Concilium.

I spent several weeks in July and August of this summer in a personal examination, in Zurich, of Concilium affairs, representing the National Research Council and the Rockefeller Foundation. The Council has had for some time, during the latter months of Dr. Field's life-time and since his death, in consideration the possibility of extending some aid for the maintenance and further development of the Concilium. The Foundation has manifested a similar interest with a tangible expression of it by two appropriations to assist in meeting the current expenses of the Concilium in 1920 and 1921.

On arrival in Zurich I found Concilium matters in a critical situation. Dr. Field's patriotic activities during the war had left him but little time to devote to the Concilium, and the disastrous results of war-time and after-war conditions on such international organizations as the Concilium had left things in very bad shape. Dr. Field's sudden death prevented him from even beginning a serious rehabilitation of Concilium work and finances.

After many conferences with Mrs. Field and her business friends, with Fraülein Rühl who for twenty years has been Dr. Field's chief technical assistant and was practically the only member of the Concilium staff still giving full time to its affairs, and with an official representative of the Swiss Natural Science Association, which under the terms

of Dr. Field's will becomes, under certain conditions, the legatee of Dr. Field's financial interest in the Concilium, and after long and difficult examination of the business books and memoranda of the Concilium, I arranged to set up a provisional reorganization of the Concilium under the acting directorship, until January 1, 1922, without salary, of Professor J. Strohl, of the Zoological Institute of the University of Zurich.

This temporary reorganization will allow some of the most needed work of the Concilium to go forward, supported financially by the subsidies of the Swiss Government, the city of Zurich and the Rockefeller Foundation.

The Concilium, which from the business point of view, is a non-profit taking company, most of whose shares belong to the Field estate, owns an equity of some value in the building at 79 Hofstrasse which for several years has been the Concilium offices and It also has some assets in printing rooms.

the way of many already printed cards, some little stock of paper, some office furniture, type and printing presses, etc. But most importantly its assets are its "good will " This list must have and subscription list. immediate attention and revision and that is part of the work now being done under the provisional arrangement.

Professor Ward and other American biologists may be assured that the Concilium is not being allowed to go to pieces without some positive efforts being exerted to save it. It is not yet time, but soon will be, for a definite statement to be issued to the American subscribers to the Concilium cards, which, I hope, will not have to include a direct appeal for money for the support of the Concilium but will appeal for a renewed interest in, and support of the organization, to be manifested by a confirmation of old subscriptions and an addition of new ones. I was much interested to discover from examination of the subscription lists that one third of all the Concilium subscribers are AmeriVERNON KELLOGG

can.

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

SCIENTIFIC EVENTS

THE HIGH ALTITUDE EXPEDITION TO PERU

As has been already noted in SCIENCE, the Royal Society High Altitude Expedition to Peru sailed in the third week of November on the Santa Teresa. The expedition proposes to study the adaptation of man to life at or above the altitude of 14,000 ft. As compared with other localities in which this type of work has been carried out, Peru possesses certain advantages: (1) Being near the equator, the effects of altitude are less complicated by those of cold than in higher latitudes. (2) The Central Railway of Peru, the highest standard-guage railway in the world, ascends the Andes to an altitude of 15,885 ft. (3) A mining population lives and works in localities situated above 14,000 and 16,000 ft., or even higher. It is alleged, for example, that the porters at the town of Cerro de Pasco, in the Andes, raise the ores 600 ft. from the mines by carrying loads of 160 lb. of mineral many times in the day. There is probably no other population which carries on such heavy work in so rare an atmosphere. Experimental methods for the study of the circulatory and respiratory systems have advanced so much within the last ten or twenty years that the time seems ripe for their application to the extraordinarily interesting problems which life at high altitudes presents. Donations towards the expenses of the expedition have been received from the folowing: The Royal Society, the Harvard Medical School, the Carnegie Fund, the Moray Fund, the University of Toronto, the Rockefeller Institute, the Presbyterian Hospital, New York, Sir Peter Mackie, and Sir Robert Hadfield.

Members of the party are Alfred C. Redfield, assistant professor of physiology at the Harvard Medical School; Arlie V. Bock, M.D., of the Massachusetts General Hospital; Henry S. Forbes, M.D., now engaged in research work in industrial medicine at Harvard University; C. A. L. Binger, of the Rockefeller Institute, New York; and George A. Harrop, of the Presbyterian Hospital, New York. The expedition was organized

by Joseph Bancroft of Cambridge University, England; he is accompanied also by Professor J. G. Meakins, of Edinburgh University, and Dr. Doggart of King's College, Cambridge, England. They carry with them an X-ray machine and a large amount of other medical apparatus.

After completing the studies at Cerro de Pasco, the investigators expect to spend a short time at Ticleo, on the watershed of the Andes. Ticleo, nearly 16,000 feet high, is the highest standard-gauge railroad station in the world. They will return by February first, and later in the year Mr. Bancroft will give a series of lectures at the Lowell Institute in Boston.

THE JOSEPH HENRY FUND OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

IN the year 1878 a tripartite agreement was made between (1) Certain citizens of Philadelphia, (2) A Pennsylvania Insurance and Annuity Company and (3) the National Academy of Sciences, by the terms of which a fund of $40,000 face value was placed in trust with the Company, the income from which was to be paid to Professor Joseph Henry during his life and after his death to his wife and three daughters and after the death of the last survivor of these four, it was provided that the same gross sum shall be transferred to the National Academy of Sciences to be forever held in trust and the income from which shall be from time to time applied to assist "meritorious investigations in natural science especially in the direction of original research."

By the death on November 10, 1920, of the last survivor of the original beneficiaries, the capital sum passes, as of that date, into the hands of the National Academy of Sciences for purposes as indicated.

At the recent fall mecting of the Academy in Chicago, the following statement of policy of administration, submitted by the special Committee on this fund, was approved by the Academy:

Under the terms of the trust deed there is im

posed no limitation regarding the field of science in which an award may be made. Since, however, this fund, in its original inception was organized during Professor Henry's life time for the purpose of enabling him the better to carry on his scientific work, and since it now stands, in some measure, as a monument to his name and to his contributions to science, it would seem not improper that among projects of equal merit otherwise, some preference should be shown to those which may lie nearer to the fields of work with which Professor Henry's name is usually associated. The committee does not, however, desire to impose in advance any specific limitations or restrictions, and it will therefore be prepared to consider applications from all fields of natural science.

It is probable that a certain amount of money may be avaliable for award at the meeting in April next. Applications for award should be forwarded to the Secretary of the National Academy of Sciences, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C., on or before April 5, 1922.

Suggestions regarding the general problem of the most effective utilization of such a fund will be gratefully received by the chairman of the committee.

W. F. DURAND, Chairman, Joseph Henry Fund Committee

STANFORD UNIVERSITY, CALIFORNIA

DR. NICHOLS AND THE PRESIDENCY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF

TECHNOLOGY

DR. ERNEST FOX NICHOLS, president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has resigned his office because of ill health and his resignation has been accepted by the executive committee of the corporation. He has been given leave of absence until January 4, 1922, when the next meeting of the corporation will be held and the action of the executive committee will be ratified. Dr. Nichols was inaugurated president of the institute on June 8, 1921, but has not assumed the office.

Dr. Nichols's letter to the corporation follows:

A sufficient time has now elapsed since the onset

of a severe illness, which followed immediately upon my inauguration, to enable my physicians to estimate consequences. They assure me certain physical limitations, some of them probably permanent, have resulted. These, they agree, make it decidedly inadvisable for the institute or for me that I should attempt to discharge the manifold duties of president. Indeed, they hold it would be especially unwise for me to assume the grave responsibilities, to attempt to withstand the inevitable stresses and strains of office, or to take on that share in the open discussion of matters of public interest and concern inseparable from the broader activities of educational leadership.

As my recuperation is still in progress I have contended earnestly with my doctors for a lighter judgment. I feel more than willing to take a personal risk, but they know better than I, and they stand firm in their conclusions.

The success of the institute is of such profound importance to our national welfare, to the advancement of science and the useful arts, that no insufficient or inadequate leadership is sufferable. Personal hopes and wishes must stand aside.

It is therefore with deep personal regret but with the conviction that it is best for all concerned, that I tender you my resignation of the presidency of the institute and urge you to accept it without hesitation.

To you who have shown me such staunch and generous friendship it is pleasant to add that in the judgment of my physicians the physical disqualifications for the exigencies of educational administration are such as need not restrict my activities in the simpler untroubled, methodical life of scientific investigation to which I was bred. It is to the research laboratory, therefore, that I ask your leave to return.

In reply Frederick P. Fish, chairman of the executive committee of the corporation, wrote as follows:

Your letter of November 3, 1921, to the Corporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was submitted to the executive committee of the institute at a meeting of the committee on November 10, 1921.

The situation set out in your letter is clearly controlling and the committee had no alternative except to accept your resignation, subject to confirmation by the corporation. As appears by the vote of the committee, copy of which I enclose, your resignation is to take effect January 4, 1922, with leave of absence until that date.

I can not adequately express the deep regret of the committee that the institute must lose your services as its president. We have all been looking forward with the utmost confidence to the sound development and continued prosperity of the institution under your leadership. We have no doubts as to the future but shall never cease to deplore that you were not permitted to make the great contribution to the work which your character, personality and training would have assured to it.

I need not add that the severance of the personal relations which have given us so much satisfaction is a source of keen regret to us all. We know, however, that you will always remain a friend of the institute and of those who are responsible for the guidance of its affairs.

The members of the committee and the friends of the institute generally, will cordially unite in wishing you a long, happy and prosperous life and large success in the work to which you propose to devote your effort.

MEETINGS OF NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC

SOCIETIES

REDUCED railroad fares for those attending the Toronto meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (December 27 to 31) have now been granted by the Southeastern, Western and Southwestern Passenger Associations, as well as by those named in a recent announcement (SCIENCE, 54: 353, October 14, 1921). Every member planning to attend the meeting from the regions of the Transcontinental Passenger Association should consult his local ticket agent, and purchase a ticket to the nearest main station lying within the region for which the reduced rates are available. The complete list of passenger associations granting the reduced rates is: The Canadian Passenger Association, The New England Passenger Association, The Central Passenger Association, Southeastern Passenger Association, The Western Passenger Association, and the Southwestern Passenger Association. The rate from main stations within the regions of these associations will be a fare and one half for the round trip, on the certificate plan.

The

THE next meeting of the American Astronomical Society will be held on December

29-31, at Sproul Observatory, Swarthmore, Pa.

THE Ecological Society of America will hold its annual meeting at Toronto in affiliation with the American Association from December 27-30. In addition to the regular sessions of the society joint sessions will be held with the Entomological Society of America, the American Society of Zoologists and the Botanical Society of America. Members wishing to present papers should furnish the secretary with titles and brief abstracts as soon as possible. The society headquarters will be at the King Edward Hotel. Communications in regard to participation in the program and in regard to membership should be sent to the secretary, A. O. Weese, The Vivarian, Champaign, Illinois.

THE annual meeting of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, composed of the American Physiological Society, The American Society of Biological Chemists, The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, and The American Society for Experimental Pathology, will be held in New Haven under the auspices of Yale University on December 28, 29, and 30. The American Association of Anatomists will meet at the same date and place. The advantage of one and one half round trip fare on the certificate plan has already been granted by the railroads of the territory east of Chicago and St. Louis and south of the Canadian border. These rates are available to members and their friends attending the annual session. The federation meeting is under the executive chairmanship of Dr. J. J. R. MacLeod, of the University of Toronto, president of the American Physiological Society.

THE annual meeting of the Association of American Geographers, under the direction of President Ellen Churchill Semple, will be held in Washington, D. C., on December 29, 30 and 31, beginning on Thursday at one thirty. Through the courtesy of the National Geographic Society the session will be held at the society building. Morning sessions Friday and

Saturday will extend from ten to one o'clock; afternoon sessions Friday and Saturday from two thirty to five thirty. The president's address will be given at the opening of the session on Friday afternoon, and will be followed by a series of invited papers on Trade Routes."

THE American Society of Mechanical Engineers will hold its annual meeting in New York city from December 5 to 9. The report of the committee on elimination of waste in industry of the American Engineering Council will provide the basis for the discussion.

SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS

THE Norwegian Störthing has awarded the Nobel peace prize for 1921 to Dr. Elis Stroemgren, professor of astronomy at the University of Copenhagen, for his efforts to effect reconciliation among scholars of European countries.

DR. T. C. CHAMBERLIN, of the University of Chicago, has been made a corresponding member of the Stockholm and Belgian Geological Societies.

DR. SIMON FLEXNER, the director of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, New York, has been elected a corresponding member of the Vienna Society of Physicians. PROFESSOR GEORGE GRANT MACCURDY, of Yale University, first director of the American School in France for Prehistoric Studies, has been elected a corresponding member of the Société Archéologique et Historique de la Charente.

DR. JOHN B. WHITEHEAD, dean of the engineering school and professor of electrical engineering at Johns Hopkins University, has been awarded the five thousand francs prize of the Institute Electrotechnique Montefiore of Liège, Belgium, bestowed every three years for original work on the scientific advancement in the technical application of electricity. The prize was given for an essay on "The Corona Voltmeter and the Electric Strength of Air."

THE Jenner Memorial Medal of the Royal Society of Medicine has been conferred on

Sir Shirley Murphy in recognition of his work in epidemiological research.

THE University of Cambridge has presented an address to Dr. G. D. Liveing, St. John's College, formerly professor of chemistry, to commemorate the fact that he has kept by residence every term in the university for the last seventy-five years. Dr. Liveing became fellow of St. John's College in 1853, and professor of chemistry in 1861.

PRESIDENT LIVINGSTON FARRAND, of Cornell University, was elected president of The American Child Hygiene Association at its annual convention in New Haven, on November 5.

PROFESSOR FILIBERT ROTH, head of the department of forestry of the University of Michigan, was recently appointed by Governor Groesbeck as a member of the State Commission of Conservation. Professor Roth represents on the commission the forestry interests of the state.

DAVID LUMSDEN, formerly assistant professor of floriculture at Cornell University and during the last two years director of Agricultural Reconstruction at Walter Reed General Hospital, has been appointed horticulturist in the Office of Foreign Plant Quarantines, Federal Horticultural Board, Washington, D. C.

MESSRS. J. E. Walters, F. W. Schroeder, and Frank Porter, chemists at the helium plant of the Bureau of Mines at Petrolia, Texas, have been transferred to the new cryogenic laboratory of the bureau in Washing

ton.

MR. EARLE E. RICHARDSON, who has been instructing in analytical chemistry and physics for the past four years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has been appointed research physicist under Mr. L. A. Jones at the research laboratories of the Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N. Y.

MR. ALLEN ABRAMS has resigned as research associate from the research laboratory of applied chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to become chief chemist for the Cornell Wood Products Co.