Number of Lab. Hours Number of Schools Number of Lab. Hours In answer to question 9 it was found that the following theories, laws and principles are omitted by the number of schools indicated. Law of constant proportions-3, combining weights-2, Boyle's law-2, kinetic molecular hypothesis-26, Avogadro's law-3, Gay-Lussac's law-5, catalytic agent-3, allotropism-16, osmotic pressure-21, freezing and boiling point effects-7, gram molecular volume law-21, DuLong and Petit's law-51, periodic arrangement of elements-15, Moseley numbers-99, electron theory-19, structure of atom-27, ionization-2, Faraday's law—25, equilibrium—8, thermal equation-45, colloids-45. 6176 6749 Number of Schools It is evident from the variety of answers already received that standardization is necessary. For this purpose the state should have a permanent committee, as long as the United States Commissioner of Education is not empowered to establish standards and enforce them. The latter procedure is naturally more desirable, as it would enable all colleges and Question 15 is answered in Tables IV., A, universities to plan their courses as continua B and C. tion courses instead of repeating much of the material which students in some high schools have already covered. The writer wishes to acknowledge valuable assistance rendered by Miss Marcella Schwer. ALEXANDER SILVERMAN SCHOOL OF CHEMISTRY, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH TWENTY-FIVE IMPORTANT TOPICS IN THE HISTORY OF SECONDARY MATHEMATICS THE rapid increase in the number of the historical notes in our recent text-books on elementary and secondary mathematics raises the question, What should be the dominating motive in the selection of such notes? The history of mathematics is so enormous that it is clearly impossible to present a considerable part of it in such notes, but it would be possible to select for them some of the central elements of this history, which might become nucleuses for the student's further develop- publications; (13) Special mathematical periment along this line. To emphasize the fact that some of the present historical notes are useless from this standpoint we may mention that many of our elementary geometries state that according to tradition Pythagoras was so jubilant over his discovery of the Pythagorean theorem that he sacrificed 100 oxen to the gods on the occasion. It is difficult to see why authors of text-books waste space on such a statement. It is probably not true that such a sacrifice was made by Pythagoras, and if it were true, it could only lessen our respect for him. Just imagine meeting now a man in the act of sacrificing 100 oxen because he had made a mathematical discovery. Would you not conclude that he ought to be in an asylum for the insane? By the time the average student reaches college he may easily have read twenty-five historical notes in his various mathematical text-books. It is therefore of interest to list twenty-five topics which have been epoch making in the development of pure mathematics and are nucleuses of an extensive history. It can scarcely be expected that all would agree entirely on what twenty-five points should be regarded as most important in the history of secondary mathematics but one may perhaps assume general agreement as regards the fact that each of the subjects of the following list is worthy of consideration in connection with this question. The order of these subjects is supposed to be chronological with respect to the beginnings of their history. (1) Numeration and notation; (2) Value of ; (3) Irrational quantities and irrational numbers; (4) Science of elementary geometry; (5) Science of elementary algebra; (6) Translations of treatises into a different language; (7) Science of trigonometry, or arithmetical geometry; (8) Algebraic solution of the general cubic and of the general biquadratic equation; (9) Use of logarithms for numerical calculations; (10) Science of analytic geometry, or algebraic geometry; (11) Science of differential and integral calculus; (12) Scientific societies supporting odicals; (14) Ecole polytechnique; (15) Science of arithmetic, or the theory of numbers; (16) Reality of complex numbers; (17) founding of descriptive and projective geometry; (18) Theory of functions; (19) Non-euclidean geometry; (20) Theory of groups; (21) Johns Hopkins University; (22) Theory of aggregates; (23) International mathematical congresses; (24) Large modern mathematical encyclopedias; (25) International commission on the teaching of mathematics. The above list of twenty-five important topics in the history of secondary mathematics does not include any of the subjects of applied mathematics, which have furnished strong motives for the development of pure mathematics. From the earliest times astronomy and surveying have furnished such motives especially for the development of spherical and plane trigonometry respectively. Among the subjects which furnished strong motives for some of the later developments in pure mathematics we may mention celestial mechanics, hydromechanics, and the theory of heat. Some may be surprised to find in the above list of important topics the names of two institutions, but a little reflection will tend to make it clear that these institutions have been the centers of unusually strong mathematical influences. The early courses offered at these institutions are of great historical interest. It is true that the influence of the latter might be regarded to have been national rather than international, but the national activity which it fostered has been sufficiently extensive to merit general recognition. It is, however, not our purpose to justify the particular selection of topics noted above. If this list will tend to direct the attention of teachers and authors to the really serious and fundamental questions of mathematical history, the purpose of its compilation will be fulfilled. Just as the material of the body of a text-book is selected with a view to furnishing matter of permanent usefulness rather than to arouse ephemeral interest, so it seems that the material for the historical notes should be selected primarily with a view to furnishing enjoyment by growth of knowledge about the history of our subject. The topics of this list may also be suitable subjects for consideration at meetings of mathematical clubs. In fact, it is especially important that the subjects selected for such metings should be fertile, since those who take active part in them include to a large extent the mathematicians of the future, and these mathematicians can not afford to be as ignorant of the history of their subject as are those of the passing generation. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS G. A. MILLER SCIENTIFIC EVENTS THE CLEVELAND MEETING OF THE THE annual September meeting of the American Chemical Society will be held at the Hotel Statler, Cleveland, Ohio, September 10 to 13, 1918, inclusive. There is every prospect of a large and successful meeting. The chemists of the country are showing a very decided desire to get together in these war times for conference at a time when it is so difficult to keep in touch with the progress of chemistry through our literature. A meeting of this kind offers special inducements to members of our society to keep themselves abreast of the time. Wonderful chemical advancement has taken place in America during the last year. Many chemists, both from the government service and from the industries, will be present. Registration will begin at 3 P.M., September 9, at the Statler Hotel. Information regarding other hotels may be obtained from the chairman of the committee on hotels. The general preliminary program is as follows: Monday, September 9 4 P.M.-Council meeting at the University Club, Euclid Avenue and East 38th Street. Dinner there for the Council as guests of the Cleveland Section. Tuesday, September 10 10 A.M.-General meeting. "The American Chemist's Place in Warfare," by Charles L. Parsons, Chairman of the Committee on War Service for Chemists. Other general papers to be announced. 2 P.M.-General Symposium on the Chemistry of Dyestuffs. R. Norris Shreve, Chairman. Numerous interesting papers and addresses are being prepared. These will fake up the whole of the afternoon of Tuesday and may continue on Wednesday morning in the Industrial Division. Evening.-Banquet, Hotel Statler, followed by a smoker at the same place. Wednesday, September 11 Morning.-Divisional meetings-Hotel Statler. Afternoon.-Choice of excursions. (a) Sanitary trip, including sewage disposal experiments, water filtration, garbage disposal. (b) Steel industries, blast furnaces, byproduct coke, steel-bessemer and open hearth. (c) Industrial tour of Cleveland, including manufacturing centers. (d) Trip to Oberlin. Evening.-President's address, followed by informal reception. Thursday, September 12 Divisional meetings all day. Late Afternoon.-Outing to one of the country clubs, followed by reception at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Friday, September 13 Choice of excursions. (a) By special cars to Akron-Goodrich Rubber Co. (limited to 200), Knight Chemical Stoneware plant, and possibly pottery works. (b) Auto trip to Wadsworth, near AkronOhio Match Co., Ohio Salt Works, and Ohio Brass Co. (limited to 50). The usual meetings, including the annual election of officers, will be held by all the Divisions, and by the Rubber Chemistry Section, with the following special program: The Division of Biological Chemistry is planning a symposium on plant chemistry. The Division of Industrial Chemists and Chemical Engineers, besides continuing the symposium on the chemistry of dyestuffs, is planning a symposium on potash and a continuation of the very successful symposium on metallurgical subjects started at the Boston meeting. The committee headed by Miss Josephine Grasselli will arrange a program for the pleasure of the visiting ladies. Details will be found in the final program. All titles for papers should be in the secretary's hands on or before August 24 or in the hands of the secretaries of divisions on or before August 23, with the exception that titles of papers should reach the secretary of the Division of Industrial Chemists and Chemical Engineers on or before August 18. The Division of Industrial Chemists and Chemical Engineers have voted that the titles of all papers shall be sent to the secretary of the division, which title should be accompanied by an abstract; that any tile sent without an abstract shall not be printed in the program, and that the time limit for the presentation shall be five minutes, unless special arrangements are made with the secretary of the division. By vote of the council no papers may be presented at the meeting titles for which are not printed on the final program. "By Title" should be placed on the announcement of any paper where the author is to be absent, so that members may understand in advance that the paper will not be read. The following are the addresses of the divisional secretaries: Agricultural and Food Chemistry: Fred F. Fland ers, 88 Corey Road, Brookline, Mass. Biological Chemistry: I. K. Phelps, Bureau of Chemistry, Washington, D. C. Fertilizer Chemistry: F. B. Carpenter, VirginiaCarolina Chemical Co., Richmond, Va. Industrial Chemists and Chemical Engineers: S. H. Salisbury, Jr., Northampton, Pa. Organic Chemistry: H. L. Fisher, Columbia University, New York City. Pharmaceutical Chemistry: George D. Beal, Chem istry Building, University of Illinois, Urbana, Ill. Physical and Inorganic Chemistry: W. E. Hender- In order that the meeting may receive due and correct notice in the public press, every member presenting a paper is requested to send an abstract to Professor Allen Rogers, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N. Y., chairman of the society's press and publicity committee. The amount of publicity given to the meeting and to the individual papers will entirely depend upon the degree to which members cooperate in observing this request. A copy of the abstract should be retained by the member and handed to the secretary of the special division before which the paper is to be presented in Cleveland. Short abstracts will be printed in SCIENCE. The final program will be sent to all members signifying their intention of attending the meeting, to the secretaries of sections, to the council, and to all members making special request therefor by postal card or attached slip to the secretary's office. CHARLES L. PARSONS, Secretary THE JAPANESE BEETLE IN NEW JERSEY A PUBLIC hearing on the proposed quarantine of a portion of New Jersey on account of the Japanese beetle, a serious pest of certain vegetables and fruit, was held by the United States Department of Agriculture in Washington, D. C., on August 20. As a result of infestation of the Japanese beetle in parts of Burlington county, New Jersey, the proposed quarantine is intended to prohibit the shipment from this territory of green sugar corn, ripe tomatoes and ripe peaches which might cause this pest to spread. A campaign of eradication authorized by Congress is now in progress, and the proposed quarantine is deemed necessary to support the measures that are being taken for the suppression of this dangerous pest. |