Report of the National Research Council. (1918)

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NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 15 mechanics, Harvard University; R. G. D. Richardson, professor of mathematics, | Brown University; H. L. Reitz, professor of mathematics, University of Iowa; Virgil Snyder, professor of mathematics, Cornell University. Internationa] Geodetic and Geophysical Union, Madrid, October 1-10, 1924: L. A. Bauer, director, department of terrestrial magnetism of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, D. C.; William Bowie, Chief, Division of Geodesy, United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, Washington, D. C.; Harry Fielding Reid, professor of dynamic geology and geography, Johns Hopkins University; H. H. Kimball, United States Weather Bureau, Washington, D. C. Special missions.—At the invitation of the League of Nations, the council authorized the attendance of Dr. J. R. Schramm, execu- tive secretary of the council’s division of biology and agriculture and editor of Botanical Abstracts, at a meeting of the subcommittee on bibliography of the League of Nations’ committee on international intellectual cooperation, held in Geneva (Switzerland) on July 24, 1923. The expenses of Doctor Schramm’s trip were paid.by the League of Nations secretariat. By agreement with the Rockefeller Foundation, and with the financial support of the foundation, Dr. C. E. McClung and Dr. J. R. Schramm, representing the National Research Council and the Union of American Biological Societies, spent most of the summer of 1924 in Europe for the sake of personal conferences with leading biologists in England, Scotland, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and Austria and representatives of major European biological societies and bibliographic services in the interests of the movement for establishing an inclusive international biological abstracts service. International dues.—The National Research Council is a member of the International Research Council and its affiliated unions. Certain of the research council’s divisions act as the American sections of these unions. The annual dues to the International Research Council and these various unions for the year 1924 were included at the request of the National Academy of Sciences in the appropriation bill for the State Department for the fiscal year end- ing June 30, 1925, as follows: International Research Council, 2,000 francs. __............---.------ $240 International Astronomical Union, 12,000 francs__._.._....-.--------- 1, 440 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, 4,500 francs. ____-_- 540 International Geodetic and Geophysical Union, 20,800 francs__....-..-- 2, 496 International Mathematical Union, 1,000 francs. ____..__.___-----..-. 120 International Union of Scientific Radio-Telegraphy, 1,600 francs__......- 192 Committee on Pacific investigations.—The division’s important committee on Pacific investigations has been active throughout the year. Through the cooperation of the research council, United States Navy, United States Bureau of Biological Survey, and the American Museum of Natural History, a scientific expedition, known

76 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, 1924 as the Tanager expedition, was sent during the summer of 1923 to Laysan, Midway, and other islands lying northwest of the Hawaian group proper. The expedition covered about four months of oper- ation and was distinctly successful. One of the most important results was the discovery on the island of Nihoa, an almost inaccessible rocky islet some hundreds of miles from other land, of ancient remains of temples and other works of a religious nature built by one of the older Polynesian peoples. Through the further cooperation of the research council, the Bishop Museum, and the United States Navy, other expeditions in the South Pacific were planned for 1924. The research council at the invitation of the Hydrographic Office of the United States Navy prepared memoranda of plans for extensive hydrographic work in the Pacific. Annual meeting.—The annual meeting of the division was held April 27, 1924, at which the following matters were particularly discussed : | (a) Proposed American national commission to cooperate with the League of Nations’ committee on international intellectual cooperation. (6) Present status of the movement for bibliographic and abstract- ing work with relation to scientific literature. (c) Matters of general policy of international scientific relationship including the possibility of greater autonomy on the part of inter- national unions affiliated with the International Research Council. DIVISION OF STATES RELATIONS Chairman.—Dr. Henry S. Graves, dean of the School of Forestry of Yale University, having accepted the additional position of provost of the university, found it necessary to resign the chairmanship of the division on November 1, 1923. Doctor Barrows, vice chairman, acted as chairman for the remainder of the year. At the annual meeting of the division held on June 5, 1924, Dr. A. F. Woods, presi- dent of the University of Maryland, was elected chairman. Report on financial control of State scientific agencies.—Prof. L. D. White, of the department of political science of the University of Chicago, who was requested last year to make a study of the effect which the tendency toward centralization of power through the recent movement for reorganization of State government has upon the scientific governmental agencies of the State, completed his report, entitled “‘An evaluation of the system of central financial control of research in State government.” The report covers an examination of systems of financial control in the States of Wisconsin, Ilinois, Obio, and Michigan, particularly as this control affects the operations of the scientific agencies of these States. Professor White’s report

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 97 also includes, by way of comparison, an analysis of the method of administration of research funds in the University of Chicago and in certain industrial corporations which maintain large research estab- lishments. The report was presented at the annual meeting of the division on June 5, 1924, and was recommended by the division for publication. Surveys.—The division has arranged for the following surveys simi- lar to the survey made in 1922 and 1923 by Professor White for Iihnois, and work on them is under way: (a) A survey of scientific activities and research facilities and of conditions attending the scientific work of the State departments in Ohio; by Dr. Earl L. Shoup of the department of political science, Western Reserve University, under the direction of Prof. A. R. Hatton. (6) A similar study for Michigan; by Dr. James Hart, of the department of political science, University of Michigan, under the direction of Prof. Thomas H. Reid. (ce) A similar survey in Wisconsin; by Dr. Joseph P. Hartis, under the direction of Prof. Frederick A. Ogg, professor of political science, University of Wisconsin. Annual meeting.—To the annual meeting of the division held on June 5 were invited members of the various Federal bureaus having relations with State scientific work and also a number of State officials. The attendance on the part of these guests was large and they took part in a general discussion of the report of Professor White made at the meeting as referred to above. - This general dis- cussion was led by Dean A. R. Mann, of the New York State College of Agriculture. DIVISION OF EDUCATIONAL RELATIONS The greater part of the activities of the council’s division of educa- tional relations during the past year has centered about ite interest in the problem of the gifted student. To bring this problem to the special attention of the administrative officers and faculties of colleges and universities of the country Dr. C. E. Seashore, dean of the graduate school and head of the department of philosophy and psychology of the University of Iowa, continued through the year his visits to principal colleges and universities. He made three trips; one in November, 1923, to 13 institutions in Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota; one in Febru- ary, 1924, to 15 institutions in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri; and one in May, 1924, to six institutions in lowa and South Dakota. In connection with his visits Dean Seashore has

78 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, 1924 made it a practice to arrange for the special appointment of a member of the faculty of each institution visited through whom the division shall maintain special touch with the institution. More than 30 such appointments were made during the year. Report on honors courses.—At the request of the division, and using material collected by it, President Aydelotte, of Swarthmore College, prepared a report on honors courses as at present developed in American colleges and universities, which was published in February and has been given wide distribution. This report attracted much attention. The division is making arrangements for a special con- ference on honors courses to be held at the University of Iowa and to be attended by representatives of a score or more of leading colleges and universities in the Middle West. Research career bulletins.—During the year the division con- tinued its preparation, publication, and distribution of special bulletins written by competent authorities pointing out the possibilities of research careers in different special fields of science. About 25,000 copies of these bulletins have heen sent out, on the special request of presidents and deans of colleges and universities, to be distributed among selected students of the upper classes. The list of these bulletins with their authors whith have up to the present been published in various technical journals and distributed by the divi- sion is as follows: Agricultural Research as a Career. FE. D. Ball,-director of scientific work, United States Department of Agriculture. Anthropolgy as a Career. Clark Wissler,. curator of anthropology, American Museum of Natural History, New York City. A Research Career in Astronomy. Paul W. Merrill, Mount Wilson Observa- tory, Pasadena, Calif. The Field for Chemists. W. D. Bancroft, professor ‘of physical chemistry, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. Engineering Research as a Career. A. A. Potter, dean of schools of engineering, Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind. Forestry as a Career. Henry S. Graves, dean, school of forestry, Yale Uni- versity, New Haven, Conn. Civil Engineering as a Career. William K. Hatt, professor of civil engineering, Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind. Research in Electrical Engineering. William Spraragen, secretary, division of engineering, National Research Couneil. Geology as a Career. H. P. Little, professor of geology, Clark University, Worcester, Mass. Geography as a Career. H. P. Little, professor of geology, Clark University, Worcester, Maas. Industrial Research and Its Opportunities. John Mills, personnel director, Western Electric Co., New York. City. . rs The Study of Life as a Thing Worth Doing. Albert L. Barrowa, vice chaigman, division of States relations, National Research Council. Mathematics as a Career. C. J. Keyser, professor of mathematics, Columbia University, New York City.

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 19 Research in the Medical Sciences. F. P. Gay, professor of bacteriology, Colum- bia University, New York City. Physics as a Career. George W. Stewart, professor of physics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. Psychology as a Life Work. Raymond Dodge, professor of psychology, Wes- leyan University, Middletown, Conn.; E. L. Thorndike, professor of edu- cational psychology, Columbia University, New York City; Shepherd I. Franz, scientific director, Government Hospital for the Insane, Washington; W. V. Bingham, professor of applied psychology, Carnegie Institute of Tech- nology, Pittsburgh, Pa. Psychology asa Career. C. E. Seashore, dean of the Graduate School, professor of psychology and head of the department of psychology and philosophy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. The Research Career in Public Health. David L. Edgall, professor of medicine and dean of the medical school, Harvard University, Boston, Mass. Zoological Research as a Career. C. E. McClung, professor of zoology, Univer- sity of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa. Sectioning classes on the basis of ability.—The division has extended some financial assistance to committee G of the American Association of University Professors on methods of increasing the intellectual interest and raising the intellectual standards of undergraduates. It reprinted and distributed an edition of 2,000 copies of a paper by Dean Seashore on “Sectioning classes on the basis of ability,’’ orig- inally published under the auspices of the committee in the bulletin of the association. The division is further cooperating with com- mittee G in obtaining information on the extent to which the method of sectioning classes on the basis of ability is now being used in American colleges and universities. Survey of schools for the deaf—A survey of schools for the deaf in this country, with special attention to the scientific problems in- volved in the instruction of the deaf, is being conducted under the direction of a special committee established by the division composed of the following members: Vernon Kellogg, chairman, division of educational relations, National Research Council; Ludvig Hektoen, chairman, division of medical sciences, National Research Council; R. S. Woodworth, chairman, division of anthropology and psychology, National Research Council; Percival Hall, president, Gallaudet College, representing the Convention of American Instructors of the Deaf and the Conference of Superintendents and Principals of Ameri- can Schools for the Deaf; Dr. C. W. Richardson, Washington, D. C., representing the permanent committee of the deaf child of the Ameri- can Medical Association; Dr. A. L. E. Crouter, superintendent of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, Mount Airy, Pa., representing the American Association to Promote the Teaching of Speech to the Deaf; Dr. Rudolph Pintner, professor of educational psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University. This survey is being carried on with the financial support of the Laura Spleman Rockefeller Memorial to the extent of $12,740,

80 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, 1924 Financial assistance from the Commonwealth fund.—The Common- wealth fund appropriated the sum of $8,000 for the support during the years 1924 and 1925 of the division’s special work on the problem of the gifted student. RESEARCH INFORMATION SERVICE Reorganization.—The executive board of the council at its meeting on May 12, 1923, decided to limit the field of activity of the research information service in certain respects and accordingly reduced the appropriation of the service for the year 1923-24 to rather less than two-thirds of the amount appropriated for 1922-23. It also modified the scheme of organization of the service somewhat and appointed s director, in the person of J. David Thompson, to reorganize the service on the reduced basis. During the year the executive committee of the service, after full consideration, recommended to the members of the division that it should approve of the following proposals to be made to the executive board of the council: (a) That the divisional form of administration of the service be given up; and © : (6) That the service be administered by a special committee of the board and a responsible director and staff. The executive board of the council, at its meeting on April 29, 1924, approved these proposals and ordered the adoption of the new plan proposed for the administration of the research information service. This reorganization, together with cértain arrangements made with the division of engineering and industrial research, whereby this division was to take over industrial and engineering inquires, made possible a further reduction in the appropriation required to carry on research information service during the year 1924-25. By discontinuing active development of the personnel file of Ameri- can scientific investigators and restricting work on this project to indexing the accumulated records as time permitted, with a corre- sponding reduction of the staff, it was found possible to continue all other activities of the service during the year without curtailment. The number of outside requests for scientific and technical informa- tion—1,225 during the year—was 37 per cent less than in the preced- ing year, probably through discontinuance of publicity, which resulted in undesirable inquiries, because the main reduction was in the number of such inquiries from persons not engaged in research. The in- formational service to scientific investigators throughout the country was but slightly diminished and the intramural work for divisions and com.nittees of the council, showed an appreciable increase,

WATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 81 Bibliographies of bibliographies.—The first of the series of bibli- ographies of published bibliographies in the various sciences, organized by the research information service and compiled by specialists, was published during the year, viz: Prof. E. B. Mathews’s Catalogue of Published Bibliographies in Geology, 1896-1920 (Bulletin No. 36, 228 pages). The second, which is a Classified List of Published Bibliographies in Physics, 1910-1922 (Bulletin No. 48, 102 pages), by Dr. Karl K. Darrow, is in press and will appear early in October. The third, Dr. Clarence J. West’s Bibliography of Chemical Bibliographies, is completed and ready for the printer. Manuscripts of similar compilations for mathematics and astronomy have been received but are not yet edited. A List of Manuscript Bibliographies in the Biological Sciences, compiled in the research information service, was issued during the year as reprint and circular series No. 45. This completes the series of lists of unpublished bibliographies. Bulletin on fellowships and scholarships in science and technology.— A revised bulletin (No. 38) on Fellowships and Scholarships for Advanced Work in Science and Technology was prepared by the service and distributed widely to universities and colleges in January. Corrosion reports.—In order to aid the work of the seven corrosion committees of the various national technical societies as well as the Research Council’s committee on this subject by supplying a com- pact summary of the literature on corrosion of the principal nonferrous metals, Mr. Harold F. Whittaker, of the research information serv- Ice, prepared a series of six mimeographed “Research information surveys on corrosion of metals,” dealing with nickel, aluminum, cop- per, zinc, tin, and lead. Copies were distributed as completed to the members of these committees; the remainder of the edition, bound in sets forming two volumes, has found a ready sale to industrial labora- tories and chemical engineers. Survey of research activities of Government bureaus.—Mr. Paul Moore, transferred from the former division of research extension to the research information service at the beginning of the fiscal year, has resumed, according to a new plan, the detailed survey of research activities of Government scientific bureaus in Washington which was suspended in the spring of 1922. At the end of the year he had covered practically all of the bureaus in the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture, except the Bureau of Chemistry. The results of this survey, organized systematically as they are obtained, constitute a very effective guide to reliable sources of information in the large part of the field of biology, agriculture, and meteorology which they cover. Mr. Moore also continues to devote part of his time to special work as secretary of the Horological Institute of America, the Crop Protection Institute, and the committee of scientific apparatus makers and users.

82 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, 192% DIVISION OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES Special research committees.— During the past years, as has been the case in previous years, the support and work of the special research committees have been generally recognized as the principal under- taking of the council’s division of physical sciences. During the year 1922-23 most of the old committees ended their labors and new set of committees was organized. These committees have all continued their work during the past year. They are as follows: Algebraic numbers, Prof. H. S. Vandiver, chairman; ionization potentials and related subjects, Dr. Paul D. Foote, chairman; luminescence, Prof. Edw. L. Nichols, chairman; radiation in gases, Dr. E. C. Kemble, chairman; research methods and technique, Prof. F. K. Richtmyer, chairman; theories of magnetism, Dr. S. J. Barnett, chairman; vision and photobiology, Dr. W. T. Bovie, chairman; X-rays and radioactivity, Prof. A. H. Compton, chairman. During the past year two new committees have been appointed, as follows: Rational transformations, Prof. Virgil Snyder, chairman; analysis situs, Prof. J. W. Alexander, chairman. Reports have been received from the chairmen of all committees now in existence and they all indicate an active interest in their respective subjects. The work of each of these committees extends in general, over two or three years and usually results in the publica- tion of one or more bulletins of the National Research Council giving the results of the work done. During the past year, for example, the following report has been issued: The Quantum Theory, by E. P. Adams. (Second edition. Re vised and enlarged.) In addition a number of other reports are in progress of formulation. In order to provide for the continuity of operation of these com- mittees there is necessary a continuity of financial support. This has been accomplished so far through a grant made by the Rocke feller Foundation supporting the work of these committees during the first three years of their existence, and since then by grants from the council of $5,000 a year. It seems to be necessary to continue such direct grants from the council until it is found possible to obtain special support for the committees from outside sources. Conference on physics abstracts.—Dr. G. S. Fulcher, editor of the Physical Review, was appointed as representative of the National Research Council to attend a conference in Brussels on May 1 and 2, 1924, of the subcommittee on bibliography of the committee on intellectual cooperation of the League of Nations, this conference . having been arranged to consider the question of abstracts in physics and physical chemistry. The expenses of Doctor Fulcher’s trip were paid by the secretariat of the League of Nations.

NATIONAL BESEARCH COUNCIL 83 Conference of scientific apparatus makers and users.—A conference of apparatus makers and users was held in the National Academy- Research Council building in Washington on April 24, 1924, under the auspices of the council’s divisions of physical sciences and of research extension. One of the purposes of this conference was to attempt standardization of scientific apparatus comparable to what has been done in the way of standardization by the American Chemical Society. Publication of mathematical books.—The revolving fund for the publication of mathematical books has begun to revolve. From Professor Eisenhart’s book on Transformation of Surfaces, published by the Princeton Press at a cost of a little less than $900, there has been returned thus far a little more than $330. A second book by Professor White, of Vassar, is soon to be published by the Harvard University Press. Vassar College has agreed to pay into the revolving fund an amount equal to one-half the cost of publishing this book. American section, International Union of Scientific Radio Teleg- raphy.—The development of the international organization of the International Union of Scientific Radio Telegraphy has not progressed very rapidly during the past year. Portugal has organized its com- mittees and adhered to the union. Norway, which adhered in 1922, has completed its committees, while Spain and Australia, which were reported to have organized sometime ago, have not entered the union and nothing further has been heard from Japan or the Nether- lands. Active scientific work of an international character is being carried on by England, France, and America. The American section has been active and several valuable investigations have been undertaken under its auspices. Committees in borderland fields.—At the annual meeting of the divi- sion on April 27, 1924, considerable discussion was had concerning the advisability and practicability of stimulating activities in fields bordering on physics, and a special committee, with Prof. M. I. Pupin as chairman, was appointed to formulate a report on research in such borderland fields. DIVISION OF ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH At its meeting on December 11, 1923, the executive board of the council decided to maintain no longer as a separate division the division of research extension but to merge it with the division of engineering and to change the name of this division to division of _ engineering and industrial research. This action was taken because of an overlapping of the interests and activities of the two divisions and the transfer of the funds-soliciting special function of the division of research extension to the office of the permanent secretary.

84 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, 1924 Although the division of engineering has in the past devoted con- siderable attention to the promotion of research along with its actav- ities on research projects, it has now definite plans under considera- tion for conducting this promotional work in a systematic manner. The consolidation of the division of research extension with the division of engineering has given new impetus to this phase of the work. This research promotion program is really an elaboration of previous methods found to be successful. These plans are briefly: 1. A carefully planned division meeting at least once a year, featuring several speakers of national prominence in research. A number of executives of large corporations would be invited to these meetings. 2. Scheduling research sessions at important meetings of technical societies. 3. Establishing contacts with trade associations with the idea of making research work a part of their activities. 4. Preparation of literature specifically designed to sell the “re- search idea.” 5. The organization of an advisory committee made up of acknowl- edged national leaders of industry and finance, whose function would be to devise ways and means, suggest channels, and lend the weight of their personal opinions to impress upon leaders in business life an appreciation of the benefits and value of research. A more definite policy in the selection of projects and methods of operation has been formulated. It is hoped in this way to limit the projects connected with the division to a number which can be efficiently handled by the present organization and staff, and to select only those problems, the solution of which can bring about the greatest good to our industries. Advisory board on highway research.—Cooperation has been estab- lished with a $200,000 field laboratory investigation of the General Motors Research Corporation. The new director, C. M. Upham, chief engineer of the North Carolina State Highway Commission, has been successful in establishing contacts with the various State highway departments to the end that the advisory board may be of more direct service to the State highway departments. Ten thousand dollars has been offered the board for a fact-finding investigation of the service results obtained from reinforced concrete as compared with plain concrete roads. This project has been organized and is now under way ‘Two bulletins have been published and distributed, entitled ‘‘ Proceedings of Third Annual Meeting,” and ‘“ Minimum Specifications for Highway Engineering Positions.” The advisory board on highway research cooperates closely with and receives financial support from the United States Bureau of Public Roads.

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 85 American bureau of welding —A number of valuable reports have appeared in print during the past year, including bulletins on ‘‘ The Application of Arc Welding to Ship Construction,’ ‘“‘ Training Course for Electric Arc Welders,” ‘‘ Present Status of Arc Welding of Non- Ferrous Metals.’ Two important recent reports are a 73-page Progress Report No. 2 of the welded rail joint committee, and “‘ Welding of Manganese Steel.” Some of these investigations are of the greatest mportance to industry. Subcommittees which have completed their work and have been discharged are: Training of welding operators, standard tests for welds, storage tanks, and welding of pressure vessels. Industrial lighting.—Necessary financial support ($50,000 in cash and about $150,000 in services) has been secured for a two-year investigational program. Studies will be made on the relation of better lighting to increased production, reduction of fatigue of workers, and decrease of spoilage. Heat transmission.—The division has undertaken the organization of a committee to deal with the broad subject of heat transmission. Suitable subcommittees have been appointed. Preliminary efforts will be confined to preparing critical reviews of the existing knowledge on the several phases of heat transmission. Marine piling investigation.—The investigation as outlined by the division, which has involved two years of effort and an expenditure of $200,000, has been completed, and a report published in permanent book form (534 pp.). This report is regarded by competent authori- ties as an extremely valuable source of information on the life habits of destructive marine organisms, methods of preventing and reducing damage caused by them, and statistics as to materials of construction other than timber, including service life of existing structures and records of failures. In order to defray the cost of publication, the book is being sold to contributors at $5 per volume, and to noncon- tributors at $7.50. Molding sands.—Specifications have been completed for treating molding sands and tests made of 350 samples of sand deposits for the purpose of locating new sands which may be used for molding purposes. Investigations continue in the direction of reclaiming used sands. Pulverizing.—Two years of effort in stimulating industries, govern- mental bureaus, universities, and individuals, to do more rese«rch work in this particular field, has led to a greater appreciation of the benefits which may be derived from such work, and the committee now has at its disposal the full-time services of a secretary. This committee has also acted as the committee on milling methods for the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, and it is generally agreed that the work has reached that stage of develop-

86 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, 19% ment where it can now continue to function in this latter capacity without direct affiliation with the division, and the committee has accordingly been discharged. Fatigue phenomena of metals.—Investigations continue in the non- ferrous field, which were made possible by contributions of $23,500 from the Allis-Chalmers Co., the General Electric Co., the Western Electric Co., and the Copper and Brass Research Association. A third bulletin has been published by the University of Illinois, giving additional test data and 12 important conclusions reached since the publication of the last bulletin. Several important papers and s bibliography have been published through the efforts of this committee. Electrical insulation.—The broad subject of electrical insulation has been divided into eight subdivisions, and these several phases have been assigned to appropriate experts to prepare critical reviews of existing information in accordance with a specified outline. It is anticipated that these reports will be completed through the coming year, after which a program of investigational work will be prepared. Discharge of committees.—A number of committees have completed their work, and final reports prepared. They have accordingly been discharged. These committees are: Neumann bands, heat treat- ment of carbon steel, uses of tellurium and selenium, pulverizing DIVISION OF OHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY International critical tables —The division of chemistry and chem- ical technology has continued to devote much attention to the interests and work of the council’s important undertaking of pre paring international critical tables of chemical and physical con- stants. A situation of some gravity with regard to the financing of this project developed during the year which resulted in the authoriz:.tion by the executive board of the appointment of a special committee by the chairman of the council to make a careful study of the status, both editorial and financial, of the project, and to report to the executive board with recommendations. This committee, consisting of the chairman of the division of chemistry and chemical technology, J. E. Zanetti, as chairman, and Messrs. H. C. Parmelee and Raymond Pearl as additional members, made a detailed investi- gation of the situation and reported at a special meeting of the executive board held on January 8, 1924, and made certain recon- mendations for the further financing and carrying on of the project which were accepted by the Board. The report stated that the editorial work on the tables was proceeding satisfactorily, but that because of limited financial support it was not certain that the work could be continued through as planned, and hence that the council

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 87 was not in position to enter into any contract with publishers which would involve any agreement on the part of the council to provide the completed work as planned. It was therefore decided by the executive board that no agreement should be entered into for pub- lishing the work until complete financing of the undertaking could be assured. Plans for arranging this financing were agreed upon. Chemistry of colloids.—The division’s committee on the chemistry of colloids has been active during the year in the promotion of a project for the establishment of a research and teaching institute of colloid chemistry. It is proposed that such an institute be estab- lished at some university, the expenses of installing and maintaining the institute to be borne in about equal measure by the university and by outside sources of funds. Negotiations have been carried on with an important university which has indicated its willingness to provide the cooperation necessary to carry out such a plan. Research problems in chemistry.—The chairman of the division has devoted much time and attention to the work of preparing a list of 100 research problems in chemistry. In this connection he consulted with the heads of various industrial laboratories who agreed to supply the division with a number of problems which had been encountered by their research staffs to the solution of which they had no time to devote. Also he obtained from the editors of international critical tables a number of other problems. After careful consideration of all the problems thus and otherwise obtained he prepared a list of 100 which was published in Industrial and Engineering Chemistry for March, 1924, and also as No. 53 in the council’s reprint and circular series. The list has been received with much favor and ite publication has resulted in bringing various scattered investigators into cooperating relations. Graduate research students in chemisiry.—-The division also com- pleted a census of graduate research students in chemistry in the colleges and universities of the country, the results of which were published in Industrial and Engineering Chemistry for April. The total number of such students reported from 450 universities, colleges, medical schools, and schools of pharmacy is 1,700, of which 15 per cent are in 12 institutions, 5 per cent in 25 institutions and 80 per cent in 40 institutions, the remaining 412 institutions account- ing for but 20 per cent of the total number of graduate research students in chemistry. Twenty-nine per cent of the total are re- ported from the large State universities of the Middle West, es- pecially those of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois. This is a rather extraordinary showing for these institutions, as the depart- ments of chemistry in most of these Middle West universities have developed their graduate work within the last 25 years. 28561°—S. Doc. 185, 68-2——7

88 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL AOADEMY OF SCIENCES, 19% Critical review of chemical topics.—The division’s project relating to critical reviews of chemical topics was brought to completion by the agreement of the American Chemical Society to undertake the publication of a journal devoted to chemical reviews. This journal is now being published. Exploswes investigations.—The division’s committee on explosives investigations, under the chairmanship of Dr. Charles E. Munroe, has been active during the year. The committee has made good progress in certain experimental investigations at George Washington University and the Bureau of Mines Experiment Station at Pitte- burgh. Work on the index to the literature of explosives has been steadily pursued during the year, as has been the work .in manifolding and distributing translations of foreign articles relating to explosives. The committee has continued to cooperate with officials of national, State, and municipal governments. The division’s committee on the explosibility of ammonium compounds has also been actively engaged in experimental work during the year. DIVISION OF GEOLOGY AND GEOGRAPHY Abstract journal of geology.—The chairman of the council’s division of geology and geography has given much attention and effort to an attempt to find support for the establishment and maintenance of an abstract journal of geology, a project approved by the division and council early in the year. In this connection the chairman carried on a large correspondence and attended various meetitgs of economic geologists. He also carried on negotiations with a western university now éngaged in building up a strong department of geology which manifested a willingness to try to find funds for establishing and help- ing to maintain such an abstract journal. Although no final ar rangements have as yet been made there seems to be much hope for a successful issue of this important project. " Research in oceanography.—At the request of the Hydrographic Office of the Navy much attention has been given to plans for the starting of research work in oceanography by the Navy. A full memorandum outlining an extensive project of such research was pré- pared for the Hydrographic Office. - Representation in the advisory council of the United States Board of Surveys and Maps.—Prof. Edward B. Mathews, of Johns Hopkins University, was appointed as representative of the division on the advisory council of the United States Board of Surveys and Maps. The work of this board is of much interest to the division and to geologists and geographers generally. Catalogue of Latin American maps.—The preparation of a cata- logue of Latin American maps by the American Geographic Society has had the active cooperative support of the divisioh and a grant

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 89 of $600 to assist in this work has been made by the council on recom- mendation of the division. Geologic map of Oklahoma.—At the request of geologists and citizens of Oklahoma the council has, on the recommendation of the division, acted as trustee of funds collected in Oklahoma for the purpose of providing the necessary funds to meet special expenses incurred by the United States Geological Survey in making a geologic map of Oklahoma. This map was nearly completed at the end of the year. Publications.—A paper on the Continental Shelf off the Coast of California, by Dr. Andrew C. Lawson, chairman of the division, has been published as No. 44 in the council’s bulletin series, and another paper by Doctor Lawson on the Geological Implications of Isostasy has been published as Bulletin No. 46. A Bibliography of Isostasy, prepared by Dr. Adolph Knopf, is now ready for publication. A Cata- logue of Published Bibliographies in Geology, prepared by Prof. E. B. Mathews, embracing 3,699 titles and covering the period from 1896 to 1920, has been published. This work is, in effect, a continu- ation of De Margerie’s Catalogue des Bibliographies Geologiques published in 1896, and will be 4 valued reference book in every geo- logical library. A Selected Bibliography of the Literature Dealing with the Relation of Radioactivity to Geological Problems was pre- pared by Dr. Roger C. Wells, mimeographed and sent to the depart- ments of geology, physics, and chemistry of the leading universities and colleges of this country and Canada. Activities of special committees—The important committee on sedimentation has been actively at work all through the year on its major project, the preparation of an authoritative treatise on sedimentation. The committee on sound sounding and oceanographic thermographs has prepared a report on (1) the progress of sound sounding during the year, (2) various designs of thermographs and thermometers, and (3) the progress of studies of temperature and related phenomena in the Pacific Ocean. The committee on the measurement of geological time by atomic disintegration has prepared a bibliography of literature of the subject and has secured a grant of $150 from the Warren fund for the purchase of uranium-bearing minerals for analysis. The committee on tectonics has prepared a report on (1) a projected tectonic map of North America, (2) the preparation of an index of the geological maps of the world adopted to tectonic studies, and (3) a descriptive treatise of the tectonics of North America. The committee on paleobotany has prepared a summary of its activity in this field for the year. The committee on census data is progressing with substantial results in its work of preparing a map of the United States showing the distribution of the population in relation to the physiographic features of the country.

90 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SOIENOES, 19% DIVISION OF MEDICAL SCLENOES Research in scientific problems of sexz.—The continuation of this important project, under the direction of a carefully chosen com- mittee with Dr. R. M. Yerkes as chairman, was made possible by a grant of $100,000 from a private donor through the Bureau of Social Hygiene for supporting the work during a two-year period. A series of fundamental studies has been placed in the hands of well-known investigators who have been steadily at work during the year. Most of the work so far has been primarily in the infrahuman field although beginnings have been made upon the more difficult human sex problems. An outstanding result of one of the investigations during the year was the discovery of a “fertality vitamin” by Doctor Evans, of the University of California. Hot Springs investigation.—At the request of the Secretary of the Interior and with financial support from the department a conference of experts was arranged for and held under auspices of the division in October, 1923, to consider the feasibility and advisability of s thorough investigation of the alleged therapeutic value of the waters of Hot Springs, Ark. As a result of the conference a special com- mittee under the chairmanship of the chairman of the division was authorized to formulate plans for the investigation which were approved by the department, which is now endeavoring to secure an emergency appropriation from Congress to carry out the investiga- tion. As a preliminary to the investigation, the committee, with financial help from the department, has prepared a bibliography and abstracts of the extensive literature devoted to the subject. Infectious abortion.—A joint committee representing the council's divisions of medical sciences and biology and agriculture held a con- ference in Chicago on December 6, 1923, well attended by repre- — sentatives of the livestock industry and the agricultural experiment stations, on the subject of infectious abortion in cattle, and a second conference was held in Washington in April, 1924. It was decided to seek support for research fellowships in this subject and to attempt to coordinate certain miscellaneous research work now being done in various experiment stations. Experimental nephritis.—With the support of a grant made by the council, Dr. Thomas P. Hartzell and Dr. E. T. Bell undertook 8 study between the relation of oral infections and nephritis. They succeeded in producing experimental glomerulo-nephritis in monkeys, a step of much significance. The work is being continued. . Gotter investigation.—The division’s committee on the prevalence and distribution of goiter, under the chairmanship of Dr. G. W. | McCoy, arranged with the United States Public Health Service to take over work begun under the committee on this problem.

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 9} Medical literature.— Committees on abstracts of medical literature and standardization of medical journals were active during the year. A summary of results of their work was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, July, 1924, and in Science, August 22, 1924. Publications.—A report on “A Statistical Study of Tuberculosis Mortality in Colorado,” an investigation under the auspices of the division, which was financed by the council, was published in the American Review of Tuberculosis and also in the reprint and circu- lar series of the council. New committees.—By invitation of the United States Pharmacopeia, the national body for the standardization of drugs, 8 committee of the division was established to give advice and assistance on various scientific problems arising in connection with this work. A com- mittee on medicolegal problems was also established of which Dr. L. Hektoen, of the University of Chicago, is chairman. DIVISION OF BIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE International biological abstracting service.—The major project on the program of the council’s division of biology and agriculture dur. ing the year has been that of advancing the interests and developing the plans of an international biological abstracting service. The division and council have worked in close cooperation with the Union of American Biological Societies in connection with this matter. A referendum, by which the judgment of 4,500 biologists of the country on the proposed service was obtained, revealed that 85 per cent of these biologists approved of the publishing of a single comprehensive biological abstracts journal, while but 8 per cent of them opposed such a plan. Also 56 per cent of these biologists expressed themselves as being willing to subscribe for such a journal, with 19 per cent being unwilling to declare such willingness. As a result of an important conference of leading biologists it was decided to request Dr. C. E. McClung, president of the union and represent- ing it, and Dr. J. R. Schramm, editor of Botanical Abstracts and representing the research council, to spend the major part of the summer in Kurope conferring with officers of biological organiza- tions and representatives of biological bibliographic services, con- cerning the international cooperation and support such a proposed biological abstracting service could expect. The Rockefeller Founda- tion offered to pay the expenses of Messrs. McClung and Schramm and they left for Europe early in June, 1924. The foundation is evincing a sympathetic interest in the project. Marine biological laboratory at Woods Hole, Mass.—lIt is gratifying to be able to record the success of the attempt of the marine bio-

92 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, 19% logical laboratory at Woods Hole, strongly backed by the research council, to raise a fund of a million dollars for new building, equip- ment, and maintenance. The fund was obtained by gifts from the Rockefeller Foundation, Mr. John D. Rockefeller, jr., and the Carnegie Corporation. In this connection arrangements were also made for the capitalization of the Friendship fund by Mr. Charles R. Crane in an amount to yield $20,000 a year for general maintenance of the laboratory. The division is now giving its attention to the needs of certain other American marine biological laboratories. The division has also recommended American support to assist im the rehabilitation and maintenance of the marine laboratory at Naples, which was badly demoralized during the war. Barro Colorado Island tropical station.—The Barro Colorado Island station for tropical research, situated in Gatun Lake, Panama Canal Zone, and initiated by the council, has made notable progress during the year. A small combined laboratory and lodgings building has been erected and equipped and has already been in use by a number of investigators. The United States War Department has agreed to provide transportation by its transport service under certain con- ditions to properly accredited investigators, and the United Fruit Co. has agreed to provide five free passes between New York and Colon for investigators approved by the executive committee of the station and accredited by the council. The governor of the Canal Zone has authorized special rates and commissary privileges to work- ers. This laboratory gives promise of developing into a station of tropical research of great importance. Tropical Plant Research Foundation.—As an outcome of the work of several years of the division’s committee on phytopathology i the Tropics, an organization has been set up under the name of the Tropical Plant Research Foundation and assured of financial re sources adequate to permit of the carrying on of extended investigs- tions of the diseases of certain useful tropical plants, especially sugar cane. After much consideration a carefully devised plan has been agreed to for the incorporation of this organization and the determi- nation of the financial and scientific relations which shall exist between it and the council. It is expected that the financial support of the foundation, to be derived from an organization of sugar-cane growers of Cuba, will amount to $100,000 a year for the first five year period. New research fellowships.—In addition to the important series of research fellowships in biology supported by the Rockefeller Foun- dation and administered by a special biological fellowships board, funds have been supplied by certain individual organizations for the establishment under the administration of the division of new fel- lowships in two lines of biological research, namely, the dietary value

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 98 of meat and the general problems of seed germination. Six thou- sand dollars have been contributed by the National Livestock and Meat Board and $3,000 by the American Seed Trade Association for the support during one year of these fellowships. The sulfur fel- lowships, arranged for in a previous year, have been maintained through the present year with the financial support of the Texas Gulf Sulphur Co. to the amount of $7,000. Some important results of the work of these sulfur fellowships have been published. Mr. Julius Rosenwald, of Chicago, has pledged $2,000 a year for two additional years in support of the Rosenwald fellowship held by Doctor Just, now working at Howard University. Special projects and commitiees.—Among the numerous special projects undertaken by the division, mostly assigned to special committees, mention ean be made of but a few. The committee on food and nutrition has continued its support of the work of Dr. H. M. Evans, of the University of California, on the relation between fertility and nutrition, which has resulted in the important discovery of a specific accessory dietary factor exercising a control over reproduc- tion and related functions; and it has also supported the work of Dr. Samuel Brody, of the agricultural college of the University of Missouri, on the growth curves of animals. The committee on family records has prepared a plan for the collection and recording of records of physical, mental, and tempera- mental traits exhibited through the successive generations of a large family stock, which has indicated its willingness to keep such records and to provide the funds necessary for their collection and tabulation. The committee on biological relations of insects and flowers has completed its immediate work and been discharged. Four con- tributions giving the results of the committee’s work have been published. The committee on pharmacognosy and pharmaceutical botany, infectious abortion, animal breeding, and the atmosphere and man, and the advisory board of the American Society of Agronomy have also been active during the year. DIVISION OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY Scientific problems of human migration.—The division’s. important work on the scientific problems of human migration, conducted by carefully chosen investigators in various special fields—eight major investigations have been under way during the year—is administered by a special committee under the chairmanship of Dr. R. M. Yerkes. Much work has been done during the year. An important and very satisfactory conference of the committee members and the investi- gators was held in Cincinnati on December 30, 1923, and plans have

94 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, 1934 been perfected for next year’s work. The work on this project durmg the year has been financially supported by the Laura Spelzman Rockefeller Memorial to the extent of $60,000 and by the Russell Sage Foundation. to the extent of $5,000. Adequate financial sup- port for next year’s work is practically assured. Tactual education of the deaf.—Plans have been formulated during the year for beginning work on a new project of importance, which involves an investigation of the possibilities of the tactual imter- pretation of oral speech by the deaf. Financial support for the m- vestigation has been obtained from the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial to the amount of $12,000 and Gallaudet College for the Deaf in Washington is also contributing money, services, and laboratory space and facilities in support of the project. Prof. Robert H. Gault of Northwestern University has been secured as chief in- vestigator for the coming year. He will devote his whole time to the investigation carrying on his work in Gallaudet College. Conference on vocational problems.—With the financial support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York an important conference on vocational problems was held under the auspices of the division in Washington on May 9-10, 1924. The conference was planned by Dr. L. L. Thurstone, chairman of the division’s committee on per- sonnel research, and was well attended by representatives of educa- tional institutions interested in various personnel problems. As an outgrowth of the conference, the division has established a new committee on college student personnel, with Dean Hawkes, of Columbia University, as chairman. Classification of anthropological literature.—The pressing need for a practicable classification of anthropological literature for the use of libraries and individuals has led the division to establish a special committee to organize an undertaking to effect such a classification on the basis of widely cooperative work. National intelligence tests.— The division has discharged its com- mittee on national intelligence tests, which had accomplished its planned work resulting in the formulation and publication of tests for school use, that now have a wide circulation and use throughout the country. New work of revision, etc., has been left in the hands of Dr. G. M. Whipple, of the University of Michigan, as director. The royalties from sales of these tests are devoted by the council to supporting the work of revision. Other commitiees.—With reference to the various other committees of the division in charge of special projects mention should be made especially of the continuing tangible progress in the work of the committee on vestibular research, and the committee on State | archeological surveys.

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 95 Anthropology in American colleges and universities.—The chairman of the division has given much attention during the year to a study of the conditions attending teaching and research in anthropology im the colleges and universities of the country, and to an effort to stimulate the giving of more attention by these institutions to anthropological work. Scientific session at annual meeting of the division.—The division arranged to have a special scientific session in connection with its annual meeting in April, 1924, at which a program of 17 papers was presented. So successful was the program that it was unanimously woted to make such a program a feature of the next annual meeting.