New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-31
SOME or THE FRUITS or SCIENCE.


In presenting to our readers complete re-
ports of the proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences, which has just adjourned,
we have recorded the results achieved by the
most eminent and august body of investigators
in this country. The Academy was organized
during our war; and the definite purpose which
was embodied in its formation was that OF
furnishing counsel and aid to the Government
in its hour of sOrest need. Many novel in
ventions in the art of war were at that time
under consideration, some of them, such
as the use of torpedOes and balloons, pre-
sentinS a class of problems only to be
solved by the highest order of scientific know
ledge. Admiral Davis, Prof. Bache, and Prof.
Henry were constituted a committee for the
consideration of these and similar subjects.
But great as was the extent of information
which that committee could bring to bear, it
was felt that the entire scientific knowledge
of the country was needed to grapple with
the exigencies of the situation: and the for
nation of National Academy to which the
Government might at all times turn for such
information and advice was unquestionably
a measure of practical wisdom.
The Academy is required by its charter to
hold in Washington one meeting every year,
in April. Its other meetings are optional.
While the main feature of the papers presented
at these meetings is the announcement of
original researches, certain collateral advan-
tages flow from them which deserve cOnsidera-
ton. The great divisions of science are yearly
becoming more and more dependent upon each
other for their progress, while on the other
hand the great extensions that have been
made in different directions render the whole
field of knowledge too wide for occupation,
except by specialists, who must each select out
some corner of tho domain. There is an in
timacy characteristic of membership of the
Academy which enables one who has pushed
his researches to the borders of his own spe-
cial field, to ask of the others their assist
ance in carrying forward his investigation. In
almost any other association this would
scarcely be possible, and the well known ieal-
ousy which is apt to accompany such under
takings would check the progress of inquiry
when the first investigator had reached his
natural limits. There was an instance of this
fraternal feeling in the Academy yesterday,
when Prof. Mayer, whose special study is
acoustics, after announcing an exceedingly
interesting discovery in entomology. called
upon the naturalists present TO aid him with
suggestions as to the direction in which his
researches should be extended, and they
heartily responded.
The case we have referred to is also re-
markable instance of the liberalization of
seemingly divergent scientific research. In
studying the laws of sound, Prof. Mayer in
vestgated the hum of the musketo's wing, and
percelving that its note gave vibrations sub
ject to fixed laws, coupled with this the dis
cOvery that the antennB of the male musketo
vibrated ID unison with this note Further
discoveries followed, and we have thus new
order Of facts in natural history which could
never have been revealed to observation and
study in that science. Similarly Prof Morton
tells us how the combination of the researches
of chemist and physicist had succeeded
where each alone had failed.
Facts such as these indicate the answer that
should be given when men who have an undue
admiration for what they call practical knowl-
"edgen sneer at some of the scientific nyesti-
cations of the day, which seem to have no
direct value in dollars and cents. But there
are instances from time to time where the
most abstract research suddenly develops, by
the connection which underlies all real knowl-
edge, some discovery of great practical value
What could seem less profitable, for instance,
than counting the lines of iron in the spectrum
of the SUM- An observer thus engaged, noted
many lines not found in the usual spectrum
of IRON He found that iron heated to higher
| temperatures gave, one after another, the
additional lines. He tried the same experiment
with other metals among the rest, with gold.
Ii was found that when gold was brought to
the higher temperatures, so as to bring ont
the additional lines in the spectrum, the pro-
cess was iuterfered with If an alloy, such as
copper, was present. In this lay the germ of
the discovery. The proportion of copper pres
ent was exactly indicated by the high lines of
gold which were withheld from the spectIum