The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-28
AMERICAN SCIENTISTS.
Filling Vacancies in the List Of V~ice-Presi-
dentS-Papers Read in the Various Sections.

ANN ARBoR, Mich. Aug. 2z-Previous to the
regular meeting of the different sections of the
Association for the Advancement Of Science,
this morning, the botanical society met ant con-
sidered four propositions which the president
stated at the start These were: Uniformity in
the use Of English names of fungi and other
lower orders of plants; uniformity in the pro-
nunciation of scientific names; distribution OF
labor of publication of papers of the society, and
the relation of botanists to the national herb
arIum. The furtheranee of these objects was
made the work of the committee.
The general session of the association was
held SOON after 10 o'clock. Vice-presidents were
elected to MI vacancies in sections c, F and H,
and an announcement was made of twenty-seven
new members, making the total new membership
of this meeting, thus far, 10.
In section e Professor Alexander Winchell
opened the session with a description of
the geology of Ann Arbor. The
locality is in something of a hollow. and there
are many powder here and drift formations,
which indicates that this was formerly the ter
minal morain of the second of the ancient glaciers.
A discussion followed in which the different
members participated. Other papers in this
section treated of tie rock formations in western
New York and Dakota, and the study of fossils
in Delaware.
In section D Strength of Stay Bolts in
Boilers" Universal Form of Pressure Motor"
and the use and Value of Accurate Standards
for Surveyors Chains" were the papers eonsid-
cred, and were of a technical nature.
In the section on biology, papers were read on
Gross Fertilization" Determination" Influence
of Cocaine and Atropine on the Organs of Cir
cu~latlon," and other technical matters.
In section G. the histologists and microscopes
considered questions relating to photo. micros-
copy.
In section II Rev. J. Owen Dorsey described a
visit to the Siletz agency, and the Rev. r. w.
Beauehamp read a paper on THE PermansHce
of Early IrOquOis Clans and Scholarships"
In section l Prof. r V. Riley, of Washington,
spoke on New Methods of Counteraeting the
Ravages of Locusts or Socalled Grasshoppers."
This method is the use of a poison bait, which
has proved satisfactory under certain limita-
tions. 1t consists of arsenic, sugar, bran and
water. He believes the threatened danger from
locusts will not be as great as formerly on ac-
count of the increased population in the West
preventing the insects being massed. Henry f..
Alvord read a paper on Relative Value of HUI
man Foods" which was mainly statistical and of
no general interest G. Reemlin read a tech
nical paper on City Government" A paper
by Edward Atkinson, on insurance against loss
by fire, closed the morning session. The
speaker maintained that there are no strictly
hre-proof buildings; that only the owner or
occupant can assure it. He suggests a plan,
already teSCeQ, tnaC the assured must assure MN
self by making all companies mutual, as they
now practically are. We should have the com
panies' stock in capital. and be mutual in liza
bility to assessment. In order to prevent dis
honesty of assured persons, they should be
liable to assessment. This subject is the more
important because the annual losses are equal to
the amount gained by tine gainful labor of 2G0, 900
men
Section A heard papers on subjects relating to
the sun and planets and astronomical instru-
ments. papers being assigned for and discussed
only at the morning session.
The Ann Arbor meeting is numerically equal
to some former ones, but the proportion of Fel-
lows present is very large. showing that the
quality of the convention is very superior to
those preceding. The Fellows and members
comprise the membership of the association, the
former being selected for special attajnments in
their departments.
70 night the Washtanewa county court house
was brilliantly decorated for the reception to the
scientists. Over the main entrance were the
letters 81 A. a. S.. formed with electric-lisht
lamps. Within the buildings were flags and
bunting tastefullv drapcd, and upon the walls
were the names of the former and the present
leaders IN science.