New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-17
EMINENT SCIENTISTS MEET.
THE ANNUAL SESSION OF THE ACADEMY OF
SCIENCE BEGUN.
PROMINENT THINKERS AT THE MEETING
WHAT rs "coLoR sENsATIoNfn-pApERs
ON orlfER TOPICS.


WHAT rs "coLoR SENSATION f'-PAPERs
ON oTHER TOPICS.
Washington April 1e Especial. Washington Is the
Mecca Just now OF American scientists. The Amerl-
can National Academy Of Sciences sustains fimlar
relation to advanced thought and educational insu
tutions and to the scientific Investigations prose-
cuted by the States and the Federal Government
that the Royal Society OF London and the Academy
OF sciences OF France sustain toward similar subjects
In their respective countries. Its membership in.
cludes nearly all the leading scientific men OF the
United States, and when the annual meeting began
tbs morning in the lecture of the United States
National Museum, representatives OF many sections
OF the Union were present. New-York City was
represented by Professor J. A. Allen of the American
Museum of Natural History, and General G. b. Com.
stock; Hamilton College by the asteroid hunter, Dc
O. II. Z. Peters, New-York State by Americas famous
paeonologst, Professor James Hall, State Geologlst
Yale University by Professor o. Q. Marsh, the
geologist ana paleontoogist, who occupies in this
country position like that held in England by the
illustrous Huxley and by the we'll known geoloast,
Professor A. F. verriTl. Harvard sent DR.. s. G.
Chandler one Of the youngest Of the Academy family
and Dr. Benjamin A. Could distinguished in the as
Economical world for his work in tho Cordova obserya
tory and the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and
Technology. Cambridge is represented by Professor
F. w. Putnam. the foremost American student of the
works left by the aborignos, and this od-time centre
Of American learning is represented also by Professor
Alphous Hyatt the creator of the Boston Society Of
Natural History, and General Francis A. Walker. the
well-mown ex-superntendent Of the Census. and the
present president Of the Massachusetts Institute Of
Technology. Johns Hopkins University is represented
by Professor Ira Rcmsen. tho well known chemist and
the equally eminent physicist. Professor II. A. Row
land the eavant whose maps representing the SOLAR
spectrum are in use throughout the globe, Rhode
Island sends Professor wolcott GIBBS. whose fame as
physicist is worldwide and Professor Raphael Pun
pelly, the geologis who In addition 10 his American
work. has done more than any other man 10 enghten
the world concerning the geological structure OF West
China, and parts Of Mongolia and Japan Philadelphia
Is represented By Dr. s. Weir Mitchell. neuroogist
Professor g. +. Barker. Of the University Of Peunsyl
vanta. and Professor f. D. Cope, the rival Of Marsh
In vertebrate paeontologY; and even the Middle west
sends It's voarcs to the shrine Of the scientific world
Kansas City being represented by tho mathematician
and astronomer, Professor william Fervell and tho
Rose Polytechnic Institute Of Terre Haute Ind, By
Professor T. c. MendenhslL
Washington. the present centre Of American science.
is, Of course, fully represented. Professor Cleveland
Able, Of the Signal Service; Professor Alexander c.
Bell, of telephone fame Dr. John 8. Billings OF the
Army Medical Museum Professor j. H. C. Colln. the
mathematician; Professor @. X. Gilbert of the United
States Geological Survey Theodore n. Gn the we'll
known biologist; Professor c. Brown Goode. the head
Of the United States National Museum; Professor Ar,
mold Hague Of the United States Geological Survey
Professor Asaph Hail. the secretary OF the Academy;
Professor George W. Hill, the astronomer; Professor
g. P. Langley, secretary OF the Smithsonian Institu
ton; General NJ C. Melgs, Professor Simon Newcomb
the Saul among the astronomers OF the world and vice
president Of the Academy; Professor G. Pierce Of
the United States Coast Survey Professor Charles A.
A. Scbott Of the United States Geological Survey and
Major j. W. Powell the director Of tho Untcd States
Geological Survey, and chief Of the Bureau Of
Ethn0logy.
The meeting began as usual with business meet
Ing, to which only members Of the Academy were adj
mited-the executive session OF the scientific congress
but at ~ O'Clock the doors opened 10 the pub
10, Professor Marsh robust, dgnihed blonde IN gold
trimmed glasses, occupying the chair.
Tho first paper read on the Sensations Of
Coiorn Professor Charles s. Pierce assistant the
Coast Survey, occupied half an hour on this subject.
Professor Pelrce eleced member of tho Academy
In 1877. His problem now is TO discover what constl
tutes tho sensation which we cali color He dis
tinguIshes three qualities in every color: First hue
second, LUMINOSITY or It's effect upon the nervous sys
tom and third chrome or the difference betW esn whit,
two coOr Which msehSd SSt be has hs R move 70
admitted the comparison of colOrs which do not match
uOn is produced BY combination Of red blue and
green each Of those fundamental colors affecting differ
ent nerves OF the eye This theory he could not yet
The second paper read was an account OF the
methods and results Of systematic study OF the &C
lion Of differently related chemical compounds upon
animals Investigations recorded IN the paper werc
made by Professor Wolcott Gibbs and Hobart Hare
The paper read by the latter. who X not member
of the Academy, upon invitation. The methods o.
investigation wore pursued through the vlvsoction OF
dogs and other animals, and the results while highly
suggestive, are put forth as preliminary only.
The third paper was q description Of the Pliocene
VerAebrao Fauna OF Western North America, by Pro-
lessor Cope. In this paper Professor Cope described
the mammals reptiles, birds, and other animals found
IN certain fresh-water deposits In Oregon Nevada and
Utah. giving particular attention TO species OF horse
now extinct, one OF the progeaitors Of tho modern
equine forms so Interestingly described by Huxley
few years ago.
Tomorrow the election Of officers viii take place.