The Indianapolis journal., 1890-08-21

Tho address before Section F, Biology,
was by Vice-president DR.. Charles Sedg-
wick Minot, of Howard University, on
Certain Phenomena of Growing Old"
Dr. Minot said he had chosen this subject
in order to illustrate line of work to
which biologists are now giving much at
tentiOn, and to emphasize some of the gen.
eral laws which are being worked out.
Speaking first of the laws of variation in
living beings, he showed that these occur
in an irregular series. reaching climax at
a certain age. and that the rate at which
variations take place is greater in early
college students, the growth of children.
the age OF maturity in females, the age of
maternity, etc. Here the maximum occurs
early in life.i On the other hand, a
study of the relations of suicide.
imum much later: This opens large
field for the study of statistics, throwing
light upon such problems as the relation of
disease to age. the time of great
est intellectual power and success. Turn
ing to the question of variation in
it's relation to senility. or growing old. the
speaker emphasized the fact that decline
really begins at birth. There is really no
period of ascending development; the end
begins with the start of life. But these
the older the animal, the longer time re-
quired to produce a certain change. There
is, in the other words. q progressive loss of
vitality, the potential energy steadily de-
clines.
There is an intimate relation" contin-
ned DR.. MinOt. between anatomical struct-
ure and this peculiar vital curve, as illus
trated in the cells of the various organs.
In their early state they contain a rela-
lively small amount of protoplasln, the
Of he NO. i,oar ocir
with age. This is also true in the lowest
forms of life Hence. he said, facetiously
protoplasm might be considered the ply
sical basis. not of life, but of advancing
ing to death. These phenomena are gem
eral, applying to all parts of the body,
hence they lead to general biological laws.
and in the direction of the uneOvering of
such broad generalizatiOns the best future
work of biology would lie."
DR.. Warder ON GeOmetrical Isomerism.
The address before Section c, Chemistry,
was delivered by DR.. r. B. Warder. pro-
fessor of chemistry In Howard University.
Washington. His subject was Recent
Theories of Geometrical lsomerism." and
he began by saying that the foundations of
chemical philosophy are the molecule and
the atom. both of which are assumed to ex-
lSt, tDOuku no Ouc ud5 ScCu. VI pTODduiy
ever will see them. Though beyond the
reach of the reach of the senses. and not
demonstrable,n he continued, "the assump-
tiOn OF their existence and peculiar proper
ties best explains the phenomena of chem
istry. The so-called atom, as the term is
popularity used to mean a minnie particle,
il vastly larger than the chemical atom.
We must ut once, therefore, remove from
our minds, in dealing with these subjects,
ideas of things which can be seen and han
died. Atoms are supposed to have a certain
valence or combining power. differing In
different kinds of atoms. by virtue of which
they tend to form definite compounds by
union with other atoms. This combining
power is often compared to bonds or arms
thrown out to grasp others. 1t is by COM
parison, by anoiogy. by induction from
known facts, that nearer approach Is
made to a knowledge OF that which is. and
perhaps, must ever remain unknown. Thus
the chemist forecasts the lines which shall
lend to new truth, and these investigations
carry rs to the very basis of physical
things, even those which are the fOunda-
tion of life The biologist studies the
minute cells and germs, but the
chemical philosopher endeavors to
discover the elements of which those cells
are made and their quality. why and how
they are thus formed. and whence their
peculiar properties. The effort of science
now is 70 learn more of these peculiar prop
critics OF atoms. and chemistry steps in to
aid in the search from its side. The CAM
paign is being conducted toward the strong
hold of atomic mysteries"
DIR. Warder concluded by saying that the
chief aim Of the address was to present o