The times., 1899-12-29
THE NATURAL1sTs' SOCIETY.
Various Subjects COn-fdered at Its
Annual Meeting


NEW HAVEN. Conn. Dec 2S.-kt tbs
meeting Of the NaturaIists' society this
afternoon. Prof William Pattca, q Dart
mouth College. precipitsted lively dis
cussion by his Arrangement OF the typi-
cal German university methods. TIE dis
eusslon was upon the topic; The PO-
sitiUn that Universities should Take in
Regard to Inyestiga ton
Prof Patton. ss the closing speaker ia
the formal discussion. entered plea for
system OF university training which would
result IN better preparation Of teachers for
work in the secondary schools. and. az the
same time, for a kind of Investigation
which would give less unrelated and frag-
mentary publication Of results. Prof Pat
ton suggested that the university sheuld
include both investigators and teachers.
and that those who we're competent for
only one of these branches should be en-
ployed In the field or their greatest eapa-
bility.
At the session Of the Physiological So
ciety. Prot ". o. Atwater OF Wesleyan
University, was. in the course OF gen
eral discussion, reused to a defence Of MS
position. based on recent experiments as TO
the nutritive value OF alcohol Prot At
water gave in scientific detail the results
OF his experiments with the respiration
calOrimeter on the nutritlve value of al
cohOl as compared with sugar. starch. and
other Ingredients Of ordinary food. Prof
Atwater said.
Because these experiments show 5has
alcohol, taken at the rate OF two and one
hall ounces every tweGty-four hours. NAV
serve one Of the purposes Of food. it has
been Inferred that people in general may
take that amount to advantage. This in
ference is entirely unwarranted. and the
error in it is as great as the opposite one
which assumed that alcohol is in no sense q
food. but always poison Sc far from re-
sardIng the results Of these experiments as
showing that the moderate use Of alcoholic
liquors is generally desirable I would en-
dOrse the saying. alcohol is an excellent
thing for people in good health. and es
pecialiy for young people 10 let alone ="
The chemists at their session t0day we're
divided Cn the question whether 90 appoint
a committee on legislation TO visit Con
gress in behalf Of the passing Cf law
To establish a bureau CT standard for
weights and measures The opinion pre-
vailed that TO appoint suci a COMMITTEES
would place the society in a false light
Is attempting to lobby and the matter zaz
referred to the council to memOFialize
Congress.
In paper on What Is Plant FOod2'
Dr. ". Fl. Wiley. Chief Chemist q the
United states Department Of Agriculture.
sustained the view thai plant feed is
mineral matter except fCr those plants
having no chlCrophy and that the Increase
and conservation OF plant food have di-
rect connection with the prodUctfon OF
human food and the increase Of pOpula-
tiOn
Speaking at the session OF the Archaeo-
logical Institute. over which he presided
today Dr.. Taicott Williams. Of the Phila-
delphia Museum. made the statement that
about Sff COO Geo has been contributed for
museums and research in the realm OF
archaeology within the last ten years
Il know OF no object for which Il Is
easier 10 obtain the assistance OF men OF
means DR. Williams said than for
archaeology. when It Is properly pre-
sented."
The day was devoted in large part TO
discussions OF museum policy and Of the
results Of recent excavations. It was voted
TO use all efforts possible to induce Con-
gress to allow the Importation OF antique
ties duty free
The Society for Plant M0TphOlogy and
Physiology elected the following eficeTs
Tor the coming year: President. D. P. Pen
hall. McCilvey. Montreal; First Vice Prssi-
dent. Dr. Roland Thaxter Harvard. Sec
ond Vice President, DR. E. F. smith.
Washington. d. G.; Secretary. Dr. ". F.
Ganong Northampton, Mass
Tonight all the visiting scientists held
their annual banquet