The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-10

record Of simultaneous or nearly stimuli
taneous discovery by two scientists work
! ms independently Of each other is that
| in connection with the planet Neptune.
Astronomers found that the planet Uran-
Us was wandering from its regular track.
In 1876 the English astronomer. John
Couch Adams. surmised that this irregu-
larity Of movement was caused By some
hitherto undiscovered planet Re fig
ured ont the latter's probable position
and size. but search for the mischief
maker was not at once made in Eng
land
in the same year. however, the French
astronomer, Jean Joseph Leverrier. be-
came interested IN the troubles OF Tran
Us, and came 20 the same conclusion as
Adams-that is. that the irregularities
could be caused only by outside interfer-
ence. He communicated his theory and
quantity OF data relative to the posi-
ton OF the supposed planet to Gale. OF
the Berlin Observatory, who proceeded
10 make a thorough search OF the heav-
ems. On September o, 1916. he announced
that he had discovered the mysterious
planet
But before he could tell England OF
what he had found astronomers there
had also begun g thorough search on
August T. August u. and September %
Challis. OF the Cambridge Observatory,
discovered the new planet IN three differ
ent positions, but owing TO delay in get
ting II mapped the announcement Of his
discovery was anticipated by the arrival
IN England. on October 1, 1876. Of the
news from Berlin.
Neptune, by the way. had already been
observed as early as 1885, BY Lalande.
but astronomers were under the impress
sion that 1t was fixed star. not planet
Darwin and wallace.
The entire credit for the original an
nouncement OF the doctrine OF natural
selection goes. as a rule. 10 Darwin. Yet
a review Of the facts In the case would
seem to show that some part OF the lau-
rels belongs 70 Alfred Russell waIace,
another British investigator AS early
as 1876 he had theories regarding evolu-
ton which he embodied. though IN q
rather vague forms, in an essay published
I'm 1855 But Nautilus m his Essay on
Population. went more deeply into the
subject. and inspired both Wallace and
Darwin to more thorough research wal
lace's essay entitled "On the Tendency
OF Varieties 20 Depart Indefinitely from
the Original Type" and Darwin's first
essay on the subject we're published to-
gether in the Proceedings OF the LIN
naean Society OF London" for August
lS5S- Wallace. m his essay, covered
ground similar to that OF Darwin. but
the latter alone used the term natural
selection
Here. apparently was the basis for
acrimonious controversy. but Wallace
proved 20 be too high-minded and too
GOOD q friend of Darwin to enter into It
lie not only refrained from claiming any
creoit for the famous doctrine. but con-
ulued 20 maintain relations Of excellent
friendship with his more celebrated coll
league
The above are among the more striking
instances of simultaneous discovery.
They arc by no means all. When Benja-
nin Franklin was experimenting with his
kite in order 20 learn about atmospheric
electricity. there was an investigator In
Europe busy along similar lines. A more
recent instance IS that Of the first appli-
cation Of aneSthRttcs 10 relieve human
suffering the credit for which seems 70
be divided between American and British
physicians.