Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-28
cAUSTIN H. CLARK.
NATIONAL Nuts cum.
IA e ais g. e l1/~
this most fantastic field of scientific
research.


this most fantastic field of scientific
research.
Great Advance in Geology.
In geology the great advance. Of
the year has been one of intense
practical value to mankird-the
Identification and ella ssification of
that rocks and rock strata are identf-
fed. Now the existence OF mineral
or gas deposits can be deduced only
by an accurate Identification Of geo
logical formation. Hitherto geol-
ogists have been content to base
their deductions on the larger fossils
visible to the naked eye or under .
magnifying glass. Most rocks con-
tain multitudes OF these, but they
have been so distorted during the
ages OF pressure that they often are
badly broken up and difficult to
identify.
Within a comparatively few years
Psychologists have turned their at
tention to an almost inexhaustihle
field of other fossils-to reading the
fine print rather than the capital let
tiers on the tattered pages of the
manuscript OF time. To do this It
was essential to learn the language
"a remarkably difficult task. MIL
lions of these tiny remains OF plant
and animal life in tho dead ages are
found in a small rock.
Every one Of them must be studied
under the microscope, its most minute
variations noted and recorded for tho
use of others. Up to the present year
this has been slow work. During the
past II months several thousand have
been definitely classified. DR.. j. II.
Bassler of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton has directly supervised the
Identification of several hundred. The
practicability of the work is shown
by the fact that students OF DR.. Bass
Ter have been able to perform SEEM
ing miracles in the location of oil
deposits. The most notable new OIL
area to be discovered recently-that
in northern Tennessee-was de-
duced largely through these micro
scopic studies.
Study Alaskan Arctic Coast.
The Arctic expedition Of DR.. Philip
s. Smith OF the Geological Survey,
one of the most adventurous ever
undertaken by g. Government service,
has greatly increased human knowl-
edge of the Arctic coast OF Alaska
Government biologists this Sum
mer have explored the most marvel
Gus and largest cave known to man,
the Carlsbad cavern IN New Mexico.
The results of this exploration, which
led to a new insight into these under
ground formations, will be publish
ed in the near future.
Medicines Greatest Feat.
In medical science the year has
seen the elimination Of one OF the
greatest medical triumphs Of all
times-the utilization OF insulin as a
cure for diabetes. Tho value Of In
suIin has been known previously, but
the treatment has been difficult and
expensive. Through the work OF two
Canadian doctors the drug has been
brought within the reach OF every
sufferer. 1t is not an absolute cure,
United States Public Health officials
say, but an exceedingly valuable
method Of treatment.
Next in Importance IS rated the
work on scarlet fever by Drs. George
and Gladys Dick of the Mccormick
Institution Of Chicago. This disease
has become comparatively mild In
the United States during the past
few years SO that it causes few
deaths. In Europe, however. its death
rate Is very heavy. The two Chicago
doctors have discovered a means Of
telling who Is susceptible, how to Inn
muniZe them so that they are prac-
tioally protected from ever contract
ing the malady, and they have dis
covered a serum which is considered
very valuable in the treatment Of
actual victims. 49,
Two public health surgeons, Drs.
Francis and Goldberger, are credited
with unusually valuable contributions
which have come into effective use
during the past IL months. The first
has removed practically all danger
of rabbit fever. The second has
shown that pellagra, a disease which
has inflicted itself upon thousands In
the South, is due to deficiencies In
diet and has shown how to effect al
most certain cures.
Many Important Discoveries.
During the year physicians have
realized for the first time the enor-
nous Importance Of DR.. Noguchi's
work at the Rockefeller Institute
the discovery and isolation Of the
germ Of yellow fever. This ranks in
Importance almost with the work Of
Walter Reed In discovering the means
by which yellow fever is carried.
Immunization from diptheria, AL
though the method has been known
for the past Ave years. has Just come
into its own. It Is very effective In
cutting down the death rate.
In surgery the most important de-
velopment has been the introduction
into general hospitals OF tho new
anesthetic ethylene, which promises
to replace both ether and chloroforn.
Not only In it safer and easier to in
hale, but it leaves practically no un-
pleasant after effects.
A measles preventative serum has
been used widely with excellent ef-
fects in Europe.
Two treatments for tuberculosis
have been devised during the year