Of the European rivers, the Danube, the Seine, the Neckar, the Rhine and the Main are investigated. The records of floods in these rivers extend back many centuries and would provide ample data for any periodic recurrence, but these also are found to be dependent upon the nature of the watershed and the rainfall distribution. The conclusions derived from the paper are: 1. The records of both American and European rivers show an average of 7 to 10 great floods per century. 2. Great floods are primarily due to precipitation, and that precipitation, in the form of rain, which produces floods may be of two distinct types, (a) so intense and widely distributed as to produce flooding regardless of antecedent conditions; (b) moderate rains continued intermittently for eight to ten days or more with antecedent conditions favorable to high run-off. 3. There does not appear to be an orderly progression in the magnitude of floods with the lapse of years; that is to say, the absolute maximum flood of any 100-year period is not necessarily greater than the absolute maximum flood for the preceding 100 years. 4. The magnitude of great floods with respect to the average annual flood, seems to increase in geometrical progression but apparently wholly regardless of the flow of time. 5. Great floods like great rainfalls are essentially a local phenomenon even for the same stream. Warren Smith, of the United States Weather Bureau. This is the first text-book exclusively devoted to this subject and is certain to find a large demand, not only from agricultural colleges and universities, but also from the farmer and general reader, to whom it will be of practical value. IN the October, 1919, Monthly Weather Review, there are several short articles and abstracts on forecasting from local signs, such wind direction, clouds, pressure change, clouds, sky colors, and the scintillation of the stars. It is interesting to note the difference in character of the forecasting problems in Europe, where data is incomplete from the west, and in America, where more data is available but a greater diversity of local problems is encountered. C. LEROY MEISINGER WASHINGTON, D. C. of "standard mixtures" having a known hydrogen ion concentration or PH value. These investigators established their formulas very precisely by the use of a potentiometer method employing a hydrogen electrode. According to Clark, the pH values in the freshly prepared mixtures may be considered reliable to a few hundredths of a pa unit. Probably the widest application of these standard solutions is, in connection with color indicators, for comparisons with solutions having an unknown hydrogen ion concentration. The fact that standard mixtures can readily be prepared, combined with the further fact that the hydrogen electrode is an appliance which is simple and convenient to use, leads to a very obvious suggestion. This is to utilize the hydrogen electrode as a means for comparison of an unknown with a standard solution. It should extend materially the usefulness of the standard solutions to which reference has been made. We may suppose that we desire to titrate a solution of unknown p value to a definite hydrogen ion concentration. From the curves of Sörensen's article, or from the formulas of Clark and Lubs, we select the particular solution having a pa value which corresponds to the point to which we desire to titrate. This solution is placed in one vessel with a hydrogen electrode, and connection is established between the standard solution and the unknown, in a second vessel, by means of a salt bridge of saturated potassium chloride, so that concentration potentials may be eliminated.* Another hydrogen electrode is placed in the solution of unknown concentration, and the two electrodes are connected through a tapping key and a galvanometer of high resistance. Appropriate protective resistance may also be put in this circuit. The process of titrating to the desired end point then consists merely of adding the titrating solution until, upon tapping the key, no deflection of the galvanometer is Private communication. • The suggestion of using an agar-agar salt bridge to minimize diffusion effects (Falles and Vosburgh, J. A. C. S., 40, 1306, 1918) seems a good one. observed. The inference is that zero potential difference between the hydrogen electrodes is an indication of equal hydrogen ion concentrations of the two solutions. The supposition may be verified by putting both electrodes into one or the other of the solutions and noting whether the galvanometer deflection remains zero. It may be pointed out that such a titration can be carried out in any solution in which a hydrogen electrode will maintain its equilibrium, regardless of color, turbidity, or other experimental conditions. The electrolytic portion of the galvanometer circuit will, in most cases, have a low resistance, which insures the desirable condition for sensitiveness of response of the instrument. The method has most of the advantages of the potentiometer method over the colorimetric methods, with the obvious exception that it can be used only for titrating and that the titration can be carried only to the end point which is determined by the standard solution. With the potentiometer it is possible, of course, not only to titrate to any end point but also to make a direct measurement, without titration, of the p value, whatever this may be. It should be noted, finally, that in the titration described no calomel electrode is used, and that the accuracy with which the titration may be made is limited only by the accuracy with which the pH value of the standard solution is known. PAUL E. KLOPSTEG LEEDS & NORTHRUP COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA, PA. THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAMMALOGISTS THE second annual meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists was held May 3-5, 1920, in the American Museum of Natural History, New York City. Officers for the coming year are Dr. C. Hart Merriam, president; Mr. E. W. Nelson and Dr. Wilfred H. Osgood, vice-presidents; Dr. H. H. Lane, recording secretary; Dr. Hartley H. T. Jackson, corresponding secretary; Mr. J. W. Gidley, treasurer; Mr. N. Hollister, editor; Dr. Glover M. Allen, Dr. R. M. Anderson, Dr. Joseph Grinnell, The Calvert Miocene formation and some of its mammals: WILLIAM PALMER. Thirty minutes. Illustrated with lantern slides. On some early states in the evolution of mammalian dentition: WILLIAM K. GREGORY. Forty minutes. Illustrated with lantern slides. Some scattered observations about narwhals: MOR- Beginnings of the placental mammals: W. D. TUESDAY, MAY 4 Afternoon Session, 2 P.M. A dissection of a pigmy sperm whale (Kogia): C. L. CAMP AND J. P. CHAPIN. Fifteen minutes. Illustrated with lantern slides. (a) Notes on New England. (b) Bison remains in New England. (c) Exhibition of specimens of Myotragus, the remarkable Pleistocene goat of the Balearic Islands: GLOVER M. ALLEN. Twenty-five minutes. Illustrated with photographs and specimens. Blue-fox farming and the maintenance of the fur supply: NED DEARBORN. Thirty minutes. The fate of the European bison: T. S. PALMER. Twenty minutes. Saving the Yellowstone elk herd: E. W. NELSON. Twenty minutes. Illustrated with lantern slides. Cornell University Medical College Washington University 1st Avenue and 28th Street NEW YORK, N. Y. ADMISSION to the first year class will be limited to seventy-five students in the New York and Ithaca Divisions combined. Subsequent admissions to any class will be made only if the number falls below sixty, when students from other institutions may be accepted, provided they fill all of our requirements. The number of students in this College having been limited, that its advantages may be equalized to all parts of the State and country, not more than five students from any one college will be admitted to the first year class. Graduates of approved colleges are eligible. INSTRUCTION begins on September 27th, 1920. Laboratory methods are emphasized throughout the course and small sections facilitate personal contact between the students and instructor. Clinical instruction is given in the Bellevue, New York Nursery and Child's, Memorial, Manhattan State and Willard Parker Hospitals. The tuition fee is $250.00 per annum. Applications for admission to the first year should be received not later than July first. A catalogue and application blanks may be obtained by addressing the Dean. Address THE DEAN, 477 1st Ave., New York, N. Y. School of Medicine REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION Candidates for entrance are required to have completed at least two full years of college work which must include English, French or German, and instruction with laboratory work in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. INSTRUCTION Instruction begins on the last Thursday in September and ends on the second Thursday in June. Clinical instruction is given in the Barnes Hospital and the St. Louis Children's Hospital, affiliated with the medical school, the St. Louis City Hospital, and in the Washington University Dispensary. COURSES LEADING TO ACADEMIC Students who have taken their premedical work in Washington University, are eligible for the degree of B.S. upon the completion of the first two years of medical work. Students in Washington University may pursue study in the fundamental medical sciences leading to the degree of A.M. and Ph.D. TUITION The tuition fee for undergraduate medical students is $200 per annum. Women are admitted. The catalogue of the Medical School and other information may be obtained by application to the Dean. Euclid Avenue and Kingshighway St. Louis The charge for tuition is $250 per annum, payable in three instalments. There are no extra fees except for rental of microscope, certain expensive supplies, and laboratory breakage. The annual announcement and application blanks may be obtained by addressing the Dean of the Johns Hopkins Medical School Washington and Monument Sts. BALTIMORE, MD. SUMMER WORK FOR GRADUATES IN MEDICINE Beginning Tuesday, June 1st, and ending Thursday, July 15th a course in medical diagnosis, including laboratory exercises in alinical pathology and demonstrations in pathological anatomy, Occupying the greater part of each day will be offered. The course will be limited to twenty students, fee $100. Applications should be made to the Dean's Office. Louisiana SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (Established in 1834) ADMISSION: All students entering the Freshman Class will be required to present credits for two years of college work, which must include Chemistry (General and Organic), Physics and Biology, with their laboratories, and at least one year in English and one year in a modern foreign language. COMBINED COURSES: Premedical course of two years is offered in the College of Arts and Sciences, which provides for systematic work leading to the B.S. degree at the end of the second year in the medical course. School of Pharmacy, School of Dentistry and Graduate School of Medicine also. Women admitted to all Schools of the College of Medicine For bulletins and all other information, address Tulane College of Medicine P. O. Box 770 New Orleans, La. WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY Syracuse University College of Medicine SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ONLY MEDICAL SCHOOL IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND Admits only college degree students and seniors in absentia. Excellent laboratories and facilities for research and advanced work. 9 Large clinical material. Sole medical control of Lakeside, City Charity, and Maternity Hospitals, and Babies Dispensary, Clinical Clerk Services and individual instruction. Wide choice of hospital appointments for all graduates. ¶ Fifth optional year leading to A.M. in Medicine. ¶ Vacation courses facilitating transfer of advanced students. Session opens September 30, 1920; closes June 16, 1921. Tuition, $200.00. For catalogue, information and application THE REGISTRAR, 1353 East 9th St., Cleveland Entrance Two years of a recognized course in arts or in seience in a registered college or Requirements School of Science, which must include Prater, Chedores, invetoy), and French Or German itz and mwen years' commi nation courses are offered. The First Twe The Third Year The Fourth Year Course is systematic and clinical and is devoted to the study of the natural history of disease, to diagnosis and to therapeutics. In this year the systematic courses in Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics are completed. is clinical. Students spend the entire forenoon throughout the year as clinical elarks in hospitals under careful supervision. The clinical clerk takes the history, makes the physical examination and the laboratory examinations, arrives at a diagnosis which he must defend, outlines the treatment under his instructor and observes and records the result. In case of operation or of autopsy he follows the specimen and identies its pathological nature. Two general hospitals, one of which is owned and controlled by the University, one special hospital and the municipal hospitals and laboratories are open to our students. The afternoons are spent in the College Dispensary and in chnical work in medical and surgical specialties and in conferences. Summer School-A summer course in pathology covering a period of six weeks during June and July will be given in case there is a sufficient number of applicants. Address the Secretary of the College, 307 Orange Street SYRACUSE, N. Y. Northwestern University | University of Georgia Medical School Bituated in Chicago in close proximity to important Hospitals with an abundance of clinical material. Admission Requirements-Two years of College credit including a satisfactory course in Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Zoology, and French or German. Course of Study-leading to the degree of Doctor of Medicine-Four years in the Medical School and a fifth year either as Interne in an approved hospital or devoted to research in some branch of Medical Science. Graduate Instruction—in courses leading to the degree of Master of Arts or Doctor of Philosophy. Research Foundation-The James A. Patten Endowment for Research affords unusual opportunities for advanced students of Medical Science to pursue special investigations. Research Fellowships-Four fellowships of the value of $500 each are awarded annually to promote scholarly research. Tuition Fees-The tuition fee for undergraduate students is $180.00 a year. MEDICAL DEPARTMENT Augusta, Georgia ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS The successful completion of at least two years of work including English, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in an approved college. This in addition to four years of high school. INSTRUCTION The course of instruction occupies four years, beginning the second week in September and ending the first week in June. The first two years are devoted to the fundamental sciences, and the third and fourth to practical clinie instruction in medicine and surgery. All the organised medical and surgical charities of the city of Augusta and Richmond County, including the hospitals, are under the entire control of the Board of Trustees of the University. This agreement affords a large number and variety of patients which are used in the clinical teaching Especial emphasis is laid upon practical work both in the laboratory and clinical departments TUITION The charge for tuition is $150.00 a year except fos residents of the State of Georgia, to whom tuition is free. For further information and catalogue address The Medical Department, University of Georgia AUGUSTA, GEORGIA |