its meaning and how to pronounce it. Yet, in spite of this supposed immaturity of the minds and the vocal organs of his pupils, this same author manages in his book to treat of all living things of importance on the farm, from the bacterium to the horse, and all the operations, from preparing the soil for the crops to the marketing of their products; nor does he stop at that, but devotes much space to rural sociology.

Another author who feels "that there is a need and a demand for a book that will standardize seventh and eighth grade agriculture" has produced one in which the "arrangements of chapters follow as closely as possible the farmer's seasonal occupations." In his preface, this author says:

Such topics as the origin, history and importance of farm crops and animals are about agriculture, but such topics as how to produce larger yields, use more prolific varieties, the use of high grade and pure bred stock, how to feed well and economically, how to improve the soil, how to combat enemies and how to choose, plan and manage a farm, are topics that deal with making our agriculture productive. This is not primarily a book about agriculture; but on productive agriculture.

If a book dealing with the various natural laws and principles underlying agriculture is a book about agriculture, the author is correct in stating that his book is not about agriculture, nor is it a text-book on agriculture, but a manual giving forth in a dry and matter of fact way directions for the performance of the numerous operations required in the management of a farm. The cost in labor and money, and the profits direct and indirect are, of course, the principle lessons to be inculcated by such teaching.

More attention to the principles of plant and animal life would have added interest and animation to the subject, and more care in the statements concerning facts in plant life would have avoided some obvious blunders. For example, in the table giving the minimum, optimum and maximum degrees, Fahrenheit of the germinating temperature of the seeds of various farm crops, that for the red clover is given as 88°-99° min., 99°-111°

optim., 111°-122° maxim.,-Any girl or boy old enough to have begun the study of primary geography, will know that such a peculiarity would banish the red clover from the temperate zone. This book is not the only text-book on agriculture written for the public schools that is encyclopedic in its scope and character, since a great number have been constructed on the same plan.

One author makes the following confession in the preface to his book:

Agriculture is too complex for all the details to be mastered by one person. The expert in crops or soils does not possess more than a general knowledge of live stock, fruit growing and dairying. In the subject of crops, there are those who have specialized in grains, forage crops or grasses. In animal husbandry, there are the specialists in beef cattle or dairy cattle, specialists in draft horses or light horses, and specialists in sheep and swine. If a man attempts to speak out of his own knowledge on all the phases of agriculture, covered by a school text, the treatment of many of the subjects would be inaccurate and misleading, or else so general as to be of little value. To insure for each branch of the subject an expert, who is responsible for a large part of the material in the field of his specialty, the author has organized this material into a logical, teachable work on agricultural science and prac tise.

The author of this book has by the help of his experts, whose list of names and specialties covers a solid page of his preface, composed a work that is as impossible to teach from, for one teacher, as it was impossible for the author unaided to write it all from his own knowledge. There is no necessity for commenting on the difficulty that would confront the pupils in attempting to master such a text.

Briefly, it may be said that, in the greater number of these "text-books on agriculture for the public schools," the pupils are expected to cover more agricultural subjects, frequently crowded together in an incoherent way and stripped of all philosophical connective tissue, than any student in the state agricultural colleges, where he has a four year's course with specialists for teachers, supplied with all the equipments for demonstration. As a men

tal nourishment, such a repast, as offered by many of these books, is both too dry and too bulky for digestion,-nor are many cooks an insurance against "spoiling the broth."

What is, then, a logical and reasonable scope for the agricultural teaching and the text book in agriculture for our public schools?

The simplest way out of the dilemma would be to return to the idea of "a book about agriculture" and give up the idea of "productive agriculture" for our public schools. In its place, it would be the object of the agricultural teacher to make intelligible to his pupils, in a general way, those biological, chemical and physical principles underlying our agricultural operations. Hence, agricultural botany and zoology, including a history of the practical phases of the evolution of our "animals and plants under domestication." The practical operations and the history of their evolution should not be lost sight of, but be subordinate to what we might call the scientific aspects, yet diligently drawn upon for the elucidation of these. The subject, thus handled, would not be incomprehensible for one author, or one teacher, or to all the pupils, but be within the scope of the average human mind.

A good text book goes far towards making up for the deficiency of the teacher, and a poor text-book goes equally far in hampering the efficiency of the teacher. Not the least consideration in the value of a text book is its style. A book with a faulty style is like a poorly prepared, or badly seasoned meal, it is taken with a sense of repulsion. There are some of these text books, in which to their small merits are added the demerits of a bad stlye.

H. NESS HORTICULTURIST, TEXAS EXPERIMENT STATION, COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS

FRED SILVER PUTNEY

FRED SILVER PUTNEY, professor of experimental dairy husbandry at the Pennsylvania State College, and well known among dairy professors and investigators throughout the United States, died of pneumonia at his home

in State College, Pennsylvania, on October 5, 1918.

Always interested in live stock problems, in recent years he has devoted his energies to teaching and fundamental research along the lines of animal nutrition. Dairy cattle feeding problems have been his special interest and his work along these lines is well known. He is co-author with Dr. C. W. Larson of the text-book and general reference work, "Dairy Cattle Feeding and Management," and in conjunction with Dr. N. P. Armsby, of the bulletin, "Computation of Dairy Rations," in addition to numerous papers on dairy management and nutrition.

Professor Putney was born in Hopkinton, N. H., on Nevember 10, 1881. He was graduated from the Concord High School in 1901 and received the B.S. degree from the New Hampshire State College in 1905. In 1908 the Pennsylvania State College conferred upon him the degree of Master of Science, and he had completed recently the requirements for his doctorate degree at the University of Wisconsin.

Professor Putney first went to the Pennsylvania State College in 1906 where he worked with Dr. H. P. Armsby as an assistant in animal nutrition and general experimental work until 1908. That year he became assistant to Dean F. B. Mumford, of the college of agriculture, University of Missouri, at which institution he continued his studies in nutrition towards a doctorate degree. From Missouri he went to the Rhode Island State College as professor of animal husbandry and head of the department, and he remained at that institution for several years. In 1913 he returned to the Pennsylvania State College as assistant professor of dairy husbandry, and later became professor of experimental dairy husbandry.

For the past years, Professor Putney has been on leave of absence for advanced study in animal nutrition. This time he spent at the University of Wisconsin and had just completed the requirements for his doctorate degree. Professor Putney married Miss Bertha Bond of Urbana, Illinois, September

2, 1911, and they have one daughter, Ellen Ayers Putney, who was born July 6, 1917. Professor Putney was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Dairy Science Association, Alpha Zeta, Theta Chi, Acacia and the Order of Free and Accepted Masons. Just in his prime and in the fullness of his powers, the loss of Professor Putney will be keenly felt by his wide circle of friends and associates in dairy work. He had that rare combination of practical common sense combined with research ability which enabled him to keep a proper balance in all problems of a research nature. By his death, science has lost a well-trained and efficient worker.

VON ADOLF ERICH DAECKE

VON ADOLF ERICH DAECKE-born in Germany, place and date unknown-died at Richmond, L. I., New York, on October 27.

He was entomologist to the department of agriculture of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. His work in the New Jersey Museum Reports of 1905-7 and 9 on Diptera was excellent-his knowledge of the Odonata was quite accurate. His name is immortalized in the family of Pipunculidæ in the specific name of the genera Nephrocerus daeckei. His nature was very kind, as was shown by the manner the squirrels in Capitol Park upon the sound of his voice or footsteps would spring toward and climb over him, awaiting a word and a caress-when he spoke to them they seemed to comprehend his conversation, his affection for children was wonderful and they were so pleased when he told them of the superficial observation of insects and animals they never seemed to tire of his discourses made so plain by him.

He was a devoted fellow of the Harrisburg, Pa., Natural History Society; from the membership he formed excursions along the byroads and brooklets and over the mountains searching for the local avi- and zoo-fauna; his enthusiasm added many more to its membership. The charm of his interest in his

students endeared him to them while his attainments were equally fascinating to them.

He was a member of the Entomological Section of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and attended its meetings with the vigor of youth, although a man in the fifties, was also a member of Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and several scientific societies on the European continent.

He was a sincere friend and generous to a fault-was uncommonly fair in scientific discussion. However, he had very decided views of the superiority of the Germans; he could not read English without a curious disturbance overcoming his usual affability. H.

SCIENTIFIC EVENTS

THE UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICE AND THE INFLUENZA
EPIDEMIC1

WITH the widespread occurrence of influenza in the vicinity of Boston, and the unmistakable signs of its beginning elsewhere, urgent calls were addressed to the United States Public Health Service to furnish medical and nursing relief to stricken communities. All available regular officers were detailed to the stricken communities, but the number available for such detail was insignificant compared to the urgent need occasioned by the epidemic. Moreover, the bureau had no nurses available for service in epidemic.

In this emergency the Surgeon General called upon the Volunteer Medical Service Corps, the Red Cross, the medical and nursing professions as a whole, and on the general public for personnel to help combat the epidemic. At the same time Congress was appealed to for a special appropriation to meet the expenditure required by the emergency. The necessary funds were promptly voted.

In response to the request for physicians available for duty in the Public Health Service, the Volunteer Medical Service Corps compiled a list of over 1,000 names classified by states. Appointments were offered by tele

1 Publication authorized by the U. S. Public Health Service.

graph to these physicians by the Public Health Service, and within forty-eight hours groups of physicians were on their way to some of the stricken communities in New England, where the epidemic at that time raged most severely. Soon after, similar medical units were sent to New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and to Phoenix, Ariz.

The problem of supplying nurses was much more difficult, for it was found almost impossible to discover nurses or trained attendants who were not already extremely busy on urgent medical work. Nevertheless, a limited number of nurses and trained attendants was secured by the American Red Cross and mobilized for emergency service in the communities most severely affected. In addition to this the attention of local communities was called to the valuable nursing work which could be rendered by intelligent volunteer workers, such as school teachers, especially when they are directed by trained graduate nurses. In many communities the organization of this group of nursing personnel has done much to relieve the serious emergency caused by the lack of trained nurses.

It was made clear from the outset that the United States Public Health Service desired to aid and not supplant state and local health authorities in their work. Accordingly, instructions were issued that all requests for medical, nursing, or other emergency aid in dealing with the epidemic should come to the United States Public Health Service only through the state health officer. Moreover, as soon as possible all this epidemic work was organized on state lines with a representative of the United States Public Health Service detailed to each state to secure the best possible organization and coordination of health activities of the service, in others the executive of the State board of health has been given appointment in the United States Public Health Service as field director.

While the activities of the doctors and nurses working under the Public Health Service are generally limited to those ordinarily regarded as preventive health measures, emergency conditions in some communities

have been such that much medical relief work has had to be undertaken. This was the case, for example, in several communities where the few practicing physicians were themselves stricken and where the people were in urgent need of medical attention.

FOREIGN DELEGATES TO THE AMERICAN CLINICAL CONGRESS

A PARTY of eminent surgeons from abroad, who came to the United States to attend the Clinical Congress which was given up on account of the influenza epidemic, has been making a tour accompanied by LieutenantColonel George E. Brewer, M. C., U. S. Army, New York City; Colonel William J. Mayo, M. C., U. S. Army, Rochester, Minn.; Colonel Franklin H. Martin, M. C., U. S. Army, Chicago, and Dr. Pilcher, New York City. They have been entertained and have delivered addresses on various phases of military surgery in St. Paul, Rochester, Philadelphia, Chicago, New York, and other cities. The party consists of Colonel Sir Thomas Myles, Dublin, Ireland, Major G. Gray Turner, New Castleon-Tyne, England, Colonel George E. Gask, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, Professor Raffaele Bastianelli and Major Pouletti, Rome, Major Pierre Duval and Lieutenant Henri Beclere, Paris, and Major Poillet, Ambre, France.

On November 6 they were the guests of the New York Fellows of the American College of Surgeons at a dinner at Delmonico's, presided over by Dr. J. Bentley Squier, the feature of which was the conferring upon the visitors of honorary fellowship in the college.

According to a press notice Dr. Squier, presided at the dinner. He reminded the gathering, including several hundred of the best known medical men here, that the clinical congress was to have undertaken important work in this country in October, but that the formal sessions had to be abandoned before the congress was convened because of the influenza epidemic.

Dr. Squier then introduced Colonel Franklin Martin, who related briefly the incidents of the delegates' journey. They went first to

Washington where they were received by President Wilson and his Cabinet. Then they traveled to Camp Greenleaf, the medical training camp where, Colonel Martin said, they presented the technical papers which were to have been read at the conference. Next the delegates went to St. Paul, Minn., where they visited the Mayo Clinic after which they went to Chicago, Philadelphia, and other important cities.

Colonel Martin introduced Colonel William J. Mayo, president of the American College of Surgeons, and then the candidates for honorary fellowships filed by the speaker's table, the little procession being led by General Ireland. He was escorted by Major General William C. Gorgas. As each member reached Colonel Mayo he halted long enough for Dr. Mayo to cite the achievements of the candidate.

General Ireland in his speech said that the fellowship was an unexpected honor and that he would treasure it as a trust to be held for the thousands of medical men of the American Army. Turning to a discussion of American Army medical experience abroad, General Ireland said wartime treatment of the sick and wounded had proved different in this war, and he paid generous thanks to the medical officers of the Allies for their aid to the Americans. Not only were the Americans taken to front-line formations and instructed, but important medical officers of the allied armies came monthly to the Research Council in Paris, thereby enabling that body to "do ineffable good and save countless lives." "American medical officers in France," General Ireland added, "have labored in France under many difficulties. Much of France's resources had been exhausted when we got there, and it was a splendid spirit with which our American doctors took up their great task. I think I may say that the achievement of American medical officers in France will add a bright page to American medical history. We still are short of personnel and material due to a lack of tonnage, over which we have no control, but I am confident these difficul