Royal Society's Catalogue Research Articles

A Questionable Project: Herbert McLeod and the Making of the Fourth series of the Royal Society Catalogue of Scientific Papers, 1901–25

Summary Many people were involved in producing the seven volumes that make up the fourth series of the Royal Society catalogue of scientific papers. Included were about two hundred volunteers and about one hundred people working either on short-term contracts or carrying out piece work. At the Royal Society there was a small, largely female, secretariat working full-time. It included both clerical and bibliographic staff. Coordinating all the work was the chemist Herbert McLeod, appointed director of the catalogue in 1901. As is discussed, the position of director was created especially for him after his forced retirement from the Royal Indian Engineering College. The paper shows the complexity of the work involved in producing the catalogue, as well as something of the office culture at the Royal Society in the early twentieth century. The working conditions of the women employees, and prevailing attitudes toward the largely female clerical and bibliographic staff, are briefly discussed.

Red cell agglutination: the first description by Creite (1869) and further observations made by Landois (1875) and Landsteiner (1901).

Red cell agglutination: the first description by Creite (1869) and further observations made by Landois (1875) and Landsteiner (1901).

Mendel--both ignored and forgotten

Contesting the notion that Mendel's work languished unread for thirty-four years, Dr Ross Kessel (September 2002 JRSM1) writes of a dozen references to it in the scientific literature between first publication and ‘rediscovery’. It seems necessary to detail the twelve references to Mendel's paper2 between 1866 and 1900. They are given in Orel's biography of Gregor Mendel3 of 1996, and included slight mentions in the German botanical journal Flora in 1866, 1867 and 1872, and the Proceedings of the Viennese Academy of Science in 1871 and 1879. The paper was mentioned in the thesis of C A Blomberg for Stockholm University in 1872, and in the thesis of I F Schmalhausen for St Petersburg University in 1874. It was listed in the Royal Society's Catalogue of Scientific papers (1864-1873) issued in 1879;4:338. There was a more substantial reference to Mendel in a book4 by Hermann Hoffmann in 1869 on the determination of species and varieties, written to refute Darwin's theory of evolution. There was mention of Mendel's pea experiments in the book5 of 1881 by W O Focke, which was then cited in two books6,7 by L H Bailey in 1892 and 1894. And G J Romanes included Mendel's name, which he had found in Focke's book, in a list of hybridists in the section on ‘Hybridism’ in the Encyclopaedia Britannica8 of 1881-1895. All this is hardly a reason for refuting that Mendel's work was both ignored and forgotten for 34 years until its importance was recognized by William Bateson in his paper9 published in 1901.

Ladies in the laboratory? American and British women in science, 1800-1900: a survey of their contributions to research

A systematic survey and comparison of the work of 19th-century American and British women in scientific research, this book covers the two countries in which women of the period were most active in scientific work and examines all the fields in which they were engaged. The field-by-field examination brings out patterns and concentrations in women's research (in both countries) and allows a systematic comparison of the two national groups. Through this comparison, new insights are provided into how the national patterns developed and what they meant, in terms of both the process of women's entry into research and the contributions they made there. Ladies in the Laboratory? features a specialized bibliography of nineteenth century research journal publications by women, created from the London Royal Society's Catalogue of Scientific Papers, 1800-1900. In addition, 23 illustrations present in condensed form information about American and British women's scientific publications throughout the nineteenth century. This well-organized blend of individual life stories and quantitative information presents a great deal of new data and field-by-field analysis; its broad and methodical coverage will make it a basic work for everyone interested in the story of women's participation in nineteenth century science.

Lives and Works - Norman H. Robinson, The Royal Society catalogue of portraits. With biographical notes by Eric G. Forbes. London: Royal Society, 1980. Pp. 343. £25.00

Lives and Works - Norman H. Robinson, The Royal Society catalogue of portraits. With biographical notes by Eric G. Forbes. London: Royal Society, 1980. Pp. 343. £25.00

The royal society catalogue as an index to nineteenth century American science

AbstractThe Royal Society Catalogue of Scientific Papers is investigated in terms of its coverage of American science journals and American scientists. The journals indexed by the Catalogue are compared to other standard lists of journals from the nineteenth century. A list of scientists with three or more articles in American journals indexed in the Catalogue is compared to standard lists of scientists based on other criteria.The Catalogue is found to be, in most cases, an excellent index to the contents of American periodical literature, but for complete coverage some supplementary work would be necessary. The study also concludes that, if the number of articles written is not considered, the Royal Society index can be used to compile a near‐universal list of American “scientists.” This leads to the conclusion that in the period 1800 to 1863 (the years covered by this study), journal article writing of some variety and extent already characterized a man of science.

Mr. Herbert Knapman

IN Herbert Knapman, registrar of the University of Reading, who died on Aug. 14 at the age of fifty-two years, the lover of music and philosophy and the tireless organiser had long survived the brilliant mathematician who went to Cambridge from Rugby in 1898, was second wrangler in 1901, Smith's prizeman in 1903, and a fellow of Emmanuel College from 1903 until 1909. He joined the staff of University College, Reading, in 1903 as a lecturer in mathematics. If as a teacher he inspired awe of himself rather than love of his subject, the intense thoroughness which was his second nature brought a measure of success, and for a time he was even interested in the technique of imparting knowledge. Nevertheless, the steady transfer of his energies to the field of administration was a congenial development, and although the co-ordination of innumerable details seemed to his colleagues sometimes to be a waste of his intellect, there is no reason for supposing that the services which he performed, especially just after the War and at the time of the foundation of the University, so much better than a man less able could have hoped to do, withheld him from any more valuable work that he might have accomplished. The only work which he did as a mathematician was on the Subject Index of Pure Mathematics for the Royal Society Catalogue of Scientific Papers.

The Production of Sound by Heat

PROF. KNIPP, in his letter to NATURE of Sept. 10, seeks for reasons why the ‘singing tube’ was not discovered long ago by research workers doing their own glass - blowing. In point of fact, it was so discovered. I observed it when making for my father some vacuum tubes for examining the spectrum of argon, about 1896. But I found that it had been long familiar to him. He discussed it in a lecture at the Royal Institution (Proc. R.I., 8, p. 536; 1878. NATURE, 18, p. 319; 1878. Collected “Scientific Papers”, vol. 1, p. 350) giving a mechanical explanation similar to that of Prof. Knipp. He had learned the facts from a paper by Sondhauss, which might no doubt be easily located from the Royal Society's catalogue of scientific papers. I am, for the moment, away from easy access to a scientific library.

Catalogue of Scientific Papers

THE first volume of the fourth series of the Royal Society's Catalogue of Scientific Papers was noticed in the issue of NATURE for August 20 last. It was pointed out on that occasion that this series comprises the titles of papers published or read during the period 1884–1900, and concludes the work undertaken by the Royal Society. The catalogue thus completed will contain titles of papers for the whole of the nineteenth century. It will be remembered that the continuation of the work is now undertaken by the authorities of the International Catalogue of Scientific Literature.

Catalogue of Scientific Papers

THE fourth series of the Royal Society's Catalogue of Scientific Papers, of which the present is the first volume, comprises the titles of papers published or read during the period 1884–1900, and concludes the work undertaken by the Royal Society. The catalogue thus completed will contain titles of papers for the whole of the nine teenth century. The continuation of the work is now in the hands of the authorities of the Inter national Catalogue of Scientific Literature, which deals with the titles and subjects of papers pub lished after the end of 1900.

Catalogue of the Periodical Publications in the Library of the Royal Society of London Catalogue of the Periodical Publications, including the Serial Publications of Societies and Governments, in the Library of University College, London

THE general plan of both these catalogues is similar, and this is natural, since the Royal Society catalogue has been compiled by Mr. Newcombe, sub-librarian of University College, London, and Mr. L. Ellston

Anniversary Meeting of the Royal Society

THE anniversary meeting of the Royal Society was held on Saturday, November 30, St. Andrew's Day. Lord Rayleigh, the president, was in the chair. Among the subjects referred, to in the report of the council are the publication of the National Antarctic Expedition results, the International Catalogue of Scientific Literature, Royal Society's Catalogue of Scientific Papers, International.Association of Academies, sleeping sickness, and Malta fever. The following statement,, drawn up by the council, was presented to the Royal Commission, on Vivisection in March last:—

The late Prof. George James Allman, as a Botanist

THE paragraph in my obituary notice of the late George James Allman, cited by Prof. George Johnston Allman, was intended to refer to a paper read before the British Association in 1835, entitled “On the Mathematical Relations of the Forms of the Cells of Plants,” which heads the list of works ascribed in the Royal Society's Catalogue of Scientific Papers to George James Allman, and not to that by William Allman mentioned in the accompanying letter by his son, of which at the time of writing I was ignorant. While collecting data for my necrology of George James Allman, my suspicions were aroused by the fact that in the original form the paper alluded to by me is attributed but to a “Dr. Allman”; assuming, however, that the Royal Society's Cataloguer must have had authority for definitely associating it with George James Allman, I did not inquire further.

The Royal Society Catalogue and Psychology

IN the original classification of the sciences for the purposes of the projected Royal Society Catalogue of Scientific Literature, Psychology was given an independent place. Recognising this, the International Psychological Congress at Munich, in 1896, appointed an English committee to do what they could to further the scheme in the name of the Congress. Following this, Dr. G. F. Stout, editor of Mind, then at Aberdeen, now at Oxford, was asked by Prof. Michael Foster to prepare a schedule for psychology. Dr. Stout sought the collaboration of the present writer, who represented the Psychological Review and its annual catalogue the Psychological Index. In the meantime, at the suggestion of Prof. Foster to the present writer, the question had come up in America as to the advisability of suspending our Index (which is now common to the Zeitsch. f. Psychologies Berlin, and the Année Psychologique, Paris), with the preliminary understanding that if the Royal Society Catalogue issued an adequate list in psychology, it would be advisable to suspend the publication of the Index and support the Catalogue. Dr. Stout submitted the schedule he had prepared.

Ferdinand Cohn

ON June 25 last the career of one of the great botanists of the latter half of this century was brought to a close. During the span of a long life of seventy years Ferdinand Cohn has devoted his best energies to the advancement of botany, and the list of his papers in the “Royal Society Catalogue of Scientific Papers” bears witness to an unwearied devotion to his life work.

An Index to Science

I AM glad to see that Mr. Taylor Kay has again brought forward the question of a subject index to scientific periodicals. I say again, because the proposal to make such an index was suggested by me in a short letter in NATURE, vol. xviii. p. 251, and more fully at the first meeting of the Library Association at Oxford, in October 1878 (Transactions of Library Association, 1878, p. 85). Dr. Garnett also read a paper before the same Association on this subject in 1879, which was fully printed in NATURE, vol. xx. p. 554. In my original letter I suggested making the index from the papers themselves, and not from the Royal Society's Catalogue; my reason for this was the difficulty that must be experienced in indexing many papers, should the indexer have nothing but the title in front of him. Reference to the paper is absolutely necessary in many instances, especially when the title does not fully set forth its contents. Dr. Garnett, however, pointed out that much labour might be saved if the Royal Society would give two copies of its Catalogue of Scientific Papers, which might be cut up to form the copy of the subject-index. There can be no doubt that Dr. Garnett is right, because, by his plan, however many papers it might be necessary to refer to, the amount of labour as regards manuscript would be very materially diminished. The greatest difficulty of all is the money. Mr. Taylor Kay takes comfort in a Treasury Minute of November 1864, and hopes, from that, that help might be obtained from the Government. I am afraid, however, it will damp his ardour to be told that the Government have refused to bear the cost of printing the Catalogue for the decade 1874-83, although the matter is all ready for the press. It seems to me that, as suggested in my original paper, the co-operation of the learned Societies is the only way in which the necessary funds can be obtained.

Mr. Spottiswoode's Mathematical Papers

AT the request of Mrs. Spottiswoode, I have undertaken to edit these papers. Mrs. Spottiswoode has kindly looked over her collection, and put into my hands author's copies of such papers as she has. I still lack the following, which some one or more of the late President's friends may perhaps be able to lend me. The numbers are those of the Royal Society's Catalogue.

Elevation and Subsidence

FOR several months past articles and letters have appeared in NATURE on the subject of subsidence and elevation of the earth's crust by addition and removal of weight. In this connection also much has been said in regard to the history of the idea. I wish therefore to draw attention to the fact that in 1859 I read a paper before the American Association for the Advancement of Science on the subject of the “Formation of Continents and Ocean Basins,” in which, after giving the views of Herschell and Airy, I bring out this idea very prominently, and illustrate it by many diagrams. An abstract of this paper, by Sterry Hunt, was publi hed in the Canadian Naturalist, vol. iv., 1859, p. 293, and reference to it will be found in the “Royal Society Catalogue,” vol. iii. p. 919.

John William Draper

JOHN WILLIAM DRAPER, M.D., LL.D., President of the Medical and Scientific Faculties of the University of New York, who died January 4, 1882, was an Englishman, having been born at St. Helens, near Liverpool, on May 5, 1811. He was therefore in his seventy-first year. Up to the age of twenty-two he was resident in his native country, receiving his education, first under private tutors, and afterwards studied chemistry in the University College, London, then known as the University of London. In 1832 he emigrated to the States, and continued his studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where, in 1836, he took the degree of M.D. Meantime his talent for original research had manifested itself in the production of several memoirs, which appeared in the pages of the Journal of the Franklin Institution. The first of these (published in 1834) was “On the Nature of Capillary Attraction”; whilst a second was devoted to a discussion of the most eligible method of constructing galvanic batteries of four elements. In 1835 he published an account of some experiments made to detect whether light exhibits any. magnetic actions. Several branches of the science of electricity subsequently claimed his attention. In 1839 he wrote a memoir, which afterwards was reprinted in the Philosophical Magazine, “On the Use of a Secondary Wire as a Measure of the Relative Tension of Electric Currents.” It is instructive to observe in this memoir how Draper's exact mind revolted against the misuse, by writers on electricity, of the words “tension” and “intensity”; and, though he himself employed both terms, he carefully distinguished between them, using “tension” for what we now call “electromotive force,” and “intensity” for the “strength of the current,” agreeing therefore with the practice of many continental authorities. He also made experiments upon electro-capillary motions, and contributed to the science of thermo-electricity, a valuable series of determinations of the thermo-electromotive force of different pairs of metals at different temperatures. In 1837 began the notable series of researches upon the nature of rays of light in the spectrum, with which the name of Draper will always be associated. His paper that year bore the title “Experiments on Solar Light,” but it failed to attract much attention in Europe. He was now devoting himself to photography and photochemistry with great zeal. His paper “On the Discovery of Latent Light,” in 1842, dealt with the images produced by rays of light which are only subsequently developed by some chemical reaction—a process with which the art of photography has made us familiar, but which was then a curious and novel phenomenon. It was Draper who first discovered that in the ultra-violet part of the spectrum there are absorption bands like the Fraunhofer lines in the visible part of the spectrum. To enumerate the works which proceeded from Draper's pen upon the chemical and physical properties of the ultra-violet, or as he styled them, tithonic rays, would be inadmissible here. Suffice it to say that the greater part of the fifty memoirs mentioned in the Royal Society's Catalogue related to this subject, and the most important of them are to be found reprinted in his “Scientific Memoirs,” published in 1878. In this volume may be found the pregnant suggestion for a standard of white light for photometry of a piece of platinum foil of given size and thickness, raised to a white heat by an electric current of specified strength. To guard against fusion he suggested that an automatic short-circuiting apparatus should be constructed by some “skilled artificer.” He thus exactly anticipated Edison's first incandescent lamps: though the satisfactory standard of white light appears to be as far off as ever.

Subject-Indexes to Transactions of Learned Bodies

MR. GARNETT, in his paper printed in NATURE, vol. xx. p. 554. proposes to make the Index to Scientific Periodicals by cutting up two copies of the Royal Society's Catalogue and using this as the “copy” for the Index; but the thought has struck me that if the “copy” of the Royal Society's Catalogue is still in existence there is the material ready to hand for commencing work at once. I believe the Index might be done this way by any one who had access to the chief periodicals; but the title of a paper is often so very deceptive that without frequent reference to the papers themselves I am afraid we should get even worse mistakes than the one mentioned by Mr. Garnett. Now that the last volume of the Catalogue is out it is sincerely to be hoped that the Council of the Royal Society will take this “Subject-Index” into consideration.