Science Congress.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 10, 13 January 1904, Page 2

Science Congress.

(Per Press Association). DUNK.DIN, Junl 11. At tilie Science C'o'i4g<ress, in Hie agricultural seclicn, a most important paver was read by Sir .1. A. (iilruth, (Sowrnment Veterinary lCx]A*rt, 011 a liiet'ho'd of reii'deriii'g injections oi virulent cultures of anthrax inocuous, ami the subsequent production oi' the immunity l'rom contagion of tlvis disease. Mr Cilnith, wilii"it studying tice bubonic plague, had mixed cultures oi tlw.' plttgue bacilli and other organisms ami used this on animals. Remarkable as was the result it did not lead him to-expect, skiii'tlisiK, results in opposite vliirections which Ivuid been aclinic'.e.i w4h.11 similar experiments were coutliakij willi virulent anthrax. The conclusion arrived at is that by injections of certain cultures animals cam be i eniderud • immune from anthrax.

Mr A. M. Paterson, M.K.C.V.S., iin. iiiovinig' a vote of thanks, referred toi the far-reach iiilg' importance of Mr (ii 1 riitil's experiments. Mr J. J). Stewart, of Sydney, spoke of the practical application, of 'iii'l'omnaliim gained by Mr (Jilruth's i>xj<uriiiiptrts as a method of protection against unitiluux. lie consi'dereil the results of great scientilic valine.

A number orf deiiuaistraUoiis were ma»Je, which will lie completed on Wednesday. Various papers were roml amd discussed. Among the most important nuvtters iilealt with were the phtiivnmg of entrances awl exits to places oi amusement, etc. ; anthrax : and a paper by Mr Ilogben, Jnspec-toir-lieiicral of Schools, on elementary niatlranatics. with special refer-c-'Mce to geometry.

Large nuniNwrs attended garden parties in the grotwiOs of Messrs P. H, Snrgooel ami I'. Duncan, and the weather jbi-ing: delightful, greatly enjoyed themselves.

In the evening Professor Gregiory, ot Meldjourne, gave a lecture on tiie Southern Ocean and its climatic couitrol over Australasia. DUNIOIHW Jan. VI.

The business was practically concluded Unlay. Recomnundations were mailt) at a meeting of tno general council to the following elTect : I hat letters be sent to the various universities and truining colleges urging tho desirability of making provision tor training mathematical teachers ; that State and other (lovernments be urged to establish seismographs at Sydney, Brisbane, Ilobart, Adelaide, Norfolk Island, and if possible Tonga; that in the. interest of the science of the world tho description of fossils in the Colonial . Museum at '•VeHington should bo commenced inimcdiaUly ; that the association graltefully ieedgmires the tiki the New Zealand Government has offered for the preservation of native fauna and flora, especially in passing the recent Act for the preservation of scenery, and expresses the hope that further facilities will be 'granted to naturalists for investigating natural history in outlying islands ; that Captain Hutton, F.K.S., and Professor Jlal dwin Spencer bo elected life members of the Association.

A number of committees were uppointed and various recommendations made in connection therewith. Votes of thanks were passed to the (inventor, bishop Neville, and those who had shown hospitality to visitors, Hroilas-sbr Spencer remarking t-hut their stay in Dunedin had been rendered a pleasant one. Votes of thanks were passed to the Government of New Zealand for its gonerosity in voting a sum of money to defray expenses ; to Sir .Joseph Wurd for liberal concessions granted on the railways ; and also to tho steamship companies, the press, etc. la the agricultural section Mr ,J. A. (iilrli'th, < 1 oveninient Veterinarian', reatt a paper on the toxic effects ofragwort, on the lines of-the report on' tJie Department of Agriculture.

Mr C. J. Reakes' Assistant-Chief Veterinarian, read a paper on bovine tuberculosis. TJic prevalence of the dii-s-ease amongst cattle in Australasia iras deserving of more attention thurn it received. He expressed himself strongly in favour of utilising condemned prisoners, under State sup-orvdstioii', to test whether bovine tulliercnlos-is was comniimiciilble to man. Mr Reakes gwve instances in direct oiSpoKitiani to European theories of cattle beco'in-ing infected when ranging over wide pastures exposed to the sun, quoting similar instances lro!11 Queensland, and he thought the suggestions made by Mr (JilI'utli that the ti.lbercularl.i bacillus was capable of living an independent existence outside of animal life was quite correct. An intereslhw discussum followed the reaiding of the j>a-