VOL.6, NO. 4 LIMITS UPON UNIPIUTION011 C ~ I ~ I W NL O ~LN C L A T U R B
729
5. A large majority signiiied their willingness to participate in efforts to reform chemical nomenclature. The results of this inquiry point out clearly that efforts to improve the nomenclature of chemistry must be confined to new names and to the harmonizing of variations in usage which do not conflict with fundamental language diierences. There is evidently little, if any, hope of gradually approaching a universal language by the progressive diminution of national variations in scientific terminology. I t may be concluded that the international language of the chemist will remain a combination of German, French, and English and those who aspire to proficiency in this science must continue to expend the effort necessary to learn these three languages. In this connection it is especially noteworthy that the opposition to the unification of the names of the common elements was far greater among the chemists of Europe than among those of the United States and Canada. This may be due to the circumstance that European chemists, through generations of experience, are more proficient with languages, and hence do not realize the advantages which would result from the removal of this obstacle to more perfect intercourse between those engaged in the advancement of science. This inquiry has demonstrated a simple method of collecting representative views upon questions of common concern, and has led to conclusions, the value of which cannot be doubted. Finally, i t should be mentioned that although the preponderating sentiment is evidently opposed to universal names for the fourteen common elements, it is probable that almost every one would be willing to have the names from which the symbols of the elements were derived, printed as synonyms in the tables of atomic weights published in each language. If this were done and all such tables arradged in the alphabetical order of the initials of the symbols, they would be uniform in all countries. This would undoubtedly lead to a standardization of the arrangement of material published in compendia and works of reference. Basic chemical literature would then gradually take on a more uniform character and would become of greater service to the chemists of all nations.
Plant Disease Fungus Mates Many Times. Polyandry still exists! Dr. Charles Drechsler, associate pathologist of the United States Department of Agriculture, has discovered a fungus associated with a root rot of corn which possesses 25 to 30 male elements for each female element involved in the reproductive processes. The disease which is produced by this extraordinary fungus is not serious.-Science Setvice
