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��there bas been a teDdencj' U) exalt Ibc ama- teur's microscopy to the rank of a separate (lepartment of science, and therefore we plenri not guilty to Sir. Cox's accusation of injus- tice. It ie proper for Science to point out a coiinision as to the natural demarcations of the sciences, or to call attention to the fact that there is a body of men who are mnch interested in certain parts of science, bnt yet chose their interests in so many fields, that they lack that rigorous thoroughness which is indispensable for pure science, and rrhich, in its turn, makes specialization indispensable.

We regret to announce the resignation, by Professor Harrison Allen, of the chair of pbysi- ology at the Uuiversity of Pennsylvania. Our regret is increased by the fact that the step is the consequence of the pressure of over- work, and the growing demands of a large medical practice. We hope that bis profes- sional activity will not prevent the continuance of the important researches upon which Pro- fessor Allen has been engaged. The loss to the university will not be readily made good ; for Dr. Allen is not only an investigator of thoroughly scientific spirit, but also one who is singularly appreciative of the good work of others, and encouraging to his co-laborers, as has been shown most happily in the recent establishment of the Biological institute at Philadelphia, in which Dr. Allen had efficient participation. The university will certainly miss his exi»erienged co-operation.

��a full account of whatever system of requirc- mente is ultimately adopted.

The phdvisions for the scientific bureaus of the government, made in the sundrj- civil bill passed at the close of the last congress, are. on the whole, less generous than in the pre- ceding year. The appropriations for the weather bureau, including the military branch ($883,433). and for the coast-survey ($551,- 498), are slightly greater; those for the geo- logical survey ($467,700) and the ethnological bureau ($40,000) are the same: that for the national museum ($147, .iOO), scarcely less than a year ago; but the fish -commission re- ceives only $256,000, which is $65,000 less than last year ; and to the census burean nothing is given (it received $10,000 last year). Thus the natural necessary growth of some of these institutions is not provided for.

On THE other hand, the Smithsonian insti- tution is given $10,000 for maintaining its excellent work in foreign exchanges ; $10,000 is appropriated for ojierating the Watei'town testing-machine, and $1*2,000 for printing thftH continuation of the catalogue of the medio " library attached to the surgeon-general's offlcafl while the joint commission of three setiata and three representatives, to consider the pro cnt organizations of the signal- service, geolog cal survey, coaat and geodetic siiney. and ti bydrographic oSice, is continued, and instruct to report at the next meeting of congress.

��It 18 premature to comment on the plan of examination for admission now under consider- ation in the faculty of Harvai'd allege. It is known that such a plan bas been found, in its general features, to furnish a aatisfactory ground of truce between the combatants, and that both the classicists and the modernists in Ihc faculty ore well contented to unite in it as affording a wise and fair adjustment of their differences. Bnt the discussion has not yet reached its final stage, and some important questions still remain to be considered. At Ihe proper lime we shall lay before our readers

��Bv the sundry civil bill, the president t authorized, in case of threatened or ( epidemic of cholera or yellow-fever, to uae lj his discretion the unexjiended balance of tl sum rc-appropi-iated for ibis object i 1884, together with the further sum of I30<! 000, in aid of state and local boards or otfaeq wise, " in preventing and suppressing spread of the same, and for maintaining qui antiue and maritime inspections at points ( danger; and, by the meagre appropriatioa i $15,000, the naUonal board of health is i citated.

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