lO6 ELLIOTT CRESSON ~-~V~EDAL AWARDS.

The numerous scientific memoirs in which his original work is set forth were collected under his own editorship in four large volumes, the last of which was published in 19o3. His most extensive work is a book on "Theory of Sound,'~ which, in the second edition, has become a treatise on vibrations in general. As the outcome of a long series of delicate weighings and much ex- perimental care in the determination of the relative density of gas, he made, in collaboration with Sir William Ramsay, the discovery of . He has taken much interest in abnormal psychological investigations, and became a member and vice-president of the Society for Psychical Research. Lord Rayleigh was one of the original members of the Order of Merit, instituted in connection with the coronation of King EdWard VII. He is a past president of the Royal Society and Nobel laureate, having been awarded a in 19o4. He is an officer of the Legion of Honour.

SIR WILLIAM RAMSAY, K.C.B., LL.D., D.Sc., M.D., Ph.D., F.R.S., F.C.S. SIR WILLIAM RAMSAY was born in on October 2, 1852. In his fourteenth year he matriculated at Glasgow University and there commenced his studies in , first under Sir William Thomson and then under Tatlock, and appears to have distinguished himself so decidedly that the latter often made him his deputy. In 187o Sir William continued his studies in Germany, passing one term with Bunsen and then moving to Fittig's laboratory at Tiibingen. He was there inducted into the usual methods and problems of organic chemistry. In 1872 he returned to his native city and was for two years laboratory assistant in the Young Laboratory of Chemistry, at Anderson's College. He was then appointed Tutorial Assistant of Chemistry in Glasgow University, a position which he held for six years. He there acquired a very extensive and profound knowledge of the whole field of chemistry, especially of inorganic chemistry. In 188o he was appointed to the chair of chemistry at University College, Bristol, and a year lafer he was made principal of the college. He continued at Bristol until 1887, when he was appointed to the highly-esteemed chair of chemistry at University College, London. At this point began that rapid succession of researches which brought Sir William to scientific eminence. The measurements of surface tensions up to the critical temperature led to the well-known law which allows us to determine molecular weights in liquids. His work with Lord Rayleigh on the solution of the problem concerning the difference in density be- . tween atmospheric nitrogen and that obtained from compounds led to the discovery of argon in 1897. The periodic law immediately suggested July, I9r3.] ~ELLIOTTCRESSON" MEDAL AWARDS. Io7

the existence of a number of other elements of the same type, and Sir William succeeded in a short time in discovering . Three further elements of the same group--, and --were afterward dis- covered by Sir William, associated with Morris William Travers. As the result of an investigation taken up by him, following Bec- querel's discovery of the dark rays of uranium, Sir William made his greatest discovery--that of the apparent transmutation of one element into another. The gaseous emanation of radium, which at first had behaved as an entirely new body, showed after some time the lines of helium, and, finally, it was definitely proved that radium in its spontaneous decomposition produced helium in a perfectly regular way. Following this up, Sir William originated a series of other investigations, some of which are not yet completed, but which may be expected to result in further achievements of a high order. Sir William is the author of numerous publications and papers. Some of the most important of these are: "The Molecular Surface-Energy of Liquids." "Argon, a New Constituent of the Atmosphere" (in conjunction with Lord Rayleigh). "Helium, a Constituent of Certain Minerals." "Neon, Krypton, and Xenon." "The Transmutation of Radium into Helium" (with Mr. F. Soddy). "The Discovery of the Constituents of the Air." Three Text-books on Chemistry. Many academic honors and various orders of distinction have been conferred upon Sir William Ramsay in recognition of his brilliant dis- coveries in chemistry. Among the orders are those of the Commander of the Crown of Italy; Officier de la I~gion d'Honneur; Corresponding Mem- ber of the Institute of France; Hon. Member Royal Academies of Ireland, Berlin, Bohemia, Holland, Rome, St. Petersburg, etc. Sir William is a member of numerous learned and scientific societies, among them being the German ; American Philosophical Society, Pharmaceutical Society; Philosophical Societies of Manchester, and Rotterdam. He was created ICC.B. in I9o2, and in I9o4 he was awarded the Nobel prize for his chemical researches.

EMIL FISCHER, Ph.D., M.D., Ing.D.Se., F.R.S. was born at Euskirchen, in Rhenish Prugsia, on October 9, t852. After studying chemistry at Bonn, he went to Strassburg, where he was graduated Ph.D. in I874. He then acted as assistant to Adolph yon Baeyer for eight years, after which he was appointed to the chair of