Newsletter of the New York Microscopical Society

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Newsletter of the New York Microscopical Society Newsletter Of the New York Microscopical Society 1 Prospect Village Plaza (66F Mt. Prospect Avenue) Clifton, New Jersey 07013-1918 GPS: Latitude 40.8648N, Longitude 74.1540W November-December 2014 N.Y.M.S. (973) 470-8733 Volume 8 (28) Number 9 NYMS Holiday Banquet Speaker Program Sunday December 14, 2014, from noon until 3:30pm. Landmark Tavern, 626 11th Ave., at W. 46th St New York City, NY (by reservation only) Illusions in Microscopy by Dr. Brooke Weinger Kammrath Microscopists rely on their sense of sight to make observations and take measurements, however can we always trust our eyes? Optical illusions are visual stimuli that represent what is perceived in a way different from the way it is in reality. There are several different types of optical illusions, and this presentation will highlight examples in both light and electron microscopy. Dr. Brooke Weinger Kammrath is an assistant professor of forensic science at the University of New Haven and works as a forensic science consultant in New York and Connecticut. She received her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice with a specialization in Forensic Science from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York in 2013. Dr. Kammrath’s research interests include uniting microscopy with spectroscopy, the identification and characterization of microscopic samples of forensic interest, and the statistical analysis of pattern and impression evidence. Some pictures from last year’s, banquet at Landmark A Not-For-Profit Educational Organization, Page 1 of 4 Save a Tree: Get The Extended Newsletter: By Email Only Board of Managers John Scott [email protected]; (646) 339-6566 June 2015 President John A. Reffner [email protected]; (203) 358-4539 June 2015 Vice President, Program Chair Mel Pollinger [email protected]; (201) 791-9826 June 2014 Treasurer, Editor, Librarian, Facilities Mgr. John R. Reffner, Jr. [email protected]; (215) 527-1882 June 2014 Secretary Roland Scal [email protected]; (718) 631-6071 June 2016 Board, Curator Pro Tem Angela Klaus [email protected]; (973) 761-1840 June 2015 Board Louis Sorkin [email protected]; (914) 939-0917 June 2015 Board, Webmaster Andrew J. Winter [email protected]; (732) 816-3793 June 2016 Board, Education Chair Guy de Baere [email protected]; (347) 668-4798 June 2015 Board, Outreach, Pro Tem Brooke Kammrath [email protected]; (203) 931-2989 June 2016 Board, Membership chair Seymour Perlowitz [email protected]; (718) 338-6695 June 2016 Board Peter Diaczuk [email protected]; (212) 237-8896 June 2016 Board, Past President For additional information contact the Editor: Mel Pollinger at (201) 791-9826, or [email protected] Awards Given by the Awards Dues and Addresses New York Please remember to mail in your Committee Microscopical Society Dues to: Chair: John A. The New York Mel Pollinger Reffner microscopical Society Treasurer, NYMS Members 18-04 Hillery St. takes great pleasure in Jan Hinsch Fair Lawn, NJ 07410-5207 recognizing and rewarding individuals who have Peter Diaczuk Junior (under age 18) $10 contributed to either the Angela Klaus Annually activities of the society or John R. Reffner Regular $30 to furthering microscopy. Mel Pollinger, Editor Student (age 18 or above) $20 These awards are Annually described in our website To Order Your 18-04 Hillery St. Supporting $60 Annually and in a pdf file for our NYMS Lapel Pins Fair Lawn, NJ 07410-5207 email newsletter Corporate (includes one Send a check in the recipients. All members advertisement in NYMS News) amount of $12.00 per are eligible to nominate $175 Annually pin to: individuals for these Life $300 (payable within the year) New York Microscopical various awards, and are To avoid missing notices: Society encouraged to do so. Notify Mel Pollinger if you have c/o Mel Pollinger, 18-04 John A. Reffner, Awards changed your address, phone or Hillery Street, Fair Lawn, Committee Chairperson email. NJ 07410. To avoid shipping & handling The Mission of the New York charges, pins may be purchased directly at Microscopical Society is the promotion of any NYMS meeting for theoretical and applied microscopy and the promotion $10.00. of education and interest in all phases of microscopy. Alternate Meeting Notifications ************************************ Please note that due to time constraints in publishing, Please remember to pay your dues some meeting notices may be available by calling Mel Pollinger at 201-791-9826, or by visiting the NYMS website, or emailing: [email protected] Buy and Read a Good Book on Microscopy. A Not-For-Profit Educational Organization, Page 2 of 4 The current issue of The Microscope (vol. 62, (From page 4) second quarter 2014) contains an article by Brian J. Ford that delights me. In "Critical Focus: Breaking the Phalaenopsis /fælɨˈ nɒpsɪs/ Blume (1825), known Myths of Microscope" (pp 63-73), Ford condenses the as the Moth Orchid, abbreviated Phal in history of the light microscope and brings its origins the horticultural trade, is anorchid genus of closer to some of its manifestations today, which turn approximately 60 species. Phalaenopsis is one of the out not to differ as much as you might have imagined. most popular orchids in the trade, through the development of many artificial hybrids. It is native to The cost to purchase one copy of this issue of The southern China, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Microscope is $10 plus shipping and handling, which is Asia (Thailand,Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, a bargain when you consider that its three other articles etc.), New Guinea, the Bismark Archipelago, are also worth reading. Find out more about this and Queensland (From Wikipedia). publication by visiting its webpage: http://mcri.org/home/section/71-72/the-microscope- journal Jean Portell **************************************************************** Also Sent In by Jean Portell: Here's a 2011 article by Dr. William R. "Randy" Miller in which he explains to an advanced student how a new tardigrada species, which his student discovered, gets named. This is no. 5 of a series of "Tardigrades" articles by Miller. http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/feature/tardigra 1978. Dr. Robert Hoffman conducts a workshop in des/5 modulation contrast. ********************************************************************* Thought you all might show that to folks as an Sent in by Egil Hollund inspiration to do serious research and perhaps identify a new species. I lost contact with Randy Miller when I slacked off using microscopes in order to concentrate on writing about art conservation. Years from now, when I complete the biography I'm working on, I'll resume hunting for water bears ... just for fun! Best wishes to all, Jean **************************************************************** From the Library: The NYMS Library contains over 3,700 cataloged volumes, among these is a full set of McCrone’s Particle Atlas and copies of Microbe Hunter Magazine. Come on down and read! Check this out chemistry nerds. Contact: Mel Pollinger (201) 791-9826, or email Mel at Sent to me by Jeff Glover pollingmel@optonline. net Neat stuff. For December 2014 http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/10/beautiful- *********************************************************************** Upcoming Events in 2014 chemistry-amazing-chemical-reactions-filmed- with-a-4k-ultrahd-camera/ Dates, Times and Locations to be Be A Volunteer – There’s Always announced when confirmed: Something to do and see at NYMS. •McCrone’s Course Dec 8-12, 2014 If you wish to contribute some of your time to NYMS, please contact me at (201) 791-9826 or by •NYMS Annual Banquet (December meeting) Bill at NYMS in Clifton email at [email protected] *********************************************************** A Not-For-Profit Educational Organization, Page 3 of 4 Visitors Always Welcome to NYMS Answer to Mystery Photo for October 2014 Although most of our lecture meetings, workshops and Center of Moth Orchid classes are held in the NYMS Clifton facility on the last flower (Phalaenopsis) Sunday of the month, the building may be opened for special purposes at other times, by appointment only. For Correctly answered by such an appointment, please contact Mel Pollinger by phone at (201) 791-9826, M-F noon to 9:30pm, or by email Wiebke Hinsch at [email protected]. Kevin E. Bennett From The Editor… Michael Reese Much if you have an email address: Getting the (see page 3 top right) newsletter by email means you can receive an extended pdf version that cannot be sent by Mystery Photo for Nov-Dec 2014 “snail mail.” Even if you only continue your USPS delivery of the newsletter, NYMS needs your email address for reporting priority events and special news. Being able to contact you quickly by email means better communication between you & NYMS■■ Mel Need to use a Microscope? The various microscopes that are presently set up on the main floor of the New York Microscopical Society building in Clifton, N.J. are there for the use of its members. From Gary Mayer: In need of parts for older Olympus Microscopes? Contact J.C. Ricky in Ohio at (740) 862-9252 Want to take a guess? Send it to me by email or call Microscope Cleaning Kit me: [email protected], (201) 791-9826 A complete set of tools and accessories to keep your ************************************************ microscope in optimum operating condition. The kit is Additional Historical NYMS Supplements put together by our previous Curator/Educational Email Newsletter recipients will also be getting copies of Chairman, Don O’Leary, and available directly from NYMS Newsletter pdf back-Issues from 2007. Copies of NYMS, while they last, for only $35.00 plus shipping & older newsletters will be sent as I convert them. handling, or may be purchased at a meeting. Call or ******************************************************* email Mel Pollinger for details (see page two for contact numbers). Attention NYMS Members Got something to sell? Article to NYMS Meeting Dates publish? Pictures for the newsletter? Looking to buy something? Want to use Most meetings of NYMS are usually held in the library? Want to use a NYMS Clifton on the last Sunday of the months of microscope? Jan., Feb., Mar., May, Sep., Oct.
Recommended publications
  • William Withering and the Introduction of Digitalis Into Medical Practice
    [From Schenckius: Observationum Medicarum, Francofurti, 1609.] ANNALS OF MEDICAL HISTORY New Series , Volume VIII May , 1936 Numbe r 3 WILLIAM WITHERING AND THE INTRODUCTION OF DIGITALIS INTO MEDICAL PRACTICE By LOUIS H. RODDIS, COMMANDER, M.C., U.S.N. WASHINGTON, D. C. Part II* N interesting fea- as Dr. Fulton points out, there is no ture regarding the question that Darwin received his first early use of digi- acquaintancewithdigitalis from Wither- talis and the ques- ing. The evidence is indisputable as tion of the priority Withering himself cites the case (No. of Withering in its iv, M iss Hill) and says that Darwin was discovery, has been his consultant. Darwin mentions the brought out by case in his commonplace book but Professor John F. Fulton of Yale Uni- neither there nor in his published ac- versity School of Medicine. He has counts does he mention Withering’s shown that Erasmus Darwin, in an ap- name. His relations with Withering are pendix to the graduation thesis of his shown by some of his letters to have son Charles, which he published in been very unfriendly, at least after 1780, two years after Charles’ death. 1788, and he was probably jealous of gave some account of the use of fox- him. By our present standards Darwin’s glove with several case histories. March conduct in not mentioning Withering 16. 1785, Erasmus Darwin read a paper in either of his papers was distinctly which was dated January 14, 1785, and uncthical. which was published in the medical As he became more prosperous With- transactions, containing a reference to ering purchased a valuable piece of foxglove.
    [Show full text]
  • The Lunar Society of Birmingham and the Practice of Science in 18Th Century Great Britain
    Union College Union | Digital Works Honors Theses Student Work 6-2011 The unL ar Society of Birmingham and the Practice of Science in 18th Century Great Britain Scott H. Zurawel Union College - Schenectady, NY Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalworks.union.edu/theses Part of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Commons Recommended Citation Zurawel, Scott H., "The unL ar Society of Birmingham and the Practice of Science in 18th Century Great Britain" (2011). Honors Theses. 1092. https://digitalworks.union.edu/theses/1092 This Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Work at Union | Digital Works. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of Union | Digital Works. For more information, please contact [email protected]. i THE LUNAR SOCIETY OF BIRMINGHAM AND THE PRACTICE OF SCIENCE IN 18TH CENTURY GREAT BRITAIN: A STUDY OF JOSPEH PRIESTLEY, JAMES WATT AND WILLIAM WITHERING By Scott Henry Zurawel ******* Submitted in partial fulfillment Of the requirements for Honors in the Department of History UNION COLLEGE March, 2011 ii ABSTRACT Zurawel, Scott The Lunar Society of Birmingham and the Practice of Science in Eighteenth-Century Great Britain: A Study of Joseph Priestley, James Watt, and William Withering This thesis examines the scientific and technological advancements facilitated by members of the Lunar Society of Birmingham in eighteenth-century Britain. The study relies on a number of primary sources, which range from the regular correspondence of its members to their various published scientific works. The secondary sources used for this project range from comprehensive books about the society as a whole to sources concentrating on particular members.
    [Show full text]
  • Experimental Pharmacology and Therapeutic Innovation in the Eighteenth Century
    -e: EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND THERAPEUTIC INNOVATION IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY by ANDREAS-HOLGER MAEHLE A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of London University College London 1996 ProQuest Number: 10017185 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest. ProQuest 10017185 Published by ProQuest LLC(2016). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 ABSTRACT In the historiography of pharmacology and therapeutics, the 18th century is regarded as a period of transition from traditional, Galenistic materia medica to the beginnings of modern, experimental drug research. Ackerknecht (1973) characterized the pharmacotherapy of this period as a "chaotic mixture of chemiatric and Galenistic practices", yet acknowledged an "increasing tendency toward empiricism, partly even true experimentalism". This thesis explores this transitional phase for the first time in depth, examining the relations between pharmacological experimentation, theory-building, and therapeutic practice. Furthermore, ethical aspects are highlighted. The general introduction discusses the secondary literature and presents the results of a systematic study of pharmacological articles in relevant 18th-century periodicals. The identified main areas of contemporary interest, the spectrum of methods applied, and the composition of the authorship are described and interpreted.
    [Show full text]
  • KS1 Lunar Society
    James Watt 2019 Lunar Society Activity KS1 Watt’s Friends The Lunar Society were a group of friends who met at Soho House, the home of James Watt’s business partner Matthew Boulton. These men met on days when there was a full moon so they had enough light to travel home after a full dinner and this is why they are called the Lunar Society! Joining Boulton and Watt at these meetings were some of the cleverest people in the 18th century. They discussed science, art, business and new discoveries. Josiah Wedgwood was an English potter and business man who invented many new pottery methods. He is most famous for his blue Jasperware objects. Erasmus Darwin was a doctor who was also very interested in the natural world, in particular plants. He wrote many poems and was Charles Darwin’s grandfather. William Withering was a botanist (plant scientist) who discovered that the foxglove plant or digitalis could be used as a medicine for people with heart disease. Samuel Galton was a gun-maker who was also interested in the natural world. He wrote the first book about animals and natural history just for children. Joseph Priestley was a scientist and clergyman who invented soda water and was one of the discoverers of the gas oxygen. James Keir was a chemist, inventor and soldier who experimented with metal and glass and developed a gold coloured metal mixture or alloy. Richard Lovell Edgeworth was an inventor who was also very interested in Soho House, Handsworth education. He invented many things but is famous for a book he wrote about how Meet some of the Lunar Men on this page and then draw children would learn by playing with toys.
    [Show full text]
  • The Foxgloves (Digitalis) Revisited*
    Reviews The Foxgloves (Digitalis) Revisited* Author Wolfgang Kreis Affiliation Supporting information available online at Lehrstuhl Pharmazeutische Biologie, Department Biology, http://www.thieme-connect.de/products FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany ABSTRACT Key words Digitalis, Plantaginaceae, cardiac glycosides, plant biotech- This review provides a renewed look at the genus Digitalis. nology, biosynthesis, plant tissue culture, phylogeny Emphasis will be put on those issues that attracted the most attention or even went through paradigmatic changes since received March 17, 2017 the turn of the millennium. PubMed and Google Scholar were “ ” “ ” revised April 27, 2017 used ( Digitalis and Foxglove were the key words) to iden- accepted May 8, 2017 tify research from 2000 till 2017 containing data relevant enough to be presented here. Intriguing new results emerged Bibliography from studies related to the phylogeny and taxonomy of the DOI https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-111240 genus as well as to the biosynthesis and potential medicinal Published online May 23, 2017 | Planta Med 2017; 83: 962– uses of the key active compounds, the cardiac glycosides. 976 © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York | Several Eastern and Western Foxgloves were studied with re- ISSN 0032‑0943 spect to their propagation in vitro. In this context, molecular biology tools were applied and phytochemical analyses were Correspondence conducted. Structure elucidation and analytical methods, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Kreis which have experienced less exciting progress, will not be Department Biology, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg considered here in great detail. Staudtstr. 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany Phone:+4991318528241,Fax:+4991318528243 [email protected] Taxus species is a prime example [4].
    [Show full text]
  • John Stackhouse (1742-1819) and the Linnean Society
    NEWSLETTER AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON VOLUME 24 • NUMBER 1 • JANUARY 2008 THE LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON Registered Charity Number 220509 Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BF Tel. (+44) (0)20 7434 4479; Fax: (+44) (0)20 7287 9364 e-mail: [email protected]; internet: www.linnean.org President Secretaries Council Professor David F Cutler BOTANICAL The Officers and Dr Sandra D Knapp Dr Pieter Baas Vice-Presidents Dr Andy Brown Professor Richard M Bateman ZOOLOGICAL Dr Joe Cain Dr Jenny M Edmonds Dr Vaughan R Southgate Dr John David Dr Sandy D Knapp Prof Peter S Davis Dr Vaughan R Southgate EDITORIAL Dr Shahina Ghazanfar Dr John R Edmondson Dr D J Nicholas Hind Treasurer Mr W M Alastair Land Professor Gren Ll Lucas OBE COLLECTIONS Dr D Tim J Littlewood Mrs Susan Gove Dr George McGavin Acting Executive Secretary Dr Malcolm Scoble Miss Gina Douglas Librarian & Archivist Prof Mark Seaward Miss Gina Douglas Dr Max Telford Head of Development Ms Elaine Shaughnessy Deputy Librarian Conservator Mrs Lynda Brooks Ms Janet Ashdown Financial Controller/Membership Mr Priya Nithianandan Assistant Librarian Special Publications Mr Ben Sherwood Manager Building and Office Manager Ms Leonie Berwick Ms Victoria Smith Communications Manager Ms Kate Longhurst THE LINNEAN Newsletter and Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London ISSN 0950-1096 Edited by Brian G Gardiner Editorial .......................................................................................................................2 Society News..............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • William Withering* by K
    Br Heart J: first published as 10.1136/hrt.12.1.1 on 1 January 1950. Downloaded from WILLIAM WITHERING* BY K. D. WILKINSON From the Birmingham General Hospital William Withering was descended from a long line of yeoman farmers who lived in the parish of Checkley in Staffordshire. An ancestor had married an heiress from Chipnall in Shropshire and had migrated in the reign of Charles I, but Edmund Withering, who practised as an apothecary at Wellington from 1738 to 1769, was the first instance of any medical association in the family. He married the sister of Dr. Brooke Hector of Lichfield, and his son William was born in 1741. William was destined for the profession of medicine from his earliest days; he was educated at home, apprenticed to his father, and went to Edinburgh as a student at the age of 21 years. Edinburgh was a great medical school even then, with upwards of 200 students in each year, but only a small pro- portion took the M.D. degree. At Edinburgh Withering learned to play various musical instru- ments and golf; he became a proficient draughtsman and a fluent speaker and writer. He wrote his M.D. thesis on malignant putrid sore throat and took his degree in July, 1766. In Edinburgh he made a number oflifelong friends and acquired a scientific outlook which enabled him to distinguish himself in chemistry, in botany, and in medicine. Early in 1767 he settled in practice in Stafford, was appointed physician to the recently established Stafford Infirmary, and made a new set of friends.
    [Show full text]
  • Dr Erasmus Darwin (1731–1802) of Lichfield and Placental Respiration P M Dunn
    F346 Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed: first published as 10.1136/fn.88.4.F346 on 1 July 2003. Downloaded from PERINATAL LESSONS FROM THE PAST Dr Erasmus Darwin (1731–1802) of Lichfield and placental respiration P M Dunn ............................................................................................................................. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2003;88:F346–F348 Erasmus Darwin was a great philosopher, scientist, With a sunny smile, a ready wit, and a stammer, inventor, poet, and physician. His creative intellect has he was kindly and sociable and had a genius for friendship. He paid little attention to authority been compared with that of Leonardo da Vinci. This and could be impatient of opposition. For brief article draws attention to two perinatal instance, in Lichfield he did not get on well with Samuel Johnson whose despotic manners he dis- contributions made on placental respiration and liked. He also had religious differences with him. management of the umbilical cord. Darwin stated his own religious philosophy as: .......................................................................... “‘Do as you would be done by’ and ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ include all our duties of benevolence and morality; and, if sincerely rasmus Darwin was one of the most extraor- obeyed by all nations, would a thousandfold mul- dinary men of the 18th century. Hesketh tiply the present happiness of mankind.” As one Pearson in his biography introduced him as might expect, he loathed slavery and war and E 1 follows : “It is, perhaps, as the man who gave a called for the humanitarian treatment of prison- creed to Creative Evolution that Dr. Erasmus Dar- ers. He had a compassion for the poor and home- win chiefly interests us to-day.
    [Show full text]
  • James Mackenzie Lecture
    JAMES MACKENZIE LECTURE Foxglove and chips V. W. M. DRURY, OBE, FRCGP Professor of General Practice, The University of Birmingham members made! It is a diversion to list their names but they included Matthew Boulton, James Watt, Josiah Wedgwood, Joseph Priestley, the discoverer of oxygen, Benjamin Franklin, author, painter, inventor, scientist and, may I say, the first civilized American, and Sir Joseph Banks, the famous botanist who gave his name to plants, medals and other lectures. They were devoted to literature and science and were all men of much character and many interests. Moving to Birmingham, Withering maintained his links with Stafford and used to drive each week to see patients at the infirmary there. At some point along the route the horses were changed and one day while this was going on he was asked to see an old woman with V.W.M. Drury L dropsy. He responded, as the good general practitioner is wont to do, to the request of 'While you are here doctor . .', but formed a poor opinion of her progno- sis. Some weeks later he saw her again and was aston- William Withering ished by her recovery. Upon enquiry he learnt that this was attributed to a family recipe produced by an old MY story starts with William Withering 100, years woman who lived up in the Clee Hills of Shropshire, the before James Mackenzie qualified, but it is the effect of which was to produce violent vomiting and start of a therapeutic thread which, in James Macken- purging and to which the beneficial effects were as- zie's hands, became a life-line for his patients and a cribed.
    [Show full text]
  • Newsletter No.No
    NewsletterNewsletter No.No. 207207 JuneJune 20112011 Contents: Future Programme 2 Other Societies 3 Editorial & Committee Report 6 The 'Dudley Bug' 7 More Glacial Erratics in Birmingham 9 Field Meeting Report: Committee Erasmus Darwin House 11 Chairman The Lunar Society 12 Gordon Hensman Geobabble 15 Vice-Chairman Members' Forum: Alan Cutler The Calcot Hill Farm Boulder 16 Hon Treasurer Mike Williams Hon Secretary Robert Bucki Meetings Secretary Copy date for the next Newsletter is Graham Worton Monday 1st August 2011 Field Secretary Andrew Harrison The Society provides limited personal accident cover for members attending Newsletter Editor meetings or field trips. Details can be obtained from the Secretary. Non-members attending society field trips are advised to take out your own personal accident Julie Schroder insurance to the level you feel appropriate. Schools and other bodies should arrange their own insurance as a matter of course. Other Members Leaders provide their services on a purely voluntary basis and may not be professionally qualified in this capacity. Chris Broughton The Society does not provide hard hats for use of members or visitors at field Alison Roberts meetings. It is your responsibility to provide your own hard hat and other safety equipment (such as safety boots and goggles/glasses) and to use it when you feel it is necessary or when a site owner makes it a condition of entry. Hammering is seldom necessary. It is the responsibility of the hammerer to ensure that other people are at a safe distance before doing so. -1- Newsletter No. 207 The Black Country Geological Society June 2011 Future Programme Lecture meetings are held at Dudley Museum & Art Gallery, St James’s Road, Dudley, DY1 1HU.
    [Show full text]
  • William Withering.Qxp HWM
    WILLIAM WITHERING PHYSICIAN, BOTANIST AND MINERALOGIST Peter Sheldon William Withering was a major medical figure in eighteenth-century Britain, who pioneered the application of the scientific method to medicine. He observed carefully, recorded evidence precisely and drew conclusions from these facts. Best known for his work on the medical value of the foxglove plant, he also made important contributions to the study of botany and mineralogy. Early Life William Withering was born in 1741 during the reign of George II in the market town of Wellington, Shropshire. His father Edmund was an apothecary there, and his mother Sarah was the sister of Dr Brooke Hector, a prominent physician in Lichfield. William was privately educated by the Reverend Henry Wood of Ercall. We know little of his childhood, but some facts can be gleaned from the memoir written by his son. He studied medicine in Edinburgh and graduated in 1766 and his thesis, in Latin, was on the subject of the malignant putrid sore throat. His first professional appointment was as physician to the Stafford Infirmary. During this period, he was not overly busy, was able to indulge in amateur dramatics and met Helena Cookes, his future wife, who cultivated his interest in botany. The Foxglove Whilst at Stafford, he was informed by Erasmus Darwin, a prominent physician at Lichfield that a vacancy as physician in Birmingham had arisen after the death of William Small. The existing senior physician at the General Hospital was John Ash. Withering took up the post in 1775 and was soon much in demand. However, he felt a loyalty to the good folk of Stafford, so paid monthly visits there for a while.
    [Show full text]
  • Francis Galton Pioneer of Heredity and Biometry Michael Bulmer
    Francis Galton Pioneer of Heredity and Biometry Michael Bulmer 2003 THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY PRESS Baltimore and London Contents Acknowledgments xi Chronology xiii Introduction xv 1A Victorian Life 1 Family Background and Education 1 Travels 6 Eastern Europe, 1840 6 The Near East, 1845–46 7 South West Africa, 1850–52 11 Vacation Tours 18 Scientific Career 21 The Royal Geographical Society 22 Exploration in Central Africa 23 The British Association 27 Inventions 28 Meteorology 30 Heredity and Evolution 32 Psychology 32 Photography 34 Fingerprints 35 Characterization 36 vi Contents 2 Hereditary Ability 42 “Hereditary Talent and Character” (1865) 44 Hereditary Genius (1869) 46 English Judges 48 Comparison of Results for All Professions 50 Transmission through Male and Female Lines 54 The Reception of Hereditary Genius 57 Nature and Nurture 60 English Men of Science: Their Nature and Nurture (1874) 60 “The History of Twins” (1875) 64 Galton’s Hereditarianism 67 Epilogue 71 Appendix: Number of Kinsfolk 74 3 Eugenics 79 Galtonian Eugenics 79 Later History of Eugenics 84 Britain 84 America 87 Germany 92 The Rationale of Eugenics 98 4The Mechanism of Heredity 102 Galton’s Knowledge of Heredity in 1865 103 Biparental Inheritance 103 The Non-Inheritance of Acquired Characters 105 The Law of Reversion 107 Darwin’s Provisional Hypothesis of Pangenesis 108 Reversion 110 The Inheritance of Acquired Characters 112 Xenia and Telegony 113 Galton’s Reaction to Pangenesis 114 Galton’s Political Metaphor of Pangenesis 114 An Experimental Test of Pangenesis
    [Show full text]