100 NATURE [JANUARY 17, 1931

as new discoveries, already well-estab• DR. H. BORNS. lished facts. Of all such tendencies, as well as of work carried out in a perfunctory manner, he was THE death of Dr. Henry Borns on Dec. 12 last; most intolerant and did not hesitate to express his at age of seventy-five years, removes a very opinion in emphatic terms. His later publications from the meeting-places of scientific w_ere often greatly condensed and consequently m . Until the last year or two, difficult to read. As a result he has sometimes when Ill-health made his attendances not so regular, been misunderstood and has not always received was at nearly every meeting concerned the credit to which his work entitles him. His With physws or subjects related thereto. Always contributions to science, however, have been out• one would find him busily reporting the proceedings standing ·and will yet cause his name to be placed many years he acted as reporter for Engin• among those of the pioneers in bacteriological eenng) and anxious to supplement his notes by a work. talk with the lecturer and a perusal of the manu• script. Although he was thus well known to the secretaries of the societies, few people seem to have DR. P. PINKERTON. known him intimately. He seldom volunteered PETER PINKERTON was born in Kilmarnock on information about himself, and he probably led a Jan. 8, 1870, and received his early education at lonely apart from his meetings. He was the Academy there. At the University of Glasgow born m Austria, but must have come early in life he gained the degree of M.A. with highest honours to England, for he became a member of the British in mathematics, and afterwards he studied for Association forty-eight years ago, attended the two years at the Royal College of Science, Dublin. Mont.real I?eeting in 1884, and missed very few After a period of six years as mathematical master smce that date. He joined the Physical in Allan Glen's School, Glasgow, he was appointed SoCiety m 1895, and was an original member of the head of the mathematical department of the Royal Faraday Society. Academical Institution, Belfast, a position which Borns in the course of his work acquired he resign.ed after a short tenure to take up a simi• a wide of physical subjects and his la:r one m George Watson's Colleae, Edinburgh. reports displayed expert discrimination. His notes years ago he was appointed Rector of the were made without ordinary shorthand, in a curious High School of Glasgow, and he discharged the abbreviated script, presumably legible to himself varied and responsible duties of that post with .a terror to his correspondents, for he used it marked success and increasing distinction until his m letters also. He was a kindly soul, always death on Nov. 22last. anxwus to be of assistance to the secretaries with Dr. Pinkerton was a very great teacher. He had he into contact, and punctual in keep• an exceptionally alert mind and an unfailing sense mg promises for the return of manuscripts lent of humour. About a very clever student he once to him. . For half a century in a quiet way he remarked, "He will make a poor, poor teacher; served sCience well and faithfully, by giving it the he never had a difficulty ". His own outstanding best form of publicity-that based on accurate and well-informed records. His many scientific friends s11:ccess Jarg.ely due to his complete sympathy With all his pupils. He appreciated. the difficulties will miss him greatly. of the dull, as well as the eager curiosity of the brilliant. · Under Dr. Pinkerton's inspiration and guidance, WE regret to announce the following deaths: marked developments took place in the High School Mr. J. H. Emerton, an authority on American of Glasgow. The intellectual and social life was spiders formerly secretary of the New England quickened, and the provision of splendid playing FederatiOn of Natural History Societies, on Dec. 5, fields opened up a new era in athletics. Quietly aged eighty-three years. M. Henri Gall, a former president of the French unobtrusively he devoted all his powers of Society of Civil Engineers and president. of the In• mmd and heart to the welfare of the School in all dustrial Society, aged sixty-eight years. its aspects, and its betterment was his constant aim. Prof. Emlle Gley, professor of general biology in the Dr. Pinkerton was a prominent member of the College de France, who was known for his work on Edinburgh Mathematical Society, and served as the glands, particularly the thyroid and secretary, as president, and as first editor of parathyr01d, aged seventy-three years. Mathematical Notes. He frequently contributed to Dr. 0 .. P. Hay, formerly of the Carnegie Institution of Washmgton, known for his researches in Pleisto• the Proceedings, and was the author, in collabora• cene palreontology and as author of the " Catalog and tion with the late Prof. Gibson, of a book on the Bibliography of the Fossil Vertebrates of North '' of Analytical Geometry ''. Throughout America", on Nov. 2, aged eighty-four years. this volume old students have no difficulty in E. W. Hyde, formerly professor of mathe• recognising his characteristic methods of treatment matiCs at the University of Cincinnati and vice• and exposition. president in 1891 of Section A of the American The University of Glasgow, for which Dr. A;ssociation for the Advancement of Science, aged eighty-seven years. acte? as for degrees in mathe• Vice - Sir Charles Royds, K.B.E., who matiCs at various t1mes, conferred on him the served as first of the Discovery in the degree of D.Sc. in 1909 and of LL.D. a few months British Antarctic Expedition of 1901-4, on Jan. 5, before his death. aged fifty-four years. No. 3194, VoL. 127] © 1931 Nature Publishing Group