INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL. PROF. H. E. ARMSTRONG (UNITED KINGDOM). DR. J. BRUNCHORST (NORWAY). DR. M. KNUDSEN (DENMARK). PROF. D. J. KORTEWEG (HOLLAND). PROF. H. LAMB (S. AUSTRALIA). PROF. S. P. LANGLEY (UNITED STATES). MONS. D. METAXAS (GREECE). PROF. R. NASINI (ITALY). DON F. DEL PASO Y TRONCOSO (MEXICO). PROF. H. POINCARE (FRANCE). PROF. GUSTAV RADOS (HUNGARY). R. TRIMEN, Esq. (CAPE COLONY). DR. O. UHLWORM (GERMANY). PROF. E. WEISS (AUSTRIA). EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. PROF. H. E. ARMSTRONG. DR. L. MOND. PROF. R. NASINI. PROF. H. POINCARÉ. PROF. T. E. THORPE. DR. O. UHLWORM. DIRECTOR. DR. H. FORSTER MORLEY. REFEREE FOR THIS VOLUME. E. FALLAIZE. INTERNATIONAL CATALOGUE · OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE HARRISON AND SONS, 45, ST. MARTIN'S LANE France: GAUTHIER-VILLARS, Paris VOL. XIV: 1903 (JULY). PREFACE. THE INTERNATIONAL CATALOGUE OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE, commencing with the literature of the year 1901, is an outgrowth of the Catalogue of Scientific Papers relating to the scientific literature of the nineteenth century, published by the Royal Society of London. The suggestion to catalogue scientific papers may be traced back to Prof. Henry, of Washington, U.S.A., who brought the subject under the notice of the British Association for the Advancement of Science at its meeting in Glasgow, in 1855. The history of the inception of the enterprise is recorded in the first volume of the Catalogue of Scientific Papers issued by the Royal Society in 1867. Twelve large quarto volumes have been printed in which the titles of papers published during the period 1800-1883 are arranged under authors' names. A subject index, which will serve as a key to these volumes and also form an independent record, is in an advanced state of preparation. A catalogue of the scientific papers published during the period 1884-1900 is now being prepared by the Royal Society of London. The possibility of preparing a complete index of current scientific literature by international co-operation was first taken into consideration by the Royal Society about the year 1893. It had long been apparent that the work was beyond the resources of the Society, or indeed of any single body. Moreover, it was felt that an authors' catalogue could not supply the required information, and that it was essential that scientific workers should be kept fully and quickly informed of all new discoveries by means of complete subject indexes. International co-operation appeared to be the only means of carrying out such a work with the necessary completeness and rapidity. The Society therefore sought the opinion of a very large number of representative bodies and individuals abroad; and, as the replies were almost uniformly in favour of the work being undertaken by international co-operation, steps were taken to sunimon an International Conference of Delegates of Delegates appointed by various Governments. The Conference took place in London on July 14-17, 1896, and was attended by delegates from Canada, Cape Colony, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, -Natal, the Netherlands, New South Wales, New Zealand, Norway, Queensland, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. (P-10480) 70634 A. 2 It was unanimously resolved that it was desirable to compile and publish, by means of an international organisation, a complete Catalogue of Scientific Literature, arranged according both to subject matter and to authors' names, in which regard should be had, in the first instance, to the requirements of scientific investigators, so that these might find out, with a minimum of trouble, what had been published on any particular subject of enquiry. It was agreed that the material should, as far as possible, be collected in the various countries by local organisations established for the purpose, and that the final editing and publication of the Catalogue should be entrusted to a Central International Bureau, acting under the direction of an International Council. It was agreed to establish the Central Bureau in London. Although the question of the method to be adopted in classifying the subject matter of the several sciences was discussed at great length, no decision other than one adverse to the Dewey system was arrived at. The Royal Society was requested to appoint a Committee to take this and many other questions of detail left undecided by the Conference, into consideration. As the result of the arduous labours of this Committee, complete schedules were prepared for each of the sciences to be catalogued, and a financial statement was also prepared showing the estimated cost of the Catalogue. The report of the Committee was considered at a second Conference, held in London on October 11-13, 1898, which was attended by accredited representatives from Austria, Belgium, Cape Colony, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Japan, Mexico, Natal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Queensland, Sweden, Switzerland the United Kingdom, and the United States. At this meeting the conclusions arrived at by the first Conference were generally confirmed, and much progress was made in deciding the principles to be adopted in preparing the Catalogue. Full schedules for the several sciences, which had been prepared by the Committee of the Royal Society, were laid before the delegates. Ultimately, after prolonged discussion, it was decided to adopt an arbitrary combined system of letters, numbers, and other symbols, adapted in the case of each branch of science to its particular needs. A Provisional International Committee was appointed to settle authoritatively the details of the schedules. The financial position was fully discussed, but no definite conclusions could be arrived at. The delegates attending the meeting were requested to obtain further information on the subject in their respective countries, and to report to the Provisional International Committee. The Provisional International Committee met in London on August 1-5, 1899. The Committee had arranged for the co-option of an Italian and a Russian member, and M. Th. Köppen attended as the representative of Russia. The reports received from various countries were considered. Schedules for the seventeen branches of science to be included in the Catalogue were approved for adoption. The financial position was again very fully considered, especially in relation to the establishment of the Central Bureau; and it was finally resolved to recommend that |