WOMEN IN SCIENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10418, 23 March 1912, Page 1

WOMEN IN SCIENCE.

(" Women's Magazine.") Although it is generally recognised that the feminine mind shows some inferiority to that cf the masculine in creative work, there is nevertheless a growing number of world-wide admirable examples of woman's capacity in the realms of invention and even scientific discovery. Nor is it unreasonable to suppose that, in view of what women have accomplished in this arena, greater things may bo anticipated with educational facilities and opportunities constantly multiplied. Undoubtedly, too, the scope ot inventions by British and American women is being steadily widened.

Whereas formerly woman's inventive genius was directed to uses, and confined to " the dainty order or things," ifc extends to-day to the sphere of mechanics, not a few of the most effective of recent improvements in sewing machines, automibles, and even marine engines and motors having boon patented by women of International note. Patents for inventions relating to flying machines, railway cars, wireless telegraphy have also been applied for by women. Boughly speaking, no less than 600 patents are granted to Biitish women annually, the lady applicants in 1909 totalling (348. an increase of 76 on the previous year. Among the numerous striking evidences of the inventive faculty of womankind may be mentioned a group of' successes standing to the credit of more or less familiar names. At the pioneer exhibition of 1P.62, for example, a woman exhibited a chain made with curious hoop-iron coils j and, more recently, an ingenious female mechanician invented a new valvo for organs. The late. Miss Harriet liosmer, the celebrated American sculptress of " Zcnobia in Chains" a.nd the ' Sleeping Faun," displayed remarkable skill on inventive lines, and patented several years an invention for the conversion of lime into marble. More extraordinary, a French lady, Madame Belong 'iuyssusian, has received eighteen medal? and diplomas at successive European exhibitions for a machine of her invention lor cutting metal elates.

According to the United States Government Patent Bureau reports, tha entries supply an amazing revelation of woma.n's inventiveness. Here are a few typical cases. One of tho handsomest _ models in the American Patent Offieo is a submarine telescope of tho year 18.15, patented by Sarah Mather; another is an invention by Miss Montgomery of an improvement in locomotive wheels; while an ingenious contrivance by Zdiss Mary Walton, of New York, aims at the deadening of sounds on elevated railways. In 1871 a patent was granted to Miss Margaret Knight, of Boston, for a valuable paper bag-making machino; and about ten years ago a Philadelphia woman invented a scientific bread-making machine, and was ottered a large price foi the patent. The fertile brain of American womanhood might likewise bo illustrated by hundreds of specimens indicating that, where woman is free to make her own wav in the world, and to employ her powers unfettered, she is no mean rival of men in the quality of her achievements originally conceived, and shows greater alacrity of mind.

In France, scientific discovery is admittedly honoured in the person of Madame, Curi'?, of radium celebrity.

The scientific energies of Madame Flainmarion are widely kniwn. Monsieur and Madame Flainmarion are brilliant co-workers in astronomical science, the gifted scientist's partner being no inconsiderable astronomer herself, having made an illuminating study of the planet Mars. This famous couple took rather a sensational honeymoon, ehoo'-ang a balloon ascent iu prefcrencv to the ordinary tour.

_ Modern science has also been enriched by the rcsearch.es and discoveries of Mrs Ayrton, her scientific rank being noteworthy from the circumstance that she is the only woma.n member of the Institution of British Engineers. a society numbering over 6000 men.

Mrs Ayrton has the further distinction, of being the recipient in 1907 of the "Hughes gold medal" for experimental investigations on th& electric ai\. and on sand ripples; the first time, by the way, that the Society has selected a woman since it started to present medals in 1731. Her marriage in 18Se with tho late Professor Ayrton, tho gifted electrician, afforded her still greater opportunities for the develop' ment of her powers. For the prosecution of her fascinating investigations into tho formation of sand ripples upon the seashore, Mrs Ayrton has invented wonderfully delicate mechanisms, just as Madamo Curio did to prove the existence of radium. Mrs Ayrton's daughter married Mr Israel Za'ngwill, novelist, in IDC3. Turning to other names in spheres of research and direct scientific pursuits, good work is chronicled both from British universities and American collegos by women scientists. To the lady students at the University of Manchester Professor Hickson pays unstinted tribute, equally confirmed by Sir William Ramsay, of University College, London, respecting tho valuable aid rendered by these "workers. Notable/ too, in this connection is the awarding of a Beit Memorial Fellowship for medical research tn Mi*s Ida Smedlev, D.Sc. who holds tho Assistant Lectureship in Chemistry at tho Manchester Univernity, England, and previously held a Research Studentship in Chemistry at tho Davy-Faraday Laboratory at' the Royal Institution. Another eminent English lady pioneer scientist is Dr Marie Stopes, D.Sc., Ph.D., who was" appointed, a few years, ago, assistant to the Professor of Botany at Manchester University, and was, in fact, tho first woman added to the scientific staff of _ tho University. For purposes of making original inquiry into the structure _of ancient plant life, Dr Stop?» visited Japan, investigating more particularly the geologic and botanic problems regarding coal nodule 1 ;. From her busy pen ramo two delightful volumes during 1910, viz., "Ancient Plants" end'"A .Journal from Janan."

Again, in Nature- researchtw. as they affect agriculture and orchards, Miss Onnerod, an English lady who died in 1901, won a deserved record. Another section of Nature study has bc?n ably investigated by two* French women, Mademoiselle -Turin and Madame- Merian—the former by her astonishing discoveries in relation to bees, and the latter through her inquiries concerning insect life in Guiana. Both of these ladies have eloquently demonstrated that the eyes and hands of women "are peculiarly adapted for dealing with tho smaller objects of creation. As to this phase of women's activities Professor Osier remarks that it is encouraging to see so many women pursuing laboratory researches, inasmuch as what they lack in initiative and independence is counterbalanced by a more delicate technique, more patient industry in minutiae, and a greater mastery of detail. Was it not a woman, in the case of tho American reaper, who first hit upon tho idea of combining tho action of a row of scissors in cutting? She took ordinary scirsors for cutting her grass border," fastening one limb of each to a hoard, and controlling the others by a strong wire. In this lay the principle of tho reaper of world-wide use.