Abstract
THE letter of Prof. Eugenio Rignano in NATURE of January 25 may have recalled to some a discussion on literature which took place in Section D at the British Association meeting at Manchester in 1915, a discussion which was introduced almost precisely from the same point of view as that now given by Prof. Rignano. It is the fact that Germany, by welcoming and publishing papers in French, Italian, and English, as well as in German, and by printing the material practically as fast as it arrived, had gained an ascendancy and even an actual or presumptive international position with regard to scientific publication. For example, the Internationale Revue der gesammten Hydrobiologie und Hydrographie is published in Leipzig, and it must be confessed that it is conducted with considerable ability and adequately fulfils its function. Such works, too, as the Nordisches Plankton show how keen our present enemies have been in publishing monographs which have become indispensable. It is not necessary, however, to look for sinister intentions in the progress which Germany has made in publication. In all countries scientific literature has had a similar history, and its evolution may be said to mark the progress made by each with respect to science. In all countries, societies, museums, and laboratories have sought an outlet for their investigations by publications which have the primary advantage of securing by exchange similar publications from institutions at home and abroad.
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MEEK, A. A Plea for a Scientific Quadruple Entente. Nature 98, 469 (1917). https://doi.org/10.1038/098469c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/098469c0
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