Isis and Osiris

Abstract

THE publication of Isis, an international and polyglot quarterly devoted to the history and philosophy of science, was begun in Belgium in 1912—13. Five issues had appeared when the publication was stopped by the German invasion. After the War, publication was continued, the journal being edited in the United States, but printed in Brussels, later in Bruges. In 1924, the History of Science Society was founded in Boston, Mass., in order to guarantee and promote the publication of Isis. During the past sixteen years, no less than twenty-five volumes of the journal have been published. With the invasion of Belgium this year, publication was again interrupted. The editor, Dr. George Sarton, Mass., informs us that No. 84 (completing vol. 31) of Isis and No. 85 (vol. 32) were ready for press, and it is hoped to issue at least No. 84 this year. Inquiries should be sent to the secretary-treasurer of the History of Science Society, Dr. H. R. Viets, 8 The Fenway, Boston, Mass. From 1941 on (vol. 33 ff.) Isis will be printed in the United States. The first American number will include a list of all the papers and reviews which were to have appeared in No. 84 and vol. 32. Isis as prepared in America will probably be smaller than that of its Belgian predecessor, but the editorial policy will remain essentially the same. As regards Osiris, which was founded in 1936 in order to relieve Isis of the longer papers, it is not supported by the History of Science Society, and hence subscriptions to it or correspondence relative to it should not be addressed to the Secretary of the Society, but to Dr. Alexander Pogo (Harvard Library, 189, Cambridge, Mass.). At the time of the German invasion of Belgium, two volumes of Osiris were being printed, namely, vol. 8, dedicated to Paul Ver Eecke, historian of Greek mathematics, and vol. 9, dedicated to Max Meyerhof, historian of Arabian medicine. These two volumes will appear in due course. Vol. 7 is reviewed on p. 247 of this issue of NATURE.