Other investigations have included unsuccessful attempts to culture rubella chickenpox and common cold using chick embryos in the earliest stages of development. This is a practical method with established viruses and much effort was spent in these unsuccessful attempts.
Review articles on Variation in Influenza Viruses (Burnet) for Doeer's Handbuch, Viruses (Burnet) for Research in Medical Science, Immu- nology and Genetics (Burnet and Fenner) for Heredity, are in the press.
A second edition of the monograph Production of Antibodies (Burnet and Fenner) is in the hands of the printers.
FACULTY WORKSHOPS Worker : Mr. E. Matthaei.
1. Photomicrography with Ultra-Violet light to obtain high resolving power. This was mainly applied to insect wing muscles.
2. Investigations into Phase-Contrast Miscroscopy to determine its practical application to the various biological fields.
3. High-speed Photomicrography of contractile waves in insect wing muscles.
FRENCH
Head of Department : Professor A. R. Chisholm.
(1) Development of the French prose story in the X VI th and X VII th centuries
Worker : Miss J. Robertson.
Taking as the main theme the varying manifestations of the two principal mediaeval characteristics, realism and idealism, Miss Robertson was able to trace how their expression was influenced, in the early years of the sixteenth century, by Italian, and later by Spanish literature ; how the neo-classical doctrine of the seventeenth century affected them ; and the particular form they adopted in the early eighteenth century.
(2) The French "Précieux" Movement Worker : Mrs. B. Treloar.
This work was carried out in Oxford under the supervision of Professor Gustave Rudler. Mrs. Treloar was awarded the degree D.Phil.
(Oxon) for a thesis on this subject.
(3) The Faust Idea Worker : Mr. G. Strauss.
Mr. Strauss has been preparing a research thesis on the Faust idea as conceived by Goethe and, more recently, by the French poet Paul Valéry. The work entails considerable research into comparative litera- ture and nineteenth century currents.
(4) Mallarmé's commemorative poems Worker : Mr. W. G. Davies.
Mr. Davies, who has been in Paris for some time, last year presented at the Sorbonne a thesis on Mallarmé's commemorative poems (exegeti- cal). He was given the degree of Docteur de l'Université with mention très honorable.
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(5) The Works of Christopher Brennan Worker : Professor A. R. Chisholm.
The edition of the works of Christopher Brennan, prepared by A. R.
Chisholm in collaboration with J. J. Quinn of Sydney, is now in the press (Angus and Robertson).
GERMANIC LANGUAGES Head of Department : Dr. R. H. Samuel.
(1) Middle High German Courtly Romances Worker : Miss M. Langdon.
Miss Langdon carried out—partly under the supervision of Dr.
Robert Auty, Cambridge—an investigation of the structural problems of the Middle High German courtly romances with the aim of defining a basic literary pattern. The question of contemporary aesthetic doctrine and its practical application is being considered in an attempt to ascertain the sources of courtly literary technique. The study of the origin, tradition and poetic treatment of certain themes, the arrangement of subject-matter, sequence of scenes, dialogue, descriptive passages, introductions and conclusions is expected to throw light on the evolution of a specific courtly style. Of particular interest will be the question of poetic crafts- manship in mediaeval German literature as opposed to the modern emphasis on the formulation of experience.
(2) The Influence of the Thirty Years' War on Seventeenth century German Literature
Worker : Mr. E. K. Horwood.
Mr. Horwood is preparing a thesis on the influence of the Thirty Years' War on the development of German Baroque Literature, with particular examination of recent evaluations of the meaning of the term
"baroque." His research includes an investigation of the social and economic effects of the Thirty Years' War, the collateral development of religious poetry of a high order, and secular works of little value and the recrudescence of the popular novel and drama which is expected to yield information of value for the reassessment of the Baroque period.
(3) The German-Swiss Drama of the Reformation Period Worker : Mr. D. Van Abbé.
Mr. Van Abbé has made an investigation into the Fastnachtsspiel (Shrovetide play) and biblical drama of the first half of the sixteenth century in Switzerland, studying the development in technique and structure brought about by the participation of the writers in the clash of opinions concerning the reformation of the Swiss churches. Work has been concentrated this year on the Basle writer Gengenbach, on whom an article will appear in 1950 in the Modern Languages Review.
(4) Novalis and the philosophy of Magic Idealism Worker : Mr. H. Wiemann.
Mr. Wiemann, during his stay in Cambridge, made a special study of the poet-philosopher Novalis (pseudonym for Friedrich von Hardenberg,
1772-1801) and particularly of his `magic idealism' under the super- vision of Professor Elsie M. Butler. He investigated the relationship that exists between this philosophy and R. M. Rilke's theories on the functions of art and the artist as expressed in his Sonnets to Orpheus and the Duino Elegies.
(5) The Development of German national sentiments in German Litera- ture during the decades 1760-1790
Worker : Miss M. A. Rogers.
Miss Rogers made a very close study (in German) of the emergence of national ideas in Germany studying in particular Herder and his predecessors. Investigating the struggle against the philosophy of enlightenment and its cosmopolitan trends and the struggle against foreign influences, she proceeded to develop the search for new ideals during the period, in particular the re-awakening interest in German past history, e.g. nordic literature, old-German literature of the age of Reformation. Particularly valuable are her conclusions regarding the urge to reconcile the trends of the national movement in the eighteenth century with the ideal of humanity inherent in the movement of enlighten- ment.
(6) Comparison of the Expressionist and the National Socialist Drama Worker: Mr. H. Maclean.
Mr. Maclean made a very thorough and highly interesting study (in German) on the origins and development of both the Expressionist and National Socialist drama in Germany and investigated the points of contact that existed between them in spite of the hostile attitude which the National Socialists displayed towards the Expressionists in public.
These affinities appear in a particularly striking light through Mr.
Maclean's investigation into the stage craft promoted by the two move- ments. However, the affinities appear much more related to the technical side than to the message the different writers wish to convey. The message of the Expressionists is naturally diametrically opposed to that of the National Socialists. It is however significant that a number of Expressionist writers were converted to Nazism during the period between 1933 to 1945.
(7) Bach's Secular Cantatas Worker : Mr. I. Finlay.
Mr. Finlay, in his thesis, written in German, investigated the social and literary background of Johann Sebastian Bach's secular cantatas, assessed the literary value of the texts and gave a biography of each author. Bach's own literary merits as a writer of texts were negligible, but Mr. Finlay throws some interesting sidelights on Bach's life, career and literary interests. The origin of every cantata is developed in detail.
(8) Education and Society in Modern Germany Worker : Dr. R. H. Samuel.
The study of the above subject was completed (in co-operation with Mr. R. H. Thomas of Birmingham) and appeared in print with Messrs.
Routledge and Kegan Paul, London, 1949.
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GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY Head of Department: Professor E. S. Hills.
A. STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
(1) Tectonics and Geomorphology of Australia
Workers : Professor E. S. Hills and Miss B. Langham.
Professor Hills has continued his investigations on the tectonics (i.e.
major geological structures) and geomorphology of Australia. An account of the physical features of Australia was prepared for the Commonwealth Specialist Conference on Agriculture, and field work was undertaken in South Australia and Tasmania.
B. MINERALOGY
(2) Research on Fine Grained Minerals Worker : Mr. A. J. Gaskin.
Good progress continues to be made with this major project on the study of fine-grained minerals. Studies on the breakdown of hydrous minerals, particularly clays, have been extended to include the thermal behaviour of many other mineral types. The accumulated results of the work on clays have been collected in a form suitable for publication.
Units for differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction have been completed.
The projects involving C.S.I.R.O. co-operation included work on the commercial production of cristobalite, the use of semi-conducting minerals in temperature control, and the selective removal of small cations from mineral aggregates by halide formation and volatilisation.
(3) Crystallography
Worker : Mr. J. McAndrew.
The conversion of quartz, flint and chert to cristobalite and tridymite at high temperatures has been investigated. The effect of various fluxes on the times needed for the conversion at temperatures between 1,000°C and 1,450°C is being determined for NaC1, KC1, CaCO3 and sodium silicate. The mineralogy of pleochroic barite from East Painter has also been studied.
(4) Phase Relationships of Silicate Minerals Worker : Associate Professor C. M. Tattam.
Artificial soda felspar was produced at temperatures somewhat below the melting point of albite. The crystals were minute and ill-formed but appeared to have optical properties dissimilar to those of pure natural albite.
Prolonged heating of anorthoclase felspar from Mt. Franklin, Dayles- ford, at temperatures just below softening point, caused only slight diminution in optic axial angle.
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C. REGIONAL FIELD SURVEYS (5) Lorne District
Worker : Dr. A. B. Edwards.
Mapping of the Lorne district was continued. A series of parallel fold structures spaced at half-mile to one mile intervals, and extending along their strike for up to four miles was revealed. These folds appear to have developed in a zone of pressure formed behind the major mono- cline-fault structure that determined the trend of the Otway coastline.
They occur at intervals as far to the south-west as Apollo Bay, and are responsible for the chief coastal features.
During the early Tertiary period the Jurassic was in part at least submerged, and coal deposits formed above it. These deposits were affected by the most recent fault and fold movements in the area, which were mainly responsible for the elevation of the Otway Ranges.
(6) Victorian Brown Coalfields Worker : Dr. A. B. Edwards.
Investigation of the structure of the Yallourn-Morwell brown coalfield, in the light of boring data, was continued.
(7) Dookie Area
Worker : Mr. J. McAndrew.
About eight square miles of the Dookie district have been surveyed in detail (at ten chains to the inch). Sufficient spot heights and slopes have been determined to draw form lines twenty feet apart, and labora- tory work on the rocks from Dookie is being continued.
(8) North-Eastern Victoria
Worker : Associate Professor C. M. Tattam.
Associate Professor Tattam's work on the metamorphic rocks of North-Eastern Victoria was continued. The regions about Lockhart's Gap, south-west of Tallangatta, was examined in some detail. Observa- tions were made on the structure of the schists near Tallangatta and further south in the Mitta Mitta valley.
(9) Daylesford District
Mr. A. Coulson has continued his investigations of the Tertiary volcanic rocks at Daylesford.
(10) Omeo District
Mr. P. W. Crohn completed an account of the geology, petrology and physiography of a large area centred on Omeo, which has added materially to our knowledge of eastern Victoria.
(11) Stratigraphy of the North-West Basin in Western Australia Worker : Dr. C. Teichert.
Acting in collaboration with the Commonwealth Bureau of Mineral Resources, a study of the stratigraphy of the North-West Basin in
Western Australia, in relation to the search for mineral oil, has been made. Dr. Teichert also continues his palaeontological work on fossils from various parts of Australia.
(12) Shore Platforms on the Victorian Coast Worker : Professor E. S. Hills.
Shore platforms on the Victorian coast were studied, in which plat- forms of different modes of origin were recognized. A genetic classi- fication of shore platforms has been proposed.
D. GENERAL
(13) Seismographic Recording Worker : Mr. A. J. Gaskin.
Mr. Gaskin's seismographic work was continued, but other arrange- ments have now been made for the maintenance of the Melbourne Seismographic Observatory.
(14) Relief Model of Australia Worker : Mr. O. Dutton.
Subsidised by the Department of the Interior, the preparation of a giant relief model of Australia by Mr. Orlando Dutton continues under the direction of Professor Hills. Data derived from the model are proving of direct applicability in making a new form-line map of the continent, as well as in geological research.
(15) Petrology of Tasmanian Basaltic Rocks Worker : Dr. A. B. Edwards.
A petrological study of the basaltic rocks of Tasmania has been made.
This has involved the examination of thin sections of specimens taken over Tasmania from some three hundred and fifty localities. The basalts have been classified into types, and eleven new analyses of the various types provided. Preliminary petrological studies were also made of
Palaeozoic sandstones in Victoria.
(16) Palaeontology
Worker: Mr. O. P. Singleton.
Mr. Singleton completed his research on the Tooborac district, and also his study of fossil cowries. He has now gone to Cambridge, taking collections of fossils from Victoria and other parts of Australia for study there.
HISTORY
Head of Department : Professor R. M. Crawford.
A. DEPARTMENTAL PROJECTS (1) Guide to Historical Source Materials
Workers: Miss D. Crozier, Miss A. Stretton and Miss P. Ingham.
This project was planned in 1947 and carried a considerable way during the year of report. It was begun with a preparatory study of similar work overseas and of published lists, catalogues and indexes of document collections in Britain and America. As an experiment, Miss
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Ingham indexed and calendared five hundred documents of the Chief Secretary's collection covering the administration of Port Phillip from September 1836 to October 1838. This preliminary work made it clear that overseas precedents could not fully govern our work, and that outline lists of large numbers of documents were more important at this stage than the slower work of detailed indexing and calendaring.
This latter would require either large staffs or many years of labour, even for documents in the Public Library alone. Consequently, it was decided to prepare the following lists :-
1. A list of documents in the Archives and Private Collections of the Public Library of Victoria ;
2. A list of newspapers in the Public Library of Victoria ;
3. A list of historical theses in the Library of the University of Melbourne ;
4. A note on the official documents contained in the Public Library of Victoria.
These lists are now being cyclostyled, and copies will be sent to University and other Libraries, as well as to the Commonwealth Office of Education.
It is intended to extend this work of listing historical documents to the country areas ; and, by way of experience in this problem, Miss Stretton has been also working on a local history of the Kinglake district.
She is now writing a report on the documentary problems of such a local history. We wish to acknowledge in this respect the ready co- operation that has been given in this project by Mr. C. A. MacCallum, the Chief Librarian of the Public Library of Victoria, and his staff.
(2) Selected Documents in Australian History
Workers : Mr. C. M. H. Clark, assisted by Mr. L. J. Pryor.
The first volume of this work, 1778-1850, is now being printed, and work on the second volume has continued during the year. Apart from the selections to be published, this project has made it possible to give more detailed bibliographical guidance to research students in History.
(3) Aboriginal Pre-History
Workers : Dr. L. Adam and Professor R. M. Crawford.
Dr. Adam has continued his studies of Australian aboriginal stone industries. The ethnological collection has been considerably enlarged by additions of aboriginal artefacts, etc. from the Northern Territory and the Kimberleys of Western Australia. Professor Crawford during a visit to the Kimberleys collected a variety of aboriginal implements used now and in the past by the Worora people. Mr. J. L. O'Brien is at present taking part in archaeological diggings in England, and it is expected that his experience will enable him on his return to train students here in archaeological work.