IHE ALUMNI JOURNAL. 



199 



imentally. Not only are the faculties of 

 observation developed and trained, but an 

 education of the greatest value is given 

 in accuracy of thought. 



Not a few of the people one meets or- 

 dinarily are neither entirely honest nor 

 by any means accurate. Both their hon- 

 esty and accuracy are more or less befog- 

 ged by ignorance, credulity, prejudice or 

 self interest. Neither does the average 

 individual observe accurately. He sel- 

 dom sees much that he is not looking for 

 and his observations rarely contradict his 

 expressed views. To such a man, a 

 course in experimental chemistry, even if 

 taken late in life, is of value, if it effects 

 nothing more than to compel him at cer- 

 tain times to get near to facts. 



Another valuable element of this form 

 of education lies in learning by experi- 

 ment the protean changes which matter 

 suffers when subjected to different condi- 

 tions, and the exactness of the working 

 of the laws of nature. This compels a 

 close attention to the conditions under 

 which the phenomena are observed. The 

 student is impressed by the changes that 

 matter may suffer on the alteration of a 

 single condition, — perhaps a condition 

 apparently so insignificant as to escape 

 notice by an untrained observer. The 

 danger from loose generalizations is made 

 manifest, and also the dishonesty of reas- 

 oning based on partial and unfair select- 

 ion of facts. Plutarch tells us of a public 

 man named Annius, who had no great 

 repute for justice or temperance, but who 

 was famous for confusing honest men by 

 adroit argumentation. The study of 

 physical science would never produce an 

 Annius. 



Training in manipulation is another im- 

 portant feature in the laboratory work. It 

 is painful to see how clumsy-handed many 

 young men are when they begin their lab- 

 oratory work. As most of the apparatus has 

 to be put together by the student, cocks 

 which do not fit tight, glass tubes which 

 are not bent just right, and other num- 

 erous details have a crucial effect on the 

 results of the experiments. It is sometimes 

 amusing to witness the rage, but ill con- 

 cealed, that often accompanies — especial- 

 ly if he has an absorptive, rather than a 

 productive mind — a young man's dawn- 

 ing perception of his inability to do a 

 simple thing. That he can decline cork 

 in four languages does not enable him to 

 keep the cork-knife in the cork and out 

 of his flesh; nor does his knowledge of the 

 mathematics of a cylinder enable him to 

 cut one out of cork which will fit tight 



and deliver the contents of the flask into 

 the receiver rather than over his face. 

 The education in manipulative skill is not 

 to be undervalued. I have not a word to 

 say against languages and mathematics. 

 The more a student can get of both of 

 them the better, always bearing in mind 

 that the value of a man depends not mere- 

 ly on what he knows but on what he can 

 do. But a man who can handle only a 

 pen is poorly equipped for the actual life 

 of the present day. 



INFLUENCE OF QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS. 



In the various branches of Qualitative 

 Analysis we have a form of mental train- 

 ing with which I know of no other to 

 compare. It seems to stand alone. The 

 student learns the properties of the com- 

 moner elements and their compounds by 

 experiment, and by these properties he 

 recognizes them. But, as many of these 

 properties are not observable when sev- 

 eral .substances are mixed together, it be- 

 comes necessary to separate the substan- 

 ces systematically. The methods used 

 for this purpose are models of ingenuity. 

 The study of qualitative analysis demands 

 a large amount of exact observation, and 

 the retention of this knowledge in the 

 mind. The facts thus acquired must be 

 compared, and some common property 

 used to make the broad groupings ; these 

 are again and again subdivided on the 

 same principle, until the substances can 

 be detected with certainty. The element 

 of exactness in work is further developed 

 by the study of this subject. The sepa- 

 ration of the various substances from each 

 other has to be done with great care and 

 thoroughness, else the results will be un- 

 certain. In this procedure keen obser- 

 vation, careful comparison and clear 

 reasoning are demanded, and the facts 

 must be obtained by the student himself. 

 This dealing with facts is of great impor- 

 tance. If he fails to observe exactly, if 

 he overlooks some property of the sub- 

 stance he is examining, or is careless or 

 slovenly in his manipulations, his results 

 will be inaccurate, and a considerable 

 amount of w^ork may have to be done over 

 again. After a while a respect for his 

 own work is developed. For every step 

 and operation there are reasons, and to 

 explain these a good deal of study is re- 

 quired. All the time he asks : "What 

 substance is used ? How is the operation 

 performed? Why is this done?" Im- 

 portant facts are recognized by small 

 clues. The mind and faculties of obser- 

 vation of the student are kept constantly 

 alert and at work. It marks an impor- 



