520 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



years." These are some of the subjects that should be taught, but 

 in order to insure such teaching, the teachers, especially in the 

 primary grades, should have some definite plan and instruction 

 given them by competent and practical physicians. Were this 

 done there would be less overloading of pupils with technical and 

 unnecessary anatomical knowledge. 



4. How to teach. Now that the study of psychology is 

 fashionable we may hope, perhaps, for a better knowledge on the 

 part of teachers of what is and is not necessary for healthy mental 

 activity and development, what are rational methods of teaching; 

 but as long as text-books are ground out, in questions and answers, 

 just so long will memorizing be the rule for pupils, and the en- 

 couragement of observation and originality be the exception. Yet 

 the child can be taught by practical methods and appliances about 

 the admission of light and air to a room, simple tests for the purity 

 of water, about filters, what soils obstruct drainage, why sewerage 

 and drainage are necessary, what to do in accidents and emer- 

 gencies, etc. The desire of the average child to observe and ask 

 questions can be turned to good account instead of being stifled 

 by rigid routine work. The energy born of observation and the 

 intelligent application of what is learned by observing is health- 

 ful. As Herbert Spencer puts it, " Success in the world depends 

 on energy rather than on information, and a policy which in 

 cramming undermines energy, is self-defeating." 



If the teaching of physiology and hygiene is to be of service in 

 strengthening the growth and development of individuals and 

 communities it is a matter of moment that these studies should 

 be properly imparted. 



■ «>♦♦ 



THE UNITY OF SCIENCE.* 



By M. J. MOLESCHOTT. 



ONE of the greatest anatomists of the age and a distinguished 

 jurist were sitting together at the festival of a German uni- 

 versity. They were engaged in a friendly discussion as to which 

 of them should, by virtue of his profession, be best known to the 

 world. At last the lawyer surrendered his claim, remarking that 

 the arteries and muscles were the same in America and Europe, 

 while it was doubtful if the ideas of the Roman law enjoyed a like 

 extension. But I do not believe that the illustrious naturalist felt 

 any great joy in the victory he had obtained ; for both professors 

 were brave defenders of the universality of science in the highest 

 sense of the word, and were certainly not expressing their most 

 serious thoughts in this moment of by-play. How much, during 



* Address at the reopening of the University of Rome, November 3, 188*7. 



