Wilder.] 242 [May 15. 



May 15, 1867. 

 The President in the chaii*. Tliirty-one members present. 



Dr. B. G. Wilder described a method he had used for the 

 collection and arranging of information ; he thought it su- 

 ]>erior to other methods Avlien all the requisites are consid- 

 ered. 



It consists in tlie brief statement of facts, ideas, or references to 

 books written upon one side of a slip of paper five inches in length by 

 two and one half in width, and equal to the sixth part of a sheet of 

 note paper. 



A few of these blanks are carried in the pocket, and advantage is 

 thus taken of opportunities for recording and preserving information 

 which the time, place, or state of mind, would not permit to be written 

 out in full, or which might be forgotten before a fitting opportunity 

 should occur. 



These slips are then distributed at leisure Into envelops, which are 

 sealed at the side, but cut off at one end, the other end bearing the 

 title of a subject. 



By keeping these slips separate in envelops, it is evident that an in- 

 definite subdivision of each general subject can be made by simply 

 increasing the number of envelops and redistributing the slips. 



The slips may then be used either for simple reference, or, if in prep- 

 aration of a lecture or corannuiicatlon, by arranging them on the table 

 in any desired order, and then transcribing parts of tiiem In form of 

 notes : while for a written paper they serve to Indicate the general 

 order of discussing a subject. 



He thought this method superior not only to note-books, and writ- 

 ing out In full at the time, but also to other forms of small notes, es- 

 pecially wlien the slips are In any way joined together. 



The method projiosed makes sure of the essential fact or Idea in a 

 brief form, and the slips, being kept separate and of uniform size, 

 may easily be carried and arranged, or rearranged in any order at 

 any time. 



Dr. Jeffries Wyman stated that he had recently exam- 

 ined the shell-heaps found in Salisbury, near Newburyport, 

 about a mile from the Merrimac, and an equal distance from 

 the seasliore. There Avere thirteen within the limit of a 

 mile, varying in diameter from twenty to one hundred and 

 fifteen feet. The mounds were well known, and everything 



