IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 25 



astronomy of the ancients. The positions and motions of 

 the heavenly bodies were loni^ observed and a mass of 

 information about them accumuhiteri and handed down. 

 Theories were formulated about them; and plans of the 

 universe were conceived. It was unfortunate that mm 

 began his scientitic studies with astronomy; for he did not 

 see things as the}^ are, and the theories he formed were 

 therefore all wrong. He carried his errors and false 

 theories and unnatural conceptions in astronomy into his 

 early study of terrestrial phenomena. The botany and 

 zoology of antiquity wer^, like ancient astronomy, the 

 results of observation. The habits of animals and the 

 properties of plants were no doubt investigated with 

 patience and accuracy; but as astronomy did not invite 

 men to experimental tests, and as astronomers were per- 

 haps the model and famous scientists of those times, it 

 was perhaps too much to expect that methods independent 

 of theirs should be developed in biological or natural his- 

 tory research. Whatever the cause, biolog}^ did not 

 develop to any such extent as the opportunities for study 

 would seem to warrant us in supposing. Astronomy had 

 moreover the aid of mathematics, which in this science 

 found useful and interesting applications. In physics the 

 conditions were different. It was necessary that man 

 should understand the laws of inamimate nature and be 

 able to trace the connection between cause and effect, that 

 he might be able to subjugate the animal kingdom, and in 

 order to provide food and shelter and make his condition 

 comfortable. As he advanced in his development these 

 same motives led to more systematic and searching study; 

 and mathematics found more obvious application than in 

 biology. Mathematics might reasonably be expected to 

 grow on the material furnished by astronomy and physics, 

 while mathematics would in turn furnish solutions for 

 new problems in the physical branches. Accordingly 

 physics developed first along the lines of optics and 

 mechanics. Without extensive and correct knowledge of 

 physical laws and of the properties of matter, the wonder- 



3 I AS 



