X ON THE STUDY OF BIOLOGY 291 



the way of a lot of boys making messes with 

 slugs and snails ; it might not work in practice. 

 But there is a very convenient and handy animal 

 which everybody has at hand, and that is himself; 

 and it is a very easy and simple matter to obtain 

 common plants. Hence the general truths of 

 anatomy and physiology can be taught to young 

 people in a very real fashion by dealing with the 

 broad facts of human structure. Such viscera as 

 they cannot very well examine in themselves, 

 such as hearts, lungs, and livers, may be obtained 

 from the nearest butcher's shop. In respect to 

 teaching something about the biology of plants, 

 there is no practical difficulty, because almost any 

 of the common plants will do, and plants do not 

 make a mess at least they do not make an 

 unpleasant mess; so that, in my judgment, the 

 best form of Biology for teaching to very young 

 people is elementary human physiology on the 

 one hand, and the elements of botany on the 

 other ; beyond that I do not think it will be 

 feasible to advance for some time to come. But 

 then I see no reason, why, in secondary schools, 

 and in the Science Classes which are under the 

 control of the Science and Art Department 

 and which I may say, in passing, have in my 

 judgment, done so very much for the diffusion of 

 a knowledge of science over the country we 

 should not hope to see instruction in the elements 

 of Biology carried out, not perhaps to the same 



