4i6 



NA TURE 



\J\4arch 23, [876 



Special Palaeontologlcal lectures and demonstrations in connec- 

 tion with the lectures on str»tigraphical geology. 



5. *EIementary biology. 



6. Systematic botany: — (i) *Elementary and (2) Advanced. 



7. Vegetable morphology and physiology : — (i) *Elementary, 

 and (2) Advanced. 



8. Zoology: — General. Special, (i) Vertebrates. (2) Mol- 

 luscs. (3) Insects. (4) other Invertebrates. 



9. Comparative anatomy : — (i) Elementary and (2) Advanced. 

 *EmbryoIogy. Osteology. 



10. Physiology: — (1) Elementary and (2) Advanced. *Phy- 

 siology of the senses. "Physiology of nutrition. 



11. Human anatomy, including animal mechanics, &c. : — 

 (i) Elementary and (2) Advanced. *EthnoIogy. 



Each of the courses on the subjects numbered 5 to ll would 

 probably require two terms, except those marked *, each of 

 which might be concluded in one term. In many of these sub- 

 jects more or less catechetical teaching would be desirable. 



With respect to the distribution of these courses among diffe- 

 rent teachers : — 



1. The general superintendence of the chemical laboratory 

 with the delivery of one course of lectures, usually those on 

 general chemistry, would sufficiently occupy the time of the 

 professor. Organic chemistry, including the superintendence of 

 the practical work in this subject, would occupy the greater part 

 of the time of a second professor. He might, however, in some 

 cases also deliver one of the special courses. Some of the 

 special departments of chemistry might perhaps be undertaken 

 by demonstrators, but for the remainder, and for catechetical in- 

 struction with a proper division of classes, two additional teachers 

 are at present needed who may very well be inter-collegiate 

 lecturers. 



2. The superintendence of the physical laboratory, with the 

 teaching of such branches of mathematical physics as are not 

 provided for by other professors under the jurisdiction of the 

 Mathematical Board, would probably occupy all the time of the 

 Professor of Experimental Physics. The special experimental 

 courses might, if necessary, be given by demonstrators, but at 

 least one regular teacher of experimental physics in addition to 

 the professor would be desirable. 



3. The mineralogical teaching at present required in the Uni- 

 versity might be given by the professor, the students being re- 

 ferred for the chemical part of the subject to one of the teachers 

 of Chemistry. 



4. Stratigraphical geology, petrology, and Palaeontology would 

 each require a separate teacher. Lectures on different portions 

 of stratigraphical geology might be delivered in different years. 

 Parts of the course on general geology {e.g. that on glacial phe- 

 nomena, earth movements, &c. ) might be given by the lecturer 

 on stratigraphical geology. Some parts {e.c;. that on volcanic 

 phenomena; being undertaken by the petrologist. Special de- 

 monstrations on Palceontology in connection with the course on 

 stratigraphical geology might be given by curators or demon- 

 strators. 



5. The course on elementary biology might be given by a 

 demonstrator acting under a Professor of Physiology or of Com- 

 parative Anatomy. 



6. The elementary and advanced courses on systematic botany 

 might be given by one teacher. 



7. The elementary and advanced courses on vegetable mor- 

 phology and physiology might be given by one teacher. A third 

 botanical teacher (for cryptogamic botany) will probably be re- 

 quired at a future time. 



8. The general course of zoology requires one teacher. The 

 teaching which is at present required in the special departments 

 of zoology might be given by Curators of the Museum, who 

 should also act as demonstrators ; but special teachers of each 

 of the four departments will be required eventually. 



9. The elementary and advanced courses on comparative ana- 

 tomy might be undertaken by one teacher. The courses on 

 embryology and osteology might be given by demonstrators ; but 

 each subject is important enough to occupy the whole time of a 

 teacher if a suitable one is available. 



10. The elementary and advanced courses on physiology re- 

 quire one teacher. The remarks made on embryology and 

 osteology apply also to the subjects of the physiology of the 

 senses and the physiology of nutrition. 



11. Elementary and advanced courses on human anatomy 

 might be undertaken by one teacher. The subject of ethnology 

 would be best undertaken by a separate teacher if circumstances 

 should admit. 



A {J)). It is desirable that the University should have the 

 opportunity of inviting men who have devoted themselves suc- 

 cessfully to the prosecution of special departments of science to 

 give lectures in the University ; but the delivery of such lectures 

 must depend rather upon the men being forthcoming than upon 

 any d priori consideration of what subjects require elucidation. 



B (a). Viewing this question with reference simply to the 

 numbers of students, there appear to be no branches of natur.il 

 science in which the classes which require to be put through 

 exactly the same course in the same term are so large as to re- 

 quire division. 



B {b). The approximate number of students in the University 

 classes in most of the above great groups of subjects is from 

 twenty to thirty ; in the class of elementary biology the number 

 is larger ; in chemistry the number is nearly a hundred. The 

 number may be expected to increase. 



C. In most of the natural science subjects opportunities for 

 individual personal intercourse between teachers and students 

 occur in the course of laboratory and field work. Most of the 

 professors encourage the students to ask questions after lecture, 

 and some give short catechetical lectures before the ordinary 

 lecture. 



D. For the superintendence, under the professors, of the 

 laboratory work, and for giving instruction in such of the special 

 chemical subjects as may not be otherwise provided for, four 

 demonstrators are required. If the number of students increases, 

 more demonstrators will be required. In physics not less than 

 three demonstrators will probably be required. Each of the 

 professors or other principal teachers of chemistry and physics 

 will require a lecture assist" nt, and boys to do general work in 

 connection with the laboratories will be required in the propo.'- 

 tion of about one to each demonstrator. In the geological 

 Museum three curators or demonstrators will be required — one of 

 these at a time would be occupied as a demonstrator in assisting 

 the professor and the Palaeontologist — the others would be en- 

 gaged in the general work of the Museum. The petrologist 

 would require a curator who should also act as demonstrator. 

 The Professor of Geology also requires an assistant to prepare 

 and keep in order diagrams, maps, models, &c. The teacher of 

 systematic botany requires a demonstrator. The teachers of 

 vegetable morphology, of comparative anatomy, and of physio- 

 logy will each require demonstrators in the proportion of one to 

 every ten or fifteen students. Assistance in the same proportion 

 will be required for the class in elementary biology, but this may 

 probably be provided from the staff of the teachers of compara- 

 tive anatomy, physiology, and vegetable morphology. Four 

 curators, v/ho might also act as demonstrators, will be required 

 for the special departments of zoology. One or two demon- 

 strators in human anatomy will be required. 



E. In addition to special libraries atiached to the different , 

 departments, a general scientific library, easily accessible from | 

 the Museums is required. In Chemistry. A new and more | 

 spacious laboratory is urgendy required. To this should be 

 attached a museum of chemical preparations. In Geology. A 

 new museum has long been an acknowledged wanL In Bo'.any, 

 Workrooms are required in connection with the Herbarium ; 

 also a laboratory for vegetable morphology and physiology, in- 

 cluding rooms for microscopical work, &c. In Zoology. Work- 

 rooms are required for the professor, superintendent of the 

 museum, curators, 'and demonstrators. In Cotnparative Anatotny. 

 A laboratory is required, including dissecting-rooms, rooms foi: 

 microscopical work, &c. In Physiology. A laboratory is required, 

 including chemical laboratories, rooms for microscopical work, 

 &c. In Hitman Ana'omy. Dissecting-rooms are required, and 

 rooms for microscopical work. Each department will require 

 rooms for research, microscopes and other apparatus, as well as 

 diagrams. 



Such are the requirements necessary to make instruction in 

 natural science fairly complete. In the physical departments the 

 wants of chemistry are the most urgent ; teachers of palceon- 

 tology and petrology are urgently required. In reference to 

 more immediate wants of the biological departments, it may be 

 stated thit the present teaching staff consists of the Professors 

 of Anatomy, Botany, and Zoology and Comparative Anatomy, 

 each of whom, except the Professor of Botany, has a demon- 

 strator. 



The chief teaching of physiology is at present conducted by 

 the Trinity Prtclector in Physiology. The additions to the \ 

 teaching staff most urgently required are (i) a professor or , 

 teacher of comparative anatomy ; (2) a more definitely recog- ' 

 nised teacher of vegetable morphology and physiology ; (3) two ' 



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