POPULAR TEACHING. 33 



and disease-producing particles, which is not really 

 the case. 



There is now a strong feeling in favour of scientific 

 teaching. And branches of science, particularly those 

 capable of illustration by experiment, are deservedly 

 popular. But if the feeling in favour of scientific educa- 

 tion is to be lasting, and not a mere fashion, and if it is 

 desirable that the public should have any respect for 

 science, her exponents must not put out what they 

 have to teach in a sensational form. Undoubtedly the 

 public may with good reason find fault with many of 

 us for being slow and dreary, dry and uninteresting, and 

 for presenting our lessons in a hard, unpalatable, not 

 easily digestible form. But in endeavouring to escape 

 these faults, it is very undesirable that any tendency 

 towards the gushing and hysterical or rhapsodical, 

 should be permitted. Our object it must be distinctly 

 understood is to teach, and not to excite or surprise 

 or amuse. There are theatres, and in great number, 

 established for the very purpose of affording amuse- 

 ment where we may enjoy excitement and wonder and 

 surprise to our heart's content, but the scientific work- 

 room is built for instruction and for real earnest work. 



The Characters of the most minute Vegetable Germs. 

 The very minute vegetable organisms which may 

 be obtained from the air, and which are developed in 

 infusions of animal and vegetable matter, are for the 

 most part of an oblong oval form, frequently exhibit- 

 ing a constriction which corresponds to the point of 



D 



