III. 



WHAT WE MEAN BY SCIENCE. 



IN the plan of this journal,* scientific subjects are to 

 have a prominent share of attention ; and as there is not a 

 little confusion in the popular mind as to the ideas con- 

 veyed by the term " Science," it is desirable to get a defi- 

 nite understanding of it. At all events, it is necessary to 

 indicate as clearly as possible the signification which will 

 be attached to the word in these pages. 



In its prevailing use, the term science suggests a special 

 kind of knowledge which is different from common knowl- 

 edge, and pertains to a particular class of subjects which 

 are looked upon as foreign to the interests of common life. 

 It is generally regarded as relating to external or physical 

 objects, and calls up ideas of minerals, insects, drug shops, 

 or electrical exhibitions, with a copious literature of for- 

 bidding terms. In conformity with this notion, the science 

 department of popular journalism usually consists of a 

 mass of items thrust into an obscure place, where we are 

 briefly informed of the discovery of a new mineral or as- 

 teroid, a novel chemical process, a hitherto undescribed 

 zoophyte, or the latest inventive exploit in the way of 

 churns. Science has its periodicals professedly and 

 properly devoted to the technical details^ and results of re- 

 search. These are minced and sorted, and then reproduced 

 for the edification of the public. This information is no 



* Appletons' Journal, started in 1869, is the one here alluded to. 



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