i66 



NATURE 



[December 13, 1894 



dividual^. The former is mainly the European system ; the 

 latter, in the main, is ours. There, universities are founded by 

 the Goveniment ; here, chiefly by the people. 



In Germany there are twenty-one universities maintained by 

 the Government. In each of these, as Dr. Lankester states, 

 there are five independent establishments in the department of 

 biology alone, viz, in physiology, anatomy, pathology, zoology, 

 and botany. At the head of each of these establishments there 

 is a professor, with two paid assistants, makirg altogether about 

 300 for biological research in Germany ; and he estimates about 

 one-quarter of that number in the same department in England. 

 In all the sciences, therefore, there would probably be found in 

 Germany from Soo to looo persons of high scientific attain- 

 ments, supported by the Government in the universities, who 

 are regulaily and systematically engaged in the discovery of 

 new scientific truth. For it is there made both the object and 

 the duty of the professors of natural science to carry on original 

 investigations by work in the laboratory. Their positions are 

 obtained through previous distinction in such investigations, 

 and it is for this work that their small but fixed stipend is paid 

 by the Government. 



In the College de France, also maintained by the Govern- 

 ment, there is the same requiremen>, though with a larger salary 

 to the professors, and with the added duty imposed on them to 

 deliver to the students about forty lectures yearly upon the 

 subjects of the professors' researches ; while in Germany the 

 professors also receive from each student who attends their 

 lectures, a m.oderate fee, which serves to increase their meagre 

 stipend, .is well as to stimulate their activity and usefulness. 

 Under this system, Germany has become the greatest school of 

 science, and the resort of the whole world. 



In this country the opposite system prevails. The colleges 

 and universities are mainly private foundations, dependent on 

 private gifts and endowments. The colleges are unwisely 

 multiplied. All are more or less cramped for money. This 

 limits the number of professors and assistants appointed for in- 

 struction, and crowds them with routine work. The result is 

 that in all but a few colleges, and in these until comparatively 

 recently, the duties of instruction have left to the professors but 

 little time or opportunity for the prosecution of original in- 

 vestigations : and these with but poor equipment and inadequate 

 means. 



In not one of all our colleges and universities, so far as I 

 have been able to ascertain, is there a single professor>hip 

 endowed or founded, even in part, for the avowed object of 

 original scientific research. Instruction, not discovery, is the 

 only avowed object. It is to the great credit of American pro- 

 fessors and teachers that, with so much routine work on their 

 hands, and so little leisure for research, they should have 

 accomplished by purely voluntary studies so much as is shown 

 in their contributions to our scientific publications. 



To what is said above, perhaps a virtual exception should be 

 made as respects our astronomical observatories, in which, the 

 labours of instruction being less, original work has been 

 perhaps expected, and has been accomplished with most signal 

 »ucce^s. To some extent this may possibly apply to our medical 

 schools also. .■\nd in other departments, generally, wherever 

 time and opportunity have been afi^orded, much original work 

 has been done by our professors ; some of it of the first class. 

 This is attested, not to mention living instances, by the work 

 of Prof. Henry at Princeton, Dr. Torrey at Columbia, Dr. 

 Silliman at Vale, Dr. Gray at Harvard, and many others that 

 might be named. In a number of the States, also, and at 

 Washington, there have been maintained by the State or 

 nation a number of scientific men, in connection with certain 

 State or national inti rests, who have accomplished most im- 

 portant results ; of lhe>e, Dr. James Hall, of this State, is a 

 conspicuous instance. At Harvard and at other colleges some 

 noble opportunities for special study have been also provided in 

 their scientific schools and museums ; notably in the zoological 

 museum, the Jetftrson Physical Laboratory, and the Pcabody 

 Museum of .\rchieology at Cambridge, and also in the depart- 

 ment of hygiene at the University of Pennsylvania. Hut in 

 most of these the great compl.iint is the lack of necessary 

 (.p i,^r,.^r,ts (o make possible the active advanced woik in 

 < ivery for which those institutions are designed. In 



t!- V Museum there was in 1891 a gift of 10,000 dols. 



by .Mrs. Hemenway to establish a po>t-graduate fellowship ; 

 and also a gill of like amount by Mr. Wolco't, for the general 

 support ol the museum's wjik. New Vork also has wiihin 



NO. T31 I, VOL. 51] 



a few years past seen spring up almost as by magic, through the 

 efforts of a single leading spirit, seconded by other public- 

 spirited men and women, and by municipal aid, a museum of 

 natural history that bids fair to stand in the front rank of 

 scientific opportunities ; but the endowments of fellowships and 

 professors necessary to make its opportunities available in active 

 research are as yet wanting. 



England holds a position midway between the United States 

 and Germany. Her scientific men lament her deficiencies. 

 They are striving to increase their means for scientific work, and 

 are doing so yearly. 



If experience teaches anything, it is that no broad and general 

 development of scientific work of the first class is possible, 

 except either through independent establishments for special 

 work, or else by the university system, in which professors in 

 science and their assistants are first selected on account of their 

 previous distinction in original research, and are then appointed 

 to continue that work, and in the teaching of students, to 

 transmit to them the zeal of discovery and the true methods of 

 advance. 



It matters little whether the support of the university or of 

 special institutions for research comes from the Government or 

 from private endowment, provided the provision is adequate 

 and constant. The difficulty with us has been, and still is, that 

 funds are insufficient, the means and equipment inadequate, 

 and the time allowed to the professors for research insufficient. 

 Theie has been too much of the schoolmaster, and too little of 

 the real professor. Too great absorption of the professor's 

 time in the work of instruction is injurious to both teacher and 

 pupil. The most stimulating of teachers is he who by daily 

 experiment is in vital touch with nature — he who brings from 

 the fires of the laboratory the warmth, the illumination, and 

 the inspiration of his own researches. 



This is now well recognised ; and so far as their means will 

 permit, the leading colleges are by degrees relieving their 

 professors of the work of elementary instruction, so that they 

 may the better prosecute original researches, and at the same 

 lime become best qualified for the highest work of instruction. 

 This system will doubtless demand watchfulness and discrimin- 

 ation. To prevent abuses, regulation and responsibility may 

 have to be imposed. But it involves the appointment of 

 additional instructors. It requires added means. And this is 

 indispensable as a part of the transition of our leading colleges 

 to the university system. It is indispensable, also, if we are to 

 have in this country any considerable systematic prosecution of 

 original research. We must use existing instrumentalities and 

 existing institutions. And all experience shows that outside of 

 the few Government positions, and in the absence of special 

 institutions for research, the professorial chairs arc best adapted 

 to such investigations. Xo greater service could be done 

 to science than to make such endowments as should insure 

 systematic ami continuous research by the professors as a part 

 of the new university system. 



Endowments for the same object, and operating in the same 

 line, might also take a different form, viz. the endowment of 

 several professorial fellowships, e.ach, say, of 1000 dols. annual 

 income ; to be controlled and awarded by some independent 

 scientific body (such as this alliance might afliord) for distinction 

 in active scientific investigations, either within the country or 

 within the State. I know nf no more quickening impulse to 

 original scientific research than such as would be given to it by 

 those means. 



How backward we have been in this country, through the 

 lack of proper endowments, in making use of the best existing 

 opportunities for research, may be illustrated by a single 

 instance. Some twenty years ago a school was established at 

 Naples for the prosecution of marine biological research. It is 

 most thoroughly equipped, and, being a general resort, is the 

 most advantageous for study in the world. It is maintained by 

 a charge of 500 dols. per year upon each table occupied, each 

 occupant being entitled to all the advantages of the institution. 

 Of these tables, the German States for several years have taken 

 thirteen ; Italy, eight ; Austria, Russia, Spain, and England, 

 escli three ; Switzerland, Belgium and Hcilland, each one ; the 

 United States, until 1S91, none, except one table supported by 

 Williams College for two years, and one by the University of 

 Pennsylvania for one year. Prior to that time about fifteen 

 other American students in all had obtained places at the tables 

 taken and paid for by other nations. In 1890 this arrange- 

 ment was I'rohibited l>y the administration of the institution ; 



