riew in various bookB. And there are special TOlumes, such as 

 ..Chemistry of Common Things," "FamiUar Science," and one en- 

 tiUed "Household Science," a book of 470 pages, treatmg of hght, 

 heat, vision, and colors ; air and ventilation ; food, >ts prmc^^s.. 

 forms, preparation, preservation, effects and nutritive value ; cook, 

 ing utensUs; cleansing processes; and, finally of P;-^^ , ^° 

 such a book should be added volumes on domestic medicine, physi- 

 r^ household architecture, gardening, insects, the education of 

 chSen, and the beautiful arts. A few books, however, are of 

 comparatively httlc avaU, without systematic education and labora- 

 tory practice. Few have the genius to educate themselves. 



Th! common objection to everything of the kind is that practical 

 knowledge is enough, without book-knowMge^ ^T/TkZ 

 sav "All this science is stuff; my grandmother did not know 

 o^gen from stearine ; she did not know • sal soda ' rom sal ammo- 

 S'or any other Sally ; but she could cook such dough-nuts as 

 rr^ever saw." A sufficient answer to the excessively practical 

 ptop^Tthe instance of the doctor who killed a fever patient wi^ 

 codflsl because another fever patient bad secretly partaken of the 

 same akd recovered. It was a very practical inference he drew^ 

 oTcorse science alone will not make a housekeeper. It wUl not 

 makeT^hysicia.. The medical student needs to pr^tice with an 

 ^1^ p.,nert as weH as to attend lectures and read books. 



AnXer o" jlction is, that much of this science is but the learning 

 of"ames for common things. It may be said, why not know 

 pearLh a^ saleratus shnply as such, not as -*"-'» ^f j"^. 

 bonate of potash? The answer is that potash is a powerful alkah , 

 it must be injurious, in considerable quantities ; and the same, t« a 

 sTdtgree, L true of soda. If the right --- -^ ^"^ 

 Udv would have the face to say to her guests : ShaU I help you 

 to Jome pot«sb bread, or potash cakes?" Scientific knowledge is a 

 knowledge of tilings and tlieir action. 



Xsl thereforc'a scientific in-door agriculture, would save u 

 from many hurtful practices. The use of fine flour, from which the 

 phosphates have been removed by boltmg, is another example 



Secondly, scientific knowledge would influence us to carry mitthe 

 floatL knowledge we abeady have. We do not feel a truth, and 

 act upon it, tiU we thoroughly know it. We know, for instance 

 that L effluvium rising from the waste-pipe of tl« btchen^ui^ 

 noxious and so likewise when the sink-washmgs discharge mto the 

 opTn S nea^ a house ; we half-know that all this can be remedied 



