2 GERMANY IN SCIENCE 



nature of the subjects under investigation. 



Various classifications of the sciences have been proposed. 

 I take a moment to point out a few of the major subdivisions, 

 at the outset warning you that all the sciences are more or less 

 correlated. 



There is a science of mind, and there is a science of mat- 

 ter. Mental science deals with mental phenomena and the laws 

 controlling them. The physical sciences deal with material 

 forces and the laws to which they are subject. Matter may be 

 inorganic, or it may be under the control of that marvellous 

 force to which we give the name of life. Accordingly the 

 science of chemistry, which deals with the ultimate composi- 

 tion of matter, is properly divided into inorganic and organic 

 chemistry. The science which deals with matter in the gross, 

 and seeks to explain the actions and reactions taking place 

 between inanimate masses of matter, without reference to their 

 ultimate composition, is known as the science of physics. The 

 science which deals with the extramundane universe is called 

 astronomy, and is strictly speaking a branch of physics. The 

 science which deals with the origin and evolution of the world 

 upon which we live, and which may in some respects be regard- 

 ed as the sister of astronomy, is called geology. The science 

 which deals with the present configuration of the earth 's 

 surface and its political divisions is called geography. The 

 science which deals with life in its various manifestations is 

 biology. The science which deals with the ancient and main- 

 ly extinct life of the globe is called paleontology. The science 

 which deals with the life and evolution of vegetable forn^is, 

 called botany. The science which deals with the evolution 

 and classification of animate forms of life is called zoology. 

 And there are innumerable subdivisions in these major divis- 

 ions of the sciences. For instance the botanist who devotes 

 his attention to the study of the mosses is known as a bryol- 

 ogist. It may interest you in passing to know that The Bryol- 

 ogist, the only monthly publication in America devoted to the 

 publication of papers upon the mosses, is issued here in Pitts- 

 burgh, the Editor being one of my associates, the Curator of 



