ON THE TEACHING OF PHYSICS IN SCHOOLS. 71 
On measurement, 
Lower loop, 7‘5 centims. 
Middle ,, 10 is 
Upper , 87 ,, 
Experiment 57.—Division of left vagus at the diaphragm, Three loops 
isolated—one at the upper end of jejunum, one at the ileo-cecal valve, and 
one midway between the two. 
On examination the stomach was distended with food; contained little 
fluid. The duodenum appeared: full, but on opening it it was found to con- 
tain no fluid. 
All the loops were empty, 
On measurement, 
Upper loop, 7:5 centims, 
Middle , 87 ,, 
Lower ,, 62 ” 
Report of the Committee on the Teaching of Physics in Schools, the 
Committee consisting of Professor H. J. S. Smitu, Professor Curr- 
ForD, Professor W. G. Apams, Professor BaLrour Stewart, Pro- 
fessor R. B. Cutrron, Professor Everett, Mr. J. G. Fircu, Mr. 
G. Grirrita, Mr. Marspatt Warts, Professor W. F. Barrett, 
Mr. J. M. Winson, Mr. Lockyer, and Professor G. C. Foster 
(Secretary). 
Iy view of the very great diversities in almost all respects of the conditions 
under which the work of different schools has to be carried on, the Com- 
mittee considered that, in any suggestions or recommendations that they 
might make, it would be impossible for them with any advantage to attempt 
to enter into details. They have therefore, in the recommendations which 
they have agreed upon, endeavoured to keep in view certain principles which 
they regard as of fundamental importance, without attempting to prescribe 
any particular way of carrying them out in practice. 
They have assumed, as a point not requiring further discussion, that the 
object to be attained by introducing the teaching of Physics into general 
school-work is the mental training and discipline which the pupils acquire 
through studying the methods whereby the conclusions of physical science 
have been established. They are, however, of opinion that the first and one 
of the most serious obstacles in the way of the successful teaching of this 
subject is the absence from the pupils’ minds of a firm and clear grasp of the 
concrete facts and phenomena forming the basis of the reasoning processes 
they are called upon to study. They therefore think it of the utmost im- 
portance that the first teaching of all branches of physics should be, as far 
as possible, of an experimental kind. Whenever circumstances admit of it, 
the experiments should be made by the pupils themselves, and not merely by 
the teacher; and though it may not be needful for every pupil to go through 
every experiment, the Committee think it essential that every pupil should 
at least make some experiments himself. 
For the same reasons, they consider that the study of text-books should 
be entirely subordinate to attendance at experimental demonstrations or 
