SCIENCE 



A WEEKLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, PUBLISHING THE 



OFFICIAL NOTICES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION 



FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. 



Fridat, August 28, 1908 

 contents 



The Teaching of Mathematics to Students of 

 Engineering : — 

 From the Standpoint of the Professor of 

 Engineering: Peofessok Geokqe F. Swain 

 Prom the Standpoint of the Professor of 

 Mathematics in the Engineering College: 

 Professob Chas. S. Sliohtee, Professor 

 Frederick S. Woods, President Fred W. 

 McNaie 257 



The British Museum of Natural History . . . 268 



Lectures in Connection -with the Interna- 

 tional Congress of Tuberculosis 269 



The International Fisheries Congress 270 



Scientific Notes and News 270 



University and Educational News 273 



The Harvard Business School 273 



Discussion and Correspondence : — 



Concerning Two Defectives: Professor W. 

 W. Campbell. Sores on Colts: L. S. 

 Frierson 274 



Scientific Books: — 



Washhurn on " The Animal Mind " : Pro- 

 fessor John B. Watson. Butler's Hand- 

 book of Minerals: Professor A. J. Moses. 

 Holley and Ladd's Analysis of Mixed 

 Paints, Color Pigments and Varnishes: 

 Professor A. H. Gill 275 



Special Articles: — 



Some Conditions affecting Volcanic Erup- 

 tions: A. Pereet. The Location of Emhryo- 

 forming Regions in the Egg: Professor T. 

 H. Morgan 277 



MSS. intended for publication and books, etc., intended for 

 review should be sent to the Editor of Science, Garrison-on- 

 Eudson, N. Y., or during the present summer to Wood's Hole, 



THE TEACHING OF MATHEMATICS TO 

 STUDENTS OF ENOINEERINC 



FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE PROFESSOR 

 OF ENGINEERING 



I feel that in this discussion we engi- 

 neers occupy rather an unfortunate posi- 

 tion, on account of the fact that we are 

 compelled to assume the position of critics. 

 The student comes to us from the teachers 

 of mathematics, presumably equipped with 

 a knowledge of that subject, and it becomes 

 our duty to teach him subjects in which he 

 makes use of this preparation, and to find 

 out whether he has learned to use mathe- 

 matics as a tool. However, I believe that 

 only by friendly criticism can progress be 

 made, and that every one ought to be will- 

 ing to accept such criticism when given ia 

 the proper spirit. I had much rather be 

 criticized than criticize others, and we 

 teachers of engineering hope that we are 

 always ready to receive suggestions, not 

 only from other teachers, but from prac- 

 tising engineers. 



I must first insist that for the engineer 

 mathematics is to be regarded as a tool — 

 not as something which is studied simply 

 for the development of some mental powers, 

 but for the ability which it ought to give 

 a man to do something — to use the results 

 and methods which he has been taught in 

 solving the problems of his profession. 



There has been a good deal of discussion 

 in the past as to the value of mathematics 

 simply as a means of mental training, with- 

 out reference to its use, and perhaps most 

 of us remember the paper by Sir William 

 ' Continued from the issue of August 7. 



