672 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXVIli. No. 72.4 



of even greater interest, requiring but little 

 apparatus, may serve to place the student 

 in the opposite frame of mind. 



The earnestness of a lecturer frequently 

 urges him to come close to his hearers. It 

 is remarkable what a difference is produced 

 in that intimate mental association between 

 teacher and student when the broad barrier 

 of the lecture table no longer separates 

 them. If the table be long, the psycholog- 

 ical moment often passes in the extended 

 march to get around the end of the table, 

 or the time consumed in retracing one's 

 steps wastes the opportunity to briskly em- 

 phasize by a quick reference to a sharp 

 experiment. The desirable features of the 

 various methods referred to may be at- 

 tained by having a long table, say ten 

 meters in length, so constructed that the 

 two meters of the center are movable, be- 

 ing placed upon ball-bearing rubber-tired 

 wheels. Certain experiments involving dis- 

 tillations, etc., may be in place upon either 

 of the fixed partitions. The center may be 

 removed, giving free movement in and out 

 for the lecturer. By having several of 

 these sections, experiments requiring appa- 

 ratus which must be built up each time, as 

 for example, some forms of electric fur- 

 nace, may be performed and temporarily 

 removed without disturbance. One of the 

 movable tables may well be provided with 

 a slab of soapstone or slate. 



On the lecture table waste outlets for 

 condenser water may be provided, as well 

 as electric outlets for storage battery (low 

 pressure), direct and alternating currents, 

 switches for the several lighting sj^stems, 

 lantern operators, motors controlling the 

 darkening shades, and numerous cocks for 

 gas, water (cold and hot), steam, com- 

 pressed air, vacuum, oxygen, hydrogen 

 and hydrogen sulphide. Down-draft vents 

 should be provided in each of the fixed 

 portions of the table. An explosion shield 

 of plate glass is easily lowered into the 



front of one or both of these tables. By a 

 system of sliding doors, all cocks, drawers, 

 etc., may be closed and locked by one key, 

 thus making a complete cabinet. 



Underneath and within sight of the lec- 

 turer there should be a clock attached to 

 the electric system of the building. In 

 this connection I should like to say that 

 I think a wall clock visible to the students 

 has no place in the lecture room, or, if 

 it be there, it should be in operation only 

 upon piiblic occasions. In the lecture 

 room the student should give undivided 

 attention to the lecturer and the speaker 

 should be the one to keep an eye upon the 

 time. In the laboratory, there should be a 

 clock within clear sight of every student, 

 as he frequently must regulate the speed 

 of his work by the time at his disposal. 



PREPARATION ROOM 



The preparation room should be placed 

 preferably at the rear of the lecture desk, 

 although in many laboratories it occupies 

 the space underneath the elevated seats at 

 the rear of the lecture room. A con- 

 venient arrangement is to have the prepara- 

 tion room and museum adjoining. In the 

 preparation room it is desirable to have a 

 thoroughly equipped chemical table. A 

 hood should be placed in this room for 

 the convenience of the lecture assistant 

 that he may pursue a research. As he 

 usually gives almost all his time to the 

 preparation of lectures, he should be 

 located right at his work. It is desirable 

 to have in the preparation room, lathes 

 for both metal and wood, an anvil, a large 

 vise, and a carpenter's bench, in addition 

 to the glazed cupboards for storing ap- 

 paratus used for lecture purposes. There 

 should be a drawing table, also. 



In the stock room adjoining the prepara- 

 tion room there should be an annunciator in 

 connection with each laboratory through- 

 out the building and the director's ofSee. 



