62 
in which the underlying principles are ex- 
plained, and the object of the experiment is 
clearly pointed out. In this way a student is 
permitted to approach the experiment in the 
same way in which the first person who did it 
approached it, 27. e., as a research problem. 
The lecture system necessarily involves the 
use of some kind of grouping of the experi- 
ments. This last, however, is an advantage, 
as it permits running the laboratory and class- 
room work parallel to one another. 
Another aid with the same object as above, 
is not to insist too strongly on precise meas- 
urements by elementary students. The ele- 
mentary student is oftened frightened by the 
task of measuring a thing down to one one- 
hundredth of one per cent. with a strange 
piece of apparatus. Only after the student 
has acquired confidence in himself as an ex- 
perimenter should great accuracy be insisted 
upon. However, from the very first the stu- 
dent should express the percentage of error 
of his observations. By accepting all work at 
first, with a percentage of error simply indi- 
eating poor experimental ability, the student 
is encouraged to try the experiment. This last 
also does away with the incentive to “ doctor 
the results.” On the other hand, the student 
dislikes to pass in an experiment with a larger 
percentage of error than that obtained by the 
best experimenter in the class, so that he tries 
his hardest to get a correct result. 
The foregoing are simply aids to the spirit 
of research, the principal thing being the 
“attitude of the instructor” rather than any 
particular method. 
Cuester A. BuTMan 
PHYSICAL LABORATORY, 
MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 
THE MEETINGS OF AFFILIATED SOCIETIES 
To THE Epitor oF Science: I feel like sec- 
onding all that Professor Morse has said in a 
recent (December 22, 1911) number of 
Science in regard to the custom that has 
arisen among some of the “ affiliated societies,” 
especially the zoologists, of holding the 
winter-meeting at a different place from that 
in which the American Association meets. 
SCIENCE 
[N.S. Vou. XXXV. No. 889 
As I stated before the zoologists at the re- 
cent meeting at Princeton, there was a very 
strong feeling expressed by a number of prom- 
inent zoologists at the Washington meeting 
against the present method of meeting at dif- 
ferent places, especially when the meetings 
are at the same time. 
I should like to see a general expression of 
opinion, through these columns, or otherwise, 
upon this subject, especially by those zool- 
ogists who are members of the American So- 
ciety of Zoologists. Such an expression of 
opinion might serve, in some measure, as a 
guide to the committee that was appointed by 
the Society of Zoologists to look into the 
matter. 
Apert M. Reese 
QUOTATIONS 
THE BRITISH INSURANCE ACT 
“ Buyine men’s all right—the trouble is they 
won’t stay bought.” Such was the reflection 
of a disillusioned political boss. In the same 
way it is often easy enough to “do” men. 
The trouble is they won’t stay “done.” Mr. 
Lloyd George is finding that out in the case of 
the doctors. The members of the medical 
profession are notoriously bad men of busi- 
ness. They are very busy, and they find it im- 
possible, unlike most other professionals, to 
divide their lives into water-tight compart- 
ments of work and leisure. They are harassed 
at all hours by calls upon their time and, still 
more, upon their mental energy. Hence they 
can attend very little to their professional in- 
terests. This fact made them and their lead- 
ers an easy prey to so astute and persistent a 
diplomatist as Mr. Lloyd George. Early in 
the game he saw that from the point of view 
of public agitation and public opposition to 
his measure, it was far more important to con- 
ciliate the friendly societies and prevent their 
rising in revolt than to make concessions to 
the doctors. Accordingly he ‘put his money 
on the societies,’ and merely put a little 
chloroform on a handkerchief in the case of 
the doctors, whispering to them at the same 
time that it would be all right when they woke 
up. The suggestion was that they would be 
