SCIENCE. 



FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1883. 



NATIONAL TRAITS IN SCIENCE. 



TiiEKE are at present three principal currents 

 of scientitic woric, — German, English, and 

 French. The scientific writings of each nation- 

 ality" are characteristic, and, taken as a whole, 

 offer in each case distinctive qualities. Ger- 

 man influence is now predominant over the 

 scientific world, as French influence was upper- 

 most during the earlier part of this century ; 

 but the swa}- of Germanj' over western thought 

 is far more potent and wide-spread than was 

 ever that of France. As students once gath- 

 ered in Paris, so the}' now flock to Germany ; 

 and thence back to their own lands the}- carr}' 

 the notions of German science, and labor to 

 extend, imitate, and rival them. Thus German 

 ideas have been spread abroad, and established 

 in foreign countries. This has set a common 

 standard for scientific work, whicli is accepted 

 in most European countries. German influ- 

 ence is evident by its effects in Switzerland, 

 Russia, Italy, Poland, Belgium, England, and 

 America, and in degrees indicated by the 

 order given : in France, Spain, and Portugal, 

 it is hardly noticeable. Holland and the Scan- 

 dinavian countries have for many years achieved 

 80 much and so excellent work, that their scien- 

 tific development may be said to have accom- 

 panied ratlier than to have followed that of 

 German}-. 



German science has iniquestionably distinc- 

 tive qualities. Its i)ur.<uit is a speci.il and hon- 

 ored calling, attractive to the highest talent : 

 its productions have the stamp of professional 

 work. The German scientific man is first and 

 principall}- an investigator : he is obliged to 

 be so, otherwise he loses in tlie race. He wins 

 his position in the hierarchy of learning b}- 

 the original researches lie carries out. To suc- 

 ceed under these circumstances, a man must 

 discover something which is a real addition to 



No. 3A. — 188S. 



knowledge : and to do this, lie must be thor- 

 oughly familiar witli all that has been previously 

 accomplished in his field. Jforeover, to ad- 

 vance beyond his peers, the investigator must 

 utilize every possible extraneous advantage ; 

 more espcciall}- must lie have a mastery over 

 tlie methods to be employed, and be familiar 

 with all novelties and refinements therein. It 

 cannot be gainsaid that these requirements are 

 more fully answered in German}- than any- 

 where else. It is certain, that, excepting of 

 course a small minority, German scientific pub- 

 lications always contain something really new, 

 and unknown before : each article is a scientific 

 progress, which, however slight, still brings an 

 actual increment to our store of information. 

 Another result of this professional thorougliness 

 is equally striking and characteristic. Being 

 fully posted as to the status of his department, 

 the German often displays a singularly just and 

 keen appreciation of what problems are for tlie 

 moment best worth studying, as being open for 

 sohition, and leading to something farther, or 

 else filling a gap left. He is thus enabled to 

 render his work elGcient. It is sad to think 

 how much scientific work is wasted because the 

 labor is not wisely directed. 



In German scientific writings the excellence 

 of the matter usually contrasts A-ividly with' 

 the defective style and presentation.. Indeed, 

 the Germans, despite tlie superiority of their 

 modern literature, are awkward writers, and 

 too often slovenly in literary composilion. 

 Conciseness and clearness are good qualities, 

 which may assuredly be attained by tlie ex- 

 penditure of thought and pains ; but tliese the 

 German investigator seems nnwillin^, in many 

 cases, to bestow upon liis pen-work, but follows 

 tlie easier plan of great ditfuseness. Besides 

 this, another defect is not uncommon, — the 

 ill-considered arrangement of the matter. This 

 occurs in all degrees, from a wcU-uigh incredi- 

 ble confusion, to be sometimes found even 

 in elaborate and imiiortant ess.ays, to a slightly 



