690 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXV. No. 644 



ratory, research has for its object the ad- 

 vancement of knowledge with no visible 

 practical utilization. The same spirit must 

 pervade all research ; that is, its foundation 

 rests on the principles of pure science. In 

 the scientific school the great field includes 

 the application of the principles of pure 

 science to the solution of commercial prob- 

 lems. To one who is conversant with the 

 conditions in the manufacturing plant that 

 lacks the aid of men skilled in science it is 

 evident that much of the work is the result 

 of disconnected observations loosely made 

 in a rule-of-thumb fashion, rather than the 

 outcome of systematic study of underlying 

 principles with expansion to methodical 

 application. There is urgent need of the 

 extension in all directions of the critical 

 comparison of methods of analysis and test- 

 ing which has made such a good beginning. 

 To appreciate the importance of this work 

 it is only necessary to glance at the want 

 of concordance in the results of analysis of 

 a given substance even from the best labo- 

 ratories. The recent establishment of the 

 national bureau of standards is an excellent 

 foundation for greater accuracy and closer 

 agreement in the results of different 

 workers. 



The education of the professional chem- 

 ist is concerned in the recent discussion on 

 the relations of the scientific school to the 

 university, and the cogent reasons suggest- 

 ed for its rehabiliment as one of the pro- 

 fessional departments with law, medicine, 

 etc. If such a change were feasible doubt- 

 less scientific education should proceed 

 along much the same lines, for the seeker 

 after its benefits could not otherwise secure 

 his training, and the instruction would of 

 necessity conform to the demands of busi- 

 ness. The endowment of other schools of 

 science is not probable; the present tend- 

 ency is rather to expand scientific training 

 in institutions already established. This is 



especially true of the state universities, in 

 some of which the best practical training in 

 science is given. The permanency of those 

 institutions in their reliance on the state 

 gives promise of the broad development of 

 practical science. "What may be said in 

 this direction relates, therefore, to a com- 

 paratively few institutions, and it evidently 

 applies to a few conditions concerning 

 which there are doubtless differences of 

 opinion— culture, educational atmosphere, 

 policy of management, economy in re- 

 sources. That the student of applied sci- 

 ence should gain in culture and breadth of 

 thought in the university atmosphere may 

 be true with corresponding changes in his 

 work ; but the strictly professional training 

 can not be abbreviated, and it is believed 

 that culture should be imparted in these 

 courses as now conducted in the scientific 

 institution. As to whether the university 

 atmosphere is well adapted to the close ap- 

 plication and vigorous effort required in 

 the school of science, may be questioned. 

 Besides certain small economy in ofSce 

 supervision, it does not appear that any 

 important reduction in running expense is 

 possible. There is a limit to the number of 

 students in a single recitation or laboratory 

 division. A given number of students in 

 the scientific school needs the same number 

 of teachers and the same equipment as in 

 the university. 



In respect to policy and administration 

 it would seem that the school of science has 

 an essential advantage over the professional 

 department in the university. The head of 

 the scientific school devotes his best thought 

 and energy with an intense personal in- 

 terest to his institution. Such devoted 

 service from a president thoroughly imbued 

 with the scientific spirit, with such expert 

 knowledge and force of character that his 

 word has carrying power with the public 

 and with governing boards as well as with- 



