November 26, 1915] 



SCIENCE 



759 



large upon tlie teclinic of its methods, give a 

 more minute examination to the development 

 of chemical concepts (historically), and finally, 

 move with greater intimacy in the study of 

 the lives of eminent chemists. 



On the other hand, in the study of the his- 

 tory of science as a whole, we come to the 

 chronological order, and principles, as well as 

 the relationship and parallel progress of all 

 sciences, their order of logical sequence, and 

 application of science to the progress of civili- 

 zation, and a conception of what the world 

 owes to science. Also it allows a wider selec- 

 tion and interest in the vital part of all his- 

 torical study — the biographical study. Lastly, 

 in seeking for a greater analysis of the prob- 

 lems of the future in science, the history of 

 science furnishes the background for all future 

 investigations and progress. 



The question is not, do we need more 

 courses in our over-developed curricula, but a 

 larger degree of intensive and correlated 

 courses in order to bring out the better human 

 faculties for greater service and deeper in- 

 sight into the problems of nature. The failure 

 of universities, colleges or technical schools, to 

 make the necessary provisions for courses in 

 either specific or general history of science, 

 decreases their general efficiency, especially in 

 their scientific curricula. From the point of 

 view of economy in academic administration, 

 and taking into consideration the merits of 

 each case, as they have been set forth, the 

 choice should certainly be with a general his- 

 tory of science course. 



As Professor A. 0. Lovejoy, of Johns Hop- 

 kins, writes : 



One hesitates to suggest further increase in the 

 already too-diversified supply of mental pabulum 

 urged npon undergraduates; but I should think an 

 introductory course in the history of science would 

 be a valuable addition to the curriculum of any 

 college. 



Further, he says that the history of science 

 is assuredly important enough to be recog- 

 nized as a distinct branch of teaching and of 

 research. Professor Josiah Eoyce writes also; 

 he points out how 

 a deadening influence of a too exclusive absorp- 



tion in the technique of one's own specialty could 

 be prevented by the study of the history of sci- 

 ence. Such a study is at once humanizing and an 

 important auxiliary training towards acquiring a 

 good method in technical work. 



It is interesting to note that a number of 

 years back some of our prominent men in sci- 

 ence pointed out the present trend of this study 

 as it is brought out in this investigation. Dr. 

 R. P. Moulton, of the University of Chicago, 

 was of the opinion that " it is worthy of a 

 much better place than it now (1909) has"; 

 Dr. Henry Crew, of l^orthwestem University, 

 expressed a hope that as time went on the his- 

 tory of science should become a separate topic 

 of study for advanced students; Dr. Florian 

 Cajori, of the University of Colorado, in- 

 clined to the opinion that the stronger univer- 

 sities of the coimtry would pay more and more 

 attention to the history of science as the years 

 went on. 



Having now seen what the " expert opinion " 

 has been regarding the future interest in the 

 history of science, especially in our more 

 prominent imiversities, within the last five or 

 six years, it may be confidently expected that 

 in the next few years very rapid progress wiU 

 be made. ISTo doubt many conditions have pre- 

 vailed which retarded this progress, and prob- 

 ably the strongest one is that no well-adapted 

 text- or source-book, or selected reading, is 

 available. This is evident, and scientific men 

 are aware of this deficiency. At the present 

 time, two series of volumes are being prepared 

 to aid the methods of teaching this subject. 

 At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 

 Professor W. T. Sedgwick and Professor H. "W. 

 Tyler are preparing a two-volume text entitled 

 " Outlines of the History of Science," designed 

 expressly for the use of their own classes. 

 Volume I. is to deal with the rise and progress 

 of science and scientific spirit to the fall of 

 the Roman empire. Volume H. treats of the 

 development of science in medieval and mod- 

 ern times. 



Dr. Walter Libby, of the Carnegie Institute 

 of Technology, with the collaboration of Dr. 

 Locy and Dr. Crew, of Northwestern Univer- 

 sity, is preparing a series of short volumes : the 

 History of the Biological Sciences, the History 



