734 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. VIII. Ko. 204. 



formulas may induce a certain ingenuity, 

 but may also be positively harmful so far 

 as the acquiring of true knowledge is con- 

 cerned. 



2d. The Mathematical Danger. The effort 

 at placing chemistry upon a mathematical 

 basis, and so making of it a true science, 

 according to the German definition, is a 

 laudable one, but this end is not to be ob- 

 tained by a multiplication of problems 

 based upon the time-honored rule-of-three 

 and the simple algebraic transformations 

 made use of in chemical problems. Enough 

 of this sort of mathematical work should 

 be given to make clear the great underly. 

 ing laws of chemistry — the indestructi- 

 bility of matter, the constancy of propor- 

 tions, etc. Beyond this harm may be done 

 to some minds not mathematically inclined. 



A bright, ingenious mind may revel in 

 some of the abstruse and diflBcult problems 

 which have been based on this rule-of-three, 

 while other minds may be frightened and 

 confused. There is a temptation to a bright, 

 mathematically inclined teacher to add to 

 these problems and exercises, but I main- 

 tain that in such case he is attempting to 

 teach mathematics, and not chemistry. 



3d. The Mechanical Danger. Many have 

 seen this danger and have given forth no 

 uncertain note of warning against it. In 

 graphically representing formulas, espe- 

 cially those of organic bodies, the mechan- 

 ical limitations are such that there can be 

 no adequate picture given. Much must be 

 left to the imagination. The effort is only 

 to give an outline or a few points upon 

 which to fix the mental picture. But 

 young minds are at times so hopelessly 

 matter-of-fact, and one of the most difficult 

 of tasks is to transfer the vision of j'our 

 imagination upon the mental retina of 

 others. In the first place, there is the 

 blackboard with its plain surface and white 

 trails of chalk dust. You are endeavoring 

 to give a picture of some collection of won- 



derful symmetrical atoms bound together by 

 strange, invisible emanations of force and 

 endowed with marvelous properties and 

 powers. How can you hope to do it with 

 such means as are at your command ? 

 How can j'ou devise mechanical means, 

 balls, strings or rubber monstrosities which 

 will properly aid you ? 



And 3'et, these mechanical aids are help- 

 ful, for mere word painting is far too vague 

 for the purpose. Only beware lest the idea 

 be given that your rubber or glass toys or 

 scratches on the board really look like the 

 incomparable atoms themselves, and that 

 the chemical force displayed between them 

 closely resembles a connecting wire or a bit 

 of glass tubing or a streak of chalk powder. 



4th. The Danger of Idolatry. By this I 

 mean the placing of the formula upon the 

 pedestal which belongs to the science itself. 

 To my mind, next to the achievement of 

 written language itself, the fully w'orked- 

 out formula for a complex organic body 

 represents the most wonderful accomplish- 

 ment of the human mind. It is the result 

 of years of toilsome experiment, of high 

 theorizing and of ingenious logic. It is a 

 building erected by some skilled artificer 

 upon the delicate handiwork of other master- 

 workmen, all resting on the foundation 

 stones of the science laid with infinite care 

 and labor. It is a mighty epic to man's 

 capacity for faithful toil, for self-sacrificing 

 cooperation, for concentration of thought, 

 for ingenuity of eye and hand and brain, 

 and to his love for and deep yearning after 

 the truth. 



Yet, with all this granted as true, do not 

 let us fall down before our formula and 

 worship it. It is but the work of our 

 hands after all and humanum est errare. The 

 worship of that which may desert us in the 

 time of need is apt to lead to an unfruitful 

 and unhappy skepticism, as the history of 

 our science during the middle decades of 

 this century bears witness. Let us rather 



