104 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XIV. No. 342. 



In 1901 both general chemistry and quali- 

 tative analysis, with some quantitative 

 work, to illustrate laws. 



The object and aim of chemical study in 

 the two periods may be illustrated by ex- 

 cerpts from the prefaces of two books. 

 The one in 1876 says that the author "has 

 sought to make a pleasant study which the 

 pupil can master in a single term, so that 

 all its truths may become to him household 

 words. This work is designed for the in- 

 struction of youth ^ and for their sake clear- 

 ness and simplicity have been preferred to 

 recondite accuracy." 



The 1901 author says : " The tendency 

 of the present day is to make the student, 

 from the very beginning, an investigator ; to 

 train and develop his faculties for observa- 

 tion ; to make him find out facts and dis- 

 cover truths for himself ; in other words, to 

 make him tli'inh instead of merely commit- 

 ting to memory what others have thought." 

 What will be the next progressive move- 

 ment in secondary- school chemistry ? Al- 

 ready a few dim shadows are being cast 

 which may materialize. In schools of the 

 larger cities there is a growing demand for 

 elective courses and elective studies in 

 every department of learning. Elective 

 courses are not a new idea, but should high- 

 school pupils be allowed to choose all their 

 studies throughout a three or four years' 

 course, it would profoundly affect the scope 

 of teaching and indirectly the methods. 

 Another coming event is the reachiog down 

 of chemistry into the grammar grades. This 

 has been successfully done in some few 

 cities and towns. Should the grammar 

 grades teach chemistry and the high- 

 schools have elective studies, the higher 

 grades of quantitative, volumetric, organic 

 and theoretical chemistry may be forced 

 into the high-school, and a minimized uni- 

 versity result. 



Another indication is that of coopera- 

 tion. Chemistry teachers are beginning to 



form associations for discussion of methods 

 and aims. There is at present a wide di- 

 versity in methods of chemistry instruction. 

 While these can never be wholly unified, 

 nor is it desirable that they should be, 

 owing to varied environments, yet discus- 

 sions of methods, aims and results are most 

 stimulating, and secondary schools may, in 

 this respect, take a step in advance of col- 

 leges and universities. Magazines and 

 periodicals for the discussion of what is 

 latest and best in science-teaching mark 

 also the new era, and are an indication in 

 the same direction. The Journal of the 

 American Chemical Society, whose 25th anni- 

 versary we celebrate to-day, may join 

 hands with its infant sister, School Science, 

 the youngest representative of scientific 

 education. 



From the twentieth century aspect of 

 chemistry study, is it too much to say that it 

 realizes more fully than perhaps any other 

 single subject the ideal for combined man- 

 ual, observational and intellectual training? 

 E.UFUS P. Williams. 



SCIENTIFIC BOOKS. 

 Public Water Supplies: Requirements, Re- 

 sources, and the Construction of Works. By 

 F. E. TuBNEAURE and F. H. Russell, pro- 

 fessors in the University of Wisconsin. New 

 York, John Wiley & Sons. 1901. Octavo. 

 Pp. xiv 4- 746. 



This volume has been prepared with partic- 

 ular reference to the needs of teachers and 

 students in engineering colleges, and it is 

 from this point of view that the following re- 

 marks are made : The field covered is a large 

 one and in no other branch of engineering has 

 there been a greater growth during the past 

 twenty-five years. In particular the methods 

 of purification of water have, by the aid of the 

 sciences of chemistry and bacteriology, become 

 so thoroughly understood that they are now of 

 equal importance with the operations for stor- 

 age and distribution. 



Part I. of the vohime, covering 197 pages, re- 

 lates to the sources of supply, rainfall, flow of 



