January 6, r888.] 



SCIENCE. 



retention of the original color was especially emphasized, and the 

 inference drawn that here was something too deep for natural or 

 other selection to weed out, and the explanation of which would be 

 a valuable contribution to the history of animal life. Dr. Allen 

 illustrated his propositions with a series of mounted specimens, and 

 brought out an interesting discussion upon color-markings in gen- 

 eral. 



Dr. Oliver exhibited a series of carefully prepared wools for the 

 detection of color-blindness and of sub-normal color-perception. 

 Professor Gage described an easy method of injecting the thoracic 

 duct and of demonstrating it for students. Professor Osborn ex- 

 hibited some sections of the brain and spinal cord prepared by a 

 method that allows of more accurate work than has hitherto been 

 possible. Dr. Minot exhibited a new microtome of his own inven- 

 tion, for which he justly claimed some important advantages. In 

 this the knife is stationary, and by a simple motion of a wheel the 

 thinnest sections can be automatically cut as accurately and as 

 rapidly as desirable. The instrument will be supplied by the Edu- 

 cational Supply Company, Boston. Prof. H. N. Martin showed a 

 very simple device by which either the closing or the opening shock 

 could be separately used for stimulating nerve-muscle preparations 

 in physiological work. A very interesting paper was that of Prof. 

 S. F. Clarke, presenting a classroom demonstration of variation in 

 nature and under domestication. By a series of stuffed fancy 

 pigeons the very varied and fantastic forms of variation that the 

 will of man could bring about was most beautifully impressed ; and 

 in striking contrast to this was a series of sparrows, the distinction 

 between which required the closest observation, but which repre- 

 sented no less than eight genera and thirteen natural species. 

 Prof. E. S. Morse, with his usual happy manner, rAa/«/,?^ the kinds 

 of museum show-cases employed in Europe, and accented the points 

 of value in each. 



To the general student of science the discussion upon science- 

 teaching in the schools, to which an entire day was devoted, would 

 form a most interesting feature of the meeting. The discussion 

 was introduced by Prof. Ramsay Wright of the University of 

 Toronto, who briefly sketched the admirable system of science-teach- 

 ing in the schools of Ontario. Here the whole educational system 

 is in charge of a minister of education, who has at his service the ad- 

 vice of the university professors, and who, with their aid, has drawn 

 up a schedule of instruction in science which is Utopian compared 

 with any thing that exists in the schools of this country. Here the 

 fact that the government controls the granting of certificates and 

 the appointment of teachers has solved the problem of securing 

 able science-teachers for the schools. 



Prof. Alexander Winchell of the University of Michigan followed 

 with a forcible plea for the educational value of the study of geology. 

 He claimed for this study the discipline of all those powers of the 

 developing mind upon which a true culture was based. In the child, 

 observation, training of the senses, was the first natural process ; 

 and this it was, too, that geology first demanded. With thegrowth 

 of mental powers came the wider field for their employment, in the 

 induction of the general geologic principles from the observed facts, 

 in the grand deductions from these, and in the exercise of the 

 imagination that geological periods make necessary. 'He would 

 thus urge the teaching of geology in the elementary schools ; and, 

 because this study afforded such varied opportunity for the exercise 

 of all the faculties proportionate to the natural order of their devel- 

 opment, he thought it proper to speak of a geological culture. 



The next contribution to the discussion was by Professor Mac- 

 Closkie of Princeton College. He urged in a very emphatic manner 

 the rights of science as opposed to the word-knowledge and the 

 language-culture, that absorbs so much of school time and energy. 

 While the position urged was not a new one, it very forcibly ex- 

 pressed the independent right of science to a very early and im- 

 portant place upon the curriculum of every school. The discussion 

 was concluded by Professor Rice of Wesleyan College, who pre- 

 sented a masterly exposition of the theoretical and practical advan- 

 tages of science-teaching in the schools. The boy or girl that has 

 not been spoiled by artificial means is invariably interested in the 

 phenomena of nature surrounding him or her on all sides. It is 

 with reference to these that their questions are asked, and it is in 

 the observation of these that they find a satisfaction of their natural 



curiosity. The current methods of teaching in large measure crush 

 this natural interest, and substitute for it an unnecessarily stupefy- 

 ing word-drill. The result of this is that young men come to the 

 higher schools with a total lack of appreciation for the world of 

 natural fact, and, what is worse, a dulling of all the faculties by 

 which such an appreciation can be attained. It is not the facts of 

 science, but the appetite of the mind for this kind of knowledge, 

 that is to be ever kept awake, and without which that new sense 

 for the teachings of nature cannot be fostered. 



All these papers brought out an animated and profitable gen- 

 eral discussion from various members. The sense of the meeting 

 was unanimously in favor of the views expressed above ; and 

 the advantages of introducing science into the elementary schools 

 was urged not only for its practical value, but for its satisfying the 

 requirements of the natural growth of mind and its general disci- 

 plinary value. That children properly trained to an interest in the 

 affairs of science do really bring to their more mature years an ap- 

 preciation for true science, and the ability to carry it on to a high 

 grade of cultivation, has been proved more than once. On the 

 practical side the question of the order of the sciences in school- work 

 was discussed, and the general opinion was in favor of systematic 

 botany as the topic with which to begin, then physiology, and 

 then physical geography. A complete course in physiology, how- 

 ever, must be based upon some knowledge of physics and chemis- 

 try. A committee was appointed to consider the preparation of a 

 schedule of science instruction for the schools, and was authorized 

 to report in full at the next meeting of the society. 



The geological part of the proceedings was opened with a paper 

 by Prof. James D. Dana, who recounted some of his recent obser- 

 vations on the Hawaiian volcanoes with especial reference to the 

 connection between seismic phenomena and lava eruptions. The 

 rarity of explosive action, so common in most volcanoes, is well 

 known to be the most distinguishing feature of the Sandwich Is- 

 land craters. The mountains are nearly pure lava-cones, and the 

 eruptions are fissure eruptions. In only two of the numerous re- 

 corded outbreaks, viz., in those of 1868 and 1887, have earthquakes 

 of any violence been noticed. These shocks increased regularly 

 in intensity, and were abruptly terminated with the appearance of 

 the lava. Professor Dana concludes that they were produced by 

 the forcible rending of the solid crust, caused primarily by the 

 vapor tension from water heated from the outside of the lava-con- 

 duit ; and secondly by the hydrostatic pressure of the lava itself 

 within the conduit. In most cases the formation of the fissure 

 through which the lava is extruded is accomplished 'SO quietly that 

 the first intimation of an approaching eruption is the red glow of 

 the molten mass. In conclusion an interesting comparison was 

 drawn between the quiet type of lava-flow prevalent at the Sand- 

 wich Islands and the violently explosive outbursts like those re- 

 cently exhibited in Java and New Zealand. 



A paper by Mr. C. D. Walcott of the United States Geological 

 Survey described an ingenious method of measuring the thickness 

 of inclined strata. 



Professor Dwight described an admirable machine, devised by 

 him, for cutting large sections in any plane through fossils. For 

 this purpose a Kerr diamond saw is mounted horizontally, and held 

 rigidly in a plane by two disks carrying small wheels which are in 

 contact with both surfaces of the saw. The specimen to be cut is 

 mounted and adjusted so as to bring any plane against the saw 

 with an even pressure. A solution of soda was recommended as a 

 lubricator. 



Prof. W. O. Crosby sent a paper upon the method of teaching 

 mineralogy and lithology at the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- 

 nology. The last paper was presented by Dr. G. H. Williams, on 

 the educational value of micropetrography, and illustrated by the 

 exhibition of a new microscope of American manufacture, designed 

 especially for students in this subject. 



A resolution was passed to request Congress to remove the duty 

 on scientific books and apparatus, and to join with other associa- 

 tions petitioning for this change in the laws. Professor Marsh was 

 elected an honorary member of the society, to fill the vacancy left 

 by the death of Professor Baird. Dr. Allen was re-elected presi- 

 dent, and Professor Clarke secretary. The next meeting will be 

 held in Baltimore. 



