292 



SCIENCE. 



toward scientific training became national, the prospective 

 institutions were sufficiently endowed for the initiatory 

 stages, and each was free to suit its organization to the 

 wants of its locality ; the scientific schools previously 

 established had been organized and developed in accord- 

 ance with strict scientific principles, and their example af- 

 forded a powerful opposition to the influences which tended 

 to hold the new schools to a lifeless routine of mechanical 

 exercises on the one hand or to a feeble modification of the 

 methods of classical colleges on the other. The reports of 

 the year indicate that the future of these institutions as 

 schools of applied science, conducted according to the laws 

 of intellectual progress and directed ' to the liberal and 

 practical education of the industrial classes ' is assured, and 

 that in the main the character of each school is to be deter- 

 mined by the material condition of the section in which it is 

 placed. Thus, in the East, the tendency is to the training 

 of engineers and scientific experts ; in the great agricultural 

 section of the West and South, agriculture and horticulture 

 receive most attention ; while in the mineral region of the 

 Pacific section mining and metallurgy are made prominent ; 

 but even where these special lendencies are marked, other 

 branches of scientific and industrial instruction have re- 

 ceived attention proportionate to the demand." 



Interesting facts are presented illustrating the practical 

 advantage of these institutions to our industrial progress. 

 The Commissioner adds that there has been marked ad- 

 vance in the general organization of these schools and in 

 their preparation for efficient work in science and me- 

 chanics. 



SCHOOLS OF MEDICINE. 



The number of schools of medicine, dentistry, and phar- 

 macy reported to the Bureau during the year was 106. 

 These had 1,337 instructors and 11,830 students. The 

 regular school ot medicine and surgery reported 64 insti- 

 tutions, 915 instructors, 8,279 students, 2,506 graduates, 

 46,065 volumes in libraries, $1,685,250 in grounds, build- 

 ings, and apparatus, $214,347 °f productive funds, yielding 

 an income of $13,186, and tuition receipts to the amount of 

 $289,398. The eclectics reported 6 institutions, 51 instruc- 

 tors, 448 students, 211 graduates, 3,000 volumes in libraries, 

 $161,000 in grounds, buildings, and apparatus, and $8,960 

 receipts from tuition. The homoeopathists reported it 

 schools, 158 instructors, 1,215 students, 363 graduates, 

 39,800 volumes in libraries, $349,000 in grounds, buildings, 

 and apparatus, and $95,471 receipts from tuition fees. 



The dental schools report as follows : number, 12 ; in- 

 structors, 161 ; students, 701 ; graduates, 218 ; volumes in 

 libraries, 505 ; value of grounds, buildings, and apparatus, 

 $68,000; receipts from tuition fees, $60,734. 



The pharmaceutical schools number 13 ; instructors, 52 ; 

 students, 1,187; graduates, 380; volumes in libraries, 

 5,175 ; value of grounds, buildings and apparatus, $155,000 ; 

 receipts from tuition fees, $25,487. 



COLLEGIATE AND PROFESSIONAL DEGREES. 



" This Office," says the Commissioner, " is informed that 

 the better colleges and universities of the country are be- 

 coming increasingly careful in the bestowal of honorary 

 degrees. At the same time it is well known that the sale of 

 diplomas by persons who have obtained control of collegi- 

 ate and university charters by purchase or fraud is still 

 going on. This disgraceful proceeding has already injured 

 th n putation of American learning and the value of Am- 

 11 degrees in other countries ; but the Federal Govern- 

 ment did not create the corporations which are causing this 

 lal and has no power to cancel their charters. It is foi 

 the authorities of the State to move in the matter and thus 

 vindicate the honor of the nation and of American schol- 

 ars." 



The following summary of degree's in course and honor- 

 reputable institutions of learning needs no 

 further explanation : 



I)m numbei of degrees of all classes conferred was, in 

 course, 9,999, honorary, 396, divided as follows: letters, 

 in<ourse, 3,631, honorary, 114; science, in course, 990, 

 honorary, 6 ; philosophy, in course, 222, honorary, 31 ; ait, 

 in (ourse, .\(, ; theology, in course, 222, honorary, 159; 

 medicine, in course, 1,814, honoraiy, 4; law, in course, 

 •. honorary, 78, Of il, ,| and scien- 



tific colleges conferred 6,367 in course and 388 honorary ; 

 colleges for women, 674 in course and 1 honorary ; profes- 

 sional schools, 2,958 in course and 7 honorary. 



EDUCATIONAL BENEFACTIONS. 



The total amount of educational benefactions is $3,103.- 

 289, which is distributed as follows : universities, and col- 

 leges, $1,389,633 ; schools of science, $49,280 ; schools of 

 theology, $397,852; schools of law, $ 1 00,000 ; schools of 

 medicine, $18,562 ; institutions for the superior instruction 

 of women, $241,820 ; preparatory' schools, $97,191 ; insti- 

 tutions for secondary instruction, $759,817 ; institutions for 

 the deaf and dumb, $49,134. 



EDUCATIONAL BENEFACTIONS. 



During the year 1878 the sum of $3,103,298 was pre- 

 sented to various educational establishments in the United 

 States by private individuals. 



Of this sum $1,389,633 were placed at the disposal oi 

 universities and colleges. We regret to find that while 

 Theology received nearly $400,000, but $49,280 were 

 devoted to Science, and $18,562 to Medicine. Schools of 

 Law received $100,000. The deaf and dumb received about 

 the same amount as Science. 



The University of California received $125,000, $25,000 

 to build a library building, and $50,000 to purchase books. 

 This amount did not include a collection of works of art and 

 a library valued at $50,000. 



Yale College received $189,590. Boston University $30,- 

 000 towards the purchase of the Shepard Collection of 

 minerals. From various sources Harvard University re- 

 ceived $177,207 ; Dartmouth College, $35,000: Cornell Uni- 

 versity, $27,663 ; Union College, N. Y., $84,000 ; Oberlin 

 College, O., $25,000 ; Universitv of Virginia, $50,000 to en- 

 dow School of Geology and Natural History ; Wellesley 

 College, $155,000; Thayer Academy, Mass., $417,000; 

 Deerfield Academy, Mass., $SS,ooo ; Dean Academy, 

 $38,000. 



PALAEONTOLOGY. 



The Devonian Insects of New Brunswick. 

 In a memoir, on the Insects in the Devonian of New 

 Brunswick, Mr. S. H. Scudder draws the following conclu- 

 sions in regard to the earliest known insects : 



" It only remains to sum up the results of this re-exam- 

 ination of the Devonian Insects, and especially to discuss 

 their relation to later or now existing types. This may 

 best be done by a separate consideration of the following 

 points : 



" There is nothing in the structure of these earliest known 

 insects to interfere with a former conclusion that the gen- 

 eral type of wing structure has remained unaltered from the 

 earliest times. Three of these six insects (Gerephemera, 

 Homothetus, Xenoneura) have been shown to possess a 

 very peculiar neuration, dissimilar from both Carboniferous 

 and modern types. As will also be shown under the tenth 

 head, the dissimilarity of structure of all the Devonian In- 

 sects is much greater than would be anticipated ; yet all 

 the features of neuration can be brought into perfect har- 

 monv with the system laid down by Heer. 



" The earliest insects were Hexapods, and as far as the 

 record goes, preceded in time both Arachnids and Myria- 

 pods. 



" They were all lower Hcterometabola. 



"They are all allied or belong to the Neuroptera, using 

 the word in its widest sense. 



" Nearly all are synthetic types of comparatively narrow 

 range. 



"Nearly all bear marks of affinity to the Carboniferous 

 Palseodictyoptera, either in the reticulated surface of the 

 wing, its longitudinal neuration, or both. 



" On the other hand they are often of more and not less 

 complicated structure than most Palseodictyoptera. 



" With the < sception of the general statement under the 

 fifth head they beai little special relation to Carboniferous 

 tonus, having a distinct facics of their own. 



" The Devonian Insects were of great size, had membran 



