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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



The overtasked teacher finds a child slow, and places it with more 

 backward children, which increases its slowness. A more exact 

 test of the child's mind may show that it is indeed slow, but that 

 the slowness is more than counterbalanced by intensity and range. 

 Methods must be applied which will shorten the time of thought, 

 and will not interfere with its force and extent. We can deter- 

 mine what size and composition of class, what length of lesson, 

 session, and term are most favorable. We can learn whether it is 

 better for the student to do a thing, to see it, to hear it, or to read 

 about it. We can never build a road to learning which need not 

 be traveled by the student, but we can build a royal road in the 

 sense that it is the shortest and best of roads. Above all, our 

 tests and measurements will demonstrate the value of learning 

 itself, and tell us whether under given circumstances it is secured 

 by the development or sacrifice of more essential qualities, such 

 as health of body, serenity of mind, common sense, honesty, and 

 kindliness. 



In laboratories of psychology not only children but every one 

 can be tested, and small defects or changes in the senses and fac- 

 ulties can be discovered. Psychology may thus become an ally 

 of medicine. Degenerations which escape common observation, 

 and even the practiced eye of the physician, can be detected and 

 measured by scientific methods. The overstrained clergyman or 

 man of business can be told when a holiday is necessary, how 

 long it must last, whether rest or amusement be required. As 

 an example of the co-operation of psychology and medicine, sur- 

 gery of the brain can be given. The part of the brain which is 

 diseased is determined by psychophysical methods, the skull is 

 opened, the diseased part of the brain is removed, and the patient 

 may be cured. Psychological methods are useful not only in the 

 diagnosis but also in the cure of many diseases. We know much 

 better than formerly how the insane, the vicious, and the crim- 

 inal should be treated. We know, for example, that social work 

 is far better than solitary confinement. Even diseases not directly 

 dependent on the nervous system may be cured by psychophys- 

 ical methods — for example, suggesting to the patient in the hyp- 

 notic state that he will be cured. 



Those in good health may also profit from an examination in 

 a laboratory of psychology. Valuable traits can be determined 

 as well as defects, and the profession and mode of life most suit- 

 able to the person can be indicated. As has been suggested by 

 Mr. G-alton, such tests would be peculiarly useful in civil-service 

 examinations. They would determine the real qualities and fit- 

 ness of the candidate in addition to (or in place of) the super- 

 ficial knowledge temporarily acquired by " cram." While we have 

 but little power to alter the individual character, we could exert 



