772 Scientific Intelligence, 



2. Principles and Practice of Filling Teeth; by C. N. John- 

 son. Fourth Edition. Pp. xii, 286. Philadelphia, 1918 (P. 

 Blakiston's Son & Co.). — A new edition of a popular treatise on 

 the technique of the subject by the editor of "The Dental 

 Review." The author states that the subject of oral prophylaxis 

 has been given added attention. His good judgment is attested 

 by the following quotation: "The mania for smoothness and 

 evenness which impels an operator to grind down all small 

 prominences on the teeth is reprehensible in the highest degree. 

 This is not prophylaxis ; it is vandalism. " l. b. m. 



3. A Study of Engineering Education; by Charles Biborg 

 Mann. Prepared for the Joint Committee on Engineering Edu- 

 cation of the National Engineering Societies. Carnegie Founda- 

 tion for the Advancement of Teaching. Bulletin No. XI. Pp. 

 xi, 139. New York City (576 Fifth Avenue) , 1918.— This recent 

 bulletin of the Carnegie Foundation presents the results reached 

 by four years work of the joint committee mentioned above. The 

 contents are summarized in part as follows : ' ' The origin of the 

 present system of engineering schools is traced in detail, and its 

 characteristics, both good and bad, are frankly stated. Its opera- 

 tion is studied mainly from the point of view of the effect upon 

 the student and there is a careful examination of entrance records 

 and college courses, as well as a brief summary of the current 

 methods of instruction. On the basis of this analysis of the 

 present situation, the larger problems of engineering education 

 are considered to be those of admission, content of courses, fac- 

 ulty organization, and curriculum. The treatment culminates 

 in a definition of each of the larger problems in terms of the 

 requirements of the profession and of the young men who wish 

 to enter." 



"Numerous suggestions are presented as to ways and means 

 of solving the problems thus defined, in an effort to reach the 

 general principles which seem best qualified to help each school 

 in solving the problem according to its own peculiar circum- 

 stances. Among the suggestions may be mentioned the necessity 

 for more objective methods of rating and testing students and 

 more accurate records of achievement; the need for closer 

 cooperation among the several departments of instruction at each 

 school ; the introduction of practical experience with engineering 

 materials into the Freshman year; and the increase in the 

 emphasis placed upon the humanities and humanistic studies." 



4. National Academy of Sciences. — The autumn meeting of 

 the National Academy was held on November 18, 19, at the Johns 

 Hopkins University, Baltimore. 



