JANUARY 11, 1884.] 
co-operation should be found which can be of great 
benefit, not only to those whose opportunities have 
been small, but also not less to those who are capable 
of contributing most in such a scheme for the gen- 
eral good of science-workers. The contact of fellow- 
workers not only stimulates the intellect to its best 
efforts in the presence of appreciative hearers, but 
enables the mind to broaden its outlook, and avoid 
the effects of the cloister-like seclusion in abstraction, 
which has had such fascination for the students of 
all ages, and which has also had such serious effects 
upon the usefulness of individual life. The miscon- 
ceptions and difficulties which science has to contend 
with have also become of greater importance; and 
one has only to mention the word ‘vivisection’ to 
justify this remark, and at the same time indicate a 
field for practical effort on the part of this society, 
which should bear good fruit in the immediate future. 
In fact, whichever way we turn, whether to the purely 
practical details of making sections, or other prepara- 
tions in any branch of natural science, or to the 
broader questions of a technical nature which inter- 
est the public at large, we find in every direction paths 
of usefulness opening, which must lead to beneficial 
results for the future of science and science-workers, 
if properly and judiciously handled. 
They seem to us to embody questions which are 
vital to the unimpeded progress of science. We can, 
it is true, get along without any efforts to ameliorate 
the present condition of affairs; but will this be the 
most desirable course for the interests of science and 
for our own future satisfaction? Will the amount 
of time we may gain for investigation by remaining 
at home, and standing aloof from disturbing causes, 
repay us for the inevitable loss of influence, and the 
possible loss of future facilities for the prosecution 
of work? In some classes of work such losses are 
sure to be visited upon us, or our immediate succes- 
sors, through the growth of ignorant prejudices we 
have taken no trouble to correct or prevent. 
An able writer in Science of Oct. 26, on the sub- 
ject of vivisection, points out the necessity of taking 
some immediate steps for the information of the pub- | 
lic upon this question, and, it seems to us, uses very 
able arguments to support the conclusion, which is, 
that ‘‘the only danger lies in the ignorance of the 
great majority of ordinarily well-informed people re- 
garding such subjects.”? This writer, in conclusion, 
remarks with great force, ‘‘ Secrecy, not publicity, 
is what American physiology has to fear.’’ 
The society may disagree with me, and perhaps 
consider it unnecessary to take any active steps in 
this direction ; but the unavoidable effects of the gen- 
eral discussion of such a question will be very reas- 
suring to the men who will have to bear the brunt 
of the coming struggle; and every one who takes 
part in it will find that his opinions and future course 
may be more or less influenced, and perhaps even 
determined, by what he may hear. 
Those most deeply interested in the eda 
association will surely be willing to grant that such 
questions can be more effectively handled in a society 
composed of purely professional men, whose undi- 
SCIENCE. 
45 
vided attention can be given to them, whose inter- 
est is of the deepest nature, and who can be de- 
pended upon to give sufficient time and work when 
appointed on committees. 
Another question which seems to me of absorbing 
general interest relates to a matter about which 
great differences of opinion may exist, even among 
scientific men themselves; and in this I speak purely 
as an advocate of one side. What can we do to call 
the attention of the institutions of learning to the 
fact that their duties to science and the future of 
investigation demand a change of policy? Through- 
out the country, and even in the higher institutions, 
false views are prevalent with regard to the qualifica- 
tions necessary for teaching science. We find science- 
teaching placed on the same basis as mathematics 
and the languages, in which books are the necessary 
media for the communication of ideas. It is com- 
monly supposed that a man can learn his lesson, and 
repeat it to scholars, and that one may be a good 
teacher of a science of observation without being him- 
self an observer. In some places even, a tendency to- 
wards investigation is considered a disqualification, 
‘since it withdraws the mind from giving full atten- 
tion to the practical duties of the classroom. Insuch 
places education is measured by the quantity, and rule 
of thumb, by the amount of supposed knowledge 
gained, without relation to how it is gained, or what 
habits of mind are cultivated in the operation. Un- 
doubtedly, the teacher in such places may need and 
acquire a certain amount of dexterity and success as 
a mental taxidermist; but that he will ever inten- 
tionally train a single student to do original work is 
beyond belief. 
The slight amount of respect and consideration 
shown to the claims of the investigator are in part due 
to this evil, and in part to a custom which is exces- 
sively hard to deal with. We refer to the habit, very 
prevalent in this country, of sending children to the 
same colleges at which the parents themselves have 
been graduated. This habit shows some signs of break- 
ing up, and the technical schools are doing fine work 
in this direction; still, the American mind is conser- 
vative in respect to education, and tends to keep the 
hereditary colleges full, irrespective of their intrinsic 
worth. If these institutions should have to rely solely 
upon their educational attractions, we should find 
that the individuality of instructors, their reputation 
for sound learning and original thought, and their 
capacity to do the highest kind of teaching, would 
eventually command the same respect, and perhaps 
the same emoluments, as in Germany. 
Can we, as a body, arrive at any general agree- 
ment of what should be done with regard to such 
vital questions? or can we even do any thing towards 
the formation of an opinion of what it would be desir- 
able todo? ‘This last result will seem tame to many 
energetic minds; but the speaker is old enough to 
have seen the mighty effects of active and determined 
agitation upon what is familiarly known as public 
sentiment. Sooner or later—and generally much 
sooner than any but the most sanguine agitator can 
anticipate — the times become ripened, and the last 
