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 tendencies 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 of 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 of 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, 21 1 graduates, 3,000 volumes in libraries, 
$161,000 in grounds, buildings, and apparatus, and $8,960 
receipts from tuition. The homoeopathists reported 11 
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 
the reputation of American learning and the value of Am- 
erican degrees in other countries ; but the Federal Govern- 
ment did not create the corporations which are causing this 
scandal and has no power to cancel their charters. It is for 
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 degrees in course and honor- 
ary conferred by reputable institutions of learning needs no 
further explanation : 
The number of degrees of all classes conferred was, in 
course, 9,999, honorary, 396, divided as follows : letters, 
in course, 3,631, honorary, 114 ; science, in course, 990, 
honorary, 6 ; philosophy, in course, 222, honorary, 31 ; art, 
in course, 46; theology, in course, 222, honorary, 159; 
medicine, in course, 3,814, honorary, 4; law, in course, 
I,ooo, honorary, 78. Of these degrees, classical 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, $100,000; 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 ot 
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 ; University 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., $88,000 ; 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- 
mony 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 Heterometabola. 
“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 
Palreodictyoptera, 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 exception of the general statement under the 
fifth head they bear little special relation to Carboniferous 
forms, having a distinct facies of their own. 
“ The Devonian Insects were of great size, had membran 
