[November, 
684 Analyses of Books, 
teaching of the subject altogether, he must perforce keep in view 
two ends that are distindt from each other. The writer of a spe- 
cial text-book such as this encounters the same difficulty ; there 
is, on the one hand, the strong temptation to treat the subject so 
as to give a sound elementary basis of knowledge, regardless of 
examiners and examinations ; or, on the other, to study the idio- 
syncracies of particular examiners, and simply to provide the 
material for answers to their questions.” 
We have seldom seen the case against the Science and Art 
Department put so tersely, so calmly, and yet with such over- 
whelming power. Here is the admission that a “ thorough 
knowledge say, of chemistry — does not necessarily imply suc- 
cess at the examinations ; that the latter objedt is something 
perfectly distindl from the former ; and that teacher and pupil 
are both encumbered by attemping to combine two incongruous 
aims. It is further confessed that “ to sacrifice the true teaching 
of the subjedt ” is a way, and an easier way, to good results at 
the examinations. It is further plain that examination no longer 
seeks to play the humble though perhaps necessary part of a test 
of the student’s knowledge ; it is made not a means, but an end. 
Hence all teachers who do not indulge in the costly luxury of a 
conscience do actually sacrifice true teaching to getting a large 
proportion of their students to pass. Hence those pseudo- 
students who have no love for Science, and who seek merely 
certificates, medals, and degrees, are enabled to thrust sterling 
merit into the background. 
The “ Science and Art Department ” is one of the saddest 
mistakes into which a nation ever fell ; and if we wish to make 
sound progress in Science, pure or applied, one of our first steps 
should be its total abolition. 
Technical Vocabulary , English-French, for Scientific, Technical , 
and Industrial Students. By Dr. F. J. Wershoven, Author 
of the English and German and French and German Tech- 
nical Vocabularies. London and Paris : Librairie Hachette 
et Cie. Boston : Karl Schcenhof. 
This useful little work is divided into three sections. The first 
gives, in parallel columns, the French and English technical 
terms used in mechanics and in all the branches of physics ; the 
second section treats, in the same style, of chemistry and metal- 
lurgy ; whilst the third is devoted to machinery, railways, and to 
certain arts and manufactures. Astronomy and biology, with the 
applications of the former in navigation, and of the latter in 
medicine, agriculture, &c., are not included. 
