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INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS OF RESEARCH. 
following passage from the address of the first President of 
this Society, Joseph Henry, given on November 24, 1877 : 
Ihe general mental qualification necessary for scientific 
advancement is that which is usually denominated ‘common 
sense, though, added to this, imagination, induction, and 
trained logic, either ot common language or of mathematics, 
are important adjuncts. Nor are the objects of scientific 
culture difficult of attainment. It has been truly said that 
the seeds ot great discoveries are constantly floating around 
us, but they only take root in minds well prepared to receive 
them/ ” 1 
Henry s insistence on the application in our scientific work 
of common sense” reminds one of Clifford’s apt definition 
ot science as being “organized common sense.” 
Publication of Results of Research Work. 
W e come next to the question of publication of the results 
of research. I think it may be taken as almost axiomatic 
that whatever is worthy of investigation should be made 
known in some effective manner, so as to reach without 
question those concerned. The multiplicity of literature on 
any one subject or even on any small portion thereof is now- 
adays such that the worker finds it utterly impossible to keep 
abreast of publications, even those in his own field, to say 
nothing of kindred ones. 
He is forced more and more to rely on abstracts — at least 
in so far as to direct him to that which he unquestionably 
must consult in the original, if possible. In my own par- 
ticular line of work I rarely find that an abstract supplies 
all that is needed, and I almost invariably prefer to work 
directly with the original. I have heard similar statements 
from workers in other fields. 
If it be true, then, that the investigator usually finds 
it necessary to consult the original publications, the next 
conclusion to be drawn is that the publication of any re- 
search work should, in general, be of such form and size as 
to permit the widest distribution possible, not only among 
the libraries and the principal seats of learning, but also 
among the workers and institutions immediately interested, 
18— Bull. Phil, Soc., Wash,, Vol. 15. 
