Page:Science vol. 5.djvu/407

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��ft result of these com pari sons, it mky be concluded Uiftt the hypogloMsl nerve o( the Sauropslda and Uamtnivlia Is not a Kparation from the anterior roots of the vagus, but is formeii by ike eitaleseenen oS a KwiahtT — prohahly three — of anterior spinal nerve*.

Since the comptelion of ray manuscript, the last number of the Archlt fHf aiiatomie and physioloate baa been received ; and therein is a, paper by Professor Froriep of Tiiblngen, dealing, among other things, with tbiK very point as to the orlfcin and morphological relations of the hypoglossal. His observations were carried on by means of sections through very young

��three distinct parts, which eventually unite; the union occurring first near the origin of the nerve, and proceeding centrifugally. To empbaaize the similarity between Froriep'« results based on embry- ological data, and my own deduced from anatomical facts, It will be well to quote a sentence from his paper. In summing up, he says, " The hypoglossus Is formed by the union of a number of aegmeutal spinal nerves, each of which is composed of two roots, — a ventral and a dorsal, — exactly like spinal nerves." J. Playfaib McMurbicii.

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��', Md.

��In Science (vol. v. p. 324) you slate, that, until the present year, no special provision had been made in Wisconsin tor the education of deaf-mutes. This is a mistake. The Wisconsin institution at Delaian, one of the best in the country, has been In successful operation since 1852, and two private schools are also fu evidtence. The returns of the recent census, how- ever, have shown that a large number of the deaf children of Wisconsin are growing up In ignorance, and that existing provisions tor their InitrucUun are inade<|Uate. The bill that has just passed the Wis- consin legislature Is an attempt to remedy the evil by a change In the policy of the state towards her deaf and dumb. The new plan may be tersely described as the policy of deceniraUzalian, The old policy of eealralizatioa — that Is, Ihn policy of collecting into one school all the deaf-mutes of a state — has everywhere failed to bring under instruction a large proportion of the deaf-mutes of scliool age. For example : there were In the United Stales In 18S0, according to the last census, 15,059 deaf-mutes ot school age (six to twenty years); while the total num- ber of deaf-mutes returned as then in the institutions and schools of America was only 5,3(>3, and many of these were beyond the school age. A similar re- sult is obtained when we examine the itatisCics of each state taken separately.

Parents hare a natural reluctance to part with their deaf children, who, more than others, reijuire home care and attention. Hut education In an institution involves separation from honie. Some parents will not pari with their children excepting on compulsion ; others clelay the separation until the most impression- able period of life has been passed; and still others deprive their children of education on account of the value of their labor at home.

The nearer the school can he brought to llie borne of a deaf child, the less likelihood is there that be will escape instruction. The promoters of the Wis- consin bill believe that In many of the incorporated cities and villages of that state the deaf children

��could, with iimiled state aid, he educated in the local- ities where they reside ; and that, if day-schools were established wherever possible, the Institution at Del- avan would be able to accommodate all who could not attend a day-school.

The bill grants slate aid to any incorporated city or village supporting a school for deaf-mutes, to the ex- lent of a hundred dollars per annum for every pupil Instructed. The state appropriation alone will prob-

��ing only one deaf child, which, of course, would have to be supported mainly from local sources, may, by complying with the provisions of the bill, receive state aid to the amount of a hundred dollars per an-

Under such a law, there sboutd be no excuse for lack of instruction. Public opinion will probably compel the education of deaf-mutes: for, If allowed to grow up without instruction, ihey very easily be- come dangerous members ot society; while, if edu- cated, they become good citizens, amenable to the laws of society, and sources of wealth to the state. If only as a measure of economy, the Wisconsin bill demands consideration; for the average per capita cost of ihe education of a deaf child in an American institution exceeds two hundred and twenty-threa dollars, whereas Ihe cost to the state, on the Wiscon- sin plan. Is limited to a hundred dollars.

But other considerations are of still greater im- portance. It certainly seems reasonable Ut expect that the Wisconsin plan, consisting of a central Inslllution and a targe number of small day-schools scattered throughout the state, will bring under in- struction a larger percentage of the deaf children of school age than would be possible on Ihe Institu- tion plan alone. Instruct ion can also i>e com- menced in the day-schools at an earlier age than heretofore; so that many pupils could receive pre- paratory instruction In a day-school before entering the institution, and thus be enabled to receive from the institution a higher and better education Uian they could otherwise hope to obtain.

ALBVANSER GRAUAU UELt_ WuklDEloo, D.C., April n.

��The only known bird with a complete fibula is the Jurassic Arcbacopleryx (Marsh, Dames). The flbuia of all birds is complete during the early life of the embryo. I find in an adult Pandion carollneiisis of Prof. O, C. Marsh's collection an entire Sbnla, bal with the distal end of It not In front ot the tibia, aa in Archoeopteryx (Marsh). It would be interesting to examine the embryos of this bird ; and I will be very much obliged to anybody who can send me any of them. Dh. G. Baur.

yilu-eoUegF muiiFum, N'cw navin. Oonn..

��Digestion experiments.

I have rend with some surprise the comments by Dr. E. r.ewis Slurtevanl in Science, April H, upon my article on ' Errors In digestion ex|>erlmenls,' Inas- much as t had no Intention, in that article, of assert- ing or implying any thing whatever in regard to other experiments of that character in this country. Tbe purpose of the article nss to tiall attention to the

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