81. The Seventieth Assembly of German Naturalists and Physicians

The Seventieth Assembly of German Naturalists and Physicians will take place in Düsseldorf from September 19 to 24. The topics of the announced lectures are very promising. The following will speak: Professor Dr. Klein (Göttingen) on: "University and Technical College", Professor Dr. Tillmanns (Leipzig) on: "One Hundred Years of Surgery", Professor Dr. Martius (Rostock) on: "Causes of Disease and Disease Systems", Professor van t'Hoff (Berlin) on: "The Increasing Importance of Inorganic Chemistry". In addition to other lectures, Professor Virchow has also agreed to give a lecture on a topic to be determined later. In addition to the existing sections, a new one for applied mathematics and engineering and one for the history of medicine are to be established. Four exhibitions are to be associated with the meeting: 1. a historical one, 2. one showing photography in the service of science, 3. one of scientific, medical-surgical, pharmaceutical and hygienic apparatus, preparations and so on, and 4. an exhibition of physical and chemical teaching aids. A congress of anti-alcoholic physicians will be connected with this naturalists' convention - a modern feature must not be missing anywhere today. In the comments contained in the last issue* of this journal on the seventieth assembly of German naturalists and physicians, the lecture given by Professor J. Baumann on the educational value of grammar schools and secondary schools and on the importance of science teaching was commemorated. Another speaker at this meeting, Professor Pietzker (Nordhausen), provided a nice addition to Baumann's remarks. He spoke about how, in his opinion, science lessons should be organized if they are to meet the requirements of modern intellectual life. Above all, it is necessary to imbue the subject matter with a philosophical spirit. Not only a clear view of the obvious processes, but also thinking about these processes should be cultivated. It is gratifying that voices can be heard again that want to help reflection to its rightful place after it has been banned by natural scientists for almost half a century and thoughtless observation has been pampered instead.