PROGRESS OF SCIENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6296, 21 January 1882, Page 7

PROGRESS OF SCIENCE.

Sip. John Lubbock, in opening the Jubilee, •Meeting ot the British Association at York recently, surveyed the progress wWu science has made during the past fifty years. Beginning with' tbe subject with which he is most familiar, that of biology, he said it was estimated that whereas in 1831 not more than 70,000 animals had been described,, uow th» number was at least 320,001). The theory of spontaneous generation, resulting in the discovery of germs? had had its influence upon surgery, and further researches would probably discover methods of stopping the sources of disease. In the period under review—to indicate illustrations from various sciences— most of the gigantic animals revealed by geology had been described; spectrum analysis had portrayed the composition of the heavenly bodies; the mechanical equivalent of heat had been determined ; electricity had made astoniiihing development; photography had been discovered ; . mechanical, science had. made wonderful stndey, owing to the new processes in the manufacture of iron; and it was within the last fifty years that our railway system and our steamboats had b«en constructed. f