The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-04-24
The Ancient Greeks Better Instruct
ed in Science than Ourselves.

ed in Science than Ourselves.
Prof. Agassiz in opening a course of
lectures at Cambridge, the other dav.
said In some way the study Of natur
al history has lost rather than gained
in modern civilization. You would be
surprised to learn how well-informed
the Greeks were, for instance. about
the structure of animals. All college
students know that the ancients delight.
ed in critical analysis of intellectual
problems, as well as in dramatic and
poetical composition. and in all beant,
Of sculpture and architecture. But
think their familiarity with nature j.
not SO we'll known as their culture in let
tiers and art. Aristotle knew more Of
certain kinds of animals and their gen
eral relations than is known now. For
instance, he never confounded sharks
and skates with ordinary fishes, while
all modern naturalists would put them
in one and the same class. Strange t.
say, have studied the selacians on til,
South American coast by the light OF
Aristotle's researches upon them in til,
Mediterranean sea, made by him more
than 1000 years ago. can fairly add
that the knowledge of Aristotle on these
topics is 80 far ahead of the current in
formation recorded in modern works o.
natural history that his statements can
only be understood by one who has
ma le a special study of these animals.
The community evidently shared his
his knowledge, for he refers to text
books Of natural history which must.
from the details he gives about them.
have been superior TO those we have
now. You may seek in vain in the ar
atomical aliases of Wagner or Uarus ior
information about the structure of the
reproductive apparatus Of selacians. to
which Aristotle alludes as contained in
the textbooks OF anatomists an be.
longing to the current knowledge of the
time. Ny aim is TO give you in tins
course chm rehensiye though very
condensed sketch of geological science
in our own day and generation, attempt
ing to do what Aristotle did in his 20
Ology. wish / could handle my sub
ieot with the Same mastery. I am
forced to begin with the most elemental.
ry facts, for in the present state of our
schools, where natural history is almost
ignored, ] eeanot, even with a cultivated
audience, take any knowledge of my
subject for granted among my hearers.
The British Soldier and His Woes.
BY Mr.. Cardwell's new arrangements
the British soldiers will have slightly
increased pay, so that he will, if careful,
be able to save up about sixpence pen
dav. The war minister has, however
made one arrangement which cause,
considerable CONSERVATION among those
inscrutable personages in red coats
1--WE also propose, says Mr. Cardwen
"that in cases where the medical officer
reports that a man is in hospital from
causes for which his own conduct is re
sponsible, then the whole of his pa,
will be stopped" For some time Their,
has been a strong agitation in England
concerning the compulsory medical in
sPection and treatment of prostitutes
haunting military stations. One grea
point in the agitation has been tn
charge that the faid medical inspection
as 10 certain namelcss diseases was no
applied to men as well as women. tn,
reply to which has been that there wa
no corresponding class among men
Nevertheless, the soldiers in barrack
do constitute very nearly correspond
ing class, and now at one leap the rul
of medical inspection is not only in
sense applied to them, but a penalt.
Affixed, as is not the case with women
The result VIII hardly be favorable q
enlistment The British authorities en-
tice large number of uneducated an,
rough men To enlist; shut them in bar
racks, and deny them FOR six years Ooe
tween the ages of 20 and 80 the priv
ieges of marriage and home aroun
the barracks whore these ill-traine
bachelors dwell fits perpetual unr,
stricted flock OF soiled doves; and /
case any sOldi yields TO temptation
and suffers physically in consequence
he is 20 be disgraced and deprived
pay. The new penalty will oertainl
lead to concealments and to the vile
practices.
THAT Yale professor evineed kee
knowledge Of human nature when I
said TO student, +" II You must pll