THE NEW LABORATORIES OF THE BRUSSELS POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL FERNAND LAMBERMONT, ENGINEER A. I. G., BRUSSELS, BELGIUM. TRANSLATED BY COLINMACKENZIE MACKALL, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNNERSITY, WASHINGTON, D. C. The Departments of Pure and of Applied Science took possession of the new buildings of the University of Brussels in October, 1924. As America took such a large part in the establishment of the present University it is natural to give a description of the new equipment in THIS JOURNAL. In this article we will pass over the general architecture of the buildings, which have not yet been completed, and describe not only the chemical laboratories and those for the teaching of chemistry, but also some other laboratories which are interesting because of modern features they present. The new buildings cover 7.9 acres. The principal part of the building, five stories in height, is devoted to pharmacy, zoijlogy, botany, mineralogy, astronomy, mathematics, and analytical mechanics. The double wings are given up, in general, to the principal chemical laboratories. The laboratories for mechanics, hydraulics, and the study of materials are located in a separate building between the inside wings of the main building. The frame-work of the buildings has been constructed of reinforced concrete. The large interior court provides for future enlargement. The principal aim of these new laboratories in the Solbosch quarter of Brussels is the application of a reorganization in engineering education consisting essentially in the development of experimental studies. Our friend, Mr. Nony-HCnault, the distinguished professor and director of the laboratories of general and industrial chemistry, has clearly stated the nature of this reform in an article which appeared in a special bulletin of the Revue de I'Ecole Polytechnipue de Bruxelles for November, 1924. His remarks, moreover, apply in general to university instruction in Belgium. Until recently, the chemical studies of the future Belgian engineers were followed in common by the students of the Department of Pure Science and by those of the Department of Applied Science. This arrangement necessarily placed a very heavy load upon the professor in charge of the course, and consequently prevented him from orientin: his course in chemistry as completely as possible toward the special objective of the engineering students. Today, the separation has been made. I hasten t o say that the promoters of this reorganization have never had the idea of imposing a purely empirical or professional character upon the teaching of chemistry in the engineering curricula. On the contrary, they have wished to preserve its profoundly scientific character, seeking only to distribute the burdens which appear a t the very beginning of this instruction, leaving the less pressing problems for solution later on. This was indispensable, for the reorganization is dedicated t o the predominance of experimental instruction in scientific method, and this result could be attained only on condition that the preeent curriculum be curtailed in part an6 limits placed upon oral instruction. Thus i t has appeared to be necessary t o reduce the instruction in organic chemistry t o the barest essentials, ad-
vanced work in industrial organic chemistry being reserved for those students planning to enter the chemical industries. If necessary, a knowledze of pure organic chemistry may be ubtain
