DOMESTIC SCIENCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 734, 5 February 1910, Page 11

DOMESTIC SCIENCE.

;,..,'y,:A ; uNTpiiisraYjpß V,;.The''resoluti6ri carried University. ;Senate, on'.;.its last, .day,'of that ' domestic science should be.made. a subject in tho B.Sc. examination, was the outcome 'of an offer'made'some years ago by: Mr. John Studholme,- of. Canterbury, tocontributa/a largo sum-towards the-salary of a lady lecturer 'on domestic' science. -Mr. Studholme had at that time returned from a visit to England' and America, and he had been so much impressed.by the anility and efficiency of one such lecturer -whom ho met that he asked the authorities to Vhom his offer'was mado to engage her services. However, in the course of the negotiations which followed, a letter>was received■'. from., the lady intimating that'her. knowledge of domestic science' Was henceforth to be entirely at:the. service of one, man. She could ; not como, to New Zealand;: Later, Mr.' Studholme offered to, endow a Chair of Domestic Economy, at the Otago University, and there was among many;of the people connected with the university; a strong desire that.,it. should.be adopted. At a special -meeting of the ; council held in August to consider the offer, it was' stated that Dr.Truby Kin's and Dr.Batchelor had virtually promised, if sary' to : lease -suitable nouses and place them at the disposal :of. the council, to be used as model-houses, >where the girls might be;trained;Mt was evident that the council ■.• regarded - the matter as experimental; and they -wished the. experiment to bo tried for at least four years. --.Dr. Church 'opposed,the; motion, ; - and . urged tbat'thb subject would be better taught in tho technical'schools. rough-out-line-suggested, by -the council for, the I university-courses was as.follows:— i' ...

' I.—University; courses—namely:. 1. A three-year course for' tho Bachelor of Science.in domestic science.- 2/ A- twoyear course for; a ■ diploma in : domestic science (for instance, associate in,domestic science). 3. A short courso of one,year. Technical' School: 1. A-one-year course, which might be spread over two or three years; 2. Short courses occupying, three months.

B.Sc: Science) Three-year Course.—Preliminary: ■ 1, English ; 2, • French or German! 3, arithmetic; 4, algebra; 5, geometry; 6, elemontary chemistry ■ •", or elementary!, physics (heat and light); 7, elementary botany, or elementary zoology. Intermediate: 1, English, as for 8.A.; 2, either, inorganic chemistry as for medical. intermediate, or physics for medical intermediate (whichever was hot taken in the preliminary),; 3, biology, as for, medical intermediate. Final.—l, Physiology,- as for the first -professional medical (the practical work to include so much-anatomy as is necessary for the proper treatment of physiology); 2, household chemistry;-3, foods— (a) food production and manufacture, (b) food preparation, pre-requisite or parallel course of 40 lessons (practical) in cookery; 4, nutrition and dietetics, practical work at a children's hospital or other institution; 5,- domestic hygiene; 6, household economics, practical work in model house.

Diploma (two-year ' course).—Preliminary: Civil Service junior or senior free place certificate (with science). Pinal: Intermediate chemistry, intermediate physics, arid other subjects, as for final B.Sc, slightly lower standard being required. ••'"'.■■'.■■-' . One Year: Course (at University):-Pre-liminaxy: As for diploma; also—(1)' preliminary work in' elementary physics, chemistry,'and physiology; (2) food preparation; (3) nutrition and dietetics; (4) domestic hygiene or household economics. This sounds simple enough* if hardly sufficiently domestic, but tho definitions of ,tho subjects -as submitted to the Senate last week show that .the students would havo to work terrifically hard for their degrees. ■ /. ,". VSome would think these: subjects, alone almost sufficient, without the French or Latin or English belonging to the rest of the course. :.■■.■

Domestic Science ■ I . (two papers) s—. Household chemistry. . Study ,of sugars, starches, glucoses, fibres, fats: and oils,; protcids, ; extractives, mineral matter or ash, water, volatile products; separation of the most commonly occurring carbo- . hydrates, proteids aiid fats;' testing of Hour, meal, cereals/sugar, syrup' and molasses, edible oils and: fats; butter, milk, meats, tea, coffee, .cocoa, wines, etc., baking power," ; vinegar, spices,' ■ burning oils, coal, water, soap, bluing, bleaches, etc.; examination• of ,tin, galvanised and enamelled ware, for lead anil arsenic; the

effect of- alkalies and, organio acids on bright and tarnished metals such- as copper,- zinc, iron.-'etc.'...,.-/iv':';,'''-:,v ; , - ~-> :•' i."• Domesfic;-Sciehce:<lli-(two* 'papers): ' (a) Food'^production';and. manufacture,'' Quesjy6ns,'oased ..upon. ;the''following■• course: ■The .preparation bf''.tHoi'va'ridus staple foods'fr'onr thetuw.'state to,"'the finished product,.in raarketable'.f form, including the composition; , nutritive''''value; ; and cost of the..available'' fruits, vegetables, sugars, ' meats;'-'- edible ' oils, : dairy .products,; teal', - coffee, ; chocolate, alcoholic beverages,; spices, Vand, condiments.' : The processes of- drying, salting, . smoking, canning,, ' and- preserving," together with -the question 1 ,of- adulteration and'.; substitution: .Tho laboratory work consists of physical arid chemical" tests to indicate the composition, purity; and availability of the product. The •economic, value of the material as < ascertained by test, (b) Food preparation'.'Qucstions based upon the ; following; course: ;iThe preparation of food materials' based on the knowledge of -their composition'and the chemical .changes effected' by -heat and moisture, the relative' 'value of cooking, processes- in retaining ■• nutritive principles, .'in' • most . digestible > form (i) especially the methods 'of. preparation best suited •to available' forms of' a given food'.material, (ii) Study of-recipes,' to determine how; they. caTry out these principles; and economise material, fuel, and labour; the adaptation of established recipes, domestic and foreign to new-process food materials; the .-grouping '-of recipes, according to their new' type .forms. -: (lii) Study of the psychological and physiologi-cal-effect of. pleasing .flavours .•''attractiveness and variety, in serving ;• methods of accomplishing; these results with a minimum.of labour and expense.'' (iv) Cost of food and marketing.. (y) Discussion of materials and-recipes suitable, for school use. Domestic Science -111 (two •: papers) :—(a) Nutrition and dietetics. -Questions based on the.foUowing oourse: The practical aspects, of : nutrition and-the money values of. food.-. Dietaries for. individuals,' families, and i institutions under normal and abnormal conditions of health and . environment; the'.'family .dietary—the fced■ing;of infants,.ohildren, adults, the aged; institutional arid special dietaries for public and. private institutions;.' college: dormitories, , school; lunchroom s,". restaurants, hospitals and asylums, and ..special diets for.the''sick. ' ;■'! -.. •--",■■:.- " :

■ (b) Domestic hygiene. The, house as a factor in health!--:-sanitation, surroundings, plan and.construction...ventilation, heating,' drainage, plumbing,,lighting, furnishing, water, supply, oleansing, general sanitary conditions from ' a practical and scientific standpoint. Home "■■ art. . Personal hygiene (apart from food questions)'; clothing, ;work and rest,' suitable occupations; care of the body; exercise; laundering. .Home nursing.and emergencies. ".'■'•' (c) Household economies. The organisation of the home and its adaptation vto modern conditions^systematic methods of housekeepi ng; the cost. of living;: household i accounts; domestic ■ service'.'

A story for': the young folk will be found on page-10 of this, issue. .Remember, the awful example of the young fellow : in the story. - A girl towards whom he had "intentions*' was telhnglum about some little incident she had been in, and said: "I was so ashamed that I covered my mouth with my hand." /Inrsure, he protested in a gallant attempt to pay a pretty compliment, "such atmy hand.could never cover such a— er—do you think ifs'going to/rain?" The cultivation.:of opium ih India is a uovernment monopoly.