attend lectures and go through manipulations in chemistry,
physics, mathematics, and draughting in common.

"At the end of the third semester they are divided into 10
physical and 20 chemical students.

"From this moment, although certain courses still remain wholly
or partially common to the two categories of pupils (physical and
chemical), the same is no longer the case with regard to the
practical exercises, for the physical students thereafter
manipulate only in the physical laboratories, and the chemical
only in the chemical laboratories; moreover, the manipulations
acquire a greater importance through the time that is devoted to
them.

"At each promotion the three first semesters are taken up with
general and scientific studies. Technical applications are the
subject of the lectures and exercises of the three last
semesters. At the end of the third year certificates are given to
those pupils who have undergone examination in a satisfactory
manner, and diplomas to such as have particularly distinguished
themselves."

When pupils have been received at the school, after passing the
necessary examination, their time of working is divided up between
lectures and questionings and different laboratory manipulations.

The course of lectures on general and applied physics comprises
hydrostatics and heat (Prof. Dommer), electricity and magnetism (Prof.
Hospitalier), and optics and acoustics (Prof. Baille). Lectures on