WITH THE MICROSCOPE. 189 



erroneous. This sort of false observation has, as would be supposed, 

 created in some minds complete scepticism of all observation, and 

 has deplorably retarded true progress- It is quite curious to 

 notice how some writers .condemn theory and commend what they 

 term the observation of facts, as if it had been incontestably shown 

 that results arrived at from speculation must be invariably false, and 

 those from observation as invariably true. Any oae who has had 

 experience in microscopical enquiry knows how difficult it is to prove 

 that what he sees is really the thing as it actually is in nature, and not 

 a mere fanciful interpretation of his own. Many indeed have been 

 the errors introduced by speculative thinkers, but I doubt if more 

 errors are not in these days advanced by the self-styled practical 

 observers, than by those whom the latter are ever ready 'to condemn 

 as mere theoretical dreamers. A man -says he has seen such and such 

 a thing, and gives drawings of the thing seen. He explains to 

 friends what he has seen, shows them the object in question, tells 

 them what they are to see, and they, knowing nothing about seeing, 

 but not liking to offend their friend, or being too lazy to trouble them- 

 selves about the matter, say they see the thing as they have been told 

 it is to be seen. Such is the evidence which when duly chronicled and 

 printed seems to amount almost to actual proof and yet &o many, 

 many times has this process been repeated in the case of almost every 

 doubtful anatomical point as to justify the conclusion that the process 

 of observing facts is as unsatisfactory and as fallacious as the process 

 of imagining and speculating without observing at aU. At this time 

 what a mass of thoroughly conflicting evidence is advanced on 

 almost every question ! Three or four views are taught concerning 

 first principles of anatomical and physiological science, each one 

 being quite incompatible with the rest, but nevertheless, supported 

 by an immense amount of what purports to be evidence based upon 

 observation. It is obvious in such a case that many of the statements 

 must be false, and many of the facts advanced must be errors ; and 

 yet with what pertinacity are they maintained, and what an amoant 

 of work must be done, and what a length of time must elapse before 

 the false facts can be demonstrated to be really false and the true 

 facts proved to be really true ! 



Years must be passed in patient investigation before a man can 

 expect t be able to trust himself as an observer of facts, and it is 

 only by careful and unremitting exercise that he will gradually acquire 

 habits of attentive observation and the power of thoughtful discrimi- 

 nation which can alone render his conclusions reliable. Indeed, 

 though he labour hard and earnestly, he will scarcely have properly 

 educated himself ere his powers begin to decay and he become liable 



