66 the president's address. 



together with the monstrous extravagances into which some of 

 them were seduced, perhaps at first insensibly, for the sake of 

 argument, or in hopes of victory ? 



The animal nature of the Myxogasters was a short-lived halluci- 

 nation which never attained any considerable strength, but the 

 same cannot be said of the dual-Lichen hypothesis, which is so 

 tenacious of life that it still retains a semblance of vitality. In all 

 these instances, and many more which may be cited, the same 

 elements are to be found — there is the same history, and will be 

 the same final collapse. It is noteworthy that most of these 

 11 hallucinations " — for it is difficult to give them any other equally 

 suitable name — start with an old prejudice, or a superstition, or a 

 u popular belief," something which gives plausibility to the 

 assumption. Then follows a search after analogies, and proba- 

 bilities, and the construction of an hypothesis. Subsequently 

 comes the era of experiments, often slovenly performed, but 

 studiously without any exposure of the methods. When these 

 latter become known, as in the case of Pouchet, their inefficiency 

 is readily demonstrated. These experiments, being conducted with 

 the view of proving a preconceived hypothesis, naturally enough 

 furnish the required proof. It would be very strange if it were 

 otherwise. We all know, with the microscope, how very easy it 

 is to believe that you see just what you wish to see. And, finally, 

 comes the agitation, the appeal to the " enlightened public," 

 magazine articles, public lectures, newspaper paragraphs, and all 

 the orthodox paraphernalia of a political campaign. Partisans 

 are speedily made — for no theory was ever conceived that was too 

 absurd to secure converts — and one by one new advocates appear, 

 here and there a journal takes up the cause, provided its director 

 has a notion that it will succeed, or pay, and the bubble glitters 

 and sparkles awhile in the bright sunshine, until at length it shares 

 the fate of all its kindred, leaving nothing behind but a dirty spot, 

 and a bill for soap. 



There would not be so much to regret in these manifestations, in 

 most cases dictated by personal vanity, if they did not impose un- 

 welcome labour on those who, whilst able to estimate such ebul- 

 litions at their true value, are nevertheless compelled to protest 

 against them as exaggerations and distortions of the truth, lest by 

 silence they are supposed to assent. Undoubtedly, in very many 

 cases, if not in most, the agents are sincere enough, but having 



