298 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



Prof. Loescher, of the University of Wittenberg, entered a sol- 

 emn protest, declaring that the decision of the medical faculty 

 was "only a proof of the lamentable license which has so taken 

 possession of us, and which, if we are not earnestly on our guard, 

 will finally turn away from us the blessing of God." * But de- 

 nunciations of this kind could not hold back the little army of 

 science. In the last half of the eighteenth century Black, Priestley, 

 and especially Bergmann, rooted out the very foundations of the 

 whole theologic theory, and one more phantom which had long 

 troubled the earth was at last driven forth forever, f 



Thus, in spite of adverse influences, the evolution of the physi- 

 cal sciences went on. More and more there rose men bold enough 

 to break away from the theological method, and strong enough to 

 resist the enticements or threats of ecclesiasticism. Alchemy in 

 its first form, seeking for the philosopher's stone and the trans- 

 mutation of metals, gave way to alchemy in its second form, seek- 

 ing for the elixir of life and remedies more or less magical for 

 disease ; and this in turn yielded to the search for truth as truth. 

 More and more the " solemnly constituted impostors " were re- 

 sisted in every field. A great line of physicists and chemists began 

 to appear. Though theological modes of reasoning continued to 

 sterilize much effort in chemistry down to our own century, more 

 and more the old influence was thrown off ; more and more truth 

 was sought as truth ; less and less science was bent to aid in the 

 alleged " saving of souls." " Black magic " with its satanic appa- 

 ratus vanished, only reappearing occasionally among miracle- 

 mongers and belated theologians. " White magic " became leger- 

 demain. \ 



In our own time some attempt has been made to renew this 

 war against the physical sciences. Joseph de Maistre, uttering 

 his hatred of them, declaring that mankind has paid too dearly 

 for them, asserting that they must be subjected to theology, lik- 

 ening them to fire — good when confined and dangerous when scat- 

 tered about — has been one of the main leaders among those who 

 can not relinquish the idea that our body of sacred literature 

 should be kept a controlling text-book of science. The only effect 



* For Loescher's protest, see Julian Schmidt, Geschichte des geistigen Lebens, etc., 

 vol. i, p. 319. 



f For the general view of noxious gases as imps of Satan, see Hoefer, Histoire de la 

 Chimie, vol. i, p. 350, vol. ii, p. 48. For the work of Black, Priestley, Bergmann, and others, 

 see main authorities already cited, and especially the admirable paper of Dr. R. G. Eccles 

 on The Evolution of Chemistry, New York, D. Appleton & Co., 1891. 



\ For a reappearance of the fundamental doctrine of black magic among theologians, 

 see Rev. Dr. Jewett, Professor of Pastoral Theology in the Prot. Episc. Gen. Theolog. Semi- 

 nary of New York, Diabolology : The Person and Kingdom of Satan, New York, 1889. For 

 their reappearance among theosophists, see Elephas Levi, Histoire de la Magie, especially 

 the final chapters. 



