1884.] on the Physiological Aspect of Mesmerism. 43 



opinion they had much justification. A scientific man has always 

 before him some problems which he knows he can solve, or help to 

 solve. He has always before him a road which he knows leads 

 somewhither. Mesmerism was long mixed up with assertions of the 

 transmission of cerebral fluid, with impossible notions which had 

 been banished from physiology, and with charlatanism. The scientific 

 man of that day may, I think, be readily pardoned for supposing 

 that the facts which were given as not more true than the theories, 

 might be equally false. Why should he leave the fruitful work his 

 hand had found to do for that which to all appearance would be barren. 

 Dr. Esdaile, who although himself not altogether free from blame 

 for mystifying the subject, yet did much to advance it, expresses 

 what must have been a general feeling : — " The ignorance and pre- 

 sumption of man ; his passion for the mysterious and marvellous ; his 

 powers of self-delusion, with the pranks of knaves and the simplicity 

 of fools, have so mystified the subject, that the artificial difficulties 

 cost us more trouble to remove than the natural ; and a mass of 

 rubbish must be got rid of before we can reach the foundation stone 

 of truth." 



[J. N. L.] 



WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, 



Friday, March 21, 1884. 



Sir William Bowman, Bart. LL.D. F.E.S. Honorary Secretary and 

 Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Matthew Arnold, Esq. 



Emerson. 



[For Abstract see Maemillan's Magazine for May, 1883.] 



