50 Proceedings of Indiana Academy of Science 
lectively, and how intimately bound up with these is the matter of 
discovery and correct application of the scientific principles upon which 
the universe operates, we may ask the question: What of the man 
who, in the full knowledge of all this, deliberately distorts the truths 
of science in order to deceive, to harm or to rob human beings of their 
benefits, and especially if this be done for personal gain, financial or 
otherwise? What, in short, of the faker of science? 
Deception and thievery have always proved to be profitable enter- 
prises, in a temporary sense, at least. How much easier and how much 
more pleasant a job it is to permit others to do the drudgery involved 
in high achievement and then magnanimously to shoulder the profits or 
the credit or whatever gain is involved, and to appropriate it to one’s 
self. How simple a proposition to take the discoveries of science and 
the scientific achievements of men’s minds and to misapply them to 
one’s own financial gain or credit and this, frequently, in a quite spec- 
tacular manner, trusting to universal ignorance and inexhaustible human 
credulity for success in the undertaking. 
If one were to attempt to give even scant notice to any considerable 
proportion of individual fakers of science, and of their fakes, that are 
recorded in literature the result would be a ponderous volume. Far be 
it from me to inflict any such attempt upon this grave and dignified 
body. But I should like briefly to discuss a few outstanding classes of 
fakers, using this discussion for the conveyance of certain personal 
opinions that have long been struggling for expression. 
Schemes for accomplishing work without supplying energy or con- 
suming materials have long engaged the attention of pseudo-scientists. 
These are so familiar to everyone, under the general head of “perpetual 
motion” contrivances, that we shall waste no time in discussing them. 
In most cases work and study have been spent upon such ideas as a 
result of lack of scientific training on the part of the schemers and we 
can feel only pity for the misguided zealot who spends the best ‘years 
of his life in chasing such a phantom. It is only when a device of 
the “perpetual motion” class is actually produced for demonstration for 
the purpose of obtaining financial aid or credit for the “inventor” that 
the latter qualifies for the society of fakers. For he must necessarily 
know, before that event, that the machine will not work and that the 
scheme is impractical and he becomes then a plain swindler—a real 
faker of science. 
So much for this ancient class of fakers. I should like to give brief 
mention, now, to the Free-Energy faker. This is truly a clever and 
audacious individual. The most recent developments of physical and 
chemical science have given a tremendous emphasis to the possibilities 
of utilization of energy stored in the individual atom. This energy 
is a reality and the problem of its practical utilization is one of the 
many fascinating fields for future exploration. The general, non- 
scientific public also has caught something of the vision and, with little 
or no understanding of the real meaning of the discoveries that have 
already been made, is nevertheless willing to accord a certain doubtful 
respect to the scientist himself. Here is the golden opportunity for 
the faker. Ever on the alert and with an eye to the main chance, he 
