256 SCIENCE. [x. 



plishments, to the neglect, most often, of any sound 

 practical training of their faculties. We should not 

 see slight indigestion, or temporary rushes of blood to 

 the head, condemned and punished as sins against Him 

 who took up little children in His arms and blessed 

 them. 



But we may have hope. When we compare edu- 

 cation now with what it was even forty years ago, 

 much more with the stupid brutality of the monastic 

 system, we may hail for children, as well as for grown 

 people, the advent of the reign of common sense. 



And for woman What might I not say on that 

 point ? But most of it would be fitly discussed only 

 among physicians and biologists : here I will say only 

 this : Science has exterminated, at least among civilised 

 nations, witch-manias. Women at least white women 

 are no longer tortured or burnt alive from man's blind 

 fear of the unknown. If science had done no more 

 than that, she would deserve the perpetual thanks and 

 the perpetual trust, not only of the women whom she 

 has preserved from agony, but the men whom she has 

 preserved from crime. 



These benefits have already accrued to civilised 

 men, because they have lately allowed a very few of 

 their number peaceably to imitate Mr. Rarey, and find 

 out what nature or rather, to speak at once reverently 

 and accurately, He who made nature is thinking of; 

 and obey the " voluntatem Dei in rebus revelatam." 

 This science has done, while yet in her infancy. What 

 she will do in her maturity, who dare predict ? At 

 least, in the face of such facts as these, those who bid 

 us fear, or restrain, or mutilate science, bid us commit 

 an act of folly, as well as of ingratitude, which can 



