UNEDUCATED CONSCIOUSNESS A GREAT DECEIVER. 117 



Such knowledge teaches us that c no object is seen by us 

 in its true place ; that the colours of substances are solely 

 the effects of the action of matter upon light ; and that 

 light itself, as well as heat and sound, are not real beings, 

 but mere modes of action, communicated to our percep- 

 tions by the nerves.' 1 



To obtain an idea of the extent to which sympathy 

 may operate in leading persons to draw erroneous con- 

 clusions, the reader needs only to peruse the history of the 

 Dancing Mania, 2 the Convulsionnaires of St. Medard, and 

 various accounts of Religious Revivals, &c. 3 



Eloquence, like beauty, if not regulated by the intel- 

 lect, is also a frequent source of error, and a snare to its 

 possessor, by its powerful action upon the feelings. Its 

 power of propagating error is great, and too often em- 

 ployed. Eloquent untruths are often mildly termed 

 4 figures of speech.' 



Some, who the depths of eloquence have found, 



In that unnavigable stream were drowned. DRYDEN. 



Fortunately for the pursuit of research in physics and 

 chemistry, comparatively few of the emotions or stronger 

 feelings of our nature conflict with it ; and this circum- 

 stance may perhaps partly account for the much more 

 rapid extension of knowledge in these subjects than in 

 those in which the feelings and emotions are more im- 

 plicated ; a greater reason may, however, probably be 

 found in several other causes. The feelings which are 

 perhaps the most likely to mislead a scientific investi- 

 gator are unregulated enthusiasm ; too great a desire 

 for the wonderful ; a wish to obtain valuable discoveries 



1 Mrs. Somerville, Connexion of the Physical Sciences, 2nd edition 



2 See Hecker's Epidemics of the Middle Ages. 



3 See ' Ulster Revivalism,' Journal of Mental Science, Jan. 1860, 

 Oct. 1860, and July 1864. 



