AIM AND PROGRESS OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE. 347 



organ. Simple physical expedients, spectacles, sometimes spheri- 

 cal, sometimes cylindrical or prismatic, suffice, in many cases, to 

 cure disorders which in earlier times left the organ in a condition 

 of chronic incapacity ; a great number of changes, on the other 

 hand, which formerly did not attract notice till they induced 

 incurable blindness, can now be detected and remedied at the 

 outset. From the very reason of its presenting the most favour- 

 able ground for the application of the scientific method, ophthal- 

 mology has proved attractive to a peculiarly large number of ex- 

 cellent investigators, and rapidly attained its present position, in 

 which it sets an example to the other departments of medicine, 

 of the actual capabilities of the true method, as brilliant as that 

 which astronomy for long had offered to the other branches of 

 physical science. 



Though in the investigation of inorganic nature the several 

 European nations showed a nearly uniform advancement, the 

 recent progress of physiology and medicine is pre-eminently due 

 to Germany. I have already spoken of the obstacles which 

 formerly delayed progress in this direction. Questions respect- 

 ing the nature of life are closely bound up with psychological 

 and ethical inquiries. It demands, moreover, that we bestow 

 on it unwearied diligence for purely ideal purposes, without any 

 approaching prospect of the pure science becoming of practical 

 value. And we may make it our boast that this exalted and 

 self-denying assiduity, this labour for inward satisfaction, not 

 for external success, has at all times peculiarly distinguished the 

 scientific men of Germany. 



What has, after all, determined the state of things in the 

 present instance is in my opinion another circumstance, 

 namely, that we are more fearless than others of the consequences 

 of the entire and perfect truth. Both in England and France 

 we find excellent investigators who are capable of working with 

 thorough energy in the proper sense of the scientific methods ; 

 hitherto, however, they have almost always had to bend to 

 social or ecclesiastical prejudices, and could only openly express 

 their convictions at the expense of their social influence and 

 their usefulness. 



