306 GEOEGE JOHN ROMANES 1392 



rather as much of them as are left to use. Victor 

 Horsley has undertaken to continue the hereditary 

 experiments. 



My general condition is still said to be ' critical,' 

 and I do not myself think that Carlsbad has proved 

 to be of any benefit. Indeed, after a somewhat 

 extensive acquaintance with mineral spas in general, 

 I have come to the conclusion that their popularity 

 as ' cures ' is chiefly due to the survival of a pre- 

 scientific faith in the virtue of drugs supplied by 

 Providence. On pressing my Carlsbad doctor as to 

 why one might not drink the waters anywhere else 

 (seeing that they contain nothing but soluble salts), 

 he answered that perhaps they might hold ' some 

 electricity or magnetism ' that would escape if the 

 waters were not ' fresh ' ! 



Many thanks for your kind letter to Carlsbad. 

 The G. 0. M., I hear, is hard at work on the 

 approaching lecture. 



G. J. ROMANES. 



Then came the first Romanes lecture, which was 

 a great success in every way. Mr. Gladstone called 

 it ' An Academic Sketch,' and nothing could have 

 been a happier inauguration of the series. It was a 

 memorable scene. The Prime Minister in his doctor's 

 robes, the crowded Sheldonian theatre, the eloquent 

 lecture, the inspiring words of which came like a 

 trumpet call to Oxford's sons, ending with her motto, 

 1 Dominus illuminatio mea.' 



The few days of Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone's visit to 

 Oxford were days of real enjoyment to Mr. Romanes. 

 The Journal notes : 'We had a pleasant luncheon party 



