400 Human Physiology. 



are yet constantly occurring, as no one can doubt who takes 

 the trouble to inform himself, if he can place any reliance on 

 human testimony respecting any fact beyond his personal ob- 

 servation. 



And, whatever theery may be formed concerning them, it is 

 useless and foolish to ignore the facts of healing miracles, or 

 the sudden cure of what seem incurable diseases. In these 

 cures changes of the physical system, which, if they could 

 occur, would require weeks or months in the ordinary opera- 

 tions of nature, are produced instantaneously, and by forces of 

 which we have no conception. Diseased organs become 

 healthy ; lost matter is restored, or re-created. If it be held 

 that such physical effects are produced by the faith, imagina- 

 tion, or expectation of the patient, then all physicians would do 

 well to find the means of exciting such emotions. If they 

 are produced by magnetism or mesmerism, the use of means 

 so simple for ends so beneficent might well be more widely 

 extended. If they are supernatural miraculous demonstra- 

 tions of creative power, then they must have, for every thought- 

 ful person, the highest possible interest. No fact is unimportant 

 but such facts have an importance inestimable. Scornful 

 rejection is as unphilosophical as blind credulity. The 

 searcher after truth may doubt, but he must examine ; he may 

 be slow to say "it is true," but he must never say "it is im- 

 possible." 



