228 ON THOUGHT IN MEDICINE. 



Hence all those aspire after it who wish to pass as 

 the favoured children of genius. It seems, too, so 

 easy, so free from trouble, to get by sudden mental 

 flashes an unattainable advantage over our contem- 

 poraries. The true artist and the true inquirer knows 

 that great works can only be produced by hard work. 

 The proof that the ideas formed do not merely scrape 

 together superficial resemblances, but are produced by 

 a quick glance into the connection of the whole, can 

 only be acquired when these ideas are completely de- 

 veloped that is, for a newly discovered natural law, 

 only by its agreement with facts. This estimate must 

 by no means be regarded as depending on external 

 success, but the success is here closely connected with 

 the depth and completeness of the preliminary per- 

 ceptions. 



To find superficial resemblances is easy; it is 

 amusing in society, and witty thoughts soon procure for 

 their author the name of a clever man. Among the 

 great number of such ideas, there must be some which 

 are ultimately found to be partially or wholly correct ; 

 it would be a stroke of skill always to guess falsely. 

 In such a happy chance a man can loudly claim his 

 priority for the discovery; if otherwise, a lucky 

 oblivion conceals the false conclusions. The adherents 

 of such a process are glad to certify the value of a first 

 thought. Conscientious workers who are shy at bring- 



