2 THE CAUSATION OF DISEASE. 



element behave in a way peculiar to itself in respect of its 

 power to combine with other elements ? The answer again 

 is : These properties of elements are ultimate and unanalysable 

 properties, just as gravitation is ultimate and unanalysable. 

 Such ultimate properties — or, as we may term them, primitive 

 causes — have, as far as we know, no beginning, and therefore 

 we cannot say that they themselves are caused, for cause 

 implies an antecedent, and therefore a beginning, and that 

 which has no beginning can have no cause. 



Starting, however, with these ultimate or primitive causes, 

 we observe that an infinite variety of effects may be produced 

 by a modification of the material conditions; indeed, every 

 effect with which we are acquainted may be thus produced,' 

 whether mental or physical. What do I mean by material 

 conditions ? Under this term I include : kind of matter 

 (0, CI, H), quantity of matter, motion of matter (atomic, 

 molecular, or massive) ; finally, disposition of matter, or, as 

 I should be inclined to denominate it, " structure" 



Now, given certain material conditions, the same result 

 will always follow. This is the Law of Causation. Man has 

 discovered — that is to say — from long observation of Nature, 

 that her operations are fixed and unchangeable. We do not 

 find a certain effect follow upon certain material conditions 

 to-day, and another effect follow upon the same conditions 

 to-morrow. We observe, on the contrary, certain regular 

 sequences, and these, when put into words, are called laws. 

 Thus, none of Nature's laws are fickle and irregular, but fixed 

 and unchangeable. 



I shall then define the cause of any particular effect as the 

 sum of those material conditions from which that effect has 

 necessarily followed* 



How far it is psychologically permissible to refer all 

 phenomena to "material conditions," as above defined, matters 



* I desire to make two remarks on this definition. First, I do not mean 

 by li any particular result" any like result, but one particular result which 

 has happened. The same result may follow from different causes— e.g., heat 

 —therefore in the definition I prefer to speak of one special instance. 

 Secondly, I wish it to be understood that I use the term nun in the strict 

 algebraical sense, it includes certain conditions and excludes all conditions 

 which do not take part in, or would interfere with, the result. 



