406 A SHORT HISTORY OF SCIENCE 



revolution of the heavens that it should follow their course. The 

 motion of the tides, the periodic changes in certain diseases, the 

 diurnal opening and closing of flowers, are facts tending to belief 

 that such a discovery is possible. If effected it would supersede all 

 other astronomical instruments. 2. My next example relates to the 

 act of prolonging human life. As yet we have nothing to rely on but 

 ordinary rules of health. These are observed but by few, and usually 

 not till the close of life, when it is too late. If a suitable regimen 

 were observed by all, no doubt life would be much prolonged. But 

 there are special remedies unknown as yet to medicine, but to be found 

 by experiment, which may extend the period of life much further. 

 Observation of the habits of certain animals may guide us to truths 

 in this matter which are as yet hidden. Other indications are given 

 in the works of Aristotle, Pliny, Artephius, and others. A combina- 

 tion of gold, pearl, flower of sea-dew, spermaceti, aloes, bone of stag's 

 heart, flesh of Tyrian snake and of ^Ethiopian dragon, properly pre- 

 pared in due proportions, might promote longevity to an extent 

 hitherto unimagined. 



3. A third example may be found in Alchemy. The problem here 

 is not merely to transmute the baser into the more precious metals, 

 but to promote gold to its highest degree of perfection. In this per- 

 fected gold we should probably have a further aid to the prolongation 

 of life. 



THIRD PREROGATIVE OF EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCE 



In this we leave altogether the domain of the sciences now recog- 

 nized, and open out entirely new departments of research. At present 

 the influences exerted on us by the stars can only be known through 

 difficult astronomical calculations. Experimental science may enable 

 us to estimate them directly. It may be possible for us to act on the 

 character of the inhabitants of any region by altering their environ- 

 ment. Inventions of the greatest utility may be discovered, as 

 perpetual fire, or explosive substances, or modes of counteracting 

 dangerous poisons, and innumerable other properties of matter as 

 yet unknown for want of experiment. The Magnet, of which use is 

 already made, is but a type of other mutual attractions exerted by 

 bodies at a distance. For instance, if a young sapling be longitudinally 

 divided and the two divisions be brought near together, held each by 

 the middle, the extremities will bend towards each other. In conclu- 



