ORGANIZATION OF THE SCIENCES 



Inorganic physics has by this time become 

 almost entirely free from anthropomorphic con- 

 ceptions. In the sciences which deal with 

 organic phenomena, however, purely scientific 

 conceptions do not yet reign supreme. Bio- 

 logy and sociology are still infected with meta- 

 physical, and even to a certain extent with the- 

 ological notions. In biology, for instance, we 

 have the anthropomorphic conception of an 

 archaus or vital principle, distinct from the or- 

 ganism, and controlling its molecular processes. 

 Though such a theory would not, at the present 

 day, be defended by any authoritative writer 

 upon this subject, it is nevertheless vaguely pre- 

 sent in the popular mind, and exerts a clandes- 

 tine influence even upon scientific speculations. 

 The metaphysical doctrine of stimulus, so ably 

 criticised by Dr. Anstie in his treatise on " Stim- 

 ulants and Narcotics," — the doctrine that stim- 

 ulus is not an increase in the rate of nutrition 

 of the nerves, but a goading of the organism, 

 sure to be followed by a depressive reaction, — 

 is founded mainly upon this antiquated a priori 

 conception of a vital principle. To take an- 

 other instance, colds, fevers, and other diseases 

 are commonly spoken of as entities which " get 

 into the system," and are to be driven out ; 

 and imperfectly educated physicians are often 

 heard reasoning upon this mythological assump- 

 tion ; whereas a disease of any kind, scientific 



vol. n 17 



