90 SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATIONS [Dis 



for the dissemination of ideas. There is a mighty mass of 

 things for ever moving about the world, carrying with them 

 associations which, on coming in contact with the mind of man, 

 develop into germs of thought. CH. 



Dissimilar Causes may Produce like Effects. 



The natures of some people seem to be utterly stupefied and 

 deadened by prosperity. Others are chilled into torpor and 

 petrifaction by adversity. These different processes work out 

 the same result inactivity. So in the tropics the intensely hot 

 season causes the crocodile and other amphibious animals to 

 conceal themselves in the mud and lie apparently dead ; whilst 

 in the cold regions the severities of the winter throw other 

 animals into a state of hybernation. VL 



The Dissimilar Effects of the same Cause. 



Consider the totally different effects which the same tKing 

 has on different people. An act, simple in itself, will rouse the 

 joys of one and the rage of another. A substance which is food 

 to one man is poison to another. The same medicine which 

 effects a cure in one case will in a similar case in another man 

 aggravate the malady and enchance his sufferings. Look again 

 at the effects of the tempest on creation. A large number of 

 the existences on the globe are terrified. But the seals love 

 above all the tempest, the roaring of the waves, the whistling 

 of the wind, the mighty voice of the thunder, and the vivid 

 flashings of the lightning. They delight to see, rolling along 

 in a sombre sky, the great black clouds which predict torrents 

 of rain. Then it is that they leave the sea in crowds and come 

 and play about on the shore, in the midst of the fury of the 

 elements. They are at home in the tempests. It is in these 

 crises of nature that they give full play to all their faculties, 

 and to all the activity of which they are capable. When the 

 weather is fine and the rest of creation is full of enjoyment 

 they fall asleep, and resign themselves lazily to the dolce far 

 niente. M. 



