Magnetical Dip in the United States. 15 



Art. II. — On the Magnetical Dip in the United States; by 

 John Locke, M. D., Prof. Chem. and Pharm., in the Medical 

 College of Ohio. 



TO THE EDITORS. 



In reply to the article by Prof Loomis^ in Vol. xxxix of your 

 Journal, permit me to observe by way of narration, that the cor- 

 respondence between him and myself, originated in the following 

 manner. Prof Loomis being about to republish a chart of the 

 magnetism of the United States, requested as a favor, that I 

 would furnish him with some of the results of my observations. 

 I cheerfully comphed, by sending him the principal ones. When 

 his paper appeared, I saw my results marked " in error" to a con- 

 siderable amount. Upon examination, t found that the expres- 

 sion " in error," meant merely that the observations did not agree 

 with an assumed hypothesis, by the amount noted. I objected to 

 this mode of expressing differences, chiefly because it would mis- 

 lead popular readers, and with them would do me discredit as an ob- 

 server. My paper on that subject in your Journal, Vol. xxxviii, 

 will be found at every point, complimentary to Prof Loomis. The 

 reader v/ill please to observe that I have not made a single remark 

 on Prof L.'s own observations. I should have felt great delicacy, 

 especially in undertaking to criticise or point out any errors or 

 faults which I might suppose attended them. This is a task 

 which I conceive belongs to the observer himself, after he shall 

 have made all of the comparisons necessary for the labor, and 

 shall have ascertained all of the circumstances possible, which 

 may explain the real or apparent anomalies. A second per- 

 son may misapprehend many things which the observer himself 

 could have rectified, or explained instantly, and may thus pro- 

 duce injury of reputation, and of feehng, by hastily publishing to 

 the world, a supposed discovery of errors, where none ever ex- 

 isted. I have merely sought that my own observations should 

 be presented to the popular reader in such a manner that he 

 should not misapprehend them to my discredit. Prof Loomis 

 will certainly grant that the notes of an unfinished labor of mine 

 were communicated to him, with a tacit understanding to that 

 effect. I did not in my last paper, presume that he had intended 

 to use them in any other manner, than that which should be to 

 my honor. 



