2 INTRODUCTION 



of determining the laws which regulate the universe., It is this 

 special mode of procedure, the ''scientific method", which dis- 

 tinguishes the natural sciences. The mode itself is known to 

 everyone, though comparatively few could explain its exact 

 nature. Huxley says (in his well-known address "On the 

 Educational Value of the Natural History Sciences"): "Science 

 is, I believe, nothing but trained and organized common sense, 

 differing from the latter only as a veteran may differ from a raw 

 recruit; and its methods differ from those of common sense 

 only so far as the guardsman's cut and thrust differ from the 

 manner in which a savage wields his club". The essence of 

 the method consists in first ascertaining facts, resorting when 

 necessary to experiment, then coming to some general conclu- 

 sion based on the facts, and finally testing that conclusion by 

 appeal to some case not previously investigated. Take, for 

 example, the discovery of coal-seams by sinking a shaft through 

 the chalk rocks at Dover. Prior to 1826 numerous observations 

 had been made on the coal-bearing rocks in Somerset on the 

 one hand and the north of France on the other hand, the con- 

 clusion being drawn that the two sets of rocks are practically 

 identical. Twenty-nine years later, from these and many other 

 additional facts regarding the distribution and arrangement of 

 the coal-bearing rocks, Godwin Austen came to the conclusion 

 that coal-fields exist far below tlie surface in the south-east of 

 England. One such fact, the existence of coal below the surface- 

 rocks of Oxfordshire, was determined by an experimental boring 

 at Burford. Various considerations ultimately led to the selec- 

 tion of Dover as a suitable place for making a trial boring, 

 which was begun in 1886 and completed in 1892. This boring 

 proved the existence of a coal-field containing twelve seams of 

 coal, the top of which is 11 13 feet below high -water mark.^ 

 Steps in above example of scientific method: — 



1. The collection and arrangement of facts relating to the 

 coal-fields of Somerset, north of France, and Belgium, some of 

 the facts being determined by experiment. 



2. Arrival at the following conclusion or generalization based 

 on the said facts: — " Buried coal-fields exist in the area between 



1 The barest outline of the facts is here given. Details may be found in a pamphlet " On the 

 Relation of Geology and EHgineering," by Professor Boyd Dawkins, F.R.S. ; being the "James 

 Forrest " Lecture delivered at the Institution of Civil Engineers, Session 1897-98. — Published by 

 the Institution, Great George Street, Westminster, London, S.W. 



