146 “ Progress”- — the Alleged Distinction [February, 
longer looks forward ; losing at once the power and the 
desire to observe new fadts and evolve new theories, or even 
to recognise them if discovered by others. He becomes 
stagnant, and instead of the bold “ plus ultra ” of his prime 
he feebly murmurs “ Rest and be thankful.” 
It is stated that not a single physician who had reached 
the age of forty, prior to the announcement of Harvey’s 
discovery of the circulation of the blood, could ever be 
brought to recognise it as corredt. World-betterers of all 
shades, moral and religious reformers who are labouring at 
the difficult task of improving man, continually bear testi- 
mony that “ itis of little use attempting to elevate or amend 
the adults ; we must turn our attention mainly to the 
children.” In so saying they substantially admit our posi- 
tion. There are, indeed, men of vast and highly-cultivated 
intelligence, who, up to an advanced age, and even to the 
very close of their days, seem to go on thinking and disco- 
vering, to long for new truths, and to w^eigh every novel 
theory with candour and impartiality. But these are the 
very exceptions which prove the rule. Their biographers 
do not fail to point out this persistent energy of the mind as 
a proof of their exceptional nature and of their superiority 
to ordinary men. 
Nor must we forget that many of the discoveries and 
other great works, emanating apparently from men far ad- 
vanced in life, have in reality been wrought out in their 
earlier days, though the publication of the results, especially 
in a popular form, has been delayed. The power of ex- 
pression, too, as a rule, survives by many years the power of 
origination. 
But what of the normal average man ? Is he not from 
the middle of life, and often indeed from an earlier date, a 
mere bundle of habits and prejudices ? His interest in 
anything not immediately relating to self — where it ever 
existed — has dwindled. His mind has lost its suggestive- 
ness. He shrinks from change of place, scene, and occu- 
pation. He dislikes new associates. He suspefts new 
views, and imputes motives to their promulgators. With 
him, just as with the lower animals, no further mental 
growth is possible, however long he may happen to survive. 
The truth here put forward has recently received full 
demonstration — if such were needed — at the hands of an 
American man of science, Dr. G. M. Baird. In his 
treatise* he shows that 70 per cent of the work of the world 
Legal Responsibility in Old Age. 
