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between the undug, unformed clay, or the unbuilt bricks and 
mortar, and the stately building constructed in beauty, with 
art and skill, by an architect's intelligence, or between an 
organized but inanimate body and a living creature. We may 
also here be incapable of understanding how any amount of 
mere time could possibly bring about such differences. Mr. 
Heath seems himself to perceive this, and yet to shut his eyes 
to the C( evidence " he adduces. If or he goes on : — 
If the lowest organism is that which in the sunlight can simply decom- 
pose the inorganic carbonic acid, and appropriate to itself the carbon, there is 
no evidence of sensation accompanying such an act ; nor have we in the whole 
phenomena of vegetable life any reason for supposing sensation. If, again, 
the lowest animal organism is that which can decompose the lowest vegetable 
organism, and join to itself its organic elements, there still appears in this no 
evidence of sensation.” 
And what does he therefore conclude ? He says : 
^ e a( hnit, therefore, there was a vast period before evidence of sen- 
sation appeared, and that sensation has increased during vast periods in 
nature since its first appearance.” 
So much for Mr. Heath's theory in the abstract. Now let 
us quote his illustrations of how the rationalising of sensation 
or emotion might have been produced. He says : 
“ That 1 ma y direct the thoughts of my readers into a channel which 
would lead I think to profitable results, I will give two instances of what I 
mean by rationalisation of emotion. One shall be in low mute m.mm.l 
the other in speaking man. 
I will suppose, then, a low mute mammal, such as a tame guinea-pig, to 
be taken by the inexorable boy who owns it for a series of nice warm- water 
baths, on the plea that it is good for the wretched animal to have a 
washing. Now, judging from what I hear has happened in such a case I 
understand that for the first time or two the animal shows mere abject 
emotion, by its utterance of piteous cries or squeals. At the third, or even 
second tune, however, the emotion diminishes. The rationalised emotion 
becomes an idea of a something external to be resisted. Eatio or comparison 
begins to take place. The cry now becomes a grant of anger, which is a less 
absorbing emotion than fear ; and, like General -Lee, the overpowered animal 
at the fourth time fights, bites and scratches to its very utmost, deserving a 
better fate.” (Sic.) 
I fear you will consider I am open to some censure for not 
liavmg furmshed Hr. Thornton with such a specimen as this 
NV cc °° lC ® CG l )Ucism > that he might have put the steps of 
is piocess of rationalising the emotions of a guinea-pig" 
into syllogistic form, in the excellent and only too brief paper 
which he read at our last Ordinary Meeting. But the fact is, 
o 2 
