348 
BIGELOW. 
false arguments, and imperfect laws have been thrown out 
from further consideration by science, and in which work 
the critics have done good service. There are two points 
which ought to be mentioned regarding the pseudo-scientist 
and the pseudo-critic before passing on to the next division 
of the subject: (1) What ought to be done with those crude 
scientists commonly called cranks, and their rude produc¬ 
tions? The journals, and especially the press, abound with 
specimens of misapplied information, half-truth propositions, 
and generally unscholarly productions which may possibly 
impose upon the less cultivated class of readers. What is 
the best course to pursue ? The temptation is to show them 
up and expose the false science beneath their words. Many 
have tried this process, but almost invariably the result has 
been the increased disgust of the scientific critic, who finds 
his opponent a good thrower of mud. His effort has resulted 
in a wider advertisement of the author’s feeble ideas, and 
generally in the belittlement of true science. Undoubtedly 
the best policy is to let such men and all their works alone. 
If the ideas are of science, they will live; if not, they will 
die of themselves, and the world will be richer for the lack 
of the controversy. (2) What should be done when a true 
scholar is vehemently attacked, his views misinterpreted, 
and his reputation assailed ? Some of our great men have 
adopted the course of never replying to such criticisms. 
They refuse absolutely to be drawn into any controversy, 
and prefer to suffer such injury rather than to be parties to 
any strife. Indeed, the unhappy heart burnings which have 
been engendered by scientific wranglings are so notoriously 
unprofitable, so productive of bitterness and estrangement, 
that strong men generally prefer to bear patiently these 
attacks than to be concerned in a story of discord which 
may be remembered longer than their otherwise good works. 
What a tale of woe could be gathered together in exemplifi¬ 
cation of this evil of scientific contention, and how many of 
them are readily recalled from our recollection of the history 
of science! There comes a time, however, when even the 
