Thefollowingsentenceappliestothatapriorijudginganduncandidclassofindividualswhobuytheirdinnerswithouttastingallthefoodthereisinthemarket。“Onalldiscoveriestherearepersonswho，withoutdescendingtoanyinquiryintothetruth，pretendtoknow，asitwerebyintuition，thatnewlyassertedfactsarefoundedinthegrossesterrors。ThesewerethosewhoknewthatHarvey’sreportofthecirculationofthebloodwasapreposterousandridiculoussuggestion，andinlatterlaterdaystherewereotherswhoknewthatFranklindeservedreproachfordeclaringthatpointswerepreferabletoballsforprotectingbuildingsfromlightning。“
　　Again：“Thisunwarrantablemodeofofferingassertionforproof，sounauthorizedandevenunprecedentedexceptinthecondemnationofaGalileo，thepersecutionofaCopernicus，andafewotheractsofinquisitorialauthority，inthetimesofignoranceandsuperstition，affordsbutalamentableinstanceofoneofhisremarks，thatthisisfarfrombeingtheAgeofReason。“
　　“ThemostvaluablemedicinesintheMateriaMedicaactonprinciplesofwhichwearetotallyignorant。Nonehaveeveryetbeenabletoexplainhowopiumproducessleep，orhowbarkcuresintermittentfevers；andyetfew，itishoped，willbesoabsurdastodesistfromtheuseoftheseimportantarticlesbecausetheyknownothingoftheprincipleoftheiroperations。“Oriftheargumentispreferred，intheeloquentlanguageofthePerkinisticpoet：
　　“WhatthoughtheCAUSESmaynotbeexplained，SincetheseEFFECTSaredulyascertained，Letnotself-interest，prejudice，orpride，Inducemankindtosetthemeansaside；
　　Meanswhich，thoughsimple，arebyHeavendesignedtoalleviatethewoesofhumankind。“
　　Thiscourseofargumentissooftenemployed，thatitdeservestobeexpandedalittle，sothatitslengthandbreadthmaybefairlyseen。
　　Aseriesofwhatarecalledfactsisbroughtforwardtoprovesomeveryimprobabledoctrine。Itisobjectedbyjudiciouspeople，orsuchashavedevotedthemselvestoanalogoussubjects，thattheseassumedfactsareindirectoppositiontoallthatisknownofthecourseofnature，thattheuniversalexperienceofthepastaffordsapowerfulpresumptionagainsttheirtruth，andthatinproportiontothegravityoftheseobjections，shouldbethenumberandcompetenceofthewitnesses。Theanswerisareadyone。WhatdoweknowofthemysteriesofNature？DoweunderstandtheintricatemachineryoftheUniverse？Whentothisisaddedthenever-failingquotation，“Therearemorethingsinheavenandearth，Horatio，Thanaredreamtofinyourphilosophy，“——
　　thequestionisthoughttobefinallydisposedof。
　　Takethecaseofastrologyasanexample。Itisinitselfstrangeandincrediblethattherelationsoftheheavenlybodiestoeachotheratagivenmomentoftime，perhapshalfacenturyago，shouldhaveanythingtodowithmysuccessormisfortuneinanyundertakingofto-day。ButwhatrighthaveItosayitcannotbeso？CanIbindthesweetinfluencesofPleiades，orloosethebandsofOrion？Idonotknowbywhatmightymagictheplanetsrollintheirfluidpaths，confinedtocirclesasunchangingasiftheywereringsofsteel，norwhythegreatwaveofoceanfollowsinasleeplessroundupontheskirtsofmoonlight；norcamIsayfromanycertainknowledgethatthephasesoftheheavenlybodies，oreventhefallingoftheleavesoftheforest，orthemannerinwhichthesandslieuponthesea-
　　shore，maynotbeknitupbyinvisiblethreadswiththewebofhumandestiny。Thereisaclassofmindsmuchmorereadytobelievethatwhichisatfirstsightincredible，andbecauseitisincredible，thanwhatisgenerallythoughtreasonable。Credoquiaimpossibileest，——“Ibelieve，becauseitisimpossible，“——isanoldparadoxicalexpressionwhichmightbeliterallyappliedtothistribeofpersons。
　　Andtheyalwayssucceedinfindingsomethingmarvellous，tocallouttheexerciseoftheirrobustfaith。TheoldCabalisticteachersmaintainedthattherewasnotaverse，line，word，orevenletterintheBiblewhichhadnotaspecialefficacyeithertodefendthepersonwhorightlyemployedit，ortoinjurehisenemies；alwaysprovidedtheoriginalHebrewwasmadeuseof。InthehandsofmodernCabalistseverysubstance，nomatterhowinert，acquireswonderfulmedicinalvirtues，provideditbeusedinaproperstateofpurityandsubdivision。
　　IhavealreadymentionedthemotivesattributedbythePerkiniststotheMedicalProfession，aspreventingitsmembersfromreceivingthenewbutunwelcometruths。Thisaccusationisrepeatedindifferentformsandplaces，as，forinstance，inthefollowingpassage：
　　“WillthemedicalmanwhohasspentmuchmoneyandlaborinthepursuitofthearcanaofPhysic，andontheexerciseofwhichdependshissupportinlife，proclaimtheinefficacyofhisart，andrecommendaremedytohispatientwhichthemostunletteredinsocietycanemployasadvantageouslyashimself？andaremedy，too，which，unlikethedrops，thepills，thepowders，etc。，oftheMateriaMedica，isinconsumable，andeverinreadinesstobeemployedinsuccessivediseases？“
　　Asusualwiththesepeople，muchindignationwasexpressedatanyparallelbetweentheirparticulardoctrineandpracticeandthoseoftheirexplodedpredecessors。“Themotives，“saysthedisinterestedMr。Perkins，“whichmusthaveimpelledtothisattemptatclassingtheMETALLICPRACTICEwiththemostpaltryofempyricalprojects，arebuttoothinlyveiledtoescapedetection。“
　　Toalltheseargumentswasadded，asamatterofcourse，anappealtothefeelingsofthebenevolentinbehalfofsufferinghumanity，intheshapeofanoticethatthepoorwouldbetreatedgratis。Itisprettywellunderstoodthatthisgratuitoustreatmentofthepoordoesnotnecessarilyimplyanexcessofbenevolence，anymorethanthegratuitousdistributionofatrader’sshop-billsisanevidenceofremarkablegenerosity；inshort，thatitisoneofthosethingswhichhonestmenoftendofromthebestmotives，butwhichroguesandimpostorsneverfailtoannounceasoneoftheirspecialrecommendations。ItisastonishingtoseehowthesethingsbrightenupatthetouchofMr。Perkins’spoet：
　　“Yeworthy，honored，philanthropicfew，Themuseshallweaveherbrightestwreathsforyou，WhoinHumanity’sblandcauseunite，Norheedtheshaftbyinterestaimedorspite；
　　LikethegreatPatternofBenevolence，Hygeia’sblessingstothepoordispense；
　　Andthoughopposedbyfolly’sservilebrood，ENJOYTHELUXURYOFDOINGGOOD。“
　　HavingthussketchedthehistoryofPerkinisminitsdaysofprosperity；havingseenhowitsprungintobeing，andbywhatmeansitmaintaineditsinfluence，itonlyremainstotellthebriefstoryofitsdiscomfitureandfinaldownfall。Thevastmajorityofthesensiblepartofthemedicalprofessionwerecontented，sofaraswecanjudge，toletitdieoutofitself。Itwasinvainthattheadvocatesofthisinvaluablediscoveryexclaimedovertheirperverseandinterestedobstinacy，——invainthattheycalleduptheinjuredghostsofHarvey，Galileo，andCopernicustoshamethatunbelievinggeneration；theBailliesandtheHeberdens，——menwhosenameshavecomedowntousassynonymouswithhonorandwisdom，——boretheirreproachesinmeeksilence，andleftthemunansweredtotheirfate。
　　Thereweresomeothers，however，who，believingthepublictolaborunderadelusion，thoughtitworthwhiletoseewhetherthecharmwouldbebrokenbyanopentrialofitsvirtue，ascomparedwiththatofsomelesshallowedformula。ItmustberememberedthatapeculiarvaluewasattachedtotheMetallicTractors，asmadeandpatentedbyMr。Perkins。Dr。Haygarth，ofBath，performedvariousexperimentsuponpatientsafflictedwithdifferentcomplaints，——thepatientssupposingthattherealfive-guineaTractorswereemployed。Strangetorelate，heobtainedequallywonderfuleffectswithTractorsofleadandofwood；withnails，piecesofbone，slatepencil，andtobacco-pipe。Dr。AldersonemployedshamTractorsmadeofwood，andproducedsucheffectsuponfivepatientsthattheyreturnedsolemnthanksinchurchfortheircures。Asinglespecimenofthesecasesmaystandforallofthem。AnnHillhadsufferedforsomemonthsfrompainintherightarmandshoulder。TheTractorswoodenones
　　wereapplied，andinthespaceoffiveminutessheexpressedherselfrelievedinthefollowingapostrophe：“Blessme！why，whocouldhavethoughtit，thatthemlittlethingscouldpullthepainfromone。
　　Well，tobesure，thelongeronelives，themoreonesees；ah，dear！“
　　TheseexperimentsdidnotresultintheimmediateextinctionofPerkinism。Doubtlesstheywereagreatcomforttomanyobstinateunbelievers，andhelpedtosettlesomescepticalminds；butfortherealPerkinisticenthusiasts，itmaybequestionedwhethertheywouldatthattimehavechangedtheiropinionthoughonehadrisenfromthedeadtoassurethemthatitwasanerror。Itperishedwithoutviolence，byaneasyandnaturalprocess。LikethefamoustoyofMongolfier，itrosebymeansofheatedair，——thefeveredbreathofenthusiasticignorance，——andwhenthisgrewcool，asitalwaysdoesinalittlewhile，itcollapsedandfell。
　　Andnow，onreviewingthewholesubject，howshallweaccountfortheextraordinaryprevalenceofthebeliefinPerkinismamongaportionofwhatissupposedtobethethinkingpartofthecommunity？
　　Couldthecureshavebeenrealones，producedbytheprincipleofANIMALMAGNETISM？TothisitmaybeansweredthatthePerkinistsridiculedtheideaofapproximatingMesmerandthefounderoftheirowndoctrine，thatnothinglikethesomnambulicconditionseemstohavefollowedtheuseoftheTractors，andthatneithertheexertionofthewillnorthepowersoftheindividualwhooperatedseemtohavebeenconsideredofanyconsequence。Besides，theabsoluteneglectintowhichtheTractorssoondeclinedisgoodevidencethattheywereincapableofaffordinganyconsiderableandpermanentreliefinthecomplaintsforthecureofwhichtheywereapplied。
　　Ofcoursealargenumberofapparentcureswereduesolelytonature；
　　whichistrueundereveryformoftreatment，orthodoxorempirical。
　　Ofcoursemanypersonsexperiencedatleasttemporaryrelieffromthestrongimpressionmadeupontheirmindsbythisnovelandmarvellousmethodoftreatment。
　　Many，again，influencedbythesanguinehopesofthoseaboutthem，likedyingpeople，whooftensaysincerely，fromdaytoday，thattheyaregettingbetter，cheatedthemselvesintoafalseandshort-
　　livedbeliefthattheywerecured；andashappensinsuchcases，thepublicneverknewmorethanthefirsthalfofthestory。
　　WhenitwassaidtothePerkinists，thatwhatevereffectstheyproducedweremerelythroughtheimagination，theydeclaredliketheadvocatesoftheROYALTOUCHandtheUNGUENTUMARMARIUMthatthisexplanationwassufficientlydisprovedbythefactofnumerousandsuccessfulcureswhichhadbeenwitnessedininfantsandbruteanimals。Dr。Haygarthrepliedtothis，that“inthesecasesitisnotthePatient，buttheObserver，whoisdeceivedbyhisownimagination，“andthatsuchmaybethefact，wehaveseeninthecaseofthegoodladywhothoughtshehadconjuredawaythespotfromherfriend’scountenance，whenitremainedjustasbefore。
　　AstothemotivesoftheinventorandvenderoftheTractors，thefactsmustbeallowedtospeakforthemselves。Butwhentwolittlebitsofbrassandironarepatented，asaninvention，astheresultofnumerousexperiments，whenpeopleareled，orevenallowed，toinferthattheyareapeculiarcompound，whentheyareartfullyassociatedwithanewandbrilliantdiscoverywhichthenhappenedtobeGalvanism，whentheyaresoldatmanyhundredtimestheirvalue，andthesellerprintshisopinionthataHospitalwillsufferinconvenience，“unlessitpossessesmanysetsoftheTractors，andtheseplacedinthehandsofthepatientstopractiseoneachother，“
　　onecannotbutsuspectthattheywerecontrivedintheneighborhoodofawoodennutmegfactory；thatlegsofhaminthatregionarenotmadeofthebestmahogany；andthatsuchasbuytheircucumberseedinthatvicinityhavetowaitforthefruitaslongastheIndiansfortheircropofgunpowder。
　　ThesucceedinglecturewillbedevotedtoanexaminationofthedoctrinesofSamuelHahnemannandhisdisciples；doctrineswhichsomeconsidernewandothersold；thecommontitleofwhichisvariouslyknownasHo-moeopathy，Homoe-op-athy，Homoeo-paith-y，orHom’pathy，andtheclaimsofwhichareconsideredbysomeasinfinitelyimportant，andbymanyasimmeasurablyridiculous。
　　Iwishtostate，forthesakeofanywhomaybeinterestedinthesubject，thatIshalltreatit，notbyridicule，butbyargument；
　　perhapswithgreatfreedom，butwithgoodtemperandinpeaceablelanguage；withverylittlehopeofreclaimingconverts，withnodesireofmakingenemies，butwithafirmbeliefthatitspretensionsandassertionscannotstandbeforeasinglehourofcalminvestigation。
　　II。
　　ItmaybethoughtthatadirectattackuponthepretensionsofHOMOEOPATHYisanuncalled-foraggressionuponanunoffendingdoctrineanditspeacefuladvocates。
　　ButalittleinquirywillshowthatithaslongassumedsohostileapositionwithrespecttotheMedicalProfession，thatanytroubleI，oranyothermemberofthatprofession，maychoosetobestowuponitmaybeconsideredmerelyasamatterofself-defence。Itbeganwithanattempttoshowtheinsignificanceofallexistingmedicalknowledge。Itnotonlylaidclaimtowonderfulpowersofitsown，butitdeclaredthecommonpracticetobeattendedwiththemostpositivelyinjuriouseffects，thatbyitacutediseasesareaggravated，andchronicdiseasesrenderedincurable。Ithasatvarioustimesbroughtforwardcollectionsoffigureshavingtheairofstatisticaldocuments，pretendingtoshowagreatproportionalmortalityamongthepatientsoftheMedicalProfession，ascomparedwiththosetreatedaccordingtoitsownrules。Notcontentedwithchoosinganameofclassicaloriginforitself，itinventedoneforthewholecommunityofinnocentphysicians，assuringthem，totheirgreatsurprise，thattheywereallALLOPATHISTS，whethertheyknewitornot，andincludingalltheillustriousmastersofthepast，fromHippocratesdowntoHunter，underthesamegratuitoustitle。Theline，then，hasbeendrawnbythechampionsofthenewdoctrine；theyhaveliftedthelance，theyhavesoundedthecharge，andareresponsibleforanylittleskirmishingwhichmayhappen。