The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-07

| pose as scientific men, and yet who can not fol.
| low logical train Of thought! But it is really
| disgusting TO find others. who, having carelessly
chosen a definite assertion concerning a vital
| phenomenon, such giving a name to a dis.
| cased condition without thorough considera.
| tion OF all the symptoms present, dogmatically
| maintain II, and ridCule and snecr at some
| really scientific truths when confronted with
them.
Not single scientific law. from that Of srs,i.
tation to that OF the circulation Of the blood.
when it' existence was established and pro-
claimed, has failed TO receive the jcers and taunts
| OF others who pridcd themselves that they pos
ScSscd definite knowledge, and yet took no pains
| TO acquaint themselves with the process Of rea-
sonng whereby the new truth was established
Earnest students Of science gradually drop
loose ideas supcrStitious theories not by logic
of the newer truth, but by habituating them
selves TO study and think only on those things
| which seem TO have the most substantial ground.
work.
4 The student of experimental chemistry and
biology il not readily convinced of any fact
unless it ia weighed carefully in the balance Of
nductivc science. But having been weighed he
is quick to grasp il, although it may not be
the whole truth. In TACT no established scien.
tifc truth is the whole truth; it is only link
in the chain, many Of which remain TO be
forged OF the true metal and put in place OF the
false and defective ones And time brings us
gradually nearer and nearer TO the whole truth.
II Is only by following the example set by the
student OF the exact sciences and carefully weigh
ing the facts as they present themselves and
considering their relations to each other a. we'll
comparing these relations to other facts and
circumstances and then draw logical conclusion
10 final and true issue that the professional
man can do juStiCc TO his chosen profession and
10 himself. The architect, the engineer, the
electrician, the lawyer, and, above all, the ply.
scian must carefully consider the various facts
presented by a given case the architect befors
he can make his plans, the engineer before he
can build his bridge, the electrician before ha
can make his dynamo, the lawyer before he can
argue his and the physician before he can
successfully and conscientiously treat his pa
tcnt. There may be flaws in each ones obser-
vaion Of facts and flaws in the logic OF their
reasoning, but II they are true professional men
and earnest students they will discover the error
in the conclusion and will not mistake it for a
new discovery, is often done, which il,
quickly taken up and followed by the unrcason.
ing crowd only, for time, to lead us awsv
from the whole truth instead Of bringing rs
nearer TO il.
Thought and effort in any one branch Of learn.
ing, like other secondary well az primary
forces in nature. are apt to run in the direction
Of least resistance. Let any one blaze a path
in either idea method, and large number
will at once enter upon IL whether il he true
or false, whether they are fitted 10 do SO or not,
and regardless OF judicial considerations rels.
tive TO opportunity, They have the ambition to
be pioneers and discoveries while not possess.
ing the power Of either initiative or that So
muvh.to. c.dCsired reverence for human rights
which should Characterize the individual who
assumes 10 tampcr with life, happiness and
health. So many in this way become pure fash.
ioniSts and iddsts of the most Objectionable type.
Such a little thing as personal and environ.
mental unhtncss is not allowed to deter them
from assuming TO appear in the van OF proies.
sional progress.
II would he an interesting panorama 10 have
paos in review the periodical medical literature
of the last half century, for instance, rejecting
the successive guiding impulses Of professional
thought and action, II would give us a picture
of sec-saw variations with little suggestion OF
reasonable prudence and forcthought. The work
~ a few master minds and hands would show
clearly and beautifully, while the reckless work
ot others would serve 10 point moral and
adom a tale" Il would show an unworthy haste
on the part Of many TO do what was unhccom.
ing and disastrous and deserving only oi the
scycrcSt condemnation.
hut it would also show that the progress and
achievements of science. and in consequence of
the professions, have been the result OF the
painstaking labors and strictost logical reason
ing and deduction Of men without prejudice
mere seekers after truth for the sake OF truth
and who lost their own individuality in this
search, hlaZing the trees with a sharp are along
the path they made and retracng again and
again their steps IN make sure they were push
ing on in the right direction,
Carl Seller, N d.