The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-04-09

timism, idealism and aspiration. But the practical systems to which we yield allegiance find no scientific basis for these things. From the laboratory point of view they have only senti- mental aspect But radical readjust- ments cannot be delayed much longer.
 Important among such changes of opinion will be the repudiation of the prevailing hypothesis of germ causa- tion for disease. Wild assumption" some will reply. Impossible" says science. So was the Coperniean system when it first confronted the Ptolemaic philosophy. So was the circulation of the blood when announced by Harvey. Start with a mistaken promise and an elaborate system of misleading conclu- sion is easily built up. Numberless or ders of distinctive germs and microbes are evident, but they are secondary and not primal in causation. Admitted, they may be useful provisionally in the diagnosis of what is back of them. Given congenial conditions and definite and corresponding organisms spring up. The fact that they can gain no foothold upon healthy tissue proves them to be dependent and not positive and casual per SC. They are really scavengers. Whenever and wherever offensive re- fuse takes on forms of life there is pur- if1cation, refinement, and, in fine, resur- rection. We do not like naggots, but they are far cleaner and sweeter than fI,a. of every order resists decay, and the passage of matter from inorganic to or ganic form is natures method of ad- vance as well as purifieation. The worst abused microbe is for superior to the lower conditions out of which he sprang. A universal transformation of this kind is continuous in the world of matter. By this subtle uplift nature sweetens the worst conditions which human negligence and ignorance can thrust upon her. Life and mind lay hold of material and erect it through the magic of organization. Ascending to the highest order-the human-it is therefore the office of intelligence and spiritual potency to harmonize and even sanctify the physical organism. It is not normal that man should be the slave of the materiad which he is temporarily using. As an executive, he should not supinely yield his rights and privileges.
 A further principle of compelling logic 1 indicates that the whole complex system of inoculations and serums rests upon a 1 fallacious foundation. Natural ifnmu- nifty from contagion consists of bodily 1 purity and yigor, and their most effec- tive antecedents are the higher con- sciousness, supplemented by an intelli- gent observance of hygienic laws. Life always is boon, and the mission of re- ligion, love, ethics, optimism and ideal ism is life more abundant"
 Serums are diluted connections of im- 1 purity and evil. Can evil cast out evil? But owing to a subtle, unappreciated and unconscious factor they often seem to be effective. The corrupt material put into the system to produce immuni- l ty from smallpox or rabies often does have some preventive effect. Not in the way usually supposed, but through the mind. The protected man has a constant sense of security and every time he thinks of the subject-perhaps many times q day during an epidemic there is an auto-suggestion of immuni- ty. This is vastly more powerful in its effect than any one would deem possi- ble who has not investigated mental causation.
 1 In the few points noted above, no crit ieism whatever is intended for those who differ, for systems are impersonal and invite any fair and impartial com ment. The simple purpose is to make a few necessary and legitimate deductions from proved premises. If, in addition to other abundant evidence, the scienti- f1c accuracy of the muscle-bed shows that little temporary thinking can send a rush of warm nourishing blood to a waiting organ or extremity, what should not be the logical possibilities of cultivated, systematic and concentra- tive thought power? If primary causa- Lion for physical conditions be deeper than we have supposed, the world needs the truth. If we have been too superfi- clal and have accounted secondary phe- nomena as primal and ultimate let us Judicially investigate without fear or favor. If a great realm of reality of un- told value lies somewhat concealed from ordinary sensuous observation, we can- not afford to carelessly miss it.