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。