The Banned Lecture

that the clerical attack on surgeons concentrated itself on one fact—the fact that to learn to be a surgeon you must have corpses to dissect. For at that time, it will be remembered, hospitals were not as flourishing as they are to-day, and it was very difficult to find living people whom you could cut up to see what came of it. The surgeon was, in fact, not understood at all, except in the one way which such people were capable of understanding ; i.e., as the body-snatcher. The rest of his proceedings were perfectly mysterious to them. You notice that even Charles Dickens—who may yet go down to history for having wished to prosecute Holman Hunt, of all people in the world, for painting indecent pictures—takes very much this popular view of medicine and pharmacy in Pickwick. I think, then, it is not altogether unfair to assume that Gilles de Rais was to a large extent the victim of Catholic logic. Catholic logic: and the foul wish- phantasms generated of its repressions, and of its fear and ignorance. He wanted to confer to a boon on humanity ; therefore he consorted with the learned ; therefore he murdered little children. I think it is about time that somebody got after J. B. S. Haldane. It is too late to do anything more to Ridley and Latimer, but I am quite sure that the candle they lit was made of infants’ fat. It is no use your starting to rifle Graves, because his publishers might resent your interference. Those in favour of the motion will now please signify the same in the usual manner. And may the Lord have mercy on your souls !