Manchester Statistical Society, inaugural address at the opening of session 1863-64 / by A. Aspland.

  • Aspland, Alfred, 1815-1880.
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Manchester Statistical Society, inaugural address at the opening of session 1863-64 / by A. Aspland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    Government to ascertain the effect of the prison dietary on the gaol inmates, and that the result, instead of amusing an idle curi- osity, would iu all probability lead to a most important reform in gaol discipline, and end in the substitution of a sufficient, though penal dietary for the present luxurious and over-indulgent system. When this important change is accomplished, the saving to the Treasury and to counties will, it may he fairly anticipated, be substantial, indirectly, in the diminution of crime, and directly, in the cost of food. In collecting facts, mere industry is insufficient; without intel- ligent rendering, the results are open to the sarcasm of Comte, who notices — “ L’incoherente compilation des faits deja improprement qualifies d’histoire.” Unless you combine with industry, knowledge, power of applying, freedom from prejudice, and honesty, you evolve no truth. The absence of any one of these qualities will vitiate all the calculations. Their presence is especially required in all enquiries involving vital agency or moral action, since you are unable on these subjects to create a standard of comparison, as you may in questions of pure physios. At best, the results are only approximative, though they may approach the truth so nearly as to be available in practice. The first and most pregnant rule of action is to avoid starting with a theory: in the presence of this taint, no honesty of purpose will save the enquirer from error. Theories may be useful in binding together facts in questions of pure physics, to evolve laws, such as govern light and glaciers, and need not then lead to error, because the gjienomena of nature are absolute and immutable, constantly recurring under the same aspects, and permitting of corrections at any phase of the inquiry. Not so, however, with subjects complex with man’s vital and moral being,—here a theory is fatal; though, like the mirrors of a kaleidoscope, it may give an appearance of symmetry to a few worthless and shapeless sweepings. Starting, then, with an unbiassed mind, we require a careful obser- vation of facts, constantly testing their value by all possible processes. The next step is to group these facts, taking care that uniformity of condition renders them comparable. Thus placed, the materials are ready for drawing infereijces, generalising or practising the process