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There is not in all philosophy a more evident thing than this,

that an accident cannot pass from one subject to another; so if,

to avoid this Scylla, they are reduced to call it an accident

produced, they avoid Scylla by falling into Charybdis, because if

it be produced, it does not communicate itself, it does not

propagate, as they declare. These principles allowed, what is the

use of talking of botches and carbuncles?"

"It is folly," said one of his hearers.

"No, no," resumed Don Ferrante, "I do not say so. Science is

science; we must only know how to employ it. Swellings, purple

botches, and black carbuncles, are respectable terms, which have

a good and proper signification; but I say they have nothing to

do with the question. Who denies that there may be and are such

things? We must only prove whence they come."