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is one of the hardest things in the world to persuade a man to disbelieve or even to question his own senses. We necessarily form opinions of men and things from our own observations, and in many instances without any other guide; and from a few brief observations imperfectly taken, men often form opinions in direct opposition to established principles of rational philosophy. A little reflection will show how extremely liable men are to be led astray by such means. Because, among the ancient Greeks and Romans, a few individuals who wore upon their persons certain shells or pieces of metal, or some peculiar device, escaped death in battle or contagion in the camp, the beholders were led to suppose that these things, by their talismanic influence, protected the wearers. This led to the