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 !