All this discussion of fetishes arose out of our author's selection of
the subject as an example of the viciousness of our method. He would not
permit us 'simply to place side by side' savage and Greek myths and
customs, because it did harm (i. 195); and the harm done was proved by
the Nemesis of De Brosses. Now, first, a method may be a good method,
yet may be badly applied. Secondly, I have shown that the Nemesis does
not attach to all of us modern anthropologists. Thirdly, I have proved
(unless I am under some misapprehension, which I vainly attempt to
detect, and for which, if it exists, I apologise humbly) that Mr. Max
Muller, on p. 15, accepts the doctrine which he denounces on p. 197.
{126} Again, I am entirely at one with Mr. Max Muller when he says (p.
210) 'we have as yet really no scientific treatment of Shamanism.' This
is a pressing need, but probably a physician alone could do the work--a
physician double with a psychologist. See, however, the excellent pages
in Dr. Tylor's Primitive Culture, and in Mr. William James's Principles
of Psychology, on 'Mediumship.'