18

But still the long run of experience must have some general
character and to that character sufficient
instances must conform. For example, experience
may for awhile appear to give a certain value to a
ratio, but afterward this ratio may fluctuate
so as not to tend to any limiting value; but if this
is the case, sufficient instances will bring this
general character of experience to light and define it
in amplitude and period. Further experience may show
variation in respect to the amplitudes and periods
so that they tend to no limit, but if so, it can only be by
new fluctuations that a further multiplication
of instances will bring to light and define; and so on
ad infinitum.