There are hundreds of superstitions which survive in various parts of the country, and the study of them is rather amusing. We are told, for example, that it is unlucky to point to the new moon or to look at it through glass, but if we bow nine times to it we shall have a lucky month.
Now suppose you tell a scientist that you believe in a certain superstition - let us say, that the howling of a dog is a sign of death. The scientist will immediately require evidence before he can accept your belief. He will want figures to prove it. It will be useless to quote two or three cases; he will want hundreds. He will want also to know (a) if it ever happens that the howling of dogs is not followed by a death, (b) if ever a person's death is predicted by the howling of dogs. The answer to the former question is in the affirmative, and to the latter in the negative. Your superstition will not bear investigation. It may impress an ignorant person; but it cannot face the light of facts. Your case would not canny conviction in a court of law.
Apart from this process of testing by results, any intelligent man will want to know the "reason why". What connection can there be between a howling dog and an approaching death? Can it be cause and effect? Can it be that the dog has a gift of foreseeing such events? Or is the dog the instrument employed by some uncanny power that moves invisibly in our midst?



Plethora of superstitions is prevalent in the society. Some people believe in the power of moon for bringing good and bad fortune to man. While near some other people howling of dog is the premonition of the death of a person. Although, many people, owing to their ignorance, may believe in such blind faiths, yet a scientist or sane person does not easily trust such unfounded beliefs. Rather he demand convincing evidences and proofs, and might ask questions before believing in such unfounded belief.
Précis: Title: Superstitions and Science