336 FUNCTIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 



In the first place, that the channel through which the direct impulses of the 

 Emotions are conveyed to the Muscles, is not the same with that which con- 

 veys to them the mandates of the Will, appears sufficiently established by 

 Pathological observation ; since cases of paralysis not unfrequently occur, in 

 which the muscles are obedient to an emotional impulse, though the will exerts 

 no power over them ; whilst, on the other hand, the will may have its due 

 influence, and yet the emotional state cannot manifest itself. This is espe- 

 cially remarkable in the different forms of paralysis of the Facial nerve ; since 

 the facial muscles manifest the ordinary influence of the Emotions, more evi- 

 dently than any others. But it is not, however, confined to them; thus, for 

 example, the arm of a man, which no effort of his will could move, has been 

 seen to be violently agitated at the sight of a friend. Dr. M. Hall has inferred 

 from cases of this kind, that the Spinal system of nerves constitutes the chan- 

 nel of the Emotional actions; but all which is proved by them is, that these 

 are not effected through the same agency with the Volitional ; and the idea 

 that they are of the same character with Reflex actions is distinctly negatived 

 by the fact, that in a great majority of instances, they are excited through the 

 organs of special sense, and that consciousness is a distinct element in the 

 series of changes which ends in their performance. These facts would lead 

 us to infer, that the Emotional actions are dependent on a set of centres, in- 

 termediate between the Cerebrum and the Spinal Cord ; a position which is 

 precisely that of the ganglionic tract under consideration. In the next place 

 it may be remarked, that the Emotions are so closely linked with Sensations, 

 as to be regarded by many Metaphysicians as almost identical with them ; and 

 this connection is universally recognized in the term feelings popularly ap- 

 plied to both. Like the Instinctive tendencies of Animals, the Emotional 

 states follow directly and necessarily upon Sensations, without any interven- 

 ing process of ratiocination ; and there is such a marked correspondence in 

 the character of the actions, which flow from these sources, as to point to the 

 conclusion of the identity of the conditions on which they immediately de- 

 pend. Of this, an example will be presently given. We have seen that the 

 Sensory ganglia must necessarily be regarded as the instruments of the In- 

 stinctive actions ; and a probable inference may therefore be drawn from this 

 fact, in regard to their relation to those which (in Man) are designated as 

 Emotional.* A* third argument in support of this view may be drawn from 

 the fact, of the very close connection of this division of the nervous centres, 

 with the nervous trunks, through which the emotional states are excited, and 

 the respondent muscular actions are stimulated. For the Sensory ganglia re- 

 ceive all those nerves, which communicate the Sensations through whose 

 immediate agency the Emotion is excited ; and the nerves of the Orbit, the 

 Face, and the Respiratory organs, those most concerned in producing the 

 movements, by which the emotions are expressed or manifested, arise in 

 their immediate proximity. It is chiefly through these nerves, too, that the 



* It seems by no means certain, that we are always to attribute to the lower animals the 

 Emotions which we ourselves feel, because they perlonn movement* analogous to those by 

 which we ordinarily express them: lor the move nts may lie tliinilij excited liy the Sen- 

 sations, without the intervention of the Emotion; just as in ourselves, involuntary laughter 

 is occasioned by tickling, although no ludicrotas emotion be exeited ; or as Vomiting results 

 from the si;;ht of a loathsome object, rather in resiiondenee to the sensation of nausea, than 

 to the emotion oi'di-^iist whicTi it concurrently excites. We miijht, on equally valid grounds, 

 assert, that the I See LTOCS through a process of mathematical ratiocination, before it commences 

 the construction of its cell. The purpose of the Emotion, in animals possessed of Intelligence, 



may be rather to net upwards upon it . and. altl uh e|o.-ely connected with the sensation 



which excites it; it may lie no more necessary to the resulting muscular movement, than 

 sensation is to ivllex action/ On this view, all actions of the directly Emotional character 

 Would be in reality purely Consensual. 



