THE SENSATIONS OF PLEASURE AND PAIN. 



M3 



of the minor degree as all unite to trick those outside. And the 

 reason is this : the half-dozen members of the most secret rank 

 profess to one another that no better system of governing a sav- 

 age community could be devised than this ceremonial mystery of 

 the Duk-duk. 



THE SENSATIONS OF PLEASURE AND PAIN. 



By Dr. E. HEINKICH KISCH. 



ALL our sensations, from the most trifling pleasure to the 

 highest delight, from the hardly perceptible discomfort to 

 the keenest anguish, the whole gradation of manifold variations 

 of feeling, originate from the propagation of excitations from 

 without through the nerves to the central organ of the nervous 

 system and to consciousness. The nerves are the conductors of 

 the stimulus-waves which go to the nerve cells of curious term- 

 inal forms in the brain and spinal marrow ; and every excita- 

 tion that touches any part of those conductors releases a sensation, 

 the pleasant or unpleasant character of which depends first upon 

 its intensity. To a certain degree every moderately strong excita- 

 tion affecting us is agreeable and begets a feeling of pleasure ris- 

 ing to lively delight. An excitation surpassing this limit calls 

 out an uncomfortable feeling which passes into pain. A gentle 

 stroking of our skin, for example, is enjoyed ; a strong pressure 

 upon it evokes an uncomfortable feeling, which, continuing, passes 

 into pain. Harmonious musical tones please our ears, but dis- 

 cordant noises make us miserable. 



That a stimulus striking the sensitive nerves should reach our 

 consciousness as a pain depends not on the force of the attack 

 only, but also on the delicacy of the nervous system, which varies 

 with different men to a considerable degree. Thus, many persons 

 having finely developed organs of those senses can smell and taste 

 many things of which other persons can hardly conceive ; and 

 much that is painful to an over-delicate lady causes no inconven- 

 ience to the hardy, coarse rustic. Also in various conditions of 

 disordered health the whole nervous system or part of the sensi- 

 tive nerves suffers from excessive sensitiveness, in consequence of 

 which insignificant affections cause agony. 



Neuralgias, or pains in particular nervous tracts, may be 

 brought about by various causes by disease in the terminal rami- 

 fications of the nerves, from disorders in the nerve-stem, through 

 illness of the brain or spinal marrow, or from some irritation 

 affecting another distant nerve, transmitted to this one through 

 the central nervous system by what is called a reflex process. 

 The common expression, " nervous pain," conveys no distinction 

 respecting the character or source of the affection ; but to the phy- 



