SENSIBILITY. 19 



But we must ask ourselves. What is meant by this term, Sensi- 

 biUty ? It would appear that sensibility is that property by means 

 of which living cells are brought into contact with surrounding 

 media, and which, being cognisant of the impressions made by 

 such media, reacts in a marvellous and specific manner. 



Sensibility shows distinctly the two features of like and dislike, 

 attraction and repulsion, absorbing with satisfaction the agreeable 

 things of life, repulsing with repugnance the disagreeable. Luys 

 says that sensibility is perhaps itself, in the organic world, only the 

 transformation of those blind forces which attract among them- 

 selves the crystalline molecules of the inorganic world, and group 

 them according to their proper affinities. 



Sensation is, indeed, one of the most wonderful parts of being, 

 and has solicited the attention of philosophers in all ages, present- 

 ing at times problems alluring, but at the same time baffling, and 

 frequently overthrowing many preconceived ideas concerning it. 

 As we have previously stated, there has at times been a difficulty 

 in deciding into which branch of science it should be placed, for 

 feeling and thinking, though more closely related to psychical 

 science, are nevertheless intimately associated with the ordinary 

 functions of everyday life. At first sight, one would be apt to say 

 that the science of the mind is its proper sphere, but the difficulty 

 remains as to how it can be dissociated from the science of func- 

 tion. Certainly, many do attempt to study the mind apart from 

 any considerations connected with physiology ; yet such a study 

 must, in the long run, prove very inadequate, for the nervous 

 system, being the instrument from which are evolved those mys- 

 terious impressions which produce the reflex actions we are all 

 familiar with, must of necessity be first fully examined and under- 

 stood before entering into any considerations as to their action. 

 Then the great task remains of ascertaining the peculiar connec- 

 tion between sensation and the nervous system itself. Psychology 

 and physiology by no means clash, for scarcely can they be profit- 

 ably considered apart. Physiology by no means pretends to 

 unravel the mysteries of psychology, yet physiology has made it 

 possible to undertake a definite science and system of vital phe- 

 nomena with respect to the nervous system ; and by means of 

 physiology alone there has arisen, according to Prof. Huxley, a 



