334 ZOOLOGICAL PHILOSOPHY 



by impressions throughout their sensitive internal parts ; the animal 

 feels these all confused together, without being able to distinguish 

 any one. 



As a matter of fact, all these impressions are very weak ; and although 

 they vary in intensity according to the health of the individual, they are 

 usually very difficult to distinguish, because they are not hable to any 

 sudden interruption or renewal. Yet the sum-total of these impressions, 

 and the confused sensations resulting from them, constitute in all 

 animals subject to them a very obscure but real inner feeling that has 

 been called the feeling of existence. 



This continuous and intimate feeling, which is not appreciated 

 because it is not noticed, is general, in that all the sensitive parts of 

 the body share in it. It constitutes that ego with which all animals 

 that are merely sensitive are imbued without knowing it, while those 

 which also possess an organ of intelligence may notice it, since they 

 have the facuties of thought and attention. Finally, it is in both cases 

 the source of a power, which the needs can evoke, which only acts 

 effectively by emotion, and from which movements and actions derive 

 their motive force. 



The inner feeling may be considered under two quite different 

 aspects viz. : 



1. In so far as it is the result of obscure sensations which continue 

 without cessation in all sensitive parts of the body : from this aspect 

 I call it simply inner feeUng ; 



2. In its faculties : for the general agitations of the subtle fluid 

 confer upon animals the power of producing movements and actions 

 for themselves. 



This feeling, which forms a very simple whole, is susceptible of being 

 stirred by various causes. When it is aroused, it can excite movements 

 in the free portions of the nervous fluid, direct those movements, and 

 convey the stimulating fluid to one or another muscle or to any part of 

 the cerebral hemisphere ; it then becomes a power for exciting action 

 or thought. From this second aspect therefore we may regard the 

 inner feeling as the fountain from which the force that produces actions 

 derives its energy. 



It is necessary for a comprehension of the phenomena produced, to 

 examine this feeUng from the two aspects named above ; for by its 

 very nature as a feeling of existence it is always in action throughout 

 the waking period ; and by its faculties it gives rise to a force which 

 causes action. 



Finally, the inner feeling only manifests its power and produces actions 

 when there exists a system for muscular movement : this system is 

 always dependent on the nervous system and cannot exist without it. 



