SEX IjV mind and IN EDUCATION, 201 



the best culture" of which its nature is capable, regard must be had to 

 the mental qualities which correlate diiferences of sex. To aim, by 

 means of education and pursuits in life, to assimilate the female to the 

 male mind, might well be pronounced as unwise and fruitless a labor 

 as it would be to strive to assimilate the female to the male body by 

 means of the same kind of physical training and by the adoption of 

 the same pursuits. Without doubt there have been some striking in- 

 stances of extraordinary women who have shown great mental power, 

 and these may fairly be quoted as evidence in support of the right of 

 women to the best mental culture; but it is another matter when 

 they are adduced in support of the assertion that there is no sex 

 in mind, and that a system of female education sliould be laid down 

 on the same lines, follow the same method, and have the same ends in 

 view, as a system of education for men. 



Let me pause here to reflect briefly upon the influence of sex upon 

 mind. In its physiological sense, with which we are concerned here, 

 mind is the sum of those functions of the brain which are commonly 

 known as thought, feeling, and will. Now, the brain is one among a 

 number of organs in the commonwealth of the body ; with these organs 

 it is in the closest physiological sympathy by definite paths of nervous 

 communication, has special correspondence with them by internuncial 

 nerve-fibres ; so that its functions habitually feel and declare the influ- 

 ence of the different organs. There is an intimate consensus of func- 

 tions. Though it is the highest organ of the body, the coordinating 

 centre to which impressions go and from which resp'onses are sent, the 

 nature and functions of the inferior organs with which it lives in unity 

 affect essentially its nature as the organ of mental functions. It is not 

 merely that disorder of a particular organ hinders or oppresses these 

 functions, but it aff*ects them in a particular way ; and we have good 

 reason to believe that this special pathological effect is a consequence 

 of the specific physiological effect which each organ exerts naturally 

 upon the constitution and function of mind. A disordered liver gives 

 rise to gloomy feelings ; a diseased heart, to feelings of fear and appre- 

 hension ; morbid irritation of the reproductive organs, to feelings of a 

 still more special kind — these are familiar facts ; but what we have to 

 realize is, that each particular organ has, when not disordered, its spe- 

 cific and essential influence in the production of certain passions or feel- 

 ings. From of old the influence has been recognized, as we see in the 

 doctrine by which the different passions were located in particular or- 

 gans of the body, the heart, for example, being made the seat of cour- 

 age, the liver the seat of jealousy, the bowels the seat of compassion ; 

 and although we do not now hold that a passion is aroused anywhere 

 else than in the brain, we believe nevertheless that the organs are 

 represented in the primitive passions, and that, Avhen the passion is 

 aroused into violent action by some outward cause, it will discharge 

 itself upon the organ and throw its functions into commotion. In fact, 



