264 An Essay on the signs of Ideas. 
ver represent any set of ideas ; but also those 
which are, on certain occasions only, entirely 
destitute of meaning. A prominent instance 
of the latter kind is the expression used in the 
ceremony of drinking healths ; which though 
formerly it might be a proper pledge of mu- 
tual protection from the danger of assassina- 
tion, has long ceased to have any possible 
meaning. Various similar instances are also 
to be found in the terms used by medical and 
other theorists ; and it was to such probably 
that Lord Bacon alluded, in the following 
passage ; “ And itis common with men, that 
if they have gotten a pretty expression by a 
word of art, that expression goeth current ; 
though it be empty of matter.’’* 
Oaths and curses, in common discourse, are 
to be ranked among the words devoid of ideas. 
Steele in his “ Prosodia rationalis” gives a 
reason for their employment, which is pro- 
bably unique. He supposes that we have an 
instinctive sense of rhythmus derived from the 
regular beat of the pulse and other natural 
causes. He says that “ the beating of our 
‘«‘ pulse, which we feel whenever we are si- 
«« Jent and inactive, prones us to rhythmical 
‘¢ divisions even in the series of our thoughts; 
* Sylva Sylvarum, Cent, 2. Exp. 124. 
