Reflex A ctions, 2 1 9 



love of parents, and the common feelings of hu- 

 manity and considerations of the public good. 

 These all become strengthened in man, just in pro- 

 portion as he rises above the condition of an ani- 

 mal. 



But what of the child's animal instincts ? They 

 are brought within the narrowest limits, but appear 

 in regular order as he develops, as we have seen to 

 be true of all other animals. At the demand of 

 appetite, the child is as ready to nurse, as the young 

 bird is to raise its head for food. — This, we consider 

 a purely instinctive act. We know attempts have 

 been made, by very high authorities,"^ to show that 

 this act of the child is not instinctive, but simply a 

 reflex action, — in the beginning, entirely involun- 

 tary. We cannot believe this, at all. But if it 

 could be proved, it would only show that in the hu- 

 man species, a reflex action is provided for, which 

 simulates and takes the place of Instinct, in the lower 

 animals. If the act is not instinctive, it is certainly 

 lower ; as all reflex actions are lower than instinctive, 

 and supplementary to them, in both animals and 

 men. 



As soon as the child can discern, it instinctively 

 fears danger, before it can possibly have learned, by 

 experience, that there is danger. It fears a strang- 

 er's face, and clings to its mother for protection, be- 

 fore it has any rational ground for fearing any one. 

 It has, like an animal, instinctive dread of danger, 

 but it has not yet learned what is dangerous. It 

 needs a mother's care ; but all her cautions in 

 * Maudsley, p. 63 ; and others. 



