

THE HUMAN MIND. 



certain period of waking activity, there supervenes j 

 an intense and massive sensation, of the nature of j 

 a craving for repose. The overpowering influence j 

 of the state of drowsiness, is best seen in children, 

 there being scarcely anything that will effectually 

 appease the mental disturbance caused by it The 

 necessity of alternating Exercise with Repose, 

 through the entire range of our active organs, 

 brings on the like periodic cravings and deep- 

 seated uneasiness. The fresh condition of the 

 muscles is of itself a sufficient stimulus to exer- 

 cise ; without our willing it, action commences 

 when the body is refreshed and invigorated. If 

 the outburst is resisted, a feeling of distress is the 

 result, being one of the conscious states of the 

 muscular system. On the other hand, after exer- 

 cise comes an equally powerful impulse to rest. 

 The very same alternative applies to the senses 

 and the brain, implying all the higher faculties of 

 our nature. Thirst and Hunger axe of a still more 

 imperative urgency. Not only the fact, which we 

 come to be aware of as rational beings, that life 

 will soon cease if we do not keep up the supply of 

 food and drink, but the sensations of the alimentary 

 canal, after a long fast, are of a nature to stimulate 

 all the energy of our voluntary powers for our 

 deliverance from such misery. The appetite of 

 Sex is the impulse to procreate and continue the 

 species. It grows out of certain products (con- 

 taining the procreative germs), which are peri- 

 odically formed within the system, producing a 

 feeling of oppression until they are either dis- 

 charged or absorbed, there being a certain intense 

 pleasure in bringing together the male and female 

 constituents for the ends of reproduction. The 

 routine of life leads to a craving very much of the 

 character of those natural appetites. We are 

 said also to have artificial cravings, through our 

 habituating ourselves to indulgences which the 

 system comes at last to be dependent on as for 

 alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee, &c. All the appetites 

 are liable to be diseased and perverted, so as to 

 give false indications ; and hence the need of 

 experience and science, and a higher exercise of 

 will for the regulation of our life. 



THE INSTINCTS. 



Instinct is defined by being opposed to acquisi- 

 tion, education, or experience. We might express 

 it as the untaught ability to perform actions of all 

 kinds, and more especially such as are necessary 

 or useful to the animal. In it, a living being 

 possesses at the moment of birth powers of acting 

 of the same nature as those subsequently con- 

 ferred by experience and education. When a 

 newly dropped calf stands up, walks, and sucks 

 the udder of the cow, we call the actions instinc- 

 tive. 



In all the three regions of mind, Emotion, Voli- 

 tion, and Intellect, there is, of necessity, a certain 

 primordial structure, the foundation of all that a 

 human being ever becomes. These will fall to be 

 discussed under their respective divisions. At 

 present, it is convenient to notice certain arrange- 

 ments that do not come wholly within the sphere 

 of consciousness, but still are indispensable pre- 

 liminaries to the operations of the mind. 



The Reflex Actions, These are certain active 

 functions, sustained by nervous power, but neither 

 conscious nor voluntary. They are also styled auto- 



matic. They are : i. Those connected with Diges- 

 tion namely, Deglutition, and the propulsion of 

 the food along the entire length of the alimentary 

 canal. This is operated by muscles, under the 

 stimulus of nerve-centres ; but there is no feeling 

 attending it, neither can we control it by our will 

 2. Those connected with Respiration, including 

 the movements of the lungs in Respiration, 

 Coughing, and Sneezing. 3. The Winking of the 

 Eyes. 4. The permanent contraction of the 

 Muscles. While some of these are devoid of 

 consciousness and will, some are conscious, but 

 still involuntary, as coughing and sneezing. 



Of the Primitive Combined Movements. There 

 are certain cases of concurring or associated 

 movements, wherein the associating link must be 

 sought in the original conformation of the nerves 

 and nerve-centres. The movements of the two 

 eyes are an example ; it is by no process of educa- 

 tion that the eyes always go together. Again, 

 there are instances of regular sequences of move- 

 ment, as in the successive strokes of the heart's 

 action, the alternating movements of breathing, 

 the contractions of the pharynx, gullet, and intes- 

 tines for propelling the food in its course through 

 the system. There is a pre-established connection 

 between the consecutive acts in these various 

 functions, such that when one movement is com- 

 pleted, this brings on the next, and so on. 



The locomotive rhythm involves arrangements 

 for combined movements, and there is good 

 reason for believing those to be in great measure 

 instinctive. In the inferior quadrupeds, there can 

 be no doubt on the matter ; seeing that some of 

 them can walk in the first hour of birth. The 

 instinctive tendency is much less developed in 

 man, but still exists. 



The associated or simultaneous movements are 

 best represented by the two eyes ; but in other 

 parts there is a disposition to simultaneous action 

 of the corresponding parts of the two sides of the 

 body. 



There is a primitive tendency to harmony of 

 state throughout the muscular system. Move- 

 ments in the legs are very apt to engender move- 

 ments in the arms ; the fixing of the gaze arrests 

 the whole body. As regards the pace of move- 

 ment, the instinct is very decided. Quick move- 

 ments in one part inflame all other parts, unless 

 especially resisted. 



The expression of Emotion brings to light a 

 whole class of primitive movements, which we 

 shall advert to in connection with that subject 

 There is also in Volition certain tendencies of an 

 instinctive kind from which our voluntary power 

 takes its commencement. The subject of Instinct 

 in the lower animals cannot be entered on in this 

 short treatise. 



THE INTELLECT. 



This is the thinking portion of the mind. The 

 various faculties known under such names as 

 Memory, Reason, Abstraction, Judgment, Imagin- 

 ation, &c. are modes or varieties of Intellect 



Intellect may work in different degrees of com- 

 bination with the remaining functions of the mind. 

 Science is the best example of its pure manifesta- 

 tion. When blended with Emotion, the most 

 interesting product is Fine Art ; as the handmaid 

 of Volition, directed to practical ends, it yields 



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