THE CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN LIFE 61 



functions to organic structure. By penetrating into 

 minutest details of structure, watching with micro 

 scopic aid the faintest movements, and recording, by 

 help of the finest instruments, speed and volume of 

 movement, physiological science has placed beyond 

 question the relations of structure and function. 1 But 

 we are now reaching a point where the light fails, 

 where the voice is silent. Looking at life, as it is 

 concerned with knowledge, apart from muscular 

 activity, we have come to a knowledge, which cannot 

 be attributed to the sensory system, any more than 

 it can be attributed to the motor system. Research 

 into brain structure carries no explanation. Our 

 nerves can no more explain its origin, than our 

 muscles can. Physiology never has made any 

 account of human knowledge, not finding in physical 

 structure and function anything promising help as 

 to its acquisition. Research into brain structure has 

 not helped us towards identification of the source 

 of physical science. 



Localisation of function in the brain has made large 

 advance. Centres of sensibility have been identified, 

 so also have motor centres ; and even centres for 

 vocalisation, providing for the language of dogs 

 and of monkeys, as well as of men. But there has 

 been no advance towards localising of thought 

 centres, such as might produce science. It is true, 

 and to be specially noted here, that electric excitation 

 of brain has failed to find the functions of certain 

 silent portions of the brain, but these silent regions 

 are found in the brains of lower animals also, and to 



1 See Beale s Idioplasm. Ferrier s Functions of the Brain. 



M Kendrick s Life in Motion. 



