768 OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 



confirmed Stammerer is another case in point; here we have a deficiency in the 

 power of the will over the Muscles, at first displayed only in regard to those of 

 Voice; but when feelings of discomfort have been aroused by the failure of 

 attempts to articulate, this want of voluntary control extends itself to the mus- 

 cular system in general, which is thrown into a sort of paroxysmal effort, that 

 usually subsides only with the explosion of the desiderated sound. 



799. The influence of Emotional excitement may operate upon the muscles, 

 however, not only in giving rise to movements which can be attributed to no 

 other source, but also in affecting the power of the Will over the muscular 

 system, by intensifying or weakening its action. For there can be no doubt 

 that, under the strong influence of one class of feelings, the Will can effect 

 results such as the individual would scarcely even attempt in his calmer moments; 

 whilst the influence of another class of feelings is exercised in precisely the oppo- 

 site direction, weakening or even paralyzing the force which was previously in 

 full activity. But the same emotion does not always act in the same mode ; 

 thus, the fear of danger may nerve one man to the most daring and vigorous efforts 

 to avert it, whilst another is rendered powerless, and gives way to unavailing 

 lamentations; and the ardent anticipation of success may so unsettle the deter- 

 minative energy of one aspirant, as to prevent him from attaining his object, 

 whilst another may only be sustained by it in the toilsome struggle of which it 

 is the final reward. Now in order that this variety may be explained, and 

 the modus operandi of the Emotions on strictly Volitional 1 actions may be duly 

 comprehended, we must here state two of the essential conditions of the latter ; 

 one of which is, that there should be not merely a distinct conception of the 

 purpose to be attained, but also a belief that the purpose will or at least may be 

 attained ; whilst the other is, that the mental energy should be to a great extent 

 withdrawn from other objects, and should be concentrated upon that towards 

 which the Will is directed. It is within the experience of every one, that there 

 is nothing which tends so much to the success of a volitional effort, as a confi- 

 dent expectation of its success; whilst nothing is so likely to induce failure as 

 the apprehension of it. Now, in so far as regards this mode of their operation 

 alone, the tendency of the cheerful or joyous emotions being to suggest and keep 

 alive the favorable anticipations, whilst that of the depressing emotions (of 

 almost any kind) is to bring before the view all the chances of failure, the 

 former will increase the power of the volitional effort, and the latter will dimm- 

 ish it. And they exert also a direct influence on the physical powers, through 

 the organs of circulation and respiration; the heart's impulses being more 

 vigorous and regular, and the aeration of the blood being more effectually 

 performed, in the former condition than in the latter. But an altogether 

 contrary effect may be produced by the operation of these two classes of emo- 

 tions through the second of the above channels. For the more completely 

 the mental energy can be brought into one focus, and all distracting objects 

 excluded, the more powerful will be the volitional effort; and the effect of 



he was one day seized by one of these attacks, in consequence of seeing a man miss his 

 footing (as he thought) in descending from the top of an omnibus ; and the pleasurable ex- 

 citement of meeting a friend usually induces tht same result. The tendency varies very 

 considerably in its degree according to the general condition of his health. 



1 The term volitional was some years since suggested by Dr. Symonds, in an excellent 

 essay on the "Connection between Mind and Muscle," published in the "West of England 

 Journal," 1835, as expressing more emphatically than voluntary the characters of an action 

 proceeding from a distinct choice of the object, and from a determinative effort to attain 

 it. The word voluntary may perhaps be applied to that wider class of actions, in which 

 there is no very distinct choice or conscious effort, but in which the movement flows as it 

 were spontaneously from the antecedent mental state ; the consciousness, however, being 

 fully awake to its performance, and the will being brought to bear determinately upon it, 

 whenever an opposing motive tends to check the process or to alter its direction. 



