MIND AND THE ORGANS OF SENSATION. 



135 



reflex actions are in an active state long before mental 

 nervous organs are developed, and it is difficult to see why 

 the mental apparatus should be so much slower in develop- 

 ment than other reflex apparatus if it is of this nature. 

 The reflex mechanism soon attains its highest state of per- 

 fection. The mental apparatus advances slowly in develop- 

 ment, but continues to improve for years after it has been 

 formed, and we can form no conception of the state of per- 

 fection it may possibly attain. The mental apparatus 

 exhibits a capacity for altering its structure and of making 

 itself more perfect. Fifthly, in man, mental actions con- 

 tinue to improve long after the organs concerned in reflex 

 actions have begun to deteriorate. And, lastly, a capacity 

 for mental action of the highest kind is not unfrequently 

 associated with a nervous system below the average, as 

 regards the performance of ordinary reflex acts. It is, 

 therefore, doubtful if mental action is a kind of reflex 

 nervous action. 



Nor can it be maintained that mind is but a consequence 

 of the action of the organs of the senses ; for, although we 

 are dependent upon these for obtaining the knowledge, with 

 which the mind works, the mind itself can have nothing 

 more to do with these or other organs, seeing that they may 

 be entirely removed or destroyed, and the mind work as 

 actively as ever. It cannot obtain new knowledge to 

 work with ; but the perfection of its working is one thing, 

 the amount of knowledge acquired is another, and we 

 know that these things are sometimes even in inverse ratio, 

 one individual being remarkable for the excellence of his 

 mental capacity, but having little knowledge, while another 



