CONSCIOUSNESS A RESULT OF PERSONAL ACTIVITY. 39 



intellect, it shuts the latter out; but if, on the other 

 hand, that of the intellect is strongest, the intellect pre- 

 vails. 



As consciousness is a result of a sufficiently high degree 

 of mental or physical activity, unconsciousness and sleep 

 are promoted by absence of all conditions which excite the 

 mind. Our various powers cease to induce consciousness, 

 usually in something like the following order: By 

 absence of physical pain, uneasiness, or excitement in any 

 part of our body, organic sensation ceases and no longer 

 excites the mind. By perfect stillness of limbs, the sense 

 of touch ceases in a similar manner to arouse perception. 

 By absence of flavours, odours, sound, and light, the 

 senses of taste, smell, hearing, and sight become quiescent, 

 and memory alone remains as a source of mental excite- 

 ment ; and by persistent exclusion of the more exciting 

 ideas only, memory also becomes unconscious. As, how- 

 ever, by withdrawing the mental perception from one class 

 of ideas it is thereby better enabled to be concentrated 

 upon others, quiescence of all the senses is a favourable 

 condition for conscious thought and reflection. One of 

 the most effectual means of preventing this is previous 

 cheerful conversation or other agreeable occupation, which, 

 by dispelling anxious thoughts and discharging outwardly 

 the nervous power, promotes sleep. 



The production and existence of ideas are results of 

 our capacity of receiving sensorial and cerebral impres- 

 sions. The degree of our sensitiveness to particular im- 

 pressions and ideas depends upon that which is born in us 

 and that which is subsequently acquired ; and it is gene- 

 rally considered that in all cases of genius and extra- 

 ordinary mental ability of any kind, a high degree of in- 

 herited tendency to receive a particular class of mental 

 impressions exists. 



