OF SENSATION IN GENERAL. 233 



whole audience takes place, every one then becoming conscious of some discom- 

 fort which he seeks to relieve. This is the case also in regard to the respi- 

 ratory sensation ; in general it may be observed, that the usual reflex move- 

 ments are not enough for the perfect aeration of the blood, and that a more 

 prolonged inspiration, prompted by an uneasy feeling, takes place at intervals ; 

 but under such circumstances as those just alluded to, this feeling is not expe- 

 rienced until the attention ceases to be engaged by a more powerful stimulus, 

 and then it manifests itself by the deep inspirations which accompany, in 

 almost every individual, the general movement of the body. 



315. It is curious that the constant direction of the attention to internal sensa- 

 tions of a subjective kind, should sometimes occasion actual disorder of the 

 parts to which these sensations are referred ; and yet this seems the only way 

 of accounting for some of the phenomena of disease. Sometimes the cause of 

 the sensation may exist in the trunk of the nerve, in some part of its course ; 

 whilst in other instances, it may be confined to the sensorium. Pain of the 

 testicle, for example, may be occasioned by irritation having its seat in the 

 lower part of the spine, the organ itself being perfectly sound ; yet if that pain 

 continue, it may become diseased. The following are some very interesting 

 remarks on this subject, from the able pen of Dr. Holland.* " There is cause 

 to believe the action of the heart to be quickened or otherwise disturbed, by 

 the mere centering of consciousness upon it, without any emotion or anxiety." 

 This is* specially the case where its impulses are irregular, or are so loud as 

 to be audible. " The same may be said of the parts concerned in respiration. 

 If this act be expressly made the subject of consciousness, it will be felt to 

 undergo some change ; generally to be retarded at first, and afterwards quick- 

 ened." " The act of swallowing is manifestly rendered more difficult, by the 

 attention being fixed upon it ; and the same cause will often be found to render 

 articulation less distinct, especially when there exists already some impediment 

 to the function. A similar direction of consciousness to the region of the 

 stomach, creates in this part a sense of weight, oppression, or other less defi- 

 nite uneasiness ; and, when the stomach is full, appears greatly to disturb the 

 due digestion of the food. The state and action of the bowels are much influ- 

 enced by the same cause." A peculiar sense of weight and restlessness, 

 approaching to cramp, is felt in a limb, to which the attention is particularly 

 directed. " The attention concentrated, for so by an effort of will it may be, 

 on the head or sensorium, gives certain feelings of tension and uneasiness, 

 caused possibly by some change in the circulation of the part ; though it may 

 be an effect, however difficult to be conceived, on the nervous system itself. 

 Persistence in this effort, which is seldom, indeed, possible beyond a short time 

 without confusion, produces results of much more complex nature, and scarcely 

 to be defined by any common terms of language." These phenomena have 

 an evident affinity with those of several morbid conditions. Thus the hypo- 

 chondriac patient " in fixing his consciousness with morbid intentness on cer- 

 tain organs, creates not merely disordered sensations, but often also disordered 

 actions in them. There may be palpitation of the heart, hurried or choked 

 respiration, flatulence and other distress of stomach, irritation of the bladder; 

 all arising from this morbid direction of attention to the organs in question." 

 In hysteria, again, " the instances are frequent, of attacks brought on by the 

 mere expectation of them; or by irritation; or occasionally even a sort of 

 morbid solicitation of the organs to these singular actions." These facts go a 

 long way to explain the phenomena of Animal Magnetism, many of which are 

 obviously to be referred to the exaggerated operation of the same principle. 



* Medical Notes and Reflection?, chap. v. 

 20* 



