X TRANSLATOR'S INTRODUCTION. 



sensorium commune contained therein are but a synopsis of 

 the views in Unzer's great work. He obviously was also 

 familiar with the views of Willis, of which he gives a synopsis. 

 In his ' Lehrsatze/ (first edition,) Prochaska adopts the prin- 

 ciple of a general sensorium commune, but subdivides it so as 

 to correspond with the views of Willis as to the existence of a 

 rational and a corporeal soul in man ; he therefore constitutes 

 it of two separate elements, namely, the sensorium commune 

 of the soul, which is seated in the brain only, and reflects 

 those impressions of which we are conscious; and the sensorium 

 commune of the body, which is seated in the brain, spinal cord, 

 and ganglia and plexuses of the sympathetic system. A 

 literal translation of one or two paragraphs from this work 

 will more distinctly show his relations to Willis and Unzer. 



'^ XXXV. The relations of the vis nervosa to stimuli. 



" § 1 78. The operation of the nervous system and of its vis is specially 

 related in this respect, — that it feels external impressions by means of 

 the brain, and thereupon causes adapted movements by means of the 

 muscles. The transition of sensation into motion takes place according 

 to the law of self-conservation, written, as it were, on the organisation 

 of the nervous system;^ for sensations that are agreeable, and con- 

 ducive to our preservation, cause such movements as are adapted to 

 retain the impression ; while movements result from unpleasant im- 

 pressions, such, that by them the disagreeable impression must be 

 averted from us. 



"§ 179. This transition of sensation into adapted movements, 

 occurs partly with the consciousness of the soul, whereby it is taken, 

 as it were, into counsel, and its will obeyed ; now these are termed the 

 sentient operations. In other instances, sensations pass into adapted 

 movements without the consciousness of the soul, and often in oppo- 

 sition to its will; and this transition is termed simply the nerve - 

 operations. Following out this fact, Unzer has divided sensation into 

 soul-sensation, or sensation with consciousness ; and corporeal feeling, 

 or sensation without consciousness.^ By this, and the preceding pro- 

 position, the relations of the vis nervosa to stimuli can be easily 

 determined." ^ 



1 On the Functions of the Nervous System, chap, iv, § i, in Adnotat. academ. 

 Fasc. iii, p. 117. 



2 Grundriss eines Lehrgebaudes von der Sinnlichkeit der thierischen Korper. — 1 768. 



3 Op. cit. p. 113. 



