176 ANIMAL-SENTIENT FORCES. [i. 



Actions of the Understanding in the Mechanical Machines. 



330. The sentient actions of the intellectual concep- 

 tions {7Q>, 89, 180) when acting alone, and uncombined 

 with sensational conceptions, nor being at the same time 

 sensational stimuli of pleasure or pain [Triebfedern des 

 Gemuths], are not extended beyond the brain, neither 

 into the nerves, nor through them into the mechanical 

 machines (115, 116) ; at least we have no traces of such 

 actions. Being excited in the hidden mechanism of the brain 

 by the mind, according to psychological laws (111), and without 

 the co-operation of an external impression, they have no direct 

 action on the origin of the nerves in the brain (124), but their 

 impressions are made on the brain itself, so as to develop 

 material ideas of another kind there, which, according to the 

 laws of cerebral sentient actions, must accompany the chain 

 of intellectual conceptions excited by the mind (119). That 

 this is correct, is proved by the fact, that during the deepest 

 thought, or the most complete abstraction, no action in the 

 nerves is observed similar to a direct action of intellectual 

 conceptions, or like those of sensational conceptions, provided 

 there be nothing sensational commingled therewith, or no 

 sensational incitements of pleasure or pain [Triebfedern des 

 Gemuths], So little is this the result, that if the deepest 

 meditation be free from what is sensational, the natural move- 

 ments go on as in deep sleep, while the volitional movements 

 are forgotten, and the body is motionless as a statue. 



331. It does not follow, because certain conceptions do not 

 excite direct actions externally to the brain, that they have 

 no influence on the body, since, in the first place, the de- 

 velopment of material ideas in the brain is an operation of its 

 animal forces, which, from their connection with all other forces, 

 must have its results. Secondly, although the material ideas 

 do not act upon the cerebral origin of any nerves, they act 

 upon other portions of the brain (124), and also on the me- 

 chanical machines (159) which enclose it, and through these 

 may exercise an important influence on the animal economy. 

 Thirdly, material ideas may readily develop unknown actions 

 in the nerves, which have their results in the animal economy. 



