Human Physiology. 



777 



Fig. 26. TERMINATION 

 OF MUSCULAR NERVES. 



in constant operation, acting habitually, without effort, and 

 often without our consciousness. 



Electricity or galvanism, applied to 

 the nerves of a man or animal, for a 

 short time after death, will excite mus- 

 cular contractions. Does it excite the 

 nerves to action or the muscles? If 

 the brain acts by vibrations propagated 

 through the nerves, electricity may 

 excite similar vibrations. The soul 

 the conscious ME the man wills to 

 rise up and walk; and this will sets 

 brain in motion, nerves, thousands of 

 nerves, in action, and hundreds of 

 muscles, and myriads of muscular 

 fibres contract, undergo a series of 



contractions, just the amount required to carry on all the 

 complex movements of rising and walking. Or, take the case 

 of a pianist performing a piece of music. The eyes receive 

 the impression of the notes ; the melody and harmony are con- 

 veyed to the mind; brain, nerves, muscles of arms and hands 

 are brought into wonderfully rapid action ; and the nerves of 

 hearing carry back to the mind the result produced by all this 

 complicated apparatus. 



These actions of nerve upon muscle become habitual We 

 walk, work, play upon the pianoforte, without any conscious 

 effort. We can think, or listen to conversation, or read a book, 

 and play, and even improvise music, at the same time. This 

 power of habit is not in the muscles ; they contract only as 

 they are excited by the nerves to do so. The nerves are 

 the telegraphs of the will-power. Will can no more be 

 the act of the grey globules, or white fibres of the brain. 

 Matter does not think. Cerebral matter albumen, fat, 

 and water, does not secrete tragedies and operas. If it 



