PHYSIOLOGY. 41 



habitants of the former are obliged to walk along the narrow 

 brink of the precipice, to stem or pass the foaming torrent, and 

 to encounter every vicissitude of the weather and season ; where- 

 as, in the cultivated country, if the inhabitant is obliged 

 to travel, roads are prepared for him ; if he passes by a 

 precipice, it is guarded by a parapet ; he crosses the river 

 by a bridge ; he is guarded against the more severe attacks of 

 the weather ; and is therefore liable to a great deal of timidity, 

 while the other becomes hardy and bold. The contrast is equal- 

 ly remarkable in the case of the women, in a state of simplicity 

 and in that of refinement. Among the more rude nations, 

 they are obliged to take part in all the hardships of the men, 

 and meet with less indulgence from the men, who are of less 

 delicate feelings ; while, in the refined state, care is taken that 

 the winds of heaven shall not visit their faces too rudely, and 

 they are carefully protected and guarded against every thing 

 that may hurt or even shock them ; accordingly, the one 

 will show timidity in excess, the smallest troubles will throw 

 them into fits ; while among the other such appearances are 

 unknown. Thus we cannot keep things within their proper 

 bounds, and readily run to excess, perhaps to the other ex- 

 treme." 6. The state of the nerves along which the motion is 

 propagated. " I suppose that no sensation arises but in conse- 

 quence of a motion propagated from the sentient extremity, along 

 the course of certain nerves, to the brain. Compression as well 

 as other causes may prevent that motion ; and this may amount 

 to a total interruption, or only go the length of a more imperfect 

 transmission. (XXX.)" 7- T ne state f ^ ie brain or senso. 

 rium. " This is an analogous case to what we mentioned with 

 respect to the nerves (6.) Where the brain is compressed, all 

 sensation is destroyed or considerably diminished. But there 

 is a state of the brain in sleep, which I think does not depend 

 upon any compression, (see CXXVI.) but which prevents sen- 

 sation notwithstanding the impression. This, therefore, is an- 

 other cause which determines sensibility ; and there are inter- 

 mediate states between sleeping and waking, in which the 

 brain is in different conditions with regard to sensation. An- 

 other view to be taken of this matter is this : We find that a 

 determination of blood to the brain seems to be necessary to its 



