SECT. XXXIV. 1. 1. OF VOLITION. 327 



The power of oppofing volitions is bed exemplified in the 

 flory of Mutius Scsevola, who is faid to have thruft his hand 

 into the fire before Porcenna, and to have fuffered it to be con- 

 fumed for having failed him in his attempt on the life of that 

 general Here the averfion for the lofs of fame, or the unfatis- 

 fied rlefire to ferve his couutry, the too prevalent enthufiafms at 

 that time, were more powerful than the defire of withdrawing 

 his hand, which mud be occasioned by the pain of cornbuftion ; 

 of thefe oppofing volitions 



Vincit amor patrige, laudumque imxnenfa cupido. 



If any one is told not to fwallow his faliva for a minute, he 

 foon fwallows it contrary to his will, in the common fenfe of that 

 word ; but this alfo is a voluntary ation, as it is performed by 

 the faculty of volition, and is thus to be underftood. When 

 the power of volition is exerted on any of our fenfes, they be- 

 come more acute, as in our attempts tq hear fmall noifes in the 

 night. As explained in Section XIX. 6. Hence by our atten- 

 tion to the fauces from our defire not to fwallow our faliva ; 

 the fauces become more fenfible ; and the (limulus of the fali- 

 va is followed by greater fenfation, and confequent defire of 

 fwallowing it. So that the defire or volition in confequence of 

 the increased fenfation of the faliva is more powerful, than the 

 previous defire not to fwallow it. See Vol. I Deglutitio in- 

 vita. In the fame manner if a modeft man wiflies not to want 

 to make water, when he is confined with ladies in a coach or an 

 afTembly room ; that very acl: of volition induces the circum- 

 ftance, which he wimes to avoid, as above explained ; infomuch 

 that I once faw a partial infanity, which might be called a vol- 

 untary diabetes, which was occafioned by the fear (and confe- 

 quent averfion) of not being able to make water at all. 



It is further neceflary to obferve here, to prevent any confu- 

 fion of voluntary, with fenfitive, or aflbciate motions, that in all 

 the inftances of violent efforts to relieve pain, thofe efforts are 

 at firft voluntary exertions ; but after they have been frequent- 

 ly repeated for the purpofe of relieving certain pains, they be- 

 come aflbciated with thofe pains, and ceafe at thofe times to be 

 fubfervient to the will ; as in coughing, fneezing, and in ftrangu- 

 ry. Of thefe motions thofe which contribute to remove or dif- 

 lodge the offending caufe, as the ations of the abdominal muf- 

 cles in parturition or in vomiting, though they were originally 

 excited by volition, are in this work termed fenfitive motions ; 

 but thofe a 61 ions of the mufcles or organs of fenfe, which do 

 not contribute to remove the offending caufe, as in general con- 

 vulfions or in madnefs, are in this work termed voluntary mo- 

 tions, 



