INTRODUCTORY. 3 



soon I saw that the principal methods of making 

 physiological, and clinical, observations of brain 

 conditions were derived from noting its motor- 

 functions. Then, noting in all cases the motor out- 

 come of brain action, I studied the spontaneous 

 postures, and analyzed them. 



In making such observations the spontaneous 

 movements of the subjects attracted attention ; they 

 were difficult to analyze, but still it was obvious 

 that, as physical phenomena, they were capable of 

 analysis, record, and classification. An experi- 

 mental method was then devised by which move- 

 ments could be recorded with the aid of the 

 graphic method described in chap. xix. The 

 tracings thus obtained* were submitted to the 

 criticism of mathematical and statistical friends, to 

 whose help I am greatly indebted. Their remarks 

 made it obvious that time, frequency, combinations, 

 and sequences in series, were the attributes that 

 should be noted in studying movements. Such 

 knowledge as to method could not have been ob- 

 tained without experiment. Following on these 

 considerations, I founded the most important of 

 the principles for the analysis of movements. The 

 other principles which it is sought to establish 

 are the result of analyzing recognized clinical modes 

 of procedure. I should like to have formulated 

 analogous principles with regard to nutrition,! but 

 that seemed too wide a subject for the present 

 volume ; still, I take this opportunity of saying that 



* See Fig. 31, p. 245. 



f See chap, xvi.," Analogy between Trophic and Kinetic Actions." 



