294. REPETITION AND IMITATION. SECT. XXII. j, 



arterial, venous, and glandular fyftems, with the va* 

 rious organs of digeftion, as defcribed in Section 

 XXXII. 3. 2, there is alfo a conftant expenditure of 

 it by the action of our locomotive mufcles and or- 

 gans of fenfe. Thus the 4 thickhefs of the optic 

 nerves, where they enter the eye, and the great ex- 

 panfion of the nerves of touch beneath the whole of 

 the cuticle, evince the great confumption of fenfo- 

 rial power by thefe fenfes. And our perpetual muf- 

 cular actions in the common offices of life, and in 

 conftantly preferving the perpendicularity of our 

 bodies during the day, evince a confiderable expen- 

 diture of the fpirit of animation by our locomotive 

 mufcles. It follows, if the exertion of thefe or- 

 gans of fenfe and mufcles be for a while intermit- 

 ted, that fome portion of fenforial power mufl be 

 accumulated, and a propenfity to activity of fome 

 kind enfue from the increafed excitability of the 

 fyftem. Whence proceeds the irkfomenefs of a 

 continued attitude, and of an indolent life. 



However fmall this hourly accumulation of the 

 fpirit of animation may be, it produces a propenfity 

 to fome kind of action ; but it neverthelefs requires 

 either defire or averfion, either pleafure or pain, or 

 fome external ftimulus, or a previous link of aflb- 

 ciation, to excite the fyftem into adivity ; thus it 

 frequently happens, when the mind and body are fp 

 unemployed as not tp poflefs any of the three firft 

 kinds of ftimulj, that the laft takes place, and con- 

 fumes the fmall but perpetual accumulatipn of fen- 

 forial power. Whence fome indolent people repeat 

 the fame verfe for hours together, or hum the iamq 

 tune. Thus the poet: 



Onward he trudged, not knowing what he fought, 

 And whittled as he went, for want of thought. 



II. The 



