CHAPTBR V. 

 THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 



It will be noticed that the Western scientific theories 

 regarding the breath confine themselves to the effects of 

 the absorption of oxygen, and its use through the circula- 

 tory system, while the Yogi theory also takes into con- 

 sideration the absorption of Prana, and its manifestation 

 through the channels of the Nervous System. Before pro- 

 ceeding further, it may be as well to take a hasty glance 

 at the Nervous System. 



The Nervous System of man is divided into two great 

 systems, viz., the Cerebro-Spinal System and the Sympa- 

 thetic System. The Cerebro-Spinal System consists of all 

 that part of the Nervous System contained within the 

 cranial cavity and the spinal canal, viz., the brain and the 

 spinal cord, together with the nerves which branch off 

 from the same. This system presides over the functions 

 of animal life known as volition, sensation, etc. The Sym- 

 pathetic System includes all that part of the Nervous 

 System located principally in the thoracic, abdominal and 

 pelvic cavities, and which is distributed to the internal 

 organs. It has control over the involuntary processes, 

 such as growth, nutrition, etc. 



The Cerebro-Spinal System attends to all the seeing, 

 hearing, tasting, smelling, feeling, etc. It sets things in 

 motion; it is used by the Ego to think to manifest con- 

 sciousness. It is the instrument with which the Ego com- 

 municates with the outside world. This system may be 

 likened to a telephone system, with the brain as the cen- 

 tral office, and the spinal column and nerves as cable and 

 wires respectively. 



The brain is a great mass of nerve tissue, and con- 

 sists of three parts, viz., the Cerebrum or brain proper, 

 whict occupies the upper, front, middle and back portion 

 or the skull; the Cerebellum, or "little brain," which fills 

 the lower and back portion of the skull; and the Medulla 



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