SCIENCE OF BREATH. 21 



Oblongata, which is the broadened commencement of the 

 spinal cord, lying before and in front of the Cerebellum. 



The Cerebrum is the organ of that part of the mind 

 which manifests itself in intellectual action. The Cere- 

 bellum regulates the movements of the voluntary mus- 

 cles. The Medulla Oblongata is the upper enlarged end of 

 the spinal cord, and from it and the Cerebrum branch 

 forth the Cranial Nerves which reach to various parts of 

 the head, to the organs of special sense, and to some of the 

 thoracic and abdominal organs, and to the organs of res- 

 piration. 



The Spinal Cord, or spinal marrow, fills the spinal 

 canal in the vertebral column, or "backbone." It is a long 

 mass of nerve tissue, branching off at the several vertebrae 

 to nerves communicating with all parts of the body. The 

 Spinal Cord is like a large telephone cable, and the emerg- 

 ing nerves are like the private wires connecting therewith. 



The Sympathetic Nervous System consists of a double 

 chain of Ganglia on the side of the Spinal column, and 

 scattered ganglia in the head, neck, chest and abdomen. 

 (A ganglion is a mass of nervous matter including nerve 

 cells.) These ganglia are connected with each other by 

 filaments, and are also connected with the Cerebro Spinal 

 System bj motor and sensory nerves. From these gan- 

 glia numerous fibers branch out to the organs of the body, 

 blood vessels, etc. At various points, the nerves meet 

 together and form what are known as plexuses. The 

 Sympathetic System practically controls the involuntary 

 processes, such as circulation, respiration and diges- 

 tion. 



The power or force transmitted from the brain to all 

 parts of the body by means of the nerves, is known to 

 Western science as "nerve force," although the Yogi knows 

 it to be a manifestation of Prana. In character and rapid- 

 ity it resembles the electric current. It will be seen that 

 without this "nerve force" the heart cannot beat; the 

 blood cannot circulate; the lungs cannot breathe; the vari- 

 ous organs cannot function; in fact the machinery of the 

 body comes to a stop without it. Nay more, even the 

 brain cannot think without Prana be present. When these 



