380 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



main active, thus giving rise to a subconscious state. This sup- 

 position, that a cortical process may exist without coalescing at 

 all with the general system, is a somewhat novel assumption, and 

 it is in my opinion the weakest point of the theory. It would 

 require the further assumption that a cortical system, once co- 

 ordinated, tends to resist the introduction of a new element into 

 it, and for this there is some introspective evidence. 



For consistency's sake the dynamic conceptions which I would 

 apply to mental states in consciousness must be applied also to 

 these mental states existing subconsciously. Subconscious ideas 

 and sensations must be capable of development in intensity and 

 in perfection of finish, so to speak ; must be able to awaken asso- 

 ciated ideas, to produce bodily movements, to affect secretion and 

 other metabolic processes. It would appear possible that the dis- 

 sociated processes underlying them may suddenly effect union 

 with the upper system, thus intruding the subconscious state into 

 the upper consciousness. When it does not actually effect union 

 it is conceivable that some of its results, such as its associated 

 ideas or emotional consequents, may appear in the upper con- 

 sciousness. It is also conceivable that its mere existence may 

 disturb the normal tension of the cortical activities, what has 

 been termed the psychostatic equilibrium of the cortex, and thus 

 affect the upper consciousness. A mental state supposed to be 

 thus growing and working subconsciously has been happily 

 termed by Pierre Janet a mental parasite or neoplasm. For all 

 these inferences, which I have stated as deductions from the 

 hypothesis that there exist mental states dissociated from the 

 normal consciousness, there is a great deal of direct evidence, 

 and it is upon an inductive study of that evidence that the hy- 

 pothesis is based ; but the limitations of space prevent my giving 

 concrete illustrations. 



AT a recent meeting of the English Folklore Society, a presentation 

 was made to Mr. Gr. Laurence Gomme, late president of the society, after 

 which Mr. Gromme spoke of his connection with the society as honorary 

 secretary, director, president, and now vice-president since seventeen 

 years ago, when he was one of four who started it in the dining room of 

 the late Mr. Thorns, founder and editor of Notes and Queries. The society 

 had taken its position now, he was sure, as representative of the psycho- 

 logical side of the history of man. With Mr. Brabrook, President of the 

 Anthropological Society, and Prof. Haddon working with them, they 

 hoped as soon as possible to obtain their proper position at the British 

 Association, and, with their scientific standing officially recognized, proceed 

 to accomplish some of the great work he believed they had before them. 

 They were not a dilettanti society, playing with antiquities, but they were 

 taking part in unraveling some of the great mysteries of man's nature. 



