1 10 CONSCIOUSNESS AND SENS A TION. 



-connection with its distribution. Further, the hypo- 

 thesis facilitates the explanation of muscular sense, 

 and accounts for what has been observed by Dr. 

 Brown-Sequard, that the tracts for muscular sense 

 do not decussate in the spinal cord. The pheno- 

 mena sought to be explained by the hypothesis of 

 muscular sense are the consciousness of the posi- 

 tion of a part, the capability of regulating its 

 movements even when ordinary sensation is para- 

 lyzed, and the consciousness of the maintenance 

 of muscular effort in such parts. The hypothesis 

 which I offer in explanation of these phenomena is 

 that by continuity of the impressed condition from 

 the brain to the distribution of the motor nerves 

 we are conscious of the parts to which the distribu- 

 tion extends, and of the exercise of the will within 

 them. But, it will be alleged in reply, when we 

 move our fingers we feel the movement not in 

 the muscles of the forearm, but in the fingers. I 

 think, however, that this difficulty will not appear 

 so great when we analyse our sensations in endea- 

 vouring to make some unaccustomed movement. 

 Thus, although in moving our limbs we are not 

 conscious of any sense of effort which we could 

 localize in the region of the muscles brought into 

 action, unless perhaps when unaccustomed resist- 

 ance is met with, it is different when one attempts 



