270 ROUGH WAYS MADE SMOOTH. 



brain in a certain well-known experiment. (This appears to 

 be the opinion to which Professor Huxley inclines, though, 

 with proper scientific caution, he seems disposed to suspend 

 his judgment.) The facts are very singular, whatever the 

 explanation may be. 



In the normal condition, the man is what he was before 

 he was wounded an intelligent, kindly fellow, performing 

 satisfactorily the duties of a hospital attendant. The ab- 

 normal state is ushered in by pains in the forehead, as if 

 caused by the constriction of a band of iron. In this state 

 the eyes are open and the pupils dilated. (The reader will 

 remember Charles Reade's description of David Dodd's 

 eyes, 'like those of a seal.') The eyeballs work incessantly, 

 and the jaws maintain a chewing motion. If the man is 

 en pays de connaissance, he walks about as usual ; but in a 

 new place, or if obstacles are set in his way, he stumbles, 

 feels about with his hands, and so finds his way. He offers 

 no resistance to any forces which may act upon him, and 

 shows no signs of pain if pins are thrust into his body by 

 kindly experimenters. No noise affects him. He eats and 

 drinks apparently without tasting or smelling his food, ac- 

 cepting assafcetida or vinegar as readily as the finest claret. 

 He is sensible to light only under certain conditions. But 

 the sense of touch is strangely exalted (in all respects ap- 

 parently except as to sensations of pain or pleasure), taking 

 in fact the place of all the other senses. I say the sense 

 of touch, but it is not clear whether there is any real sensa- 

 tion at all. The man appears in the abnormal condition to 

 be a mere machine. This is strikingly exemplified in the 

 fallowing case, which I translate directly from Dr. Mesnet's 

 account: ' He was walking in the garden under a group of 

 trees, and his stick, which he had dropped a few minutes 

 before, was placed in his hands. He feels it, moves his 

 hand several times along the bent handle of the stick, be- 

 comes watchful, seems to listen, suddenly he calls out, 

 " Henry ! " then, " There they are ! there are at least a 

 score of them ! join us two, we shall manage it." And 



