UNCONSCIOUS MUSCULAR ACTION. 45 



and less thought to the proper action of the muscles of 

 standing; and at last its brain does the work without any 

 thinking about it at all. The child then stands, as it 

 breathes, almost or quite unconsciously. This is a very 

 curious and a very important fact. It is but one example 

 of many, showing that actions of our muscles which once 

 cost thought and effort, come at last to be done with- 

 out either. Practice not only " makes perfect," it also 

 makes easy that which before was difficult. The trouble 

 with which we learn to ride or swim, or strike the proper 

 keys of a piano, thinking about every necessary move- 

 ment, and the ease with which we come at last to do 

 these things, are other examples of the same fact. When 

 any muscular action which was at first performed with 

 difficulty and by " willing" to do it, comes to be per- 

 formed almost unconsciously, without our will, we say a 

 habit has been formed. When the brain and muscles 

 have been trained to work together in this unconscious 

 way, it is as hard or harder to break the habit than it 

 was to acquire it. A practised rider would have to take 

 a good deal of trouble to fall off his horse under ordi- 

 nary circumstances, or a good swimmer to drown himself. 

 This tendency of the brain and muscles to do at last 

 without the will, or against it, that which they have 

 often done before in consequence of the will, is of the 

 greatest importance. It is the physiological reason for 

 acquiring good habits and avoiding bad. The more 

 often we do anything, the easier it is to do it again, and 

 the harder to avoid doing it. 



which at last comes to be done unconsciously. Other illustrations. 

 What is a habit? How do habits come to control us? What is the 

 physiological reason for forming good habits and avoiding bad? 



